Lenovo thinkpad order delays (do NOT buy from lenovo if you need a laptop immediately)

Hi Everyone,

I recently (no, its been a month) ordered a laptop. It is not yet shipped. I called upto 8 times until now and every week they keep extending the ship date. This is how it went.

Ordered Date : Sep 26, 2007. Thinkpad T61 15.4 WSXGA+ screen. Initial ship date was given as Oct 15th.

I needed the laptop almost immediately. So I called on Oct 2nd to know the status.

Oct 2nd, 2007
Me: How long do you think it would take to get it shipped?
Agent: Your ship date is Oct 15th. It would not take that long usually. Your laptop should be shipped soon.

Oct 5th, 2007
Me: I was told the laptop will be shipped soon. How long does it take?
Agent: I see a slight delay with your screen. It should be shipped next week.
Me: If there is a problem with the screen, I don't mind taking 14 inches screen.
Agent: If you change your order now, it would further delay your process (I hate this dialog now. I didn't know everytime I called them they say this).

Point to noted: If we change the configuration after it is ordered it would go to the start of the order queue even though the order was NOT built. Great software by IBM/Lenovo. I don't know how they are pioneers in technology when the systems they themselves use are junk. There is no way to modify the configuration without changing the order status even though the order is not processed.

So beware guys, even if you want to change the shipping address your order will be moved to start of the order queue and it would further delay the process (forget about changing the system configuration).

Oct 10th:
Me: When do you think my order will be shipped?
Agent: I see the date to be Oct 19th on my system. It will be shipped in the week of Oct 19th.
Me: Its been more than 2 weeks I placed my order. I need to talk to your manager. (after little delay, he connects to his manager)

Agent name : Scott (manager) (the rudest agent I ever talked to)
Me: When will my order be shipped?
Scott: Your ship date says Oct 15th. So, it would be shipped on Oct 15th.
Me: Just now your agent said OCt 19th, whom should I believe?
Scott: I don't know whom you want to believe. I see the date to be Oct 15th.

I didn't trust him and I needed a computer immediately, so I got one from Circuit City only to return it back in their 14 day period assuming my laptop will be shipped atleast by Oct 19th.

Oct 15th evening,
Me: My order is not shipped, when will it be shipped?
Agent: Oct 19th.
Me: I like to talk to your manager Scott.
Agent: I cannot patch him through at this point. It will be shipped in this week.

Oct 19th evening,
Me: My order is not yet shipped.
Agent: It will be shipped the week ending Oct 26th. (they extended it again)
Me: I like to speak with Mr. Scott. (manager)
Agent: I cannot connect him as our lines are busy. (Great).

Meanwhile, the laptop I got from Circuit City trial period is finished. I could not return it. Finally, I convinced my sister to take it.

Oct 26th evening (today),
Me: My order is not shipped. When will it be?
Agent: I see the ship date to be OCt 26th. Laptops are built in different countries China or Taiwan. They have to be brought to US.

I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES :-(

I don't want to cancel the order as I want anti-glare display and all other damn companies offer glossy display except Lenovo.

If you guys want to order a laptop from Lenovo, beware that they build the systems in a different country China and Taiwan. It takes more than 3 weeks for it to be shipped atleast (even if all the standard parts are available).
My friend also ordered one on Oct 10th (when there is a 25% discount going on). His ship date was Oct 25th. His laptop is not yet shipped.

Hope my experience helps you to plan accordingly before going for Lenovo.
This is not me alone, there are many. Just type Lenovo order delays in Google. You will come to know you are not the first.

Lenovo didn't improve their workflow and I don't have any hopes they will in future as it is this bad for a long time.

Lenovo Victim

 

This is true for almost all makers as there are, or at least was, screen shortages and, potentially, other hardware shortages...

Also, I don't think there is a company making computers in the US (not counting small whitebox OEMs) anymore... This isn't a manufacturing country

 

i have ordered 3 lenovos so far, 10 days from hong kong, 8 days from china, 16 days from north carolina outlet lol.
sorry you have had a part shortage.
Lenovo is the worst company for responding or accurate info but aside from the lack of good customer service i love their product-enough to ignore the torture.

 

I ordered T61 on 10/08. The ESD was 10/25. It was yesterday, and I could see the ESD has changed to be 1/08/2008 in the morning today! Sigh.......anyway I called lenovo. I asked why it does take so long as polite as I could. The agent said because of shortage of 7-cells battery, it will be delayed. So, I asked 6-cells battery which was told available now.
..................

I am back to the starting line for the order queue.
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,,,....
Lenovo.................I love you....sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

Been there, done that. Here's the good news......I too went down the same road as you, rude agents, conflicting info, etc. HOWEVER, my order date was 9/26 with FIRST ESD of 10/15. Then pushed to 10/30, then 11/15. That's where it held. Their reason was 15.4" screen "constraint". Well, I was just about to the edge and ready to cancel and called them yesterday to get a status check and I was informed my laptop was shipped. I was less then excited since the website still said 11/15. Well, wouldn't you know it, late last night, the website updated to an "invoice" or "packing slip" saying the unit shipped. This morning the web site gave me tracking numbers and this evening I received an email saying the unit shipped. Now, keep in mind, the web site had an ESD of 11/15. My guess is that whatever part was backordered came in or they cobbled a machine together from spare parts!!

After waiting this long, I'd give them another day or so and see what happens. You've waited this long, waiting until Monday or Tuesday may not kill you (even though you think it will)!!! Been there, done that...believe me, I know how you feel!

 

I order my t61 2 weeks ago. I received it yesterday. I suspect you got the sxga. I ordered the xga.