Don’t let Dick pull a fast one on you

A week ago I purchased a laptop on DSE’s Ebay store, HP 15-D049TU (Catalogue Code XC9007). The key specifications list a Pentium Processor at 2.4GHz, and when I look this model up on HP’s website it confirms this is a Pentium 2020M at 2.4GHz.

I decided to have a look at the laptop in store, standard black affair and the system information agreed – yes it s a 2020M at 2.4GHz.

I was surprised when I took the laptop home and found it was silver. Not a big issue to me, I don’t really care about laptop’s aesthetics. I was more surprised when system information reported a different processor, a Pentium N3530 (2.16GHz).

Thinking I made a mistake and ordered the wrong laptop on ebay , I decided to check. No – I ordered the 15-D049TU. The category code handwritten on the box said XC9007 – perhaps there are two versions of this laptop, a 2020M and an N3530? No. The sticker on the side of the box, and the model number silkscreened on the silver laptop said 15-R038TU.

I looked back on the DSE website and compared my ebay purchase history. Yes I placed an order for the D049TU.

The DSE website now says HP 15-D049TU/R038TU is category code XC9007. Evidently DSE have decided that the laptops are interchangeable. They are not, check notebookcheck.net’s benchmark results. N3530 is a rebranded atom processor, while the 2020M performs far better due to it being a full powered ivy bridge processor. What’s interesting is that the DSE Ebay store and DSE website still list a 2.4GHz processor, at least a week after they decided to pull a switch on customers.

I phoned up the store and we worked out a solution – their display model was the correct model D049TU (black) and I returned my R038TU (silver) for the display (yes I had a discount for the display).

What I don’t understand is why DSE decided to quietly downgrade users. I predict many display model D049TU are out there, advertising a 2.4GHz processor while customers are instead handed a 2.13GHz. I predict many users would not be checking their laptop as closely as me. If there is a different laptop model, there should simply be a new category code for it! Advertising a particular set of features (even down to colour not matching the sample!) and hoping customers don’t notice is fraudulent and immoral.

Even better is how Dick Smith decided to push the price of the D049TU up, just in time for ebay’s 20% off coupon. Ebay’s price is $499 while the DSE site and stores sell for $449. Double-dipping on ebay’s cheque, a very classy move.