Here's why Alienware's sales in Portugal are abysmal...

February 22, 2012

Posted By:  HerrKaputt

2 Votes

Status: Archived

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I have been interested in buying an M11x since the first model, R1, came out. I have not bought one. It wasn't for lack of money. It wasn't because I preferred another system (I haven't bought any other system either). It was, quite simply, because I am OUTRAGED at how Alienware treats its community of Portuguese followers. Let me explain.

Suppose that someone in Spain want to buy an M11x. He logs into the Alienware website and creates the following config:

M11x R3
Win 7 Home Premium
i5 CPU + 1GB nVidia GT 540M
4 GB RAM
750 GB HDD (7200 rpm)
3 years of next-day on-site warranty
No extras apart from the above
Price: 1068.66€

Now suppose that someone in Portugal wants to buy an M11x. No Alienware website exists in Portugal so he tries the following options (I tried this myself):

1) He chats with someone in the Spanish Alienware website. They immediately inform that they cannot ship to Portugal.
2) He goes to retail chains and finds that FNAC and Media Markt sell Alienware laptops. He finds the following specs (I found these myself, they are not made up!):

M11x R3
Win 7 Home Premium
i5 CPU + 1GB nVidia GT 540M
4 GB RAM
750 GB HDD (7200 rpm)
Basic retain chain warranty (2 years, customer must take laptop to store and pick it up, service quality is abysmal)
No extras apart from the above
Price: 1199€

M11x R2
Win 7 Home Premium
i5 CPU + 1GB nVidia GT 335M
4 GB RAM
500 GB HDD (7200 rpm)
Basic retail chain warranty (see above)
No extras apart from the above
Price: 899€

So as you see, the Portuguese have two possibilities: they can buy the same R3 as someone in Spain but paying a 130€ premium with a much worse warranty, or buy a last-gen model with a 170€ discount AND a much worse warranty.

Dell/Alienware has two trademark features that set it apart from its competitors (Lenovo/HP in business, ASUS/MSI in gaming): extreme ability to customize, and excellent warranties. By selling Alienware laptops only through retail chains, you lose both.

This is why Alienware's sales in Portugal have been ridiculously low. Open a Portuguese website, or just allow the Spanish website to ship to Portugal (we're right next to Spain!), and watch the sales rise with little to no extra cost for you.

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  • Feb 25, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: HerrKaputt

    @MxMatrix

    No, not really. That would explain a minor difference in price vs. Spain, but not this much and certainly not the non-existence of a web store or the prevalence of last-gen models. Furthermore, I just configured a system which does exist on the websites of both countries (Dell Latitude E6420). The base configurations cost exactly the same (to the cent!), and all upgrades cost the same too.

    If there is a tax difference, it is small enough for Dell to absorb it and present the consumer the same price.
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  • Feb 24, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: MxMatrix

    I think prices and conditions apply to a countries laws and Alienware probably has a tougher deal in Portugal as taxes might be higher.