Get a HP Mini for only $288!

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48 posts

Geek
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#286484 2-Jan-2010 10:06

Hey there. I got a raincheck. However I have a few questions.

- Someone a few pages back said they were offered the raincheck, OR, a $400 discount on any other netbook. Was anyone else given this offer, or was only the one store in question (HN Wgtn) doing it? It would be interesting to know if this was part of the 'mandate' that came down from Head Office to all HN stores nationwide, or just one franchiser doing this independently.

- Do we know for sure that the $288 units are genuine brand new machines, and not refurbished returns or anything like that? I know that in the US, Dell has the 'Dell Outlet', where they sell refurbished returns for a cheaper price. I hope HN hasn't done a dirty and ordered in a whole bunch of returns from some other country cheaply, and then tried to sell them cheaply making out it is a huge discount on the RRP for a new machine. If someone who actually got a machine could post on the condition of the machine, and the condition of the battery (both life using a tool like BatteryBar and any visible marks on the outside of the battery), that would be great.

- What do you think our chances are of getting either an HP Mini 110-1197 (Windows 7 version of the HP Mini 110-1111), or a completely different brand (like Asus)? If we got another brand, what are your preferences? I would quite like an Asus 1005HA. Given these only retail for $100 more than the HP Mini 110-1111 at HN, maybe HN could stump up the difference and upgrade everyone as a good will gesture?

Anyway, let me know your thoughts on the above, when you get a moment.

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#286490 2-Jan-2010 10:34

Hey there. I have a few more questions.

- Someone else a few pages back said they were told they could get a refund on their $288 if the replacement machine wasn't acceptable to them. Was anyone else told this?

- What do you think the chances are that HN will source some white HP Mini 110's (Tord Boontje special editions) as replacements? These have some slightly upgraded specs over the standard HP Mini 110's, including HP QuickWeb, which is a SplashTop based Linux OS, for quick access to your favourite apps without going into the full Windows OS. I would still probably prefer the Asus 1005HA however.

- Anyone notice the sudden surge in HP Mini 110's selling as 'unwanted gifts' on TradeMe. Crazy! It is funny that nearly every seller is being hassled that they're just on-selling their HN bought machine. One seller has said "I don't have the receipt, and don't want to ask the person who gave it to me for the receipt as I don't want them to know I'm re-gifting it". Well firstly, what a crock. And secondly, even if it were a gift, sellling a gift on TradeMe isn't re-gifting. Re-gifting is when you give a gift you've received to someone else as a gift.

Anyway, catch you later!

sbiddle

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#286494 2-Jan-2010 11:10

tons: - Anyone notice the sudden surge in HP Mini 110's selling as 'unwanted gifts' on TradeMe. Crazy! It is funny that nearly every seller is being hassled that they're just on-selling their HN bought machine. One seller has said "I don't have the receipt, and don't want to ask the person who gave it to me for the receipt as I don't want them to know I'm re-gifting it". Well firstly, what a crock. And secondly, even if it were a gift, sellling a gift on TradeMe isn't re-gifting. Re-gifting is when you give a gift you've received to someone else as a gift.

Anyway, catch you later!

Gotta laugh at the photos that even have the Harvey Norman white price stickers on the box! it doesn't show the $288 price but it makes it very clear where the product came from!

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#286497 2-Jan-2010 11:35

sbiddle:
tons: - Anyone notice the sudden surge in HP Mini 110's selling as 'unwanted gifts' on TradeMe. Crazy! It is funny that nearly every seller is being hassled that they're just on-selling their HN bought machine. One seller has said "I don't have the receipt, and don't want to ask the person who gave it to me for the receipt as I don't want them to know I'm re-gifting it". Well firstly, what a crock. And secondly, even if it were a gift, sellling a gift on TradeMe isn't re-gifting. Re-gifting is when you give a gift you've received to someone else as a gift.

Anyway, catch you later!

Gotta laugh at the photos that even have the Harvey Norman white price stickers on the box! it doesn't show the $288 price but it makes it very clear where the product came from!

Yeah, I saw those. Clearly some TradeMe sellers aren't the sharpest knives in the draw.

However having said that, I guess some TradeMe buyers aren't too sharp either. I see that one HN $288 machine was bought for $564 on 29/12. They'll be annoyed if they knew they could have got a raincheck for $288 earlier that day!

floydbloke

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#286531 2-Jan-2010 17:33

Gotta laugh at the photos that even have the Harvey Norman white price stickers on the box! it doesn't show the $288 price but it makes it very clear where the product came from!

LOL, employing the same "look what it's worth" tactics as HN themselves I guess. I got one of the $288 units, but the box has the original $800 price sticker on it.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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#286533 2-Jan-2010 17:54

tons:
sbiddle:
tons: - Anyone notice the sudden surge in HP Mini 110's selling as 'unwanted gifts' on TradeMe. Crazy! It is funny that nearly every seller is being hassled that they're just on-selling their HN bought machine. One seller has said "I don't have the receipt, and don't want to ask the person who gave it to me for the receipt as I don't want them to know I'm re-gifting it". Well firstly, what a crock. And secondly, even if it were a gift, sellling a gift on TradeMe isn't re-gifting. Re-gifting is when you give a gift you've received to someone else as a gift.

Anyway, catch you later!

Gotta laugh at the photos that even have the Harvey Norman white price stickers on the box! it doesn't show the $288 price but it makes it very clear where the product came from!

Yeah, I saw those. Clearly some TradeMe sellers aren't the sharpest knives in the draw.

However having said that, I guess some TradeMe buyers aren't too sharp either. I see that one HN $288 machine was bought for $564 on 29/12. They'll be annoyed if they knew they could have got a raincheck for $288 earlier that day!

the value of an object is equivalent to the amount someone is prepared to pay for it.

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andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#286538 2-Jan-2010 19:24

tons: Hey there. I got a raincheck. However I have a few questions.

- What do you think our chances are of getting either an HP Mini 110-1197 (Windows 7 version of the HP Mini 110-1111), or a completely different brand (like Asus)? If we got another brand, what are your preferences? I would quite like an Asus 1005HA. Given these only retail for $100 more than the HP Mini 110-1111 at HN, maybe HN could stump up the difference and upgrade everyone as a good will gesture?

Anyway, let me know your thoughts on the above, when you get a moment.

Well, that's the $288 question, isn't it? I guess it depends what kind of horse-trading goes on behind the scenes or whether HN has a stash of 1111's in Aust, or can access some somehow. I was told HN ran the same 1111 promotion in Aust for Boxing Day and, if this is correct, the chances of having units in reserve would be slim. Perhaps HN will be able to broker a deal with HP to get the 1197 as a substitute. Might be in HP's interest to do so, might see some value in getting us all on-board in using their brand rather than a competitors. However, equally HP might not give a crap and tell HN to get stuffed. I'd say that HP would be more inclined to wanna help if they can (and are asked to) as they will want to keep in the good books with a major retailer.

As regards the 1005HA as a substitute, I checked it on CNET where it was a June '09 Editors Choice and it looks pretty good to me. Even though I have an earlier ASUS, I'd be happy to accept that model instead of the HP. The one factor I'm quite interested in is the 950 Integrated Graphics which allocates 256Mb of RAM instead of 128Mb with the 945 chipset. That seems to be part and parcel of all the machines in this grouping with the 280 Atom. Either the 1197 or 1005HA would do me fine.

tons

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Geek
Inactive user

#286610 3-Jan-2010 09:07

c71931f - BatteryBar has a 'wear' indicator. I assume low numbers for new batteries, high numbers for old batteries. If anyone else has a better way to determine condition and wear and tear on both machines and batteries, let us know.

andyj14 - I would think HP would want to help HN, given they are a major retailer, and so I really would expect to get the 1197 at the very least. Maybe HP could go one better and supply us all with the new HP Mini 210, which is the impending replacement for the 110 (see http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/hp-210-netbook-forgets-announcement-in-lieu-of-support-pages-re/ or http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/12/22/hp%e2%80%99s-pine-trail-mini-210-gets-leaked-press-shots/#more-6180). It would be very good for HP to do this - I know I'd be a convert for life if they could make this happen.

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#286613 3-Jan-2010 09:40

tons: I would think HP would want to help HN, given they are a major retailer, and so I really would expect to get the 1197 at the very least. Maybe HP could go one better and supply us all with the new HP Mini 210, It would be very good for HP to do this - I know I'd be a convert for life if they could make this happen.

i am more impressed at how HN handled this issue more than anything else! i have never seen another retailer so committed to losing money for whatever reason - usually is an afterthought via the commerce commission.

will be even more impressed if they can pull of their seemingly unsurmountable raincheck demand from pushy geeks. we'll see by mid jan.

LZ

22 posts

Geek

#286868 4-Jan-2010 13:50

I've heard that there have been quite a few rainchecks. I believe that the WGTN store had about 100 rainchecks. It will be interesting to see what make/model they come up with for those who got rainchecks.

stuzzo

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#286906 4-Jan-2010 15:58

LZ: I've heard that there have been quite a few rainchecks. I believe that the WGTN store had about 100 rainchecks. It will be interesting to see what make/model they come up with for those who got rainchecks.

Yes, certainly big numbers if it's true.

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stuzzo

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#286984 4-Jan-2010 20:24

Where they've taken the money and written down on an invoice what it's for I doubt they'd have much room to move. It probably amounts to a contract to supply.

Even where they've just taken a name I doubt they would back out unless there's a dispute about what(or if) something was promised.

LZ

22 posts

Geek

#287084 5-Jan-2010 07:57

I have paid the $288 for that very reason. I was told that they were unsure of what they would be able to source but that I retained the right to get a refund if they could not provide something I was happy with. I think they'd be more than happy if people started backing out and getting refunds as I can't see any way that this is not going to cost HN.

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#287090 5-Jan-2010 09:35

LZ: I think they'd be more than happy if people started backing out and getting refunds as I can't see any way that this is not going to cost HN.

Let's hope they don't buy in some crappy brand on purpose, so people want to get refunds, so HN minimise their costs.

Apparently there are lots of cheap Chinese brands out there, many of them copies of Lenovos and so on.

Imagine if they rang and said "Your netbook has arrived". You say "Oh great, what brand did you end up finding". They say "It's a LenoChing 3000".

LZ

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Geek

#287091 5-Jan-2010 09:47

I'm a bit rusty with regards to the specific rules around this sort of thing however I think whatever is provided has to be of equivalent value - not just technical specs - which should ensure that doesn't happen as a LenoChing would not be of the same value as an HP (eventhough they might have the same technical specification).

The other reason I think that HN would not do that is that I expect that this is a big enough mess for them already. Offering a sub-quality, value product to customers who they have already peeved off once would not be a good move on HN's part.

We'll see what come through.

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