Advice on how/where to buy a ThinkPad in NZ

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Diocca

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#248636 3-Apr-2019 11:56

Hi everybody, first time poster so thanks in advance for being nice.

I'm going to buy a new ThinkPad T480 (maybe an E480 if it gets too much once I get carried away extras and upgrades and warranties).

Anyway, I've been looking on the sale section of the Lenovo NZ website as they seem to offer the best prices around - I can get the T480 I'm after for around $2,000. Also, I'll probably buy an onsite warranty.

https://www.lenovo.com/nz/en/deals/current-offers/forwork?ipromoID=nzow_pub_dl_forwork

But before I go ahead and do it, I figured I'd better put it out there - are there better ways/places of buying this than from the Lenovo website? How are they with shipping etc?

I just don't want it to turn into a long nightmare or end up being way more expensive than just buying from somewhere NZ based.

Any advice/help/hints much appreciated!

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2210083 3-Apr-2019 12:26

I think buying from the lenovo website is best.

Lenovo always seems run promotions, some better than others.

One thing to keep in mind, lenovo support and recognition of the CGA is close to nil. They usually come through in the end, even if it takes a long time and a lot of talking / emailing about their obligations under the CGA.

guyl

120 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2210093 3-Apr-2019 13:23

I agree - website is best.

I got a great deal on a laptop I was keeping my eye on. It was shipped from somewhere like Singapore, so took a week or so - but the wait wasn't bad.

FYI - I have also had to get my laptop repaired (Was bricked during a BIOS update).

Was relatively easy process to get repaired. I packed it and printed a courier label.

Courier collected it and a few days later returned the repaired unit.

All in all a positive experience.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2210095 3-Apr-2019 13:32

guyl:

I agree - website is best.

I got a great deal on a laptop I was keeping my eye on. It was shipped from somewhere like Singapore, so took a week or so - but the wait wasn't bad.

FYI - I have also had to get my laptop repaired (Was bricked during a BIOS update).

Was relatively easy process to get repaired. I packed it and printed a courier label.

Courier collected it and a few days later returned the repaired unit.

All in all a positive experience.

Was it under warranty?

guyl

120 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2210098 3-Apr-2019 13:37

surfisup1000:

guyl:

I agree - website is best.

I got a great deal on a laptop I was keeping my eye on. It was shipped from somewhere like Singapore, so took a week or so - but the wait wasn't bad.

FYI - I have also had to get my laptop repaired (Was bricked during a BIOS update).

Was relatively easy process to get repaired. I packed it and printed a courier label.

Courier collected it and a few days later returned the repaired unit.

All in all a positive experience.

Was it under warranty?

Sure was. The laptop was only 2-3 month's old when it happened.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2210148 3-Apr-2019 14:16

guyl:

Sure was. The laptop was only 2-3 month's old when it happened.

OK, I had three support experiences. One issue was under warranty, the OS would freeze randomly. I returned it around 4 times, because each time it came back with the same issue. After 4 times, they wanted me to send it in again for repair, but I wanted a refund. They refused to give a refund because a manager needed to approve. After further discussion, a manager eventually 'authorised' a refund. But, all this was over a number of months, so it was not a good experience.

Another time, the laptop was maybe 2 years old when the display had issues. Lenovo refused to acknowledge the CGA, and while they have an office in Wellington it was difficult to communicate with a real person. Sent it in once, it came back with the display ok but they'd damaged the bezel around the display . Eventually got it sorted but only after a great deal of time and effort.

And, another time, again under warranty..I sent my x1 to lenovo to have the trackpoint fixed -- but after 3 weeks in repair, i got it back and they had replaced the 'trackpad', not the trackpoint. And, the external speaker no longer worked so the repair made the machine even more broken. . . then they called and would send someone to my house the next day, but they didn't turn up and I called support and they said sorry we should have called you but we are waiting for parts, again..... Eventually, they just sent me an entirely new machine because they couldn't get parts in a reasonable amount of time.

Diocca

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2210153 3-Apr-2019 14:21

surfisup1000:

guyl:

Sure was. The laptop was only 2-3 month's old when it happened.

OK, I had three support experiences. One issue was under warranty, the OS would freeze randomly. I returned it around 4 times, because each time it came back with the same issue. After 4 times, they wanted me to send it in again for repair, but I wanted a refund. They refused to give a refund because a manager needed to approve. After further discussion, a manager eventually 'authorised' a refund. But, all this was over a number of months, so it was not a good experience.

Another time, the laptop was maybe 2 years old when the display had issues. Lenovo refused to acknowledge the CGA, and while they have an office in Wellington it was difficult to communicate with a real person. Sent it in once, it came back with the display ok but they'd damaged the bezel around the display . Eventually got it sorted but only after a great deal of time and effort.

And, another time, again under warranty..I sent my x1 to lenovo to have the trackpoint fixed -- but after 3 weeks in repair, i got it back and they had replaced the 'trackpad', not the trackpoint. And, the external speaker no longer worked so the repair made the machine even more broken. . . then they called and would send someone to my house the next day, but they didn't turn up and I called support and they said sorry we should have called you but we are waiting for parts, again..... Eventually, they just sent me an entirely new machine because they couldn't get parts in a reasonable amount of time.

So it's worth buying the onsite warranty?

lucky015

743 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2210187 3-Apr-2019 15:38

Cant speak to the T480 specifically however I've got two X1 Carbons which I've been happy with.

My experience with Lenovo Support has also been fairly decent although it did require a bit of back and forward organizing the return ticket provided by them followed by being repaired and received back in about a week and a half.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

timmmay

20579 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2210198 3-Apr-2019 16:21

I sent a new Lenovo purchased online for support as it was DOA with a faulty fan. It came back within a week working fine.

openmedia

3325 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2211316 5-Apr-2019 13:07

Our work has Lenovo laptops and we get 3yr onsite support as part of the package.

Trackpad on my T480s stopped working the other week, engineer who came out was awesome and the fix was about 30 minutes.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.