There is only one major newspaper in my small little State of Rhode Island, so subscribing to a paper to read is really quite easy.

It is March 15, 2009 and I just received the Sunday version of the Providence Journal. Among the many ads, I spot a Dell Computer insert, titled “Slam Dunk Saving,” valid from 3/13/2009 to 3/18/2009.

My attention is drawn to the Dell XPS-1530 notebook/laptop computer. “Save $574,” It reads. “$949, regularly $1523. E value code 16474-DYPHHG1. Your choice of 4 colors included.”

My interest is peaked. I’m excited. Heck, I’m gonna buy this baby! I go to the Dell website and enter in the special value code. Hey wait a minute. The price that came up is different than the price advertised in the paper. I try entering the code again, but I get the same results. It’s not $949 as listed in the flier. It’s $999.

Hold on now. It seems to me that 45 years ago, when I was in the third grade, $999 was different than $949. Different by $50.00. And the four available colors? Well now it seems that it is only available in blue. And it’s still $999! What gives?

I call Dell, which is always a fun time. Their response? “I guess the price must have gone up.” Now this is an example of rocket science at its best. Heck, at least they did not charge me for that piece of information. (Well, at least I hope they didn't.)

UPDATE: Interestingly, on Monday March 16, 2009, Dell's website had corrected its error. The product pricing had been changed to reflect the correct price of $949 as advertised in the flier. However, Midnight Blue is still the only color that it is available in.


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