Quality difference for Topseller versions?

Hello all. I have been considering (for a while now) getting a W520. I have found a couple W520's via retail that seem to be priced very similar to what I could get from Lenovo. The retail prices isn't quite as good as Lenovo's direct price (with discounts). The benefit, to me, for going through retail is that I don't have to wait weeks. Anyway - that's not really the point of my question.

I noticed (after looking at Tabook) that the retail laptops were all Topseller versions. So - I am curious is there any quality differences between a Topseller laptop and a laptop directly from Lenovo?

I did do some searching on the forums - but didn't see an answer to this question. Sorry if this has been asked/answered before.

Thanks!

 

They're made from the same parts.

 

Thanks ZaZ. Any idea of the quality control around assembly of the machine is the same? I'm just trying to nail down why some of the Topseller machines seem to be so affordable compared to the custom versions from Lenovo (I have seen this true for several different model lines: T, X and W).

Thanks again for the quick follow-up.

 

They're both produced by Lenovo, only difference is that with the TopSeller models, Lenovo sells the laptop to a retailer intermediate before the retailer sells it to you.

 

Topseller is a marketing term. If it got your attention, maybe some people have their salaries justified.

Topseller models are produced in large quantities and in fixed configurations, per agreements with resellers and/or corporations. They tend to be less expensive than CTO models.

 

Assembly process, parts, and QC are all the same for TopSeller and CTO models.

The only time you would ever conceivably receive a machine made with different parts, assembly procedures, or QC is if you were a very, *very* large customer and were willing to pony up some serious cash for a custom run. This is exceptionally rare, but it has happened.

Edit: As lead_org correctly pointed out, this does not necessarily mean that all machines are built by the same factory -- just that there is no explicit distinction in the process used to manufacture a TopSeller machine and the one used to manufacture a CTO one.

 

Lenovo have different contract manufacturers for sub models.

Topsellers is usually where they are produced in higher volume and with parts that are ordered in larger quantities. So i guess this equates to greater saving for Lenovo and cheaper price for the consumers.

This is similar to how cars are, customised cars are rarely discounted heavily. Most of the cars on run out sales are usually those one that are already manufactured and probably already stored somewhere for the dealer.

 

Thanks everyone. That's the information I was looking for. Much appreciated!