This restocking fee is almost murder!

I'm so upset with myself. Just received my T61p, opened it up and.... NOOOOO it's not what I wanted

I didn't notice on that on the Lenovo website there is no option for the 14 inch wide screen. I could've sworn I read somewhere the the standard screen had to be chosen as an option so I purchased away with out a care in the world.

So now I'm stuck with a $200 re-stocking fee, OOUCH!!! but what am I gonna do... stay with a machine that I don't really want?

I didn't even bother powering the machine on. Preceded to mope and packed it back up.

This is my fifth Thinkpad and I think it will be my last. This policy stinks.

In conclusion.... make sure you've order exactly what you want before you open that box, don't be a dumbie!

 

Well is a different screen really a terrible problem?

 

Yes it is. It's the feature that gave me enough reason to upgrade.

I would've upgraded my T41p's HDD and replaced the sometimes noisy proc fan if the new Thinkpads were not wide screen. I figured eh dual core, more RAM, kinda kick butt graphics card and wide screen, I think it's time.

But alas it was my fault so what ever.

Tell you what, this machine's was build is tight.

 

"I didn't notice on that on the Lenovo website there is no option for the 14 inch wide screen. "

And you want Lenovo to be responsible for what you didn't notice?

 

What web page are you looking at? It's all over it. If the return policy is that important, you should have read it before ordering.

In Lenovo's defense, Laptops are amongst the most returned products. People order three, keeping the one they like the best. That's sticks the manufacturers with a bunch of notebooks they can't sell as new which means they'll get less for them. In a perfect world people would only return things if they had an issue, but it's not a perfect world. Back when notebooks cost a lot more, manufacturer's had a no questions asked return policy. Would you prefer to go back to the old days and pay a lot more?

 

Finally someone says it right!

ZaZ is completely correct on this one. Without return policies, these notebooks wouldn't be as inexpensive as they are. And for anyone to dare bring up the return policies of other companies, don't even bother. ThinkPad computers are held with high regards in the notebook industry and now look at them; they are completely affordable and trumps many laptops that are worth hundreds of dollars more. Some people are out there who take advantage of the free return policy to personally test computers and that is just wrong. It costs the computer company a lot of money to take back something they can not sell for the original price.

The only advices, and they are very common sense one, I have to give are to research your computer, read the policies, and double check your order. A notebook purchase is an investment, and a pretty big one at that, so treat it like one.

 

In your case, it's not murder at all.

 

Ok so where did I say that I wanted Lenovo to be responsible for my mistake?

I did admit to making a stupid mistake and I'm not trying to pull a fast one on anyone.

Now I still think the policy stinks. I don't know about what other people do but like I've stated before I've owned more than a few Thinkpads and have never returned any of them. I will pay the 200 bucks though so don't worry Lenovo will be just fine.

 

Agreed. Seems return policies everywhere are turning for the worse due to cheaters in the system, which hurts honest consumers.

 

The policy does stink and I hate it but sometimes it is the case that customers should take some responsibility.

 

I agree that company's have to protect themselves from consumers who would abuse returns, but at the same time they should make their policy easy to find or posted before the consumer orders their product, which they don't.

http://technews.download3000.com/Ed-Foster-Weblog/4294/Lenovo-Downgrades-Return-Policy.html

 

The policy sucks, but I understand it. They can no longer sell the machine as new, and have to sell it through the outlet at somewhat of a loss. Your restocking fee is covering their loss.

FWIW, here's what I usually do when I purchase machines from Lenovo and elsewhere (a bit anal, but...)

1. Do a lot of research, check the forums, do some searches, check alternate sources, get an idea of what is available and what prices

2. Configure a system the way you think you want it. Play with options, determine what you can/want to be able to afford.

3. Save the cart, come back later. Printing the cart isn't a bad idea either. I think I had 5 saved carts that I was comparing before I bought the 61p.

4. Configure your system again, pick the options you want, compare the resulting config and price to your saved cart to see if you picked the same options as you did the first time (helps me double check what I thought I wanted and rule in/out others). I've found this helps avoid oopses like forgetting to pick bluetooth or the fingerprint reader and other small tweaks that don't alter the pricing enough to raise red flags.

5. Place the order once you're sure it's exactly what you want (and noawadays during the correct promotional time to get the best deal).

6. Double check the oder confirmation

7. When the system arrives, resist the temptation to rip into it, and carefully inspect the inventory label that is attached to it. Once you have confirmed it is exactly what you ordered, enjoy!!

Hindsight is 20/20, I know, that wasn't my intention. Sorry you aren't happy with what you received.

 

ebay is your friend....well, the people who buy on ebay are....

 

In Australia, taken directly from comsumer affairs-

Products purchsed from any company dealing with the public may only be returned to the place of purchase for exchange or refund if:

-The product is deemed faulty in anyway, not caused by the user/buyer.
- If the product does not meet the requirments stated on its packaging.

Everywhere here is adopting this and its the law. Having the wrong order put through or change of mind is no longer accepted.

I work for a white appliance company and we enforce this. We piss so mnay of our customers off, but at the end of the day they are are not losing any profit. And thats what it all boil's down to at the end of the day.

 

So if the purchaser does not get what he ordered he cannot return it?

 

I think the text in bold means wrong order by user, not company.