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130

The Power of Subtract

130 points posted to Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies by stormrider451 03/29/08

I have been doing my bit of web surfing these days on other companies site's and I actually found HP's site quite flexible if not more flexible than DELL's in terms of upgradability and options they offer for their comps. I think DELL needs get working on trying to overpass HP in this aspect because this had always been DELL's strength. One aspect that I have been noticing is that HP gives the power to substract from the total price by downgrading certain parts. Dell should give the costumer more choices where they can [substract] from the cost of their computer. The ability to substract is a sales strategy that is very powerful because the costumer feels hes getting a great deal, a computer which is built just for him and that he has a great deal more of control over what he is buying. Not everyone wants a huge HD, some would rather have more RAM or video memory instead of a huge HD.

While I was interested in the M2010 and the Dell One, I made tons of different setups but always found that DELL did not offer any subtracting ability on those products. All you could do really was to upgrade and thus bump your price higher with every option. I tried to build a XPS 420 and a XPS 210 before making this post just to check and it was the same deal. Everything is add add add add add. Where have the substract options gone?

I propose that DELL gets to working on trying to give the option of AT LEAST ONE product per major hardware option that will lower the price at least by some degree on ALL THE COMPUTERS offered by DELL. That is, RAM, HD, Video Card and Processor. Any other suggestions on where [subtract] options could be given? This will give more power to the costumer and give an additional incentive for that costumer to buy. This should not be so hard.

stormrider451
03/29/08		 Can any of the moderators please change the first sentence of the last paragraph to this:
I propose that DELL gets to working on trying to give the option of AT LEAST ONE product per major hardware option that will lower the price at least by some degree on ALL THE COMPUTERS offered by DELL.
stinkytofu
03/29/08		 I don't need 100 different ways to modify a purchase. I don't have any problem with Dell's current way of system configuration. I will say that Dell's configuration steps are MUCH easier than HP, Sony. Dell just needs to post MORE description for each components they sell. Sometimes I feel like I do not receive enough descriptive information on what I am building (such as the LCD screens).
stormrider451
03/29/08		 Easier is relative from one person to the other. Its not easier if you are very selective in terms of what you want in a computer. Its completely the opposite, it makes it real hard on this type of costumer because he cant seem to be able to configure the system to his liking and mold it to his pocket and needs. If you are a gamer that needs a very good video card but you do not have a lot of money, the way DELL sets things up you cant lower the price by subtracting a bit on HD so that you can afford what you really are in need for (a high end video card). Besides, if you really like the system dell has right now, theres no problem, DELL doesnt have to stop offering pre-configured systems. You simply choose the pre-configured system and move on. However, for people like the example I gave above, they will not simply buy the pre-configured system. So, its all about giving options to costumers so that you can please as many as possible. If you do configure your systems to some extent, just do not choose any that says [Substract] beside it. Plus, giving the ability to the costumer to subtract is a very powerful sales strategy. Its pure psychology with some monetary on top.
stormrider451
03/29/08		 I really do not like the way DELL has it right now. They give you several pre-built computers which you can modify. They all have different modifications that are allowed. To me its not easier at all. I think this is what hills was talking about, correct me if I am wrong hills. You go to the 999 one and you get X number of HD's. You go to the 1999 version and you have X different possibilities. Thats confusing to me.

To me, buying a computer is an investment that sometimes can go upwards of several thousand dollars. If someone doesnt want to make sure hes getting the computer built just for him, then he can go right ahead and buy the prebuilt one. But those who do like making the computer JUST RIGHT, the door shouldnt be closed on them either. If I am going to pay 1500 for a computer, id rather pay 1500 with a good video card and a lower end HD than buying a 1500 computer with an OK HD and an OK Video card because I couldnt find the way to lower the price a bit more to upgrade the Video and downgrade the HD.
champ
03/31/08		 I didn't read the comments yet, but my thought is that they should offer the smallest specs as their base model, and then all the upgrades would be, well, upgrades. If you can downgrade it, why not just start at that lower spec?
stormrider451
03/31/08		 I think dell should also offer items that are lower than the base line. Leave the base configuration as it is, and let the costumer decide if he wants to go a bit lower.
leolonewolf_nw08
04/01/08		 I think that if DELL wants to put out pre-configured systems that is fine. For the most part customers that aren't really tech savy like having a few major pre-built options to choose from with the ability to customize to X degeree. But on the other hand they should allow a non-priced option that allows the more savy customer to select all of their components from the start to finish.

So in the long and short of it add a tab that says "Build/Design My Own" Option for that specific chassis.
winoffice
04/17/08		 "The Power of Subtract"

What does that mean??? Sorry man, demoted.
stormrider451
04/18/08		 Winoffice.. what do you mean what does that mean? Did you read the whole idea or just the title?

If my idea is not clear let me know and tell me what confuses you, I can try to better word it in a comment. What dont you understand? Did you read the comments posted by others? Maybe those can help you understand.
winoffice
04/18/08		 "I actually found HP's site quite flexible if not more flexible than DELL's in terms of upgradability and options they offer for their comps. I think DELL needs get working on trying to overpass HP in this aspect because this had always been DELL's strength"

I demoted because I found exactly the opposite: Dell already is more flexible than HP.
stormrider451
04/18/08		 Thankyou for responding winoffice. I accept your comments. However I did find HP's more flexible in terms of allowing the costumer to substract from the total. Which is why I posted this.. But its true, good point, HP is not more flexible overall nonetheless.
 
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