My e-mail said:
I would like to request a price protection review as listed in this
e-mail. The monitor I ordered had a $17 price drop less than 24 hours
after I ordered it. I would like the difference credited to the American
Express card I purchased this with. This price dropped before my system
shipped, but I was unable to cancel and re-order before the item shipped.
Order Number: 9XXXXXXXX
Customer Number XXXXXXXX
Item: Dell UltraSharp 1907FP Flat Panel
Thank you,
mharrison
This was in response to an automated e-mail from a question to Dell. The response outlined their Price Protection Policy. They said to respond to the e-mail requesting a price protection review. If you'll notice it stated this about the policy:
> If the system price drop is $50 or more, the amount of the price drop will be refunded
> back to you according to the original payment method (Credit card, payment terms, etc.).
I took a shot and it worked. YMMV....
Here is the original automated e-mail from Dell:
Dear Dell Customer,
>
>
> If Dell's e-mail software has interpreted your message correctly, you
> have requested help with information about price protection. This
> response covers the topics listed below in the Table of Contents.
>
> Each entry in the Table of Contents is identical to the title at the
> beginning of its corresponding document section. You can navigate back
> and forth by copying these labels into the Search function of your
> e-mail reader application. Click [Find] on the top menu bar or press
> [Ctrl]-[F] within the body of the text itself to open a Search.
>
>
>
> =================
> Table of Contents
> =================
>
> 1. Drop in price before system ships from Dell
> 2. Dell's price protection offer
> 3. Requesting a price protection review
>
> 1. Drop in price before system ships from Dell
> ------------------------------
>
> If the price drops before a customer's order is shipped, the customer
> is still invoiced for the amount agreed upon at the time the order was
> placed. If your order has not yet shipped, but it appears the price
> for the system configuration you ordered has dropped, you have a
> couple of options available to take advantage of the lower price.
>
> The first option is to contact our Customer Care Department and have
> your current order cancelled and a new order issued at the lower
> price. Please note the estimated ship date for your order will most
> likely change to a date later that the estimated ship date for the
> original order.
>
> To make changes to your order, check your Order Status by going to the
> following address on Dell's Web site:
>
>
http://support.dell.com/support/order/status.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
> <
http://support.dell.com/support/order/status.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19>
>
> If your order has not shipped yet, you will need to have your existing
> order canceled and a new order placed.
>
> Order changes/cancellations can not be made via e-mail. To make a
> change to your order please contact one of the following:
>
> Business Orders Only
>
> If your purchase was for your business, and you are requesting a
> change/cancellation please contact the following:
>
> Business orders originally submitted by phone - contact our Business
> Sales Division at 1-877-773-3355 ext. 7267613 to change or cancel your
> order.
>
> Business orders originally submitted Online - contact our Online
> Business Sales Division at 1-877-773-3355 ext. 7261843 to change or
> cancel your ONLINE order.
>
> Consumer (Home) Orders Only
>
> If your purchase was for home use, and you are requesting to add or
> remove an item from your full system order, please call our Order
> Modification Department at 1-800-915-3355 ext. 7243784. If you wish to
> cancel the order, or if you want to change the billing or shipping
> information on the order, please contact our Home Customer Care
> Division at 1-800-624-9897 ext. 7266966.
>
> If you placed your Home order on-line - you may use the following form
> to change or cancel your order:
>
>
http://support.dell.com/ChangeOrder/index.aspx
>
>
> *** This form will not work for business orders or any orders placed
> by phone. ***
>
>
> The second option is to let the order ship and take advantage of
> Dell's price protection courtesy within 21 days of your invoice date.
> Information regarding Dell's price protection courtesy is provided in
> Section 2 of this document.
>
>
2. Dell's price protection offer
> ------------------------------
>
> Dell's price protection courtesy is not a stated policy. This offer is
> derived from Dell's Return Policy. Dell realizes that prices and
> components change very rapidly in the computer industry. As a courtesy
> to our customers, Dell's Customer Care division will, upon request,
> compare the most current price available to the price you were
> invoiced for. This review must be requested by the customer; it is not
> generated automatically.
>
> The price protection review is made on an exact component-by-component
> basis and the price may go up or down. This comparison does not take
> into account any promotions or special discounts. If the system price
> drop is $50 or more, the amount of the price drop will be refunded
> back to you according to the original payment method (Credit card,
> payment terms, etc.).
>
> The request for a price protection review will only be honored one
> time, and must be done within 21 days from the invoice date. If you
> wish to wait until closer to the 21st day, you can check via the Dell
> Web site to see if the price has changed. You must go to "Printable
> Summary view" and compare the part numbers listed on the invoice, to
> the part numbers listed on our Web site. Please remember that part
> numbers must be identical to qualify.
>
> Please understand that after 21 days from the invoice date Dell can no
> longer extend the price protection offer.
>
> You may review Dell's Return Policy on Dell's Web site at the
> following address:
>
>
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/...us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~section=010#total
> <
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/...19&l=en&s=dhs&%7Esection=010#total>
>
>
>
>
>
> 3. Requesting a price protection review
> ------------------------------
>
> If you wish to request a price protection review on your system now,
> you may reply directly to this email. If replying, please be sure to
> include the Invoice Number or Customer Number from your invoice. If
> unknown, please provide the full name, address, and phone number
> listed on your Dell account. Please understand that sales
> representatives are unable to process price protection requests.
FYI....the address that I sent the Price Protection Review to was:
US_ABU_CustomerCare_BSD@dell.com