Lenovo Thinkpad retail presence

When I was doing my laptop-researching(before ultimately getting a T400), I wasn't able to find a Thinkpad in any local b&m office/electronics store. The local Fry's does carry some Lenovo systems, but nothing from the Thinkpad line.

Being a business-oriented product, it doesn't help. BUt it sure would be nice to get real-world feel/touch of the Thinkpad products. Supposedly they have Lenovo stores in Singapore, but no ideal if these will ever come to the US.

 

The only Thinkpad I ever saw in a store was the X301 at Fry's Electronics. Sadly though, people were ignoring it in favor of HP's down the aisle.

 

What sold me was the demo t61p that was sitting in the local bestbuy. It was a model for air cards and how they help businesses, but I wasnt there for the mobile "broadband". After about 45- 1 hour of hogging the thinkpad I was sold. I do agree that its a sad portrayal of such a nice laptop line, and the only way to put my hands on it is to either have a friend/family/co-worker that has one or to find a demo like I did.

A lenovo store or even just a section in local electronic stores would be very nice for those interested. Especially since it seems only a small percentage shop for thinkpads/lenovo products since they are branded as bland business laptops. Im sure that stereotype would be cast away when people actually put their hands on the machines and see that the interaction out weighs the need for a flimsy flashy over heating plastic monstrosity that they normally buy. We all know how people react when you say thinkpad, but most are by people who have never laid a finger on one to realize there is more to a PC then looks and price.

 

Yes, before coming here I hadn't even considered Lenovo. Completely forgot they existed. Never see one in the shops but then you never see anything decent in the shops around here.

Of course I am pickier than most but still.

 

See I have always loved thinpkpads, but I never really got exposed to them and since I I couldnt afford one for my first laptop when they came out I spent the next 16 years with other brands (dell business is by far the best, tied with ibm/lenovo) rather then getting one. Now had it been sold in stores, that probably would have swayed me.

 

It's a niche market, as such it does not appeal to the "average" consumer. Most brick and mortar stores cater to the average audience...

There's no two ways about it, you can't have a niche product yet at the same time be widespread.

There are, however, the consumer lines. Still, that's not what you're asking for. The T series is not your average laptop purchase. The R would be, and that doesn't have what you're looking for.

 

That's okay. I like it when people think my laptop is 8 years old and a piece of crap. They won't steal it.

 

Yeah I never have to baby sit mine either. But I do have to say thinkpads are thin, light, sleek and sharp.

 

It is disappointing that, with the exception of one or two HP units at Best Buy, there are essentially no business machines available in the common retail stores.

So, while I am a Thinkpad fan, it really would also be nice to be able to pick up and handle a E6400 (just for comparison purposes, of course. )

 

I'm sure OEMs have done studies but every time I show people a business laptop they are usually impressed. But I guess in the aggregate most are buying at a low price level wanting something cheap and not thinking about longevity...or even a warranty.

Actually I am not sure how manufacture warranty extensions work when you buy at a B&M...

 

The other issue that pertains to not being able to see them is Lenovo's rather dreadful return policy. Back in the day you could return a ThinkPad no quetions asked. Now, if you buy it and don't like for some reason, there's no getting out of paying the 15% restocking fee, which on a $1000 notebook is $150.

I can see Lenovo's side of it too. There's a lot more consumers buying ThinkPads these days. They're I think much more likely to return an item. People abused it and it got taken away, but going forward it would make me think twice about getting one. Dell and HP I think have found a way to do it, so I don't know why Lenovo has not, but they're bigger. Perhaps that's part of it.

 

I've been to two Microcenter's that have had some of them. I believe they had a T400, an X301, and a W500.

 

I agree it would be really nice to actually be able to get some hands-on time on a new Thinkpad in order to really justify an upgrade. I went into the T4x blind, and only had a few minutes with an acquaintance's T60 before buy the one I currently have(there is a lot of difference between a 14" XGA with an X1400 T60 and my 15" UXGA Flexview T60p). I'll admit I have been casting an eye towards the W500, but I'd really need some hands-on time with it before I decide getting one is more important than the BMW I'm saving up for.

There's a shop in my town that is pretty much a Newegg competitor, but also has a small retail storefront. I was only there once, but I remember being amazed that most of the notebooks they had on display were Lenovos. I'll have to see if they've still got them there... may be the place for me to get my hands-on time.

 

Before the local Circuit City closed down, they had an old R60 sitting in the locked up display case collecting dust. They wanted some ungodly amount of money for it at the time (something well north of $1300). At that time, the T61 was already out from Lenovo for a good 3-4 months starting @ a hair over 1,000, so I went that route. Other then that R60, and another R60 in the Comp-USA down the road (which also went out of business as well), that was it. Currently though, there is NO stores (local to me anyway) that has Thinkpads out for the consumer to see/buy. Kinda sucks though, cause I sure would LOVE to see the new W700/T400s/X301, etc. in person.
Oh well

 

Which is good for small businesses or people trying to branch out, as we cant afford to go blind into a huge purchase like this.

Hmm I think we have microcenters around my area, Ill have to check that out.

Yeah Id love to check out a w700 as well, Im a huge numpad fan and I want to see how lenovo's work in comparison to my old vostro. Not to mention I wouldn't want to purchase a $2000+ laptop and not like it then being forced into the 15% restocking fee.

 

The return policy of Lenovo probably extends from the fact that Lenovo incurs a huge shipping cost to courier it to the user from the factory, and in many countries lenovo don't really hold local stocks of these machines, which HP does as far as i know. While, Dell have many localised assembly plants for CTO machines.

HP do sells much of their consumer laptops like Lenovo with their ideapads in large bulk goods store and some computer shops, because these laptops are purchased based on well you market them and spur of the moment sort of things. While thinkpads, Elitebook of HP and Latitude of Dell are for business orientated customers whom don't want gimmicks, also business customers are more rational they already have a clear mindsets and criteria on which they choose their laptops.

So placing thinkpads across many computer shops would not usually increase the sales profit, as Lenovo would have to prebuilt them with a certain spec, and then let them sit in a warehouse of the stores and each sale that the company generates eat into their already very tight profit margin.

Furthermore, much of the thinkpads are bought by people whom are already exposed to them, so basically first time buyers of laptop would not usually choose Thinkpads as their first laptops.

 

I'm actually planning a trip this weekend to a Microcenter. Hopefully they have them in store. I'd love to see a T400S or any of the X, W series in real life.