Dell shipments delayed by IT upgrade

 

Unrelated data centre relocation underway.

Dell has blamed an IT systems upgrade at logistics company Schenker Australia for shipment delays last month.

Although the issue was believed to be resolved, the companies faced a backlog of orders from consumers, public organisations, large enterprises and SMBs.

"There have been some customer order delays caused by an IT systems upgrade at our logistics partner," Dell spokesperson Marty Filipowski said.

"We're apologising for any delay or inconvenience that has been caused," he said.

Filipowski confirmed that Dell was working with Schenker. The companies have worked together for over ten years.

Meanwhile, Schenker spokesperson Carola Jonas acknowledged that there was an "internal issue that we are fixing."

She explained that Schenker was relocating its data centre, but asserted that the relocation was unrelated to the issue, whose cause had yet to be identified.

"Our data centre relocation is not at all connected to any complaints about people not receiving their computers," she said.

IT contractor Michael Millard reported that he had waited nearly two weeks longer than expected for a shipment of workstations valued over $9,000.

Millard was performing a systems upgrade for an Adelaide Hills medical centre. He spent 25 minutes on the phone with Schenker only to receive a consignment number that "didn't work", he said.

"I've dealt with Dell for many years and have never had problems like this before," he said.

Melbourne-based small business computing consultant Anthony May ordered a Dell server on behalf of a client in October, expecting a two-week delivery timeframe. The server didn't arrive for six weeks.

May said he tracked the order online - where it mysteriously was cancelled twice before he re-ordered - the machine finally going into production late November.

May's client required the server for an accounting upgrade, which was subsequently delayed until the Christmas rush and New Year's break.

"Dell were uncommunicative about the process," May said. "We received no apology."

Customers across all of Dell's business segments were affected by the delays, Filipowski said, although he was unable to disclose the number of shipments that were delayed.

"To our knowledge, any issues have been resolved," he said.

Customers affected by the delay may contact Dell via phone or the web ... or leave a comment below.


Dell shipments delayed by IT upgrade
"Sounds about right. You left out the part where you call a local support number, get diverted to Malaysia, speak to someone who either doesn't want to / can't understand proper english, then ..."
By DJ
 
 
 
Comments: 5
DJ
Mar 2, 2010 4:43 PM
Simple answer to this is STOP BUYING CRAP FROM DELL.

There are other vendors out there who provide better product without the poor after sales support.
Tinrib
Mar 2, 2010 5:01 PM
Shouldn't you really say stop buying stuff from Oracle especially JD Edwards!
http://www.oracle.com/corporate/press/2007_jan/schenker.html
Dell has nearly always been a slick delivery system with a few hiccups along the way. Like any business.
DJ
Mar 3, 2010 9:06 AM
You sound like a plant for Dell marketing.

Ask any SMB in Australia how crap their delivery and most importantly their support is.

Delivery is only 1 part of the story.

If you can find someone who speaks proper english and actually gives a toss for your business, it's close to a miracle.

Anachronism
Mar 12, 2010 5:40 PM
I've been promised delivery on a number of days now for a purchase from Dell. They're happy to take your money but after that they obviously have no concern for the customer - this can be seen in how their online support service works (you get no email or other identifier about the problem you log in relation to order status) and the length of time you are on hold if you should attempt to call them.
DJ
Mar 13, 2010 12:01 PM
Sounds about right.

You left out the part where you call a local support number, get diverted to Malaysia, speak to someone who either doesn't want to / can't understand proper english, then can't do anything about your delivery issue.

Then out of frustration, you hang up and hope the equipment arrives.

When it doesn't arrive for another 5 days and your customer is p*ssed, you call them up again to enjoy the same treatment all over.

If I did this to our customers, I would be out of business.

Hopeless.
Comments have been disabled for this article.
 
 
 
Top Stories
Vito Forte: A CIO for tough times
Fortescue Metals CIO talks vendor management and innovation.
 
Telstra shifts BigPond email to Windows Live
All data to be migrated to Microsoft cloud.
 
Vodafone Australia churn nears half a million for 2011
British joint owners 'not pleased'.
 
Sign up to receive iTnews email bulletins
   FOLLOW US...

Latest VideosSee all videos »

Latest Comments
Polls
Would you be concerned about your business' email data being hosted offshore?

   |   View results
Yes
  85%
 
No
  15%
TOTAL VOTES: 226

Vote