Dell complaints

[maod]

I came after typing into Google, "ex dell employees talk" - by far the lamest search pattern I've used in looking for this group. I didn't know about this one - but knew it was out there. It simply had to be.

I was laid off from Dhell 9 mos ago after 8 years there. I've moved on but time I "served" has created a few questions I have to know if others are thinking some of these, too. Some may not even specific questions, but post-traumatic findings.

I was actually surprised that much of what I've read on this forum so far is more mild that I expected.

I hope to be in some discussions about life as an employee ... maybe there is something to learn for newcomers, of maybe for those still working there.

if Dell is in your past, I'd like to hear thoughts from people on life after... and looking back - what is your perspective / take-away?

I find this particularly poignant, maybe ironic too - after many horrendous projects we would do 'lessons learned' - that we didn't learn.

I'm making it a point - an absolute - to "learn" my "Lessons" from having worked there & left there. Not for them to ignore - but for me and my family.

I know when it comes to Dell, people can be just 'blah' about it- apathetic or angry, (or a lot more). I feel i've gone through the typical grieve cycle maybe not the last one: (deny, anger, bargain, depression, accept). I hate many 'things' about life there less than I did.

The worst is hating what I let myself become by staying on about 6 years too long. And there's no one to blame but myself.

I have much more to share - some stories that would surprise some of you (perhaps). I thought if I was a better writer, i could have a lot of fun writing about Dell and what i knew - from some of the most volatile parts of the company - during much of its very explosive growth years "dot com boom" days.

I'm finding it's time to rebuild: I'm trying to re-learn simple things like human kindness, being an individual, and confidence.

That's about it - I just wanted to make a short note to see if anyone wanted to keep this discussion going?

(My apologies, Moderator, if it's in the wrong place)

Take care,
maod

[AngelusDaemonicus]

What I personally took away from DELL...
Pretty easy, actually. I was part of a fantastic team with the best manager ever. I had pride in my work, took care of customers the way I'd want to be supported and enjoyed my little "bubble." I purposely insulated myself from DELL's crappy politics until I couldn't anymore. I left on my terms, walking away from a severance package.
For the most part, it was a positive experience. I knew pretty early on what kind of crap DELL was up to. I did my best to work around it and ignore their stupid policies. I was there for the customer, and I never forgot that. They got my best, despite DELL's efforts to the contrary. My whole team worked that way, and we were damn good at it.
Then DELL packed up and left. To hell with them. We all moved on to bigger and better... all of us.
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"One man's garbage is another man's DELL."

[Rocke_T_Sinetist]

I worked in a lab as a C2 engineer. Everyone in the group was completely dedicated to the mission, as Dell defined it by their words. Our manager was one of the two best I've had in 40 years workforce experience. He kept the politics out of the group so we could get our work done. And we were saving them millions every quarter in warranty fulfillment costs.

None of that made a flying fxck in May 2001, when HR came in and threw everyone into the parking lot. Including the manager. The only concession we got was not having security escort us out.

Dell doesn't suck, so much as it bites. It bites everyone and anyone within range, like a rabid alligator.
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Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

[incident_man]

My takeaway from the DHell experience is that money is the only thing DHell cares about--how deep they can get in to each customer's wallet and how little they can get away with in spending. They talk a great game, but actions speak far louder than words. I have no doubt there were (and possibly still are) some great people who really cared about the customer experience, but when push comes to shove, it's all about the $$.
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Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.

[Rocke_T_Sinetist]

Note that you can care all you want about customer experience, but if Dell can find someone to do 1/4th of your job for 1/10th as much money and doesn't care about customers at all (China, India), they're sold.

Customer experience, soul of Dell, it's all the same HR cheerleader claptrap. The company values neither, or anything even related to them.
_________________
Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

[atabetterjob]

its that whole be the reason campaign they had.. make you think what you do matters... I did my best in fact i did better then my best I loved working with the people i worked with in the end thats what it comes down to. Dell treats you like shit but you keep going back and giving them what you can .. by the time you are finally let go you realize it wasn't just for a paycheck you kept going back.. but the people you worked with.. And on a side note I see people make posts here , sure i only just started, and some threads have been dead for a while but i glance at some here and there and they say you should have done a better job and maybe they wouldn't have canned your sorry spiteful ass... well you know what when they shut down a sote or a LOB i highly doubt its because a few people could have done more.

Dell will always bend you over a table and stick it to you... if your lucky you may get lubed up first