Questions about LENOVO Warranties and Aftermarket Plans

Hi,
I'm planning to purchase an X220 and noticed that warranties are various types but for the most part, they CAN be upgraded provided you are still in your warranty period EXCEPT of course "Thinkpad Protection" which covers all sorts of accidentals beyond warranties.

So here are my questions about Lenovo Warranties:

1. According to the above, if I stick with stock 1 yr Basic Depot warranty, I should be able to upgrade all the way to 4 yrs (ie 3 more years) before it expires?
2. If anyone does have experience (& I'm sure there are plenty), please review salient points about different warranties, ie Depot average turnaround times, what ONSITE is most useful for, etc?
3. Regarding the Thinkpad protection is the *BIG ?* in my mind--- I am buying my first Thinkpad only because I have seen and read several accounts of how tough these notebooks are, so I am wondering if it is even worth it for me as I consider myself to be an EXTREMELY careful user (though the idea of having reckless abandon *just once* in my life would be worth it) so what's the verdict on these? Anyone had one and used it?
4. Regarding warranties, especially further down the line, does Lenovo just replace the same part / model or if it is no longer feasible has anyone recieved upgrades? (This is my counterpoint to buying super expensive extended warranties--I may just opt for a new model then?)
5. LASTLY *phew, hehe*--I am finding great prices OUTSIDE of lenovo.com and many are claiming to be authorized resellers of Lenovo warranty plans so why wouldn't I just save my money and buy from them? Anyone have a story to tell? What would be your advice in trying to do this, like ASAP or within 30 days..ANY help here would be very helpful as this is the most likely route for me.

OKayyyyyy..so that was a great post for a first-timer, I'm sure you're already sick of me and I haven't even bought one yet..but I will certainly appreciate the helpful replies and many thanks for reading

 

1. Yes, you can also upgrade to Onsite or Priority Onsite. Warranties are less expensive if you buy them at the time of your purchase.

2. Depot is pretty fast. I had to get a replacement HDD last year and got the new HDD within 2 business days. A lot of users on here get their own aftermarket SSD or HDD so replacements are usually for keyboard, and other parts.

3. Thinkpad Protection is useful if you can afford it. I don't see a need for it, considering my uses, but it might be something to look into.

4. When I got my replacement HDD, it was the same specs (320 GB 5400 RPM) but I got a Hitachi hard drive to replace my failed WD one.

5. If I purchase a product from a company, I feel safer purchasing a warranty with that company. In this case, I ordered from Lenovo's website and upgraded my warranty on their website.

As a student, I bought the bare minimum warranty (1 year Depot, extended to a total of 3 years). I feel for an extra $100, getting a total of 3 year Depot warranty is useful. I'd save your money for other aspects of your life, or towards purchasing a newer laptop/upgrade/accessories in the new couple years

 

ThinkPad Protection must be added in the first 90 days and is limited to four years. A rider on your homeowners/renters insurance might be worth consideration. In addition to accidents, it will cover things like theft, which TPP will not. Plus, I believe, you may start/stop coverage as you please, but you should probably get the details from someone more knowledgeable.

 

"1.According to the above, if I stick with stock 1 yr Basic Depot warranty, I should be able to upgrade all the way to 4 yrs (ie 3 more years) before it expires?"
QUOTE: didgitaltrix.

REPLY:

A) The factory warranty begins the day of purchase, and is for one year.

B) Any additional warranty applied, whether it/they be an UPGRADE or EXTENTION runs concurrant
with the factory warranty, whenever it/they are purchased. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.

EXAMPLES:

1) Factory warranty (1 year) = 1 year total warranty coverage IN TOTAL.

2) Factory warranty (1 year) + 2 year extention = 2 year warranty coverage IN TOTAL.

2) Factory warranty (1 year) + 3 year extention = 3 year warranty coverage IN TOTAL.

Note that the above holds true even if you buy the extention on the last day of the factory warranty. All additional
warranty starts at "day one", and overlaps the original factory warranty, as when you bought the computer,
not when you bought the extention/upgrade.

Also take note of the time limit re the purchase of the ThinkPad Protection Policy, as well as you are only allowed
one series of upgrade/extentions.


I hope that this adds to your info, although it is rather "late in the day".

Regards.

 

Do you need a rider for it? When I had a bunch of items stolen from my Jeep Wrangler a couple years ago, my homeowners covered everything down to my Oakley Sunglasses.