Price Protection after receiving notebook?

My T400 already shipped and came to me, but now I notice the price is cheaper on EPP, and its still within 21 days of shipping date. Can i still get a price match?

 

yes apparently you need to configure a new system using the same specs and then give them some code when you call them to price match.

i forgot the exact process but thats what i was told by customer service.

 

I had a price match go through but wasn't using the EPP. Not sure if they'll approve the new quote using EPP since orders through EPP are subject to some limitations (i.e. can't return the laptop)

 

They only price match 21 day from the shipping date (including the shipping date), so the best scenario is you get 18 days price protection, and likely fewer than that (if it gets held up in customs, it may take a week or more to get to you.)

I tried a price match (it dropped 4% or about $50; every little bit helps). They told me to pound sand, as it was 19 days from when I received it but 22 days from when it shipped. Escalated and such, but they said tough luck.

I'll remember than next time I buy from them. I guess HP and Dell do that same, but HP had more flexibility, and even gave me store credit when they couldn't do cash.

Bottom line is the laptop is a commodity that depreciates instantly. I would never buy one for more than $1500, as the same thing will be $1000 in 6 months. You are much better off buying a new computer for every year than a "maxed out" one.

Example: Buy the fo'shizzle laptop for $2700, Jan 1 2009. Keep for 3 years, then sell. You only get a year warranty, remember, so if it breaks on years 2 and 3, too bad for you.

End of 2011 you sell you laptop for maybe $200-250 bucks, if you are lucky.
Net, you are out $2500.

Buy $900 laptop Jan 1 2009. Not as good as the $2700 one, but decent.

Replace on 12/31/2009 with new one for $900, sell old one for $300 (at least)
This is likely close or better than the $2700 laptop.

Replace on 12/31/2010 with a new one for $900, sell old one for $300 (at least). This one is likely to have much better specs than the $2700.

Sell it for $300 on 12/31/2011.

So at the end of 2011, and have spent $2500 and are going to buy a new laptop. Or, you have, spent $1800, and used a "new" laptop each year, fully covered under warranty.

You've saved at least $900, so you next laptop is essentially "free" when comparing the two scenarios.

Anyway, I am digressing. Price match really isn't a big benefit unless the price dramatically drops the first week after you buy it.

 

Nice statistics

 

If you like it, rep it! At the way the market is going, my reputation number on Notebook Forums is going to be my best asset.

 

Out of reps for now need to spread more rep..

 

I find those numbers to be very deceptive. A helpful idea, which I mostly agree with but I think you are over depreciating the laptops and forget about various resell values in certain brands. I figure if you upgrade your laptop every 2 years that that is pretty healthy for staying up-to-date enough on tech.

But anyways, thinkpads retain their value a bit more based off what I have observed.

 

They really aren't deceptive; I actually based them on my own experiences over the past 8 years.

While I think every two years is okay for some, I basically have to upgrade my annually because of performance/feature improvements. Remember, 2 year ago, 2GB RAM was consider "a lot". Now 4GB is almost the standard. In 2 years, 8GB RAM will be commonplace. hard drive size and speed has also increased. And I won't even compare single core CPU to Dual-Cores...

Sure, some laptops will have greater resale value, but there is not that much difference between Dell/HP/Lenovo, even though Lenovo is higher quality. Maybe a little more for Thinkpads, but not significant.

I sold a 9 month old $900 laptop for $400, so I don't think I am over-depreciating. I sold a 3 year old, $1400 laptop for $300 recently, and that was just lucky because it was special edition that someone wanted. That's about what the market will pay. Sure, these is some variation, but not a lot.

As much as we like to think they are not, they are commodities; the data ,not the machines are the value.

I have to say, using the CPP discount, the Lenovo's are a pretty darn good deal. Especially the T400.

 

You used a $2700 laptop in your example. Usually at this price point the laptop is a "premium" commodity to someone. For instance mac's have good resell value merely because of their high demand for their market segment. Thinkpads tend to have pretty decent resell value too.

If you are talking about a $1000-1500 laptop, then okay your numbers are more valid at 3 years.

Also ram is easily upgradable and should not be considered a significant marker of value. You can easily upgrade a laptop you are planning to sell. And I have been using 2gigs for a number of years, and still do on my laptop. My workstation is 4gigs, however. I think it is all relative to the type of laptop and its respective demanders...