HP Envy 15 - $450 Coupon of $1399

no way is that a software problem.

 

My estimated ship date is/was today. I initially thought my chances were looking good to avoid a shipping delay, since most issues seemed to be due to constrained supplies of either the 430m or the glossy 1080p, but I've still not received any word from HP since the initial order confirmation email.

To me, the lack of communication is surprising--both between HP and its customers, and [presumably] between different departments within HP. I understand that supply issues happen, especially when you offer a special offer like HP did. Forecasting mistakes aside, waiting until after the estimated ship date has passed to notify purchasers of a delay is atrocious customer service. My guess is that there is a disconnect between the sales and manufacturing ends of the business. The manufacturing plant management team in China probably knows the moment an order is placed (edit: and certainly within 5 business days following the order) whether it will be fulfilled on time, based on the availability of labor and components. The sales force (including the HP store), on the other hand, most likely base the estimated ship date on average build time across all Envy 15 units (or some other metric not based on actual, real-world conditions). Assuming that my conjecture is accurate, this is a surprising state of affairs for a company with the size and experience of HP.

I realize that much of this post has been speculation, but it is relatively informed speculation, as I do have experience in manufacturing & logistics management at a similarly sales-oriented multi-national corporation.

 

Sigh. Here we go again. We're glad you speculated so, but, we really want you to realize we've been through this 20 times already.

 

Perhaps it'll be the 21st post that catches the attention of the powers that be?

2nd edit: I wasn't trying to beat a dead horse. I haven't seen a post analyze the issue from the angle I took.

 

Well, after about a total of two and a half hours on the phone with customer support, I'm supposed to receive a replacement in 18 days...18 days?! They gave me a $50 credit and said they were going to "expedite" the manufacturing and give me two-day shipping, but really? That's longer than I waited for THIS Envy, with 5-7 day shipping. I don't know what's going on over there at HP or in China, but this is sad.

 

Just about all of the $450 coupon machines should be built by now, so if demand is still sufficient to require 18 days to build your Envy, we might need to buy some stock in HP.

 

What's worse, the people complaining about their delayed laptops or people complaining about other people complaining? Let us complain in peace. I came into this thread so I wouldn't bother the people in the owner's lounge with all this delay talk. If anything, this is the best thread to discuss this in since we all used the coupon - if you don't want to hear it go to the owner's lounge.

 

A different complaint...

Mine came in today............... with............. a blemish (faded patch) like someone scrap the top of laptop against a wall...... does it suppose to have that and also the bag that wrapped the powercord, looked like a dog chew on it....lol ? Anyway, it's going back. oh..one more thing...the LCd dim on and off for no reason....wow...

1) it seem that is is used (someone returns)
2) First impression of how HP do business...

 

I think the LCD dimming on and off is a "feature" -- supposedly it adjusts its brightness with respect to the ambient lighting where ever you are. It's called adaptive brightness or something similar. You can probably disable it through the Windows 7 power settings.

Here's a relevant link about that specific thing: http://blogs.msdn.com/sensorslocati...view-of-adaptive-brightness-in-windows-7.aspx

Other than that, your new laptop definitely shouldn't be messed up like that.

 

I got a chewed up power cord bag when I got my Envy. I find it weird as well but my power cord works. Also the dimming is a software thing, not a flaw. You need to turn it off. However, I am now worried that my replacement Envy will come badly scuffed based on your story. *Knock on Wood for Good Luck*

 

...Anything else to share on what happened to your system? Are you sending it back... or are they sending you one right away to replace even before getting yours? What happened to yours? (cause of screen issue .....)

Not mine. Not built yet. Ordered April 6, delayed April 15 to April 21. I spent 1 hr on the phone today trying to harass the incredibly annoying Indian CSRs. Trying to get a change/upgrade to the $550 dual 160GB Intel SSD's.

I gotta say, the reps I got from India today, they really are annoying and lame. I am starting to feel for you guys complaining.

I talked to like 3 or 4 of them. I SWEAR TO GOD, I talked to the same one each time. The voice did not change. I think they have a single Indian woman answering every call. She has about 4 heads, 6 mouths and 3 hands.

 

Don't be so insensitive, her name is Ganesha.

 

Thanks for that. Now, I can sleep well tonight.

 

If possible, can you benchmark the drive before and after you break the Raid? I'm curious to see if you have the same problem with the abnormally low 4k read speed.

 

I can only give you an After shot of CrystalDisk later on tonight. What speeds are you getting?

 

Were you successful? From their FAQ it didn't look like you could upgrade after the order was put into production.

Also, I have a feeling they aren't going to meet the deadline for those of us with the 4/21 delayed build dates. I think if they had the parts required already they would have certainly shipped them out by now.

 

My machine was ordered on april 7th, set to ship the 16th, and now has a new estimate of april 28th. Not really looking to , cause I really have my heart set on this machine but the delays are hurting me since I need this machine to work on and my Lenovo has been in a death spiral for a month now.

ugh ugh ugh. please get parts soon!

 

They all get slow 4K random read, RAID or Single. I've seen it on all Envy's.

Well, I see you are already posting here That's what I was going to suggest.

Nope. Maybe some progress. I'm going to give Parts dept a call and try to work a deal. We'll see.

 

No RAID bench...

 

109GB? What drive is that?

Good result, actually best 4K random read I've seen on the Envy.

 

Because it just showed up like that, I don't know what else to say...I have no idea what happened to it, and neither do they. They won't start building a new one until they receive info from FedEx saying that I've shipped it. Their estimated date for when I should receive the new one is now May 15, which is completely ridiculous.

 

It's a 160GB minus the 40GB system partition. I didn't extend the D: drive yet with the other SSD (yet).

 

Wow that really is ridiculous. I guess I'm spoiled by "Dell's service". The few times I requested replacements, Dell gracefully tells me "do not worry, keep using the defective system until your new one arrives".

I must have unbelievable good luck with Dell. Dell has never missed a delivery date with me, only beats the estimates. An M11x I ordered had a EDD or 4/26, it was delivered on 4/14.

Between this system exchange, the "inhome warranty" of HP, refusal to ship parts for self replacement, my having to pay for the charge by next week for a product I don't yet have, I doubt I'll buy HP again, unless they have new products that will absolutely blow my socks off that no one else can even come close.

 

Actually I've orders four Dell notebooks and a desktop in the last decade. They've all come within a week and have almost ALWAYS come in WAY ahead of time. If orders are weeks out,the vast majority of the time, you'll know it when placing the order.

I too got a delay e-mail AFTER the date my laptop was supposed to ship. Real effen cute.

 

I thought that's what I would hear from HP. With any other company that I've had to get replacements from, they always ship the replacement out to me first, then I ship the defective product back. I've never had it reversed before. That's almost an entire month without a laptop, which I reiterated to them over again on the phone. All they do is apologize...it's great that they're sorry, but would you mind explaining WHY they have to do it that way, or maybe see if I can hold onto the defective one? I almost preferred to talk to an automated system.

 

I was surprised to receive my initial order (Feb 2010) about 1 week before the "estimated build date." I thought they would not ship until after they built the unit on the "build date." My second order I received 1 day before the build date.

 

That is strange, I am waiting for my replacement unit right now but my CM let me use my current one until the replacement is shipped and arrives to my hands before I am to return the current unit.

 

*sighs* Just my luck. I swear, if this replacement shows up short of fu***** perfection, I'm raising hell.

 

Just got this... the discount was nice of them I guess. 10% on top of the $450 discount + $50 refund + $25 gift card ain't bad. I replied asking if I could use the discount towards an upgrade (to the i5 520m, since it seems the processor is what's causing the delays), I don't think they'll bite but can't hurt to ask.

 

Same here. Quite pathetic how they have no ability to forecast.

 

Same here. 10%, huh. How about they allow me to change the config to add on the 2x 160gb SSDs, since the system ain't even built yet?

How will they apply that 10% discount? Refund...? According to the CSR's I've dealt with, offering such a discount was IMPOSSIBLE! Amazing they have transformed their system in one days time!

Yes, it looks like I am going to eat my words.

The fact that they wont even mention the 'constraining' component is pretty stupid.

Erm, anyways.

 

They should just throw in free upgrades to the i5 520m if the 430m is what's causing the problem. Would probably be cheaper for them too.

My config is 430m, regular ol' 320gb HDD (I didn't realize how great of a deal those two SSDs were, but they're still not cheap enough for me to justify the extra $400 on an "impulse buy"), and the glossy 1080p.

 

Your config is the mirror of mine, literally. When's your order? I ordered April 6, est April 15, delay April 21, now April 28. I originally ordered April 5, but they had to cancel cause of their shipping issues. I have Bing Cash Back pending on both of mine also. Yours?

 

Ordered on March 31st. Original estimate was 4/12, pushed to 4/21 and now 4/28 (obviously). I only used the $450 coupon when ordering.

I have heard that they will cancel the Bing cashbacks though. But if they do you can call them and they might give you some sort of refund for the bing cb troubles.

I got them to refund me (so yes, it is possible, but not until it ships) $50 for the delay issue. Plus the $25 gift card that you can't really buy much with.. I guess I'll use that on a backpack from their store.

 

So is it true that most of the Envys that are delayed are due to the OEM Specified i5-430M's?

 

I also ordered mine on 3/31 and had the same thing happen to me.

I asked them about the 50 dollar credit and the 10% credit and they said they will be reflected on my paypal account after the item is shipped within 3-5 days.

 

Yep same here, ordered 4/6, was given $25 coupon and $50 credit back (yet to see it). $652 (everything combined) off this is quite an awesome deal I must say - $1169 with tax for 160SSD+250HDD and 1080p glossy (base CPU). Delay for another week, I'd love another 10% off as I'm in no rush I was going to cancel this order anyway, but $1169 for this is too hard to pass now - the Alienware M11x was $961 with tax!

I guess my XPS1340 will have to go for sure now.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I hope they delay it another week if they keep giving me money! =)

My numbers:
1573.49 (includes tax & shipping)

-$450 coupon
-$50 credit for first delay
-10% for second delay (which equals $107.34)

Grand total: $966.14

 

Deep inside I wanted it to be delayed again today so I could get another discount.

$1,524.99 configured (430m, glossy 1080p, 9 cell slice)

$1,185.05 after taxes and $450 discount.
~$1,017 after 10% + $50 refunds

I still want that 520m though (no specific reason, since it's really not all that better than the 430m, lol).

 

Yeah, I was going to call to really cancel unless they made me an offer of at least 10%. Saved me from calling

My config was $1720 (430m, glossy 1080p, 160SSD+250HDD). $1358 after tax, minus $50 for first delay (when is that coming anyway? if this 10% nullifies that $50 I'm canceling), minus $127 (10%, I assume this 10% is applied to the post-coupon total, would be nice if it's applied to original $1720 price )

PS both my Envy orders were done with Bing cashback. Both cashbacks were canceled before even my first Envy was shipped (I received one with 1080p matte and 9cell a week ago, it's going to a friend).

 

That's a nice build and a nice price. I wish I could have gotten one of those SSDs .

For the $50 refund they said it wouldn't be until it was shipped (sans 3-5 day period for it to show up on your bank statement), so I imagine this one is the same. Most likely it will be in addition to the $50. And if it isn't I imagine you could threaten to cancel and they would give it to you anyways to keep you as a customer.

 

I'm jealous of all you guys getting discounts for delayed shipments. >_> If only HP would treat the recipients of defective products as well at the recipients of their delayed ones.

 

hey if anyone is getting 2 or new extra I will buy it with the shipping cost thanx pm me if so

 

So you're back to Envy after all the MSI talk? You have a tough time make up your mind. Perhaps flipping a coin would work better?

 

my msi came damaged twice

 

Hmm, you are right. From that perspective it's kinda f-cked up and not fair.

 

Received mine on Monday in absolute perfect condition! Love it so far! I need to find a notebook sleeve or travel case thing for it though, because it doesn't fit in my backpacks laptop slot and the protective cover it comes with only really protects it from scratches ... any suggestions?

 

Got mine on Monday as well - glad to report zero problems. Still getting things set up so haven't benchmarked it yet.

I got the HP 16" envelope with my order but any 15.6" laptop case should do - you might check with Targus or Kensington. I think I paid $25 after the discount you get on HP stuff when ordering with the system.

 

The Bing cashback went down to 10% today from 25%

 

Just checked. I searched for 'touchsmart' and the link at the top for hpshopping.com sent me to the site and showed 25% BCB