Dell outlet..issues!

This will be long but I hope it might prevent someone else from going through this.

So I have been working with a couple of reps at the Dell outlet for a few weeks regarding buying an Area 51 r5. I was looking at the lower end 7800x with the 1080ti that was new and a certified refurbished 9800x with the 2080ti. I was so going to throw in a new ultrawide monitor and keyboard and mouse. The main guy I was dealing with told me several times that the refurbished units were returns caused by order cancelations, non payment of item, or some other non physical or non mechanical reason. The rep told me all the machines at the outlet were built within the last 90 days and that they were only returned 1 time. He also said that there would be no discernable difference between the new and refurbished machines other than the box stating it was refurbished. I spent a couple weeks trying to decide what to do and during that time even started a discussion on the Dell community forums regarding all of this

I then spoke to a different rep a few days after because my normal guy was out and he reiterated everything but said the refurbished machines were in "next to new to new" condition. After many conversations, emails, price quotes, and even a couple chat sessions, I was finally ready to move forward with the refurbished along with the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Then the 15% off sale happened and I tried to make my purchase. The Dell site would not accept my PayPal credit payment for the whole time the sale was going on and I was not going to use a credit card because I had a 0% offer from PayPal. The morning after the sale ends, PayPal suddenly works again. So like an  paid full price for the system.

I bought the system around 2am on October 18th. At 10am on the same day, another 15% offer appeared. I received my system on the 20th. Upon receiving the system I take the top of the box off and right away notice the right side panel is a little loose, it's not completely snug around the case of the machine. I pull it out of the box and sit it on the desk and immediately notice long black scuffs, multiple scratches and small dings all over the right side panel. In addition, it has dust all over it as if it was just sitting out in the open, getting knocked over, kicked and then put in a box. This machine looks nowhere near "next to new or new" condition. It should have been a scratch and dent.

I try calling Dell right away, they are not available til Monday. So yesterday I call Dell to discuss the condition of the system and the sale that started 8 hours later on the same day I purchased the item. I am told they cannot give me the discount but could give me a lesser "courtesy" credit. This is even though I am well within my return period. I advised her I could just return the item and then buy it again with the discount and she stated that is fine but she cannot give me the actual discount credit. I tell her to give me her courtesy credit and transfer me to support regarding getting the panel replaced as I also purchased a premium warranty with the computer. I speak with a very friendly rep there who says no problem, if I keep the machine, let them know and they will schedule someone to come out and replace the panel.

Now at this point, I am still considering keeping the machine but I have not even plugged the PC in and have no idea if it works. So last night I decide to plug it in and see if it works. Comes on, I set windows up but notice that even after everything has been updated and there are no Dell updates either, the machine sounds like a plane sitting on the runway right before it goes to take off. This is just sitting on the desktop, nothing running. Temps are below 30 everywhere, the fans aren't running full blast but the fans never level down and no changes made in AWCC seem to take effect. Seems to fans 5 and 7 I think. I also notice that when it finally goes to sleep it sounds like it's being hit with a power surge everytime, it's very loud.

At any rate, the machine I was sent was clearly used, damaged, and in no way should it have been sold as anywhere close to new or certified refurbished. The panel is loose, It looks like it's been kicked and slid around. And when a panel looks like that, there is no way of knowing what else could be wrong with it on the inside. Add the fan noise, the possible software issue and the loud surge like noise it makes when going to sleep and I have zero confidence in this machine even if they replace the panel. This reminds of something you would find at a yard sale, not like new certified refurbished. There were no manuals or paperwork, I was given the cheap Alienware mouse but a general Dell keyboard. There are also other additional small scratches, dings and blemishes which are acceptable but still not "next to new".

So it will be going back. This my 4th Alienware product and it will be my last. I was misled regarding the condition it was in, I was messed over by not giving me the discount that started 8 hours later on the same day I bought it. And I have no way of knowing what else could have happened to this thing. On top of all of this, I ended up getting the monitor and keyboard somewhere else and I am unable to return them so I will be out 1000 bucks for nothing simply because Dell is willing to do or say anything to get people to buy the remaining stock at their outlet.

Shame on you Dell.