Shopping the Outlet

I was thinking about getting an x61 from the Lenovo Outlet, and was curious who else has bought from the outlet. Because it is pre-configured, will shipping times be better than buying a new custom laptop from Lenovo? Also, any bad experience? ex. Broken parts, DOA..etc?

 

Shipping times are aweful from the outlet

I ordered a 76641JU on July 9 with an estimated ship date of July 23.
Cancelled this order on July 21.
Reinstated this order for the same machine, 76641JU, on July 23.
I received a new order number and and estimated ship date of 8/6

Still waiting for them to ship this order. I can't imagine what is taking so long with a refurbished machine. How many parts might need to be replaced? I admitt to having serious doubts about Lenovo.

I have purchased refubished units from Dell and did not experience these type of delays.

What surprises me is that for a company that manufactures computers, Lenovo's order tracking system appears to be in the dark ages.

 

I am completely satisfied with the machine I got from the outlet, it was a great deal and works perfectly. But yes, their ordering and tracking systems are pretty bad. As I recall, I got my computer well before the ship date, and the order status remained at "in progress" well after I had it in my actual hands.

I remember reading that part of the explanation is that the outlet computers are all over the country and have to be hand-pulled and shipped, rather than there being a centralized shipping depot for them. No idea if this is true.

So, to the OP, from my experience and what I've read about ship times custom configured machines in recent months, it is quite possible that the outlet machine will take longer to get to you. Which may not make much sense, but it appears to be the deal for now.

I'd say buy from the outlet if you like the deals and see a machine you like. Don't use it as a way to get a machine faster.

 

Plain and simple the shipping sucks when it comes to the Outlet, however if you call and say you are going to Cancelle the order. It will magicly be shipped that day

 

why would you cancel your order before the estimated ship date?

 

I just ordered a T61p from the Outlet Sunday night...I know it went through, but I didn't save my confirmation page. I haven't received an email and my CC hasn't been charged, either. Eek.

 

you shouldve gotten an email right away call them maybe it never went throguh

 

Bummer. That's what I figured, they took it off the outlet page but nada has shown up for me.

 

did you do it as a guest or through an account? if an account you should be able to access orders...I know that right after I ordered (new one) I got an email with a check order status page...

 

Pretty sure I did it with my account (that I created during the checkout process). I got an account creation email, but nothing after that.

I should have saved that stupid confirmation page...grrrr.
Oh well, if it doesn't work out, I kind of wanted the T500 anyway, but couldn't pass up that deal (1114.00 for a T8300 T61p, WUXGA, 160gb 7200rpm, Nvidia 570m). I almost wonder if it was a price mistake...

edit: thanks for the help gogo

 

This was not the case when I tried to order one a little while back. After calling them to see why I didn't get a confirmation, I was told that I would NOT get a confirmation until they were able to confirm that they had the machine I had ordered, and that the process to do this took 3-5 days. This was repeated and confirmed to me from 3 separate people in the outlet.

If you find a great deal on the outlet, make sure that you take screenshots of ALL the specs of the machine you pick, and and of ALL confirmations you receive during the order process. Even once you get your confirmation email, it will not contain the specs of the machine you ordered, and if it arrives with less than it was supposed to have they will ask for your proof that it was supposed to have anything more. If you did not take screenshots during the order process, you will have no proof.

I ended up canceling my outlet order and just buying a new one, but sometimes there are deals in there that are just oo good to pass up.

 

If I ordered it now, what are the chances I can get it before or on Aug 16th? Thats when I leave for school.

 

Well, your chances of getting by then are slim. I ordered mine on the 7/16 and it is being deliverd today So if you were going to do it I would do it today.

I agree with SCALE print everything! If you look carefuly at the ordering page it will tell you to print the specs of the machine for your own proof, go figure right. Like I said I am getting mine today so I'll let you know how it goes.

 

yeah, it was late and I should have saved that info...but didn't. Hopefully it works out okay.
I actually got a confirmation email today...need to check the credit card and see if it has been charged though.

 

Well I ordered one, hope it works out okay. I heard all the outlet notebooks only come with the original warranty, but on the product page they all list it as one year warranty, will this be something I will have to fight them over with?

 

the original warranty is one year...

 

I already know that. What I'm asking is if the outlet notebooks get a new one year warranty, as that what it would seem like to me, as they state one year on the product page and just mention the standard warranty when you go to the faq. But I heard that outlet notebooks only come with the original warranty and some of those notebooks in the outlet are probably over a year old and out of the original warranty, so does each outlet notebook come with a new one year warranty or not?

 

I just got my T61 and WOW it is so clean. For a refurb the thing is perfect, there are no flaws with it at all. On the point of the warranty, I talked to a Lenovo rep on the phone and they informed me that it gets a new one year warranty. You also have 60 days to purchase an extended warranty on the machine. So happy hunting people

 

no way...you get full warrantys and you can extend refurbs? I may have to get one

 

I got a UPS tracking number today. Supposed to be delivered on the 6th. I ordered last Sunday (31st)...

 

Why didn't I save that confirmation page (mostly b/c I expected an email/receipt with price, etc)...oh well.

My CC has been charged for $50+ what it was when I bought/ordered it. I'm guessing they charged for shipping, even though it was listed as free when I ordred. Is shipping normally free from the outlet? Do they just tack it on after you order? Laptop should arrive Wednesday, I'm hoping to see an invoice on the outside of the box before I open it up...

 

so is it FREE shipping ?
i am about to order one

 

It was free for me, but how much was your order? They might have some sort of min price for free shipping. Mine was about 800$ with tax.

 

I'm 99% sure it was free shipping when I ordered, but that was a week+ ago. And they seemed to have charged me more regardless...
My order was 1140.00

 

Grrr...was supposed to get my laptop today, but the UPS truck just drove up (yay!), then left (boo!). Turns out Lenovo didn't put my Apt # on the order...just the street address. Doh.

 

btw how to choose the right outlet laptop? their Product Specifications didn't really tell you much... if they didn't tell you what graphic card.. that mean no graphic card?

 

I think they have a number you can call. I noticed a few on there too that didn't have video card fields field out...If that's one you are interested in, I'd definitely call before ordering...

Ended up getting mine today (t61p, WUXGA, 570m, 160gb hdd), finally. Typing on it now - it's sweet! Some small, small scratches on the battery and battery 'port', but other than that looks pretty pristine (it was a redistributed model iirc). Still have to find out why they charged me shipping, but will have to make a call tomorrow.