Under the hood, we were able to build the foundation of a browser that runs today’s complex web applications much better . By keeping each tab in an isolated “sandbox”, we were able to prevent one tab from crashing another and provide improved protection from rogue sites. We improved speed and responsiveness across the board. We also built V8, a more powerful JavaScript engine, to power the next generation of web applications that aren’t even possible in today’s browsers. 

I would suggest that you download it and fully test your website in it to be sure that your site functions as expected. If first impressions and Google’s history are any indication, it won’t be too long before this is the most popular browser on the Internet.

Offer expires December 26th, 2005

When all goes well it is as simple as follow the instructions, mail it in and get your check.

Just in case it doesn’t go smoothly be sure that you keep copies of everything (order numbers, case numbers, names, dates, etc.) and document all of your communications. We ended up too frustrated by email and phone call dead ends, so we made 5 copies of everything that we had (19 pages in all), wrote a 4 page letter to go with it and mailed it all to:

Dell, Inc.

One Dell Way

Round Rock, TX 78682

We sent a copy to:

• Dell Customer Service Department
• Technical Support
• Dell Management
• Rebate Fulfillment Department

And a CC: to Michael Dell just for good measure.

Since all is resolved, we won’t bore you with the details, but here is the intro to our 4 page letter:

Dear Dell:

Here’s the short version of my ordeal with Dell:

You owe me $200 and a hard drive. Please send them now.

Here’s the long version….

I am writing to you out of sheer desperation and frustration and praying SOMEONE at Dell can help me out. I purchased the two Dell computer systems referenced above, back on 2/7/05. I placed my order online…. 4 more pages of details…

We mailed everything on 8/20 and started getting phone calls and email responses on 9/1 from David C. from the Resolution Expert Center; David is, indeed, a true Resolution Expert. Our issue was now given an OMNI case number and things flowed like fine wine (which we had already been driven to drink much of during this ordeal). We received exceptional communication and unprecedented follow-up that included several phone calls and more than 15 emails (all of them with useful and pertinent information). We have been issued credits for our rebates (one on 9/8 and one on 9/9) and our brand new replacement hard drive arrived yesterday (9/9). So, after seven months of being in the depths of Dell, our hell has been completely and Delliciously transformed to a heavenly resolution in less than a week.

We wish that Dell could have provided more people like David C. and this level of customer service (like Sharper Image and Target do so well), on the front end. Nevertheless, our faith in Dell has been restored. Thank you David C., we will continue to endorse your company and your products.

Update Published: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 :: This issue has been resolved by Dell, for the rest of the story see How to Get Your Dell Rebate (Our Trip to Dell and Back!)

Original Article Published: Sun, 21 Aug 2005

Does Dell actually give those rebates that they promise? We’re pretty sure that they do not, based on this response from the Dell REBATE FULFILLMENT DEPARTMENT after SIX months of phone calls (mostly waiting on hold and being transferred, disconnected or told to call other numbers) and emails (mostly canned responses). After finally being escalated to a Rebate Fulfillment Department Manager, who seemed to resolve the problem, all traces of her were gone when we tried to follow up with her six weeks later, as she suggested. We still had not received our rebate at that point – nor at this point either for that matter. Her name is gone from the directory, her extension no longer exists, her fax line has been disconnected and there is no trace of the two case numbers that she gave us. Here´s a sample of the latest canned email response from Dell…

“Dear Dell Consumer:

Thank you for your recent inquiry. Unfortunately you have reached the incorrect department. We are the Dell

Rebate Fulfillment Department and are not able to assist you with your request.

You may reach the Dell Customer Service Department by calling toll-free, 1-800-624-9897, option 4, enter your

order number, option 1, option 4, option 4. This will get you in touch with a live representative who will be more

than happy to address any questions you may have.

Thank you for contacting Dell.

Customer Contact Center Dell.rebatestatus.com”

So after I press 4, then enter my 9 digit order number, then press 1, then press 4 and then press 4 again, I can wait on hold for 48 minutes. Then after being transferred or told to call another number several times, pressing several more 1s and 4s and various other numbers and listening to several full-length concertos while waiting on hold, I will finally be talking to a live person in the Rebate Fulfillment Department, who is probably the one that told me that they are the wrong department via email to begin with! This live person (who is probably in India) will most likely just tell me (in broken English that I can hardly understand) that the Dell Rebate Fulfillment Department doesn’t actually send out rebates, call customer service. If you are a programmer you will immediately recognize this infinite loop that we have been trapped in for the last six months.

Dell is great when all goes smoothly, but there is nowhere a consumer can go if there is a complaint. Stay tuned for the rest of the Dell Rebate Bait-And-Switch Scam story if this is not resolved by this time next month. It will be both entertaining and enlightening.

Update Published: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 :: This issue has been resolved by Dell, for the rest of the story see How to Get Your Dell Rebate (Our Trip to Dell and Back!)