[Novalug] getting a refund from Dell for the "Windows Tax"

[Ken Kauffman]

I just ordered a Lenovo X200 tablet.  I'll have to try the same thing when
it arrives and see if Lenovo is as accommodating.  Nice tip!

K

On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 21:45, Kevin Starkey <kevin.linuxfan at gmail.com>wrote:

>  Hi all,
>
> Just wanted to share my experience.
>
> As we all know, buying the computer you want w/ Linux (or simply w/ out
> Windows) can be tricky business.  I needed to get my wife a new laptop and I
> wanted to get a Dell.  I decided to look for the laptop I wanted, with the
> specs I wanted, for the price I wanted.  Of course the one I wanted didn't
> come with Linux; only Windows 7 (the one I ended up getting came w/ Win 7
> Professional w/ downgrade to XP Professional SP3, just for full disclosure).
>
> I've read about people buying a Windows laptop from Dell, and when it
> arrived they turned it on, got to the Windows EULA, shut it down, called
> Dell, and ....., and eventually they get a refund for the unused/unwanted
> Windows OS.  The part I skipped over is long drawn out, stressful, ...., and
> likely to end in failure.
>
> I ordered the Dell Vostro 1014 from the Dell website (from the small/medium
> business section of the site).  It arrived Thursday last week and I was
> prepared to turn it on, get to the EULA (write down the exact wording of the
> part about getting a refund), shut down, call Dell, and begin the process of
> calmly and tenaciously getting my "Windows Tax" refund.  I explained that I
> got to the EULA and that I don't need or want Windows, and that I want to
> start the process of returning Windows and getting a refund, as the EULA
> states you're entitled to.
>
> Shock of all shocks, the Dell rep. ("Terry", Maria Therese Buenaventura)
> said something like 'sure, no problem', and within minutes our conversation
> was finished.  I think I was on the phone for maybe 20 minutes.  I received
> 3 emails from UPS, regarding shipping the 2 Dell/Windows discs back to Dell,
> and 2 emails from Dell confirming that the refund process was in motion.  I
> got the discs to UPS on Friday and by Monday (today) my credit card was
> credited $116.55.
>
> I know, I'm stunned too!
>
> It was ridiculously easy!  I was all ready for a long drawn out "battle",
> and frankly I wasn't really feeling up to it and would likely have given up
> if I'd gotten resistance (the original cost (taxes & shipping), spec'ed out
> a bit, w/ 3 yrs on-site service, was only $766.50).  I think the key was
> that I ordered a 'business' laptop.  I'll be buying 'business' laptops from
> now on.
>
> I have to say, I'm very satisfied.  Oh yeah, and so is my wife (she's
> actually running Ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 and everything works flawlessly).
>
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