Dell: Layoffs bigger than expected

Dell plans to cut deeper into its workforce than the already announced layoffs of 8,800 people, according to news reports.

The company is hosting a briefing with financial analysts at its Round Rock, Texas, headquarters on Thursday at which CEO Michael Dell discussed its layoff plans.

"We are not satisfied with the current state of affairs and are on a mission to fix it," Reuters quoted Dell saying. "Every area of the company is being pursued" for cost cuts.

Last May, the company announced that 8,800 people would be cut from its workforce. On Thursday, it said that it has already eliminated 5,500 jobs, according to Reuters.

Earlier this week, Dell said it will close its Austin, Texas, desktop manufacturing facility as it seeks to trim billions in costs.

[BankerTodd]

I just spoke with the a Dell Customer Service agent today who called in reference to a complaint that I sent the local news station and who in turned contacted Dell about the problems. I have also sent a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission as suggested by my local Congresswoman after having explained issues with Dell. In my case, I ordered a desk top that was sent with software in another language. A language that I do not speak. Dell tried to sell me a software warranty before they would fix the problem. After asking a Dell representative who was located in India if I was being treated this way because I am American, he finally and very quickly fixed the problem with a program patch. Linda Kelly, today's Dell rep., share her disgust with me that I would even ask that question. She stated that one day I would look back with shame that I questioned Dell's attempt to be a global company with bigoted remarks like my question. The question is for Dell, how do you possibly imagine that you can stay in business shipping product that does not work and then expect to charge the customer for the fix. I am curious as to how long if I do ever hear from the Federal Trade Commission. I mean, Dell is a Texas company after all. I wonder how close they are to Crawford?

[qnet]

A) Yes, it's a bigoted remark.
B) Who cares about Crawford? Have you heard there's been an election and dumbbell has been sent back to his Dallas home?
C) If you don't know how far Austin is from Crawford, you should probably just shut up.

[BankerTodd]

I just spoke with the a Dell Customer Service agent today who called in reference to a complaint that I sent the local news station and who in turned contacted Dell about the problems. I have also sent a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission as suggested by my local Congresswoman after having explained issues with Dell. In my case, I ordered a desk top that was sent with software in another language. A language that I do not speak. Dell tried to sell me a software warranty before they would fix the problem. After asking a Dell representative who was located in India if I was being treated this way because I am American, he finally and very quickly fixed the problem with a program patch. Linda Kelly, today's Dell rep., share her disgust with me that I would even ask that question. She stated that one day I would look back with shame that I questioned Dell's attempt to be a global company with bigoted remarks like my question. The question is for Dell, how do you possibly imagine that you can stay in business shipping product that does not work and then expect to charge the customer for the fix. I am curious as to how long if I do ever hear from the Federal Trade Commission. I mean, Dell is a Texas company after all. I wonder how close they are to Crawford?

[Hanspuppa]

In January of this year, I purchased a Dell computer system. The system did not perform as it should when I first connected it. I was in touch with Dell support and they were unable to correct the issues with this new Dell computer system.

After months of contacting Dell support and trying to get this system to work as advertised, Dell finally shipped me an exchange system.

The exchange system was not configured as the original system. I contacted Dell support again and they advised me to return the system, which I did. I did not hear anything further from Dell support.

I then contacted Dell support again and was shipped another exchange system, again not configured as the original. I contacted Dell support and was assured that the system would be corrected. When I received it, the second exchange system was still not configured as the original system.

I contacted Dell support once again and advised them of the difference in the two systems and Dell support sent Banctec to my home to replace the components that were not as the original.

I had to reinstall the operating system due to the incorrect components not being supported for the replaced components. I then added two additional hard drives and configured them in a Raid0 array and installed the operating system once again.

The system started to not operate as it should, as it had with the other systems. I contacted Dell support and requested an addon raid controller card and was refused.

The very next morning, on October 7, 2008 at approximately 10:00 AM, I received a telephone call out of the blue, by a person that advised me he was from Dell Corporate Office, and wanted to know what my issues were. I tried to explain to him about all the issues I had with these Dell systems and was told that Dell would do nothing to correct these issues since the system did not ship with a Raid0 array and I was not the original owner, even though I had transferred ownership to myself.

He further told me I had no other recourse and all the issues were caused by me. I was verbally abused by this person and profoundly thrashed to the point of harassment. The person from Dell Corporate Office verbally attacked me and although he never used curse words, I felt I had been cursed out. He offered no resolution to my issues except to offer to send another motherboard for my system. I tried to explain to him that would not correct the issues.

Now, I can accept the defective Dell computer system, but I cannot accept being attacked and verbally assaulted by someone representing himself as a person from Dell Corporate Office. This was personally offensive and extremely unprofessional.

I do not want, nor do I expect, Dell will do anything at all about this, but I could not let this occur without someone at Dell knowing how some of their employees are treating their loyal customers.