AW/DELL Ordering Advice - How to save $$$

[redhidus]

Here's what I'm ordering in on Monday:
Lunar Shadow
4GB RAM
Hard Drive 160GB SATAII 5,400RPM
Service 1 Year Basic Plan
Bluetooth Bluetooth Module, 2.1+ Enhanced Data Rate

The price comes out to $989, but I'm a student at school, my dad's employer buys a lot of stuff from Dell (Its a big bio-tech firm), I have a $50 off a $799+ system coupon and I'm a AAA member.

Do all the discounts stack up? Trying to knock it down to $800.

I donno if AAA discount and Student discount (EPP) will both combine..
but EPP(10%) + 50$ is achievable.
First u ll have to break the EPP site config to urs by speakin to EPP rep. Or u ll ll get lot of unnecessary stuff when u config from epp.
Then tell the rep to apply 10% + 50$ off... stacking is kind of hard now.. as it was some error that happened in the start(some reps say error and some say its a initial release promo.. either way they are giving hard time stacking coupons..) But still u can try as much as u can as u said u guys purchased a lot from Dell..so they definetely dont want to loose some frequent buyers..
And u can even get 3% off the entire thing with DPA if u have good crediti history. (remember if u no u dont have good CH.. dont apply for that as every failed credit check ll affect ur score -vely)
That are all the discount options for now. Rest it depends on reps.. mostly they ll try to add up few free stuff.. but they dont usually go down the price :| atleast for me.

[DR650SE]

I suggest building that config in your cart and saving it. The Dell Rep will be able to pull it up and apply the EPP discount. Then mention the coupon code. EPP Discounts don't stack (to the best of my knowledge) so you'll be at 10% either way. Thats said, if you save that config in your cart, then call EPP, they can pull it up. You won't be stuck with the EPP setup just as redhidus suggested.

Another option is get the tech guy from you fathers work to order it. They might have a better discount. So that might be an option, depends on your relationship with them. Once it is set, let them know your $40-$50 short and see if they can work with you. Let them know the specs are not really flexible for your work, and that you need it. If they can drop another $40 off, then you'll pay now.

And as Redhidus stated, you can always go the DPA way, and stack 3% on it.

[Happ]

Tell them you are in the middle of purchasing a home and you do not want to ding your credit and you are looking for them to honor the 3%.

Worked for me

[tears]

Can't do DPA. I have NO credit history. I'll try om Monday since my check clears by then.

[Happ]

Thats my point, do not allow them to even pull your credit.

[redhidus]

but point is... if u can squeeze the entire max discount without raising this DPA... then after he says "thts it sir, thts the max we can do" then u can still get this 3% off of what he gave. Its entirely given from dell .. irrespective of wht u are buying.
Or u can do what the abv guys said... in case u are sure u dont want to use DPA and max out extra discount from the rep using that technique.

[Haze]

I finally ordered my m11x. I just want to thank DR650SE for the great thread. I had the 10% epp + rep gave me 15% extra off + free shipping. So for a $1300 m11x I got it for $1000 tax included.

[apt2l]

I finally went to the dark side

I ordered the M11x with the following configuration:

Item Description
Alienware M11x, Cosmic Black
Intel Core2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz (3MB Cache, 800MHz FSB)
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
11.6-inch WideHD 1366x768 (720p) WLED
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M
500GB SATAII 7,200RPM
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Integrated 10/100 Network Interface Card
Integrated High-Definition Surround Sound Audio (5.1)
1.3 Megapixel Webcam
McAfee VirusScan Plus - 15-Month Subscription
1 Year Limited Warranty
Optional Bluetooth Module, 2.1+ Enhanced Data Rate
No Internal WWAN Antenna Installed
Steam and Portal Factory Installed
Mouse Pad - Blue
Next Business Day Delivery
$988.19(Without tax)

@DR650SE Thank you for your ordering advice and this thread. The sales agent could not make changes to the basic EPP M11x configuration. I wanted to change the HDD to 250/320 GB instead of 500GB and did not want the 15 month Antivirus subscription, but the agent said she wasnt able to do it.

I was trying to justify my purchase by wondering if I got a good deal or not. What do you guys think?

[unreal25]

Well it's $20 cheaper then EPP base configuration with $50off coupon. They told me the same thing (can't change EPP conf). Other people claim they had reps who could, so I'd guess the rep is lying.

[apt2l]

@unreal25 did you talk to more than one rep?

I just spoke to two reps. I got disconnected with the first one and ordered with the second rep. The annoying part with the whole ordering process was that every time I discussed about a discount she had to put me on hold and go discuss that with her manager which made the process longer than it should have been originally

I got EPP + $50 coupon + 5% DPA. She also threw in expedited shipping and handling for free with a free mouse pad which on the quote showed $99.01 but when I checked it on dell's website was $10.99.