Waiting to Order My Sentia

I've been waiting since the beginning of this month for the whole Alienware Financing thing to complete. Last week I sent the contract in to them so I assume they'd have it by now. Once I get the card I can place the order that I've been reconfiguring for about 2 weeks now..

Anyway, my current config is:

Sentia Sub-notebook chassis: Saucer Silver
3-year Warranty w/ Respawn and AlienAutopsy
Windows XP Pro
Pentium M 755 2.0GHz
A/B/G Wireless Card
1GB RAM (1 x 1024)
100GB Hard Drive
Internal Audio
8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo
Additional Battery
Additional Charger
AlienArmor 17" Black Aluminum Notebook Case (Wish they made a black 15"..)
Alienware USB 2.0 1GB Flash Drive
Mousepad
Black T-Shirt

SubTotal before rebates: $3155.00
Total with shipping: $3,261.38
Total after rebates ($499): $2762.38

I wish it were cheaper, but there's no way I would kill the performance just to save another $100. My Area 51 desktop has lasted 4 years and it's because I souped up as much as I could within reason. Had I only put in 512MB RAM or a slower processor, it would have been useless a year ago. Never avoid the warranty.. it will come in handy. I used mine to get a new power supply last year, replacement Windows CD, and case door keys. The power supply required an on-site tech to install it, so if something happened while installing it, the warranty wouldn't become void. So it worked out well in the end. Alienware is a bit hard to deal with. While getting in touch with a rep usually isn't too bad, getting your point across or getting the right answer can be a daunting task. I personally found the easiest way to talk to them during their normal hours is to use their online chat. Oh, and if you ask to speak with a supervisor, they usually tell you that they're the supervisor for that department. I'm not sure how true that is, but if you're getting nowhere on the online chat, you can't speak to someone higher up via the chat itself. Hope this helps, and I'm sure many things have changed since I bought from them last. Let's pray that my system arrives in a timely fashion and the whole fiasco with financing works out before they end the current promotion (this Thursday night, I'm told).

Rich

Yea I am a bit worried about that, but I think the black overall looks much better. They should make it in the 15" size for the sake of conformity. I'm afraid of putting my Sentia in, and it's going to have 5" on all sides to slide around, despite the pads to fit the notebook in. I asked Alienware and they said it will fit anyway, the included pads are enough. Does anyone actually have one of those cases already? ..Most people end up with the messenger bag or backpack.

Thanks,

Rich

So I got the financing card in the mail, and went to place my order today. Everything went smoothly, and the order was sent in. A sales rep called to verify the order, and said they had no signature on record for the credit contract. I sent that in last Wednesday (a week ago), and they wouldn't have given me the card until I had signed the contract. So they want to wait until Thursday to see if they get it in the mail. Ironically, Thursday is when the $400 rebate on Sentias will end. I'm under the suspicion that they were lying just to screw me out of that $400 mail-in rebate. But since the order was placed online, I already have the email with the order details (which includes the rebates given to me). So if they try to say that I missed that promotion, I'll wave the email confirmation in their face and also mention that they wouldn't have given me the card until the signed contract and photo ID were returned to them.. And, I might add, that if a better promotion begins on Thursday, I'll be asking for that promotion instead for my troubles while they slipped up in the paperwork department. Fair is fair, correct? So I should start logging my progress in the Phase Maze...

Rich

Phase 01: 7/12/05

Phase 02: 7/13/05

Phase 03: 7/15/05

Actually, I have their catalog. I entered in the code for the Sentia, and the promotion that came up was worth less than the current one of $400 rebate and $99 shipping rebate. I believe it was to save 10% or something. For me thats only $300-something vs. $499. So I just left it as it was. No need to ruin the progress of my order over a promotion that isn't even saving me more money, right?

Ok, I see what you mean now. But did they actually honor both discounts? In the catalog one is for Home and the other is for Business. When viewing the cart, you can enter the 2nd coupon code and it displays both offers in the cart ($730 total savings). But I wonder if AW would allow you to claim both or would they only take one. In that case, the $499 is a better savings. Either way, it's too late for me to change the order. I'd rather pay the extra money to get the lappy on time. Saving the money could tack on another 3 weeks or something.

I'll bet they rushed your order so you didn't try to hit them up for more discounts. They figured, "this guy found a hole in the system, let's hurry up and get rid of him before he tells others.." Classic.

Phase 04: 7/19/05

We're moving, albeit at a snail's pace. But then again it's only 10:30AM, so theres PLENTY of time for it to rocket to Phase 9..!!

Thank you, thank you.

This waiting is bad for my health. I went for a physical for my new job and was told I have a rapid pulse and a high blood pressure. I can only attribute this to Alienware and Mountain Dew. ..but mostly waiting for this lappy.

You betcha! Although I do wish it were a FedEx Girl.. then I would have a webcam feed up on my site so jealous onlookers can watch her bending over to pick up that beast of a box. I'll definately photo-doc and review it, being my first laptop and second Alienware computer. A lot has changed over there since I ordered last, and I'm hoping for nothing but the best. Still at Phase 4, though.