Lenovo in China

I am enamored of the Thinkpads, they suit my needs. After looking on Ebay, not "winning" several overpiced (IMHO) units, I realized that they are all made in China.

AND, I am headed to China in a few months for an extended stay. Any experiences or thoughts in buying one in China, I realize that they likely will have the Chinese OS, but buying software in China is not a problem.

 

I went to Hong Kong in June and didn't find prices to be any different to the U.S. for electronics. Add in the hassle of carrying it back and dealing with a non-English OS and it quickly becomes not worth any small savings. I'm not sure if prices are much different in the rest of China where the Yuan is used instead of the HKD, what part are you going to?

I'd say just keep your eye open for good prices here in the U.S. (or wherever you are) and if you don't find anything then maybe look in China but don't expect to save a bunch.

 

Right, HK prices are never anything to write home about, in general, for elctronics. I can always buy cmaeras, etc for a better price in NY that in HK

But I am going to be on the Mainland, Guangzhou, and it dawned on me that the Chinese are not going to pay US (orEU) prices for this stuff. I mean they roll off their assembly lines in the millions and I have to believe that the local prices are better.

But there is the hassle factor, so that's that.

 

I am very sorry to tell you guys, you never think about getting better prices in China mainland for ThinkPads, even though this brand belongs to lenovo now.

I am a chinese and live in Beijing now. Recently, I want to buy a new laptop to replace my old one(VAIO PCG-GRX520). After comparing lots of brands such as Acer, ASUS, etc. I finally find that ThinkPad maybe the best choice for me. I am considering T43 or Z60m, but I find that the price of T43 in China mainland is much higher than any other contries or area including US and Hong Kong. In most of times, the price differences are between 6000-10000 Yuan which means about 750-1200 US dollars.
OMG! I can buy another new one using them. So the price is unacceptable for common people.

Actually, many chinese people who live in mainland and want to buy a ThinkPad will choose buying it from Hong Kong or US, or ask some friends or relatives to buy it abroad and bring it back. When they have no chance to go abroad and have no overseas relation, they can only buy it from one way which is described as an illegal way by IBM and I don't want to talk about it a lot here. In addition, IBM still has the most strict warranty service politics in China. Any ThinkPad which is not sold in China mainland cannot get service easily. The inside story is too complex and no one can tell it clearly.

In a word, for an foreigner, to buy a thinkpad in China mainland should never be a choice, forget it and don't even think about it again.

 

Sorry for my poor english.

Actually, I am planning that asking my aunt to buy a Thinkpad or HP nc8230 and bring it back to Beijing one or two month later, she works in Mortorola now. Maybe I also can ask my college or high school classmates who are studying in US now.

BTW: I have to say, this is really a good notebook forum and I'm love in it.

 

China always have higher price in electronic. Hong Kong is second to China. Electronics usually have lower price in US. I just visited HK last year. Jesus... I miss HK now... such a crowded city.

 

Expensive -> Cheaper
Japan, China(electronics only), Hong Kong (electronics only), USA (electronics only), Taiwan.

Logitech Quickcam Orbit
US: $100-120 Taiwan: $60

Motorola A780
HK: $700 Taiwan: $500

General Cellular phones
China: $100 HK: $80-90

General Stuff like a pack of cigeratte (Marlboro)
Japan: $5.00 HK: $4.00 US: $3.50-$4.00 Taiwan: $1.50

When general shopping comes to my mind, I always wanted to visit HK and Taiwan.

 

Hjmmaniac, your English is very good. I also like this forum very much.

I have a T43 on order, and I hope you are able to buy a Thinkpad soon.

 

Your English is very good, well done.

That's too bad ThinkPads are so unaffordable and more expensive there, I wonder how many people can possibly afford buying them, and if Lenovo/IBM is pricing them so high of course people will seek "alternative" ways to obtain them.

India is the same way, I've worked with a lot of Indians and when they go back home they take lots of electronics type gifts.

It seems that the U.S. is the cheapest place to get electronics, buying from a state with low sales tax or purchasing online where sometimes there's no sales tax is best.

 

You forgot to add UK at the start of the list....Have you see the prices for TPs over here!!!!!

I just come back from HK two weeks ago, and I got myself a T43 while I was out there, saved myself big chunk of cash compared to buying it here in the UK.....

 

excellent thread , i was thinking about getting one overseas too ....

theres no tax in china / hk is there ??

 

well, if you're in vancouver canada though it'd be better to drive 80 miles to Seattle and get one from the u.s. where you'll save as much or more and have an english keyboard and os.

 

If you can make it to Oregon, they have no state sales tax.

 

Having bought a TP from HK, I can safely say you will not have a problem with their KB. I cannot recall seeing a TP being sold in HK with a Chinese KB, they were all US, with English XP installed.

They advantage, for me, with buying in HK instead of the US is HK uses 240v, as the UK, meaning I didn't need to buy a UK compatiable adaptor

 

hi abaxter

do you happen to know any retailers that sell lenovo besides office depot ?

 

I am from Hong Kong and I can say the price of TP in HK and in US is quite similar.
However, rebates in US make a big different. Hong Kong doesn't has such things call rebate. Although we don't have to pay sale tax in Hong Kong, retailers often add some cost to the product to make it more expensive. Also, retailers in HK tend to give a lot of gift instead of discount/rebate.

 

I wonder how many people are from HK in this forum. I know I'm one of them but I live in LA, US. Anyway, DoubleDs, you are right, I forgot to add UK to the list. China and HK is tax-free area. But their price is similar to US's after tax price.

 

One disadvantage buying electronic from HK retail store is they don't offer product returns. Even they accept returns, they only accept returns within 7 days of purchase.

 

There are two in New York that I know of, but they're not a chain. Office Depot just a couple of weeks ago started offering ThinkPads for sale and it was the first time in 5 years they've been widely available in retail stores.

It's really hard to find Thinkpads in retail stores, although sometimes College Bookstores will have them so call the local (larger size) university and see if they have and sell ThinkPads that you can look at (U of BC and whatever else is in your area).

 

I hope there's a number of people from HK in the forums since there's a lot of people there that speak English and lots of them know a lot about technology and could help out in this forum! I was in HK during June on a trip, fantastic city, greetings to all from there.

And thanks all for the clarification on the fact laptops purchased there are English based keyboards/os, I assumed wrong (should have remembered this from the visit). And thanks for the clarification on sales tax there.

 

Lenovo will be in more retail locations in the near future (likely 1Q 2006), but for now Office Depot is he only one.

 

Laptops are much more expensive in mainland China than in other places like US. They are still being considered luxury stuff for most people there. Not so many of them can afford so those companies have to tag them higher price to get profitable margin. Another reason I think is those electronics are still "import stuff" even though they are made locally. The price you pay includes pretty high tax which protects local manufactures. Thats why people in mainland China like to buy stuff in HK because HK has no or much lower import taxes. If you want to buy electronics there is no other better place than US except those fancy cell phones you won;t find here .

 

If you are really looking for a cheap TP in Hong Kong. University discount is another choice.
My sister in Hong Kong Chinese University bought her TP T43 for ~$1000 USD. Some university sponsor by IBM, while others by Samsung, Fujisu etc.
Also, you can get BTO laptop in Golden Computer center, the largest computer mall in HK, but i can't guranntee their quility...
FYI, 3D video card for desktop PC in HK is generally cheaper than in US. Again, I can't guranntee their quility.

 

There's also an issue about warranty.

Just make sure the notebook you're buying has a global warranty and a service depot near your hometown.

 

Hah, I am Chinese too. Talking about THINKPAD's price in China, there is a long story to tell.
Most people agree that IBM/LENOVER imposed "discriminated prices" on mainland China, it is by far more expensive than other laptop with basically same configuration.

2 months ago I bough one T43 in the so-called "illegal way", which means buying a T43 through non-official distribution, with serial number which is not invalid in China.
It cost me about RMB16,000. That is around $2,000!
Though this goddam thing costs so unreasonable much, lots people are enamored of it. This world is sometimes just crazy.

 

Having been in the middle east, I always felt that the price in Dubai is the best. Its still no match to US Prices. Electronics is without doubt cheapest in the US.

 

i heard things are cheaper in middle east, but i never been there.