If you are not from the USA you are SOL aka Slightly out of Luck.

In the USA you can have replacement plates or even initial plates, elsewhere you can't even get a blank plate, mine has a HORRID M18x on it :(

Hi, I´m sorry to hear that you are having so much troubles to get your computer's nameplate, please send us an e-mail with your service tag, phone number and brief description of the issue to AWSocialMedia@dell.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

I am in the U.S. and I ordered from a U.S. sales agent as well.

To get the customized one, you would have had to order the system through the website. Since you did not, you will need to remove the nameplate and get it engraved locally. I agree, the current policy/process is a mess.

That makes no sense. I was told I could have it customized by the rep, which she then failed to put in properly. Another rep told me I could get one but said it would take up to three weeks.

So basically I'd have to go out and spend my own money on this after shelling out over 1K? Not even a blank plate? I mean this isn't even the first time Dell policy hasn't made any sense. When I ordered there was a promotion going on for $200 credit or an Xbox and I was told my configuration didn't qualify for that either. I got promised a $60 gift card to make up for it but I haven't gotten that either. I was also charged for my 'free' one day shipping.

I appreciate all the 'help' but this is the very last time I buy anything at all from Dell. This is just too much hassle considering the money and the poor after-purchase support. Tech support hasn't got a clue either. I really ought to ship this thing right back and find something cheaper with better service.

Chris, did anyone ever find out if the "Generic Plate" is blank or pre-engraved with model number?

I was assured many many many many times that the default non-usa plate is blank, but when it turned up, it has M18x engraved so I can't even take it to the local place for engraving.

The only plate anyone at Dell has listed is the M17x plate, which is listed a Generic Plate but no one knew if it was engraved with M17X or blank or what was on it.

The best line I heard from Dell support was "They don't have laser engravers in China, only in the USA", I almost spat my drink out, I'm 99.9% sure the USA's engravers was made in China and probably invented by the Chinese eheheh.

Engraving can be done at any jewelry or trophy store? I do not have the part number for the M18x. What was the part number on your invoice?

Generic Nameplate Part Numbers
85YK9 M11x-R1/R2/R3
P07YX M14x-R1
769YF, GG9MF M15x-R1
R6FY0 M17x-R1/R2
P7H63 M17x-R3/R4

Yes, I have seen them. On my M18x-R1, it looks just like this blank. The M17x-R4 I had for awhile had the same blank which is why you could engrave them. On those nameplates you pictured, you could get your name engraved below the system model or above the Alienware font. But I agree that you couldn't get your name translated into the Alienware font.

Chris,  

Have you seen the actual physical name plate ? You CAN'T engrave it, because Dell have already engraved it.

Mine looks like this, only it says M18X and the alienware font is slightly different for the 7 into 8.

It should look like

I could take the above to a shop to get it engraved, I could take it a college and have it sand etched or anything, if it was blank, but with the engraving Dell have done (and more so assured me on the phone and in email it was blank) its impossible to simply engrave.

I know I'm flogging a dead horse here, but part of whole Alienware Ownship is the flash and bang, not having the name plate kinda detracts from that for me :(

Blank Nameplates are shipped to bestbuy in the USA, and various other show pictures of them, so they do exist somewhere www.norcorp.com/.../Alienware-Customized-Metal-Plaque.

What is sad to me is that Dell's Executive support agree'd that the only way I was getting one was to ship my plate to a friend in LA, order a new one delivered to my friend in LA, have her unscrew the custom plate, and screw mine back on, return the new one and send the custom plate to me. That's the only way of the dozen ways I suggested.

Oh they also said getting another US alienware customer to order one on my behalf would also work.  

I tried getting THEM to order one, as they obviously own one which is customised, so can they order one and send it, nope, asked about other employees, hospitality, demo/shows, etc.

No one seems to know if the part number you quoted above is blank or pre-engraved :(

Chris,

It must be a European thing maybe, every laptop I have seen (usually on the internet) has had the same engraving as above, with the Model + Alien Writing. The only place I've been able to verify has (or had) blanks was best buy.

I'll see about ordering one, but my money says it will come already engraved with the model number like my current one. Otherwise why give each version a part number ?