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Dell responds to Criticisms from Second Amendment Activists

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited February 2002 in General Discussion
Dell responds to Criticisms from Second Amendment ActivistsSierra Times: 02.27.02
After speaking with Dell spokesperson Cathie Hargett, Sierra Times was sent the following official statement which concurs with her words regarding the Jack Weigand matter and other related issues. In our opinion, the fact that Dell choose to address the matter quickly and public on the record is commendable, and should change the tone of correspondence to their company from Second Amendment activists, or cease them altogether. - Sierra Times.From Dell, Inc Founder and CEO - Michael Dell:U.S. export laws restrict the sale of technology to terrorists and to people in countries that support terrorism. These laws also prohibit computer sales to people who will use the technology in developing biological or nuclear weapons. Dell strictly complies with our country's export laws in order to ensure the safety of our customers and citizens around the world. When there is reasonable cause for concern, we carefully review customer orders for prohibited destinations and activities.When additional follow-up on an order is required, our sales representatives ask our customers four basic questions:1. Who is the end-user?2. Where will the product be used?3. What will the product be used for? 4. What type of business or industry is involved? The answers to these questions, like all customer information we gather, are confidential and are not shared outside of Dell. We recently received an order from a customer whose company name included the word "combat." We cancelled the order to give us enough time follow up with the customer and be assured that the sale would be in compliance with U.S. export law. However, we failed to contact the customer, and as a result, we did not deliver the order as promised, and the customer did not know why. Once we discovered our error, we apologized to the customer for this misunderstanding, as well as the inconvenience caused by the delay. This is not the service standard that we hold ourselves to at Dell, and if I were a customer who'd received similar treatment, I would be very disappointed. We at Dell feel a strong obligation to uphold our federal law, but we have just as strong an obligation to be responsive to the needs of all our customers. I want assure you that Dell does not discriminate against any business, regardless of the products or services they sell, nor do we discriminate against individual consumers. We do, however, sometimes make mistakes - as we did in this case. Thank you for your support. Sincerely,Michael Dellc 2002 SierraTimes http://www.sierratimes.com/02/02/28/armd022802.htm

Comments

  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    I am reluctant to pick this statement apart but here goes. 1. The title of this post and the reason for the response in the first place is "Dell responds to Criticisms from Second Amendment Activists" Observation: Interesting they never once mention they (DELL) support the Second Amendment. 2. "U.S. export laws restrict the sale of technology to terrorists and to people in countries that support terrorism." Observation: This was not an export of technology, so how does this statement apply.3. "When there is reasonable cause for concern, we carefully review customer orders for prohibited destinations and activities."Observation: Where was the reasonable cause and the review in this instance.4. "We recently received an order from a customer whose company name included the word "combat." We cancelled the order to give us enough time follow up with the customer and be assured that the sale would be in compliance with U.S. export law." Observation: Again this was not an export, so this reason for their initial response is bogus, and is misleading rationale. Then there was no followup. Need I say more.This reminds me of the old indian phrase "White man speak with forked-tongue!"Boomer
    Protect our Constitutional Rights. [This message has been edited by Boomerang (edited 02-27-2002).]
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hot dang a CEO / company owner / multi-millionair with the cajones to admit that his company made a mistake and issue a public apologyMy hats off to Mr Dell, we could use a few more like him.
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    My hat is not off. Clearly this was a gross violation of their company policies/SOP. Was anyone fired, demoted, or even reprimanded? This is a very carefully crafted statement to not offend the left "anti-gun" crowd. While throwing a bone to supporters of the Constitution.Please don't be so gullible. Read the last paragraph carefully.Boomer
    Protect our Constitutional Rights.
  • Rafter-SRafter-S Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boomerang-- Out of curosity, what should Michalel Dell have written that would satisfy you? You write what you think his statement should be. I would be interested in reading it.
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    Rafter-S, A fair question.First off there should have never been any "BS" excuses as to why this incident happened. Michael Dell should have never used the non-applicable excuse that this had to do with "export of technology" to preserve national security.Second, a plain and simple statement. "Dell fully supports the Second Amendment(if true). Dell has been made aware of a mistake that was made to deny a customer a computer, and then to make matters worse Dell never communicated with him in a timely manner as to the perceived problem for his computer not arriving. The events that lead up to this mistake are in direct conflict with our company policy and we sincerely apolgize for it (if true). Inorder to avoid this from occuring in the future, the employees responsible for this mistake have been made aware of our company policy regarding these types of transactions (if true). Now, would this have been to much to have asked for from an honorable company. Their excuses for their actions are plain out BS. Boomer, the straight shooter
    Protect our Constitutional Rights.[This message has been edited by Boomerang (edited 02-28-2002).]
  • Rafter-SRafter-S Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boomer-- Your statement looks good to me. Had Michael Dell used it, we gun enthusiasts could have chalked up a victory. But instead, the statement he did publish looks like it was crafted by their army of lawyers.trying not to alienate anyone.I guess Dell has themselves caught between a rock and a hard place.
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One of the accuracy sites has the HCI contributors list posted with Dell plainly listed.
  • BullzeyeBullzeye Member Posts: 3,560
    edited November -1
    That's one of the dumbest rations of sh*t I've ever heard.Many terrorist groups operate under names that include words like "combat", huh?What, like "Taliban Combat Specialists: Call for Rates"? How about, "Osama Combat Intifada Supply Inc."?Truth is, and I dont know how high up it went in the chain of command before someone stopped it, Dell made a conscious decision to hassle a pro-second amendment gun retailer. Why? Maybe good press. Maybe to look like they were defending the US from us domestic terrorists....But no one makes that kind of a mistake accidentally. It was a purposeful gesture, that wisely, someone eventually decided not to continue pursuing.Their rationale is bullsh*t, they are lying through their teeth, and they are a two-faced bunch of cowards.I will NEVER do business with Dell from this point forward.
  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm firmly w/ the anti-Dell forces here. The buyer's name triggered a transparently gunphobic reaction and Dell is trying to avoid becoming black-listed among a big chunk of the buying public while simultaneously looking good to the mushbrains. This statement will help the crops grow & nothing more.
  • hunter280manhunter280man Member Posts: 705
    edited November -1
    I admit it does look like they are stradeling the fence kinda high. I was going to consider them for my next computer, maybe not, haven't made up my mind yet. Yes they deffinetly did "f" up, or was it intentional? Could of been just one employee who dislikes our choice of living. Either way I admit the CEO definatly did put his brass out to appologize, but he is in the bussnes of selling computers, so he obviously drafted this as to not offend the anti's also. Tried to make good on a bad situation without loosing to much buisness from either side. I'm not shure just what should trigger the stop button but the government has their aggenda's also! Either way Dell should of followed up and given an explanation in the first place!!
    Though I was born to royalty, I was snatched at birth, so treat me as the noble I am!!!
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm inclined to accept this businessman's effort to make it right, unless it is true that they are in bed with HCI, would distress me far more than this does. Any company that is willing to go public with an apology and privately offer the offended customer a free computer is going further than most companies would. It's not a perfect world, and you never get all you want from anyone. But this is a compromise where the wounded customer won most of the points, and from the CEO no less, rather than one of his minions. I was taught to pick my battles, and this is one I'd rather not take up. I'm much more concerned about the mention of HCI in connection with Dell than I am this transaction which they have made every effort to straighten out. Personally, I was going to buy a $2000 Dell myself, and knowing I've had some credit problems with my layoffs in the last few years I put the cash in my bank account and issued them one of their "electronic checks" over the Internet. Guess what? They looked at my credit anyway, cancelled my order, and never picked up my $2000 cash out of my bank account! At that point I realized I was not going to be able to mail order for a Dell even with a direct bank account withdrawal, so I bought my Sony P4 Digital Station instead. I don't take it personally, but sometimes the system just doesn't work as smoothly as we'd like. As for Dell, if you can prove to me they're anti-2nd Amendment I'll be delighted to help support your boycott. In fact I'm encouraging Mom & Dad to buy a new system right now and was going to recommend they buy a Dell P4 system (computer engineers swear by them). The only drawback is it comes with that MSN Explorer-related DellNet thing, and lord knows I hate the MSN ISP browser with a passion. It's not for serious users.
    "The 2nd Amendment is about defense, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I should add that while it is more likely that some teenage militia-minded goofball would be dumb enough to name his organization with the word combat in it, I can see how in present circumstances that would at least call for a double-take. Let's not get so touchy that we lose our sense of proportion. It coulda been some McVey styled maniac, I suppose. But they still should have contacted the customer rather than cancelling his order. Just like they could have called me rather than cancelling mine, and made another $2000 last year.
    "The 2nd Amendment is about defense, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."
  • hunter280manhunter280man Member Posts: 705
    edited November -1
    Very good point, and agreed on this end!
    Though I was born to royalty, I was snatched at birth, so treat me as the noble I am!!!
  • VarmintmistVarmintmist Member Posts: 1,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yep this is CYA, but its CYA by the CEO.I get the feeling that the purchase order went to a PETA/antigun/ignorant/chickens***/save the whales/liberal, (mix and match to your desire) clerk. Who on their own, cancelled the order for a gunshop, using the excuses posted above. If we gunowners were what they think we are, (redneck, trailer bound, ignorant, out of touch, uneducated, bozos) that cant even spell cumpooter, it might have gone unnoticed.The antis just dont get it. I would be willing to bet that if we added up the higher education of just this board, and their significant others, The antis would never belive it, it would scare the pants off of them. Just my read of the situation.
  • GrandWizardGrandWizard Member Posts: 109 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1. Who is the end-user?2. Where will the product be used?3. What will the product be used for? 4. What type of business or industry is involved? Let me answer these questions, if you please.1. None of your F****** business2. None of your F****** business3. None of your F****** business4. None of your F****** businessASSHOLES. KLINTON ALREADY SOLD ALL THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA, RUSSIA OR ANYONE ELSE THAT COULD HELP HIM BUY HIS WAY INTO OFFICE.CLOSE THAT BARN DOOR, THE COWS ARE ALREADY GONE!!!!!!!!
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    This is the line that is the most telling of all.Michael Dell: "I want assure you that Dell does not discriminate against any business, regardless of the products or services they sell, ..."Give me a break. Is the selling of firearms something to be ashamed of?What kind of left handed statement is this?Boomer
    Protect our Constitutional Rights. [This message has been edited by Boomerang (edited 02-28-2002).]
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