Comments on: PC shipments leap past expectations

HP grows shipments slightly faster than Dell, stemming--for now--what had become a widening gap between the rivals.

[bobby_brady]

Dell now charges for shipping

which adds about $120 to the cost.

[corelogik]

Thats funny...

The computer maker that they mentioned the worldwide market is
Apple... If none of the other companies worldwide market matters,
why should Apple's?

[sanenazok]

does it matter?

These numbers are always off. The article below claims that Apple US market share was 4.7% in JULY, and also according to IDC. So it has actually gone down 0.3% whatever that means.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=12112

Worldwide market indicators are important for companies that bill themselves as international competitors. Apple has stores in Europe and Asia so article's got their worldwide numbers. Anyways, just like it has Dell's and Acer's, Gateway isn't a big player there so it doesn't have those numbers.

Dell's model...

Maybe Dell should ammend their direct sales model. Most consumers like to "try before they buy" - which is exactly what you can do when you go into Best Buy and see that nice looking HP. Even if HP's Best Buy systems cost more than a Dell, the fact that you can see it, feel it, and "buy it now" probably adds to sales.

Dell should start a franchise - similar to Radio Shack - that offers purely Dell computers (and now their TV's). If you need a repair on your Dell - take it to the Dell shop. They could still use a "direct sales" pricing by fixing the price at all stores. Besides that, people would actually be paying Dell for the franchise license - there would be very little overhead costs.

[sanenazok]

Nooooo....

Dell needs to fix customer service first. It doesn't need to drive up new sales, just keep its current customers happy, which will be difficult if it continues to suck.

Go ahead, give them a call, asking for anything. Makes me think of calling AT&T with a billing issue BEFORE the breakup.