Lenovo/IBM selling used parts??

So I placed an order for a Travel cover and a palm rest and both the automated message and the rep said that the part maybe either new or refurbished?!?!? This was directly from the IBM parts center. No other manufacturer does.

 

umm so? refurbished usually means its been brought back to new condition, i dont see peoples objection to perfectly working parts. Also, many other brands state this in the fine print, i was reading my ipod touch users manual and saw exactly what you stated. Parts used to repair the ipod may be used or refurbished. Again i dont see why people think that refurb is so much worse than new... professional refurbs mean pretty much ripping the part/laptop open and checking everything for problems.

edit: used means it is sold as is whether it is 1 day away from failure, or a perfectly working part, refurbished means a thorough troubleshoot and replacement session.

 

You are freaking out over pieces of plastic.

If they aren't in usable condition and are damaged then of course get them to send out new parts. Refurb can just mean repacked usually.

 

The fact is that I bought a new machine, why would I put used parts in it?

 

Because you messed up your factory new palm rests and you have to replace them, so your only option is possible refurb parts. Seems simple to me.

 

Why can't I order new parts though? If they can't tell the difference between new and "refurbished" parts, then your thinkpads are likely made with a mix of new and refurbished. Technically, then it's not a new thinkpad. It's a thinkpad with new and refurbished parts.

 

Mwok,
I am with you on this. You see, the refurbished parts go all the way to the boards. When my system was new, I tried to buy a fully stocked T61p.

Today, so much in the way of intermittents can hide in a refurbished board.

Renee

 

At least receive the parts and look at them before you complain so much. Your parts are covered under warranty if they are defective.

 

I think the new laptops are built with new parts, otherwise they would have to disclose that information to you, like they did when you ordered your replacement parts. You laptop was all new when you got it, but since you are swapping parts out you might have to deal with refurbs. Who knows, when you get your replacement parts, they might be brand new, or you might not even notice if they are refurbs. If they are in poor condition, send them back of course!

 

Is there a way to know if the part is new or refurbished? will it say on the box?

 

My point is the fact that what is the difference? Parts that are professionally refurbed are good as new, there is usually no chance of them failing due to the fact that they were previously used. If anything, them using refurbed parts in new ThinkPads would be both more environmentally friendly, and theoretically lower the price of ThinkPads, so if they are in perfect working condition and lower the price of your ThinkPad, then why would you complain?

 

I like how you're asking how you will know if they are refurbed or not. If you do not notice any defect then you should have no problem. Just USE the part you need and if problems arise, ask for another part.

 

99.999% of parts sold by the IBM maintenance parts department are NEW.   that disclaimer has been there since the early '90s simply to cover IBM's butt in the event that a service technician opens a box, figures out that it's the wrong part, and sends it back to the warehouse.   relax.

 

Plus, who can guarantee that a NEW part, say an HDD, would not arrive DOA?

 

Every top tier OEM, from Dell to HP to Lenovo do this. It's mainly for really old models where they no longer have new parts made, but are able to secure refurbished ones. You won't be able to tell the difference.

 

and how would you know this information?

 

The fact is that it's used. It's like buying a new BMW and buying a used BMW.

 

Then don't buy it. What are you trying to accomplish here?

 

No, that would be like buying your new T400 and getting a refurb. Using your analogy, it's more like buying a new BMW, breaking a component of the car, and then getting a likely new but possibly refurbished component to replace the part that you broke. It's not like Lenovo shipped you a laptop that was broken and is now trying to replace it with a refurb, you messed up your palmrest on your own..

 

I'm sorry, new is new. Refurbished is used. They should be priced accordingly.

It doesn't matter what it is. Sure, it's likely to be "good as new", but I've seen plenty of exceptions.

Like plastic pieces with tiny broken clips, but everything else looks perfect.

Stains and wear on the plastic. Liquid damage to keyboards and system boards. Damage on displays. Cell phones that are not new. The list goes on.

Remember, these things are review by human, who are not perfect. More over, they are likely paid very little and given piecemeal quotas, so it is likely something slips through.

While with electronics, it's 99% of the time either work or fail, so I can see a lot of people perspective, but the perception of new carries a price premium.
If you advertise it as refurb, then fine, price accordingly.

I disagree with the car analogy; the car is a wear and tear item - mileage on the engine, people sitting in seats, etc. Not quite the same as consumer electronics.

In car parts, the only "refurbs" are parts taken off wrecked autos and sold by repair shops as new (where they pocket the difference). And this is all fine and dandy until that part fails. I can't tell you how many "used" bumpers I've seen put on, where the underside/support materials are damaged, and won't work as designed. Or the airbags, where they just repack it - you'll never check it, right? Until you need it. Then it doesn't deploy and your head get's crushed by the dash or steering wheel.

 

Well, I received the parts from IBM. The palm rest box had a label that said "new batch", so I'm guessing that it's new and not refurbished. The travel cover did not have such a label, but I'm fine with it.

 

they sent you NEW parts even after everyone in this thread got all worked up about USED parts?   shocking.

 

Crisis averted!

 

As stated earlier, the chances of them sending a used part were extremely low. The OP (and others) just got a little worked up...

 

People need to stop replying to this guy at all...