To contact our Customer Care Team, please complete and submit one of our customer care forms listed below with as much detail as possible for any questions you may have regarding an auction listing. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5:30 pm CST to respond to your inquiries.
Before contacting our Customer Service Department with questions or concerns, we suggest you review the links below. Your answer may be immediately available by reviewing the following links:
The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you. Be sure to use our NEW Technical assistance Form for technical support. Click on link below to display form.
To contact our Customer Care Team, please complete and submit the Customer Service Form with as much detail as possible for any questions you may have regarding an auction listing. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5:30 pm CST to respond to your inquiries.
Before contacting our Customer Service Department with questions or concerns, we suggest you review the links below. Your answer may be immediately available by reviewing the following links:
The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
To contact our Technical Customer Care team, please complete and submit the Technical Assistance Form with as much detail as possible for any questions you may have regarding an auction listing. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5:30 pm CST to respond to your inquiries.
Before contacting our Technical Customer Service with questions or concerns, we suggest you review the links below. Your answer may be immediately available by reviewing the following links:
The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
Question
Answer
I bid on the wrong item, can I cancel my bid?
No. To ensure fairness to all bidders you are obligated to purchase any item(s) that you bid on and win. Please be careful when bidding to avoid any inaccuracies.
Many of our systems have wireless capability; however, at the present time our retest capabilities do not detect wireless. Due to our retest capabilities, DFS can not guarantee this feature is still included.
Can I use my Dell Preferred Account (DPA) on Dell Auction?
No. Currently Dell Auction is unable to accept DPA cards or Dell Dollars as a form of payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. You may use your DPA card on www.delloutlet.com, which maintains a separate order processing/checkout which is not affiliated with Dellauction.com.
Is a signature required on deliveries?
Yes. All orders purchased on Dell Auction require a signature upon receipt of the item.
Welcome to Dell Auction! Dell Auction has provided the following list of the
most Frequently Asked Questions we receive from new Dell Auction users, and
the answers to those questions. If you are unable to find an answer to your question here, please
e-mail us at us_dfs_auction@dell.com
or visit How To Use Dell Auction.
Are Dell Financial Services LLC (DFS) and Dell Auction affiliated with Dell, Inc.?
Yes. DFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dell, Inc., the world's leading online computer systems company. DFS remarkets and resells previously leased Dell products on DellAuction.com and DFSDirectsales.com.
Yes. DellAuction.com is a United States based marketplace. To participate in Dell Auction bidding, bidders must register with a US credit card and must ship to a US address. The US billing address must match the billing address on the credit card issued by a US financial merchant institute .We do not ship to P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO, Freight Forwarders, Hotels or Internationally.
Yes. We take the security of our customer's information very seriously, making it our highest priority. After you complete our registration form, your information is transferred to secure servers via http post where it is stored behind a state-of -the art firewall.
Everyone is invited to browse or Search through our auction categories and listings for items on Dell Auction. If you see something you would like to bid on you must first register. Don't worry, registration is free and easy! The Registration page will ask you to enter a Logon ID, which is the username or nickname you will be known by within the Dell Auction community, as well as a password and valid contact information. You will only need to register if you want to participate in bidding.
Yes. It takes just a few minutes to complete the registration process. You will need to provide us with some required information such as UserName, Complete Name, Address, Email Address, Phone number with Area Code and Country.
You will also have the option to receive notices regarding special offers and deals.
Why did my screen "refresh" after I submitted my registration information?
Your cookies have probably been disabled. Check the internet options or preferences from your browser's toolbar. If your cookies are disabled, you will not be able to navigate DellAuction.com.
Do I have to enter my credit information when I register?
No. The registration process does not require you to enter credit card information. DFS requires a credit card when you place a bid on an item. You will be prompted for credit card information before you enter your bid. You may also go to "My Account" to enter your credit card information before being prompted.
By registering with Dell Auction, you are letting other members know that you will participate in an honest and professional manner. You must provide us with valid contact information so that we may contact you regarding your Dell Auction purchases.
Registration on Dell Auction is free and easy! There are no monthly membership fees and there is no obligation to maintain your membership. Once you have submitted your registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail message giving you instant access to Dell Auction.
No. You are not obligated to buy anything on Dell Auction when you register. We invite you to stop by any time to shop Dell Auction. If you see something you would like to bid on you can do so quickly as a registered customer.
Yes. To update your current e-mail address, simply log into your auction account and click on the "Update My Registration Info". Enter your new email address, verify the entry and click "Update User Information".
Why did I not receive my confirmation e-mail after I registered?
After you submitted your registration form, you should have received a confirmation email. This process ensures your e-mail address is valid. You should have received your registration confirmation message within minutes of submitting your registration. If you have not received this e-mail within 24 hours, please return to Dell Auction, logon to your account and verify that you have entered your e-mail address correctly and make any necessary updates. Also, please check your spam blocker to ensure you have not blocked us. If you still do not receive your confirmation email or need us to resend it to you, please contact us at Customer Care.
Yes. Dell Auction members are expected to maintain valid accounts by keeping their contact information (e-mail address, mailing address, and phone number) up-to-date. This is a vital aspect of creating an honest and secure trading environment for Dell Auction members.
Please review your contact information and if it changes, simply update it from the Manage My Account > Update My Registration Info section of the My Auction Account.
If you've registered before but do not remember your password, you can reset it online. Simply select the "Forgot Password" link on the login page and enter your email address. A new password will be sent promptly.
I have questions about site functionality (registration, bidding)?
Please send your comments to Customer Care.
Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
What are the best viewing requirements for Dell Auction?
For best results, Dell Auction recommends you use either MS Internet Explorer 6.x or greater or Mozilla Firefox 2.x or greater.
If you are running on a Windows platform, we recommend it be a Pentium III or greater with Windows 2000 or XP and Service Pack 6, 256 MB memory (RAM) or higher, VGA 256 color, 1024 X 768 and High Speed Internet access. If you are running on Macintosh, it should be a Power PC (running OS X+) with 256 MB memory (RAM) or higher, 256 colors at 1024 X 768 and High Speed Internet access.
Who is powering the auction technology for the Dell Auction website?
The Dell Auction website is powered by Truition. Truition is the leading provider of business software that maximizes the value of online transactions.
Dell Auction is fully committed to protecting your right to privacy within our on-line auction community. Dell Auction expects all members to respect and protect the privacy of others. The release of any members' personal information for reasons other than those specifically connected with Dell Auction is prohibited. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our Privacy Policy and contact us if you have any concerns or questions about privacy issues that may affect you.
How is my information kept private on Dell Auction?
We do not voluntarily allow your e-mail address or any other personal information to be displayed anywhere on our website, except in the My Auction Account which is only accessible by you with your password. Dell Auction does not sell, rent or otherwise release registered user information to third parties and this information is not used for marketing purposes.
ABOUT DELL PRODUCTS
What does "refurbished" mean?
Refurbished: These previously leased systems are tested to ensure quality workmanship standards remain excellent. Refurbished products are visually and diagnostically inspected to ensure these items function. Refurbished systems may have some observable cosmetic imperfections, but they will not affect the performance.
Please refer to our What's in the Box information page for complete details on what is included with each system.
Laptop carrying cases are only included when indicated in the laptop description detail. Please be sure to check the listing description details if a laptop carrying case is desired.
Also, system device drivers are included on all Latitude laptops and Optiplex desktops preloaded with Windows XP Pro. Dimension Desktops, Inspiron Laptops and Precision Workstations may not have all of the drivers loaded. You may download all Dell system drivers free of charge at www.support.dell.com.
An operating system recovery/reinstallation disk (when operating system is indicated on the listing) will be included with the system. The recovery/reinstallation disk is not a Microsoft Retail Installation CD.
Many of our systems have wireless capability; however, at the present time our retest capabilities do not detect wireless components. Due to this, DFS can not guarantee this feature is still included. All of our notebook systems have the available ports to add your own wireless hardware. This is a relatively inexpensive component and can usually be obtained for around $40. For information on how this can be done please contact Us_DFS_Auction@dell.com.
Will the item I am currently viewing allow me to access the internet?
If the item indicates "56K" in the product listing description the unit is capable of connecting to the internet through a phone line via a 56K modem. Please contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to find out what their requirements are to ensure system compatibility.
The operating System is the basic software that is necessary for your computer to function and operate. Units that do not include an Operating System will require one for basic functionality.
Anti-virus, Anti-spyware, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, DVD decoder software and other applications are not included with the Operating System.
Search for the listing that you are bidding on and click Bid Now to increase your bid. Remember all bids are final and legally binding. You can increase your bid at any time.
You can also go to "My Account" and click on "View my Bid Status"> Click on the listing title in the bidding activity section to increase your bid.
The Bid History should show your bid as soon as it is entered. If it doesn't appear, you may be viewing an old version of the page. Try clicking your browser's "refresh" or "reload" buttons.
The Listing page updates 10-20 minutes after you make your bid to reflect the new Current Bid.
Why does Dell Auction prompt me to log in each time I submit a bid?
To enable Dell Auction bidding functionality your browser must be configured to accept "Cookies". See how to configure cookie for the different type of browser in the next question.
How do I set my browser to accept Dell Auction "Cookies"?
To verify that the "Cookie" settings for your browser are properly configured, please review the steps below:
For Internet Explorer:
1. Click on 'View' in the task bar.
2. Click on 'Internet Options'.
3. Click on the 'Advanced' folder.
4. Scroll down and select 'Always Accept Cookies'.
For Netscape:
1. Click on 'Edit' in the task bar.
2. Click on 'Preferences'.
3. Click on 'Advanced' in the white category tree.
4. Under Cookies click on 'Accept all Cookies'.
For Internet Explorer 5.5:
This version has two types of cookies setting, session cookies and surfer cookies. Please make sure that both are enabled. To check IE 5.5 cookies:
1. Click 'Tools' in the upper menu of IE
2. Select 'Internet Options'
3. Choose the 'Security Tab'
4. Click on the 'Custom Level' button
5. Scroll down to the Cookies heading
6. Make sure both cookie options are set to 'enabled' (the options are "allow cookies to be stored on your hard drive [surfer]" and "all per-session cookies [session]").
For Internet Explorer 6.0:
This new version has three types of cookies settings: Session cookies, First party cookies and Third party cookies. Please make sure that all of these selections are enabled. To check IE 6.0 cookies:
1. Click 'Tools' in the upper menu of IE
2. Select 'Internet Options'
3. Choose the 'Privacy Tab'
4. Click on the 'Advanced Level' button
5. Select "Override Automatic Cookie Handling".
6. Make sure all of the cookie options are set to 'enabled' (the options are "First Party Cookies", "Third Party Cookies" and "Always allow session cookies").
7. To submit this change, please click "OK".
We will send you an email when your bid is no longer Winning. However, there can be unpredictable delays in email transmission. We suggest that you regularly visit DellAuction.com and check "View my bid status" in My Account.
You are responsible for determining if you have won an auction by visiting DellAuction.com and checking the status of your bid in My Account. However, we will notify you by email if you have the winning bid. The email will contain all DFS' Contact Information if you should need to contact us.
Bids retain the time when they are placed. Because we use time to break ties, if you placed a bid for the same Price and Quantity as an earlier Bidder, the earlier Bidder will win. It is to the Bidder's advantage to get an initial bid in as early as possible. However, if the Max Bid is raised later, the Timestamp is changed to reflect the new bid. We recommend that you make your bid using our Maximum Bid functionality.
Why is my bid "Losing" even though it is the Current Highest Bid?
You have probably bid on a Reserve Auction. Even if you are the highest Bidder on a Reserve Auction, you may still be losing if you have not matched the Reserve Price set by DFS.
Reserve Price is the lowest price at which DFS is willing to sell an item, even though the Opening Price may be much lower. If the bidding does not meet or exceed this price, there is no sale. The Reserve Price is never disclosed to Bidders.
DFS might specify a Reserve Price in order to Reserve the right to refuse to sell the item if the market value is below a certain price. If DFS has specified a Reserve Price, the listing will be marked with an so you know immediately that your leading bid may not be a Winning Bid.
If your Maximum Bid has met or exceeded DFS' Reserve Price, your bid will be set at the Reserve Price. If your bid is lower than the Reserve, it will be displayed as entered. The high bid above the Reserve Price is marked with a Winning status while the bids below the Reserve Price are marked Losing.
DFS only ships to addresses in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. DFS does NOT ship to PO Boxes, APO/FPO, Freight Forwarders, Hotels or Internationally.
Once we receive your order, it will typically take 1-2 business days to process before it is placed with the carrier. Please make sure your billing and shipping information is accurate and matches your credit card address. From time to time we may need to contact you for additional information if discrepancies are identified.
Why haven't I received an email concerning my order?
We batch process orders. Orders are released every morning pending verification. It could be a day or two before you get a confirmation email regarding your order. In the event we need to contact you, please remove any SPAM blocker as this may delay your order.
What are the shipping costs on the DFS system I won?
Shipping costs are calculated when a bid is placed. If you enter a bid, a second page will appear with the bid information as well as the estimated shipping cost. You will then be asked to submit the order. Please verify all information before clicking on "Submit" as once it has been clicked, the bid has been placed and cannot be retracted or canceled.
Orders placed by 2:00 PM CST on this website typically ship the next business day upon payment approval and order verification excluding weekends and holidays. However, factory delays, issues with payment approval or order verification may delay shipment. When your order ships, a shipping confirmation email is sent to the email address associated with your DellAuction.com account.
: At this time DFS does not offer same day shipping. We require at minimum one business day to process the order before it is shipped. Next Day and 2nd Day Delivery options are available (see the next question).
What does Next Day delivery and 2nd Day Delivery mean?
Once the order has been placed with the carrier (At minimum one business day after order confirmation) your unit will ship Next Day Air or 2nd Day Air rather than 5-7 day ground delivery. Note: air shipments are optional and cost extra.
Can I ship to an address that is different than my billing address?
Yes. You can use a different billing and shipping address within the 50 United States. You can also manage multiple shipping addresses by logging into My Auction Account and clicking on "Update Address Book" in the "Manage My Account" section.
Do I need to have a credit card to participate in bidding?
Yes. Dell Auction requires a credit card to place a bid. Upon winning, the card is then automatically charged for the item and the order is processed and shipped. DFS accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express with a US billing address issued by a US financial merchant institute.
Can I use my Dell Preferred Account or Dell Dollars to purchase from Dell Auction?
No. Currently Dell Auction is unable to accept DPA cards or Dell Dollars as a form of payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. You may use your DPA card on www.delloutlet.com, which maintains a separate order processing/checkout which is not affiliated with DellAuction.com
What is the Dell Financial Services (DFS) authorization charge that I see appearing on my credit card?
For your protection, we perform an authorization charge upon entry of the credit card information into our system. This is a temporarily authorization charge of $5.00 to verify the authenticity of the card number and expiration date, regardless of the address or card verification value check (CVV). Typically this charge is removed from the account within 1-3 business days. Final credit card verification is performed immediately after the $5.00 approved authorization. We will contact you if your card is rejected or declined.
You may return products purchased from Dell Auction within thirty (30) days from the date of the DFS shipping invoice and obtain a credit for the purchase price (excluding shipping and handling charges) to the purchasing credit card account. To return products, you must email Customer Care to receive a Return Material Authorization and instructions on returning the system back to DFS. For complete details on our return policy please see Terms & Conditions of Sale.
What are the Dell Auction's return policy requirements?
To return the Products, you must email Customer Care to receive a Credit Return Authorization. You must ship the products to DFS in their original packaging and insure the shipment or accept the risk of loss or damage during shipment, all at your expense. The original sales invoices must accompany the returned products. DFS reserves the right to audit returned units to ensure completeness of system.
To be eligible for return, the products must be in same condition as when shipped to you and all of the manuals, diskettes, power cords, software and other items included with the products must also be returned. No returns will be allowed for products that are damaged while in your possession or control. The time to process a return credit will generally take approximately 5 business days. NO EXCHANGES OR REPLACEMENTS WILL BE MADE.
I have received my computer and have an issue with the packaging / configuration / functionality. Who should I contact?
Please email Customer Care. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CST. Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
I have received my computer but have technical issues. Who should I contact?
Please email Customer Care. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CST. Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
What if the item I purchased from DFS is damaged when I receive it?
Please email Customer Care. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CST. Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
Please email Customer Care. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CST. Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
Where should I direction questions about payments or shipping on a Dell Auction item I have won?
Please email Customer Care. Our Customer Care Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CST. Please give us as much details as possible on the form. The more information you provide, the quicker we can assist you.
How do I run a Pre-boot system assessment or Diagnostics on my Dell laptop?
1. Reboot your computer
2. Tap on the F12 key repeatedly until the boot option menu appears
3. Choose diagnostics on a laptop computer or hard drive diagnostics on a desktop computer
Why will my computer not boot to windows?
1. Ensure that the X-image software has loaded properly and all the on-screen instructions have been followed. Do not interrupt the X-image process until it has it finished this process.
2. Check all external peripherals ( mouse, keyboard cables etc…) to ensure that they are tightly secured into the computer system.
3. Retry re-booting the system. Prior to re-booting remove the battery and power cable. Hold down the power button to remove any charge from the motherboard. You can now replace the battery and power cable and re-boot. The same process is used for both a laptop or desktop.
4. If computer will not boot, please email Customer Care.
Why will my computer not power on or complete the self test (No Power on Self Test)?
1. Check all the power cables to ensure that they are tightly secured into the computer system.
2. Check the wall outlet to ensure that it has power.
3. Check for any damage to the power ac adapter, cables or power connector on the computer.
4. Remove and replace all components (wireless card, memory, hard drive or optical drive) on laptops securely and try re-booting the system. Instructions on how to do this can be found under "manuals" for your system on www.support.dell.com.
5. Confirm that the AC adapter on the laptop has a green LED and does not flicker or go out when plugged into the system.
6. Confirm that desktop unit has power, fans are spinning and there green diagnostics LEDs seen during the Power-On Self Test.
7. If computer will not boot, please email Customer Care.
Why does my battery not charge?
Ensure that the battery has been reseated and the latest BIOS have been installed. BIOS can be found for your unit in the "drivers and downloads" section on www.support.dell.com.
If you still need assist please email us at Customer Care.
How do I condition the battery to get a better charge?
Fully charge the battery.
Power up the system.
Go into the CMOS setup by hitting "F2" on power up.
Run the battery down while staying in the setup screen until the unit completely dies.
Repeat the process at least 3 times, to get better battery performance.
Battery does not seem to be charging. How long does it to take to charge my battery?
Normally it takes two hours to charge the battery if you are not operating the system. If the battery does not seem to be charging, cycle the battery. In other words, discharge then recharge it again!
Unplug the laptop from the AC adapter and turn it on.
Let the computer run under battery power until the laptop turns off.
Remove the battery pack.
Using a soft cloth, wipe off the battery packs connectors and the AC adapter connectors
Re-insert the battery pack.
Plug the computer into the AC adapter and check the wall outlet, making sure the connection is firm.
With the PC turned off, let the battery charge until the battery status light or icon glows green.
Unplug the AC adapter.
Remove the battery.
Wait 30 seconds and re-insert the battery.
Plug the AC adapter back in.
Let the battery recharge until the battery status light turns green or the icon displays 100%.
Now your battery should be fully charged.
Unplug the laptop from the AC wall outlet and turn it on.
Why does my DVD reader not play a movie?
Our units do not ship with DVD application software. However, DVD drives shipped with our products will allow you to view/browse a data DVD. To enhance your system to play DVD movies you will need to purchase a DVD play software package or Codec. Many media player programs can be upgraded to play a movie industry DVD.
If you still have questions, please email us at Customer Care.
Where can I get help and support with Dell wireless problems or questions?
*Dell Financial Services is committed to offering safe, high quality refurbished Dell products. All of the batteries sold with a laptop on this site have been screened to remove all batteries identified in the Dell Battery Recall.
*Dell Financial Services is committed to offering safe, high quality refurbished Dell products. All of the batteries sold with a laptop on this site have been screened to remove all batteries identified in the Dell Battery Recall.
so you know immediately that your leading bid may not be a Winning Bid.
