30 Day Return Policy

September 7, 2005 8:24 AM

What's up with the 30 day return period on laptops? Are there any fees that I'm going to lose by going that route?

Basically I'm looking at getting the Dell Inspiron 700m, with the current deal of 40% off making it the best bang/buck ratio I can get. Unfortunately I've got big fingers and I'm a programmer, meaning I might get screwed if the keyboard is too small. So I'd like to know how the 30 day return system works if I don't like it.

posted by KirTakat to computers & internet (11 comments total)

I love my 700m... the keyboard is okay, in my opinion. Also, what about an external keyboard?
posted by k8t at 8:28 AM on September 7, 2005

I think there's a restocking fee. But I once emailed Dell about returning a computer, and they wrote back and offered me $100 to keep it. So I kept it.
posted by amarynth at 8:32 AM on September 7, 2005

As far as external keyboard goes, that sorta works against why I'm getting the 700m in the first place
posted by KirTakat at 8:40 AM on September 7, 2005

Here is Dell's return policy from their website (you have to scroll down past the limited warranty stuff, a little over halfway down the page).
posted by amarynth at 10:05 AM on September 7, 2005

There usually is a restocking fee, probably because of people like my brother-in-law, who used to "buy" a high-end laptop when he had some extreme project due and needed to be a road warrior. He'd use it, clean it up, and then return it after a week saying it 'didn't fit his needs.' He was really pissed when the restocking fees became ubiquitous. So, that's probably why they do it, anyway.
posted by umberto at 10:17 AM on September 7, 2005

KitTakat - I just got back from visiting a friend in Chicago who has the 700m and I was constantly miskeying things like the question mark, periods, etc, which all have smaller than normal keys.

I use a Inspiron 6000 at work and I think that when I go shopping for a new personal laptop soon I'll be skipping the 700m and sticking with the slightly heavier/larger 6000.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:52 AM on September 7, 2005

But, while you're thinking of it... where is this 40% off deal? I don't see it on their site.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:54 AM on September 7, 2005

40% off deal is (was, it's expired now...curses, before I ordedered, I didn't notice the 3000 orders limit) at www.dell.com/save750
posted by KirTakat at 11:05 AM on September 7, 2005

Also, I'm not exactly sure what ordedered is... I can only assume that's what happens when you try to order and your coupon is rejected.
posted by KirTakat at 11:18 AM on September 7, 2005

i have the 700m, and i had the same miskeying issue that FlamingBore mentioned when i first started using it. my fingers adapted very quickly and now i'm back to typing at regular speed, hitting the correct keys etc. of course, now when i use my old IBM thinkpad, my typing calibration is all off and i miss keys again.
posted by netsirk at 12:50 PM on September 7, 2005

We went to a dell direct store and tried out several different keyboards. It made a huge difference, and we ended up buying a different machine altogether. From the dell site, it looks like there's one at Northbrook Court in Chicago. I'd suggest you go there and feel the keyboards for yourself.
posted by jasper411 at 2:40 PM on September 7, 2005