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1300

Frequent Buyers Program

1300 points posted to Sales Strategies, Laptops by sgrabinar 02/26/07

I've nought two Dell notebooks in the last 7 years. Now, I'm wondering if I should be buying an XPS. Or a cute little iBook .

Maybe I should look at the Sony and Tosh too.

If that 4th or 5th Dell notebook were free...

If I could use my Amex or Qanats reward points at the Dell store _in conjunction_ with my previous Dell purchases....

Michael, all my bases would belong to you.

smithdws
Jun 9		 Merged Idea originally posted 06/18/07
Thank customers for being your customer

Use specials/coupons ('freebies), from other companies as a reward for being a Dell customer. Make it a regular bi-monthly/Monthly occurrence.

Send them out via e-mail.

These would be from businesses that are complimentary or non-competitive.

An even better thing would be to offer existing small businesses who are Dell partners/customers to participate in this for their regional markets. You could also have 'national' companies. e.g. Regis Hair Salon's, Coke, Pepsi, Taco Bell, GM, Ford, Jiffy Lube, etc..

The idea being that you 'give' to your customer and retain them for being such a 'giving' company without having to further discount your product. You could start this with Alienware.

Customers would have 'Dell' in front of them twice a month in a positive light. You aren't asking for referral sales, you are 'giving' them something and they will have a more positive image of Dell in their mind.
smithdws
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 06/18/07
I meant to add make it opt-in opt- out. Just forgot that part. We all know we DON'T need more spam.
jorge
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 06/18/07
Yea, send them a hallmark and weasel out of it the easy way. Opps that isn't green, send an e-card instead.
scotty750
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 06/18/07
actually, thats a very common cross brand marketing tool nowadays. look at AAA. I bought a membership just to get the discounts. hell with my upcoming trip to disneyworld, my AAA membership just paid for itself about 10 times over in the savings. this would be an excelent marketing tool.
clocks
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 06/22/07
That is kind of nice. "Thanks for being our customer, here are some special deals on a better printer or better speakers" or "Hey we noticed you bought a PC from us 2 years ago and your support just expired, did you want to consider one of these PCs? By the way since you are a repeat customer, here is a one-time coupon code for 5% off."
petzymathuram
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 06/22/07
Hi,

Something like a Sodexho pass?
smithdws
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 07/02/07
Something like that, but more. I'm talking about something more LIKE this (http://www.accessdevelopment.com/affinity-marketing.asp) but with more freebies and fewer coupons.
carthi
Jun 9		 Merged Idea originally posted 03/05/07
Dell Rewards (Points)

Why not reward Dell's loyal customers?

We can encourage Dell customers to buy Dell products by awarding them some Dell dollars (points) towards their future purchases or recommending a Dell product to their friends and families.

This is a win win situation for customers and Dell. For example, I will be happy to get 5 points for every dollar spent towards a new system or product I buy from Dell. Also Dell can reap the benefit of customer retention and build CRM database to capture valuable customer information. Using this information, Dell can target the customers with right product and offer better customer service.
robertobiggio
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
i have bought about 20 notebooks from dell in the last 3 years,
how about dell give me a special discount for being a loyal fan.
say $10 off for each notebook i bought from them.
or better service like no waiting on hold or
transferring around when i call for help.
jadams
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
I have been a loyal Dell customer for many years. (My first Dell was a 486DX2-50, with 8MB of RAM, a 34 MB HDD, and a smoking hot #9 video card with 2 MB of on board memory!). I think that Dell should have some type of a reward’s program for those of us that have supported the company for many years, and spent thousands and thousands of dollars on their products.
jorge
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
They're getting some stickers ready! Stay posted!

At any rate if you get something I should get part of the company!
markvs624
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
Dell could incorporate IdeaStorm's success into the program. Positive users with progressive input could be rewarded as well. I am not a top user by any means, but there are some users that have great ideas that get a lot of attention. Reward those individual users (i.e. jorge!).
davmcn
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
I Guess......
jervis961
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
@DUPLICATEOF http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/61894 SEE #6
delluser112
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
I just helped a co worker buy a Dell. He trusted my knowledge and advise so he came to me on how to buy his first computer. I helped him use my laptop and aircard to get on the Dell website. I explained things like what RAM and hard drives were. The positives to upgrading those items in a laptop in the beginning. Long story short he bought his first Dell with my help. I was wondering if maybe there is some kickback program you have. I am not asking for much, maybe a gift certificate as a sign of appreciation for promoting your product. I have the purchase ID and everything. He didn't even have a e-mail address so I had him use mine. Just a thought. Thanks for your time.
sugarbear
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
I meant to demote this. There are many of us here that have been building and selling Dell`s for years. And we aren`t employed by Dell. A lot of us do what you did, help a friend. Isn`t that reward enough.
jervis961
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
While helping friends and family out is rewarding in itself, getting rewarded for being loyal to a company and bringing it business would be nice. I don't really see how much they could afford to givewithout having to raise prices. $5 -10 credit to your account for each purchase?

You could make more money having your family pay you and buying with a discover credit card. Pay off the credit card and keep th ecash back bonus for yourself.
delluser112
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
Sugar Bear you are right and I did help no matter what. I am trying to go on more the side of jervis961. We who support Dell through actual purchases would be paid through Dell's marketing budget. All the millions that Dell pays for those adds I don't see how a couple of bucks going back to a Dell supporter will hurt anything. Especially since we are making actual sales. How do you think the phone sales people get paid. I am asking for even less. Thanks for your response.
jesse_l
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
delluser112,
I don't think Dell has this offer anywhere. I agree it is a good suggestion. Doesn't hurt to try.
anettis
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
OK, so the next time I talk a friend of mine into buying a smilar car, TV, DVD player, rollerblades, etc. let's see if the manufactuer will throw me some cash. Ummm . . . I don't think so. :-)
joyscant1980
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
Honestly, if i were one of the friends that you recommend Dell to and I knew about the kick back, I would wonder are you recommending Dell because it is a great company or just because you get something in return.
jervis961
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
anettis - Most car dealerships offer what they call a "bird dog" or kick back if you have purchased from them and later bring someone to them that buys a car. Most of the time it is $100 but some are $50 and others $200. I don't think Dell could offer much so I said $5-10 as a rough estimate.
delluser112
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
Joyscant1980,
You are right there would be a conflict of interest in recommending a product in which I get a kickback to, but is that any different from sponsored experts who on thier shows just happen to mention their sponsors every chance they get. I would be honest about the deal upfront and still help in educating those around me. If I get a little something on the back-end I can't see the harm. Thanks for your response.
onesmallvoice
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9
Harness and Reward!

Create a Customer referral Program offering loyalty points. This is how it will work:

Existing Dell customer in the home and small business segments get to refer new customers.

Existing Customer A Refers B:
B buys a dell product - depending on the profit margin and the sale value, Customer A accumulates loyalty points which can be redeemed to buy new products/ services or upgrade their existing configuration of the PC/ Laptop

Apart from the loyalty program, a lucky draw can be created to reward the 100th / 1000th 10000th/ sale through the loyaty program. Similar to how the itunes downloads work.

This would ensure the dell customer base become a tightknit community and ensure higher ROI.

Dell gets a new customer and at a reduced cost of acquisition and ensures more revenue from existing customers through the purchase of Value added product/ service.

This program can be marketed effectively in the Home and Small business segments in emerging markets such as India and China.
davidvt
Jun 9		 Merged Idea originally posted 02/27/07
Reward Customer Loyalty

Please find a way to reward the customers that keep using Dell computers, keep referring friends and family to Dell, and those who continue to weather the changing support environment.

I propose a system to track loyal customers and to reward them in the form of discount(s) when they choose to retire a loyal, sentimentally significant but slowing older system.

As an owner of a 10 year old Dimension 300mhz system with Win2Kpro which continues to run 24x7 since purchase, I know Dell is capable of making a lasting product.

Over the years I have bought many 'retired' Dell Optiplex systems from corporate and state surplus organizations. These all serve me well as project systems.

I imagine the profit margin on my 10 year old system was much greater than the current product line. However, I have to believe that Dell could find a significant reward system to encourage us long term customers to upgrade.

Heck, I'd be happy with a way to get clear english speaking and non-scripted support from inside the US as a reward. Call it Customer Loyalty Support Services.


=== Insight into my PC usage... ===
What is my current SOHO operational PC inventory and why:
1 W2k Dell Dimension 300mhz still running since new, upgraded HD yesterday :)
3 W98 3 old 100mhz laptops all bought used, Toshiba and IBMs
2 WXP 2 Staples sourced HP discount widescreen laptops bought new last year
1 FC4 Compaq EVO 1.7ghz, acquired new on a barter a few years ago
1 FREENAS Noname new PC's bought in the last year as NAS device
1 FREENAS Noname recycled PC used as NAS device
1 WXP Noname new PC bought as a work station
1 WXP Gateway 700mhz laptop with a cracked screen, $100 yard sale acquision
1 Ubuntu Noname PC bought new to run VMWARE server, several 24x7 virtual systems running on this.
1 WXP Sony Vaio with core Duo provided by new employer
===
Most recreational computing is done on the two cheapo HP laptops using WIFI from the living room...

My Old Dell continues to be my primary desktop workstation for web browsing and testing downloaded SW. AVG7.5 and Kerio FW do their best to fight off the dark side of the web.

I am doing more and more with VMware server. This is one opportunity to buy a new system from Dell in the near future. I will need a SOHO server that will rock with VMware server. I have given up on the noname PCs which I purchased in the last year or so.

I would like a Dell branded and supported server or two for my NAS systems. If I could buy a solid set of boxes without breaking the SOHO budget, I would act.

My expectation is that the new Dell systems will have the same longevity of my 10 year old 300mhz system. I want nothing of the rumors of underpowered Dell Power Supplies 'designed' to fail...

I continue to encourage family, friends and work associates to purchase Dell products. This despite my growing dissatisfaction with current industry choices around off shore outsourcing of support.
coopersecurity
Jun 9		 Merged Comment originally posted 03/10/07
Free LCD monitor for anyone who has spent more then $500 within one year. or free LCD monitor for anyone who loves Dell so much, that they are willing to move to Dell HQ and get a job there full time.

Could you give me the model numbers of those old Optiplex PC's?

I got an old GX110 running XP Pro with the memory maxed at 512Mb and a Pentium III 864Mhz Processor with 250GB hard drive.

32 Optiplex 210L desktop model computers wtih an Intel Celeron D 2.80Ghz processor, 80GB hard drive, and 1 GB of memory XP Pro.

And a Dimension 4600i desktop with a Pentium 4 2.80GHz processor, 80GB hard drive, and 1 GB of memory XP Pro.
 
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