Under the best of circumstances, one week would be a tight timeframe -- since the system has to travel from the manufacturer in Shenzhen China to your home country.  In a time where there are all sorts of delays not only with component production, but also with international shipping, if you need a system in that short a period of time, find a retailer that has something close to what you want in stock and buy it -- custom ordering a system that's built half a world away will involve delays.

Dell's overseas customer service is really terrible! they have no clue about actually providing good service, all you get from them is empty promises, that they know that they cannot fulfil! my laptop is supposed to have been shipped from November 14! they cannot tell you till now where it is!, one of them told me that it takes Purolator 14 days to pick it up! right!!, Purolator or any carrier would be out of business. Dell really made a bad choice to outsource the customer service for a cheap price, that would only give bad reputation to their name!

I completely understand what you said. But why on earth they gave the earlier estimate date but not obey it? What is the estimate date for? I bought it because I want to give it to my friend as a gift. What now? They can give dozens of excuse if they want. But is that what customer wants?

can't agree with you more!!! please tell me when your order start shipping

Are all Dell PCs assembled in China?

Notebooks, yes.  Some desktops are as well -- the rest in Mexico (I'm referring to those sold in the North American market).

the customer service kept tell me to wait. but this is a gift and supposed to give it to my friend before thanksgiving! I'm not sure they know what gift means