Warranty plan failure rates? (Or: Paranoid conjecture on the purpose "machine type" numbers.)

Lenovo's warranty service upgrades page ( http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TPAD-WSU), it seems to indicate that the "machine type" number (e.g. 6465, 7658, 7662, etc.) seems to have nothing to do with the machine configuration (as I'd assumed), but actually indicates the machine's warranty plan. Does anyone know if this is accurate?

If so, I'm sure it's probably just intended to make it easier for IBM to identify whether a laptop is still under support, but since warranty upgrades are available, and buying one wouldn't change your laptop's "machine type" number, does that really make sense?

Admittedly, I'm skeptical to the point of paranoia, and I'm a sucker for a good conspiracy theory. Wouldn't "machine type" numbers provide Lenovo an easy way select the quality of construction for a particular laptop? That is, for laptops with extended support, they could choose to use a "higher quality" production line/quality control process, because any hardware problems are more likely going to cost them money. For laptops with shorter support plans, they could use a regular (or even lower) quality production line/quality control process, because hardware problems are more likely to cost *us* money.

Okay okay, so it's 99% likely this is just overly paranoid thinking. It's not even a "good" conspiracy theory. After all, it makes little sense for IBM to do this, since it could poorly reflect on their reputation, and that's just bad business. But it would certainly be interesting to see the failure rates on various "machine types". So it's poll time!

Note: this poll is mostly for amusement/curiosity. It is not scientific by any means.

 

Actually the machine type is tied into the part numbers that go into it
A T61p has sever different configuragtions, but in order to tell which one you got when you purchased it you look at the machine number, the CTO's seem to be 6547
I use to work for an aftermarket warranty company and we regularly used that number to figure out what was in it, uusually the main difference was either the motherboard or lcd, but sometimes they just run out of parts of one type or find a better one to use then use another machine type. Also if they are reusing serial numbers then the only way to see if you are still in warranty is with a model number

 

In the CTO space, it's somewhat meaningless, as they all seem to have a default one year warranty. However, the Top Sellers line generally have a machine type for each warranty type (i.e. 1 year or 3 year) and then subtypes for the different configuration options.

For example, my T43 a few years ago was a 2687-DUU. The 2687 was a 15inch T43 with a 3 year warranty and the DUU represented my configuration (1.86GHz, 60GB Hard Drive, SXGA, Bluetooth, DVD+RW, etc).

 

Interesting information, guys...thanks!

 

If I am going to spend 1-2 thousand dollars on a piece of electronics you can bet I am going to buy an extended warrenty. I think 2 year warrenty is a good idea. I look at it like this. If I buy a laptop for 1200 bucks and it comes with a free one year warrenty, then I am basically paying 100 dollars a month for a year to use this laptop and if it brakes in that year, no problem, its covered in my 100 dollars a month. If I pay 1400 for a laptop + 2 year warrenty, then I am paying ~60 bucks a month to keep this laptop for two years. Its more then worth it in my opinion

With the rate technology is increasing I think a two year warrenty is a great choice. It is not uncommon for a motherboard to blow or a hard drive to fail or a LCD to become screwed up all on its own, with no interference from the user.

edit: lol, you can tell I didn't read the original post before replying... doh.

 

I doubt that any warranty is actuarialy (NOT actually) fair, otherwise it would not be sold.

So the conspiracy theory has merit; real conspiracy theories involve some very tenuous extremely improbable interest and event.

Corporations maximizing revenues systematically does not qualify.

 

Quite right, Lenovo has every right to operate their business however they like (within legal bounds), including charging people for a "premium" support plan for a higher quality laptop. I think Lenovo product owners would feel underinformed and taken advantage of, though, and would see it more as a "warranty conspiracy" than "strategic business." It would certainly be interesting to see evidence of this kind of business practice...

 

Probably a holdover from the IBM days. Since the 1960's pretty much anything IBM has been able the be defined by TYPE-MODEL-SERIAL. They added FEATURE CODES a decade or so ago. Really quite an efficient inventory/order scheme.

 

The ultimate weakness of almost all conspiracy theories is that the protagonists don't have anywhere near as much control as the spinners of the conspiracy theory would suggest. Nor do they have perfect knowledge--not about the past, certainly not about the future. So, while I tend to agree with:

the fact is that the cost of the warranty is based on projected failure rates. But as we all know, computers often develop problems that the manufacturers did not anticipate.

Lastly, from working ten years in the quality department of a now absorbed computer company, I can truthfully say that many years the price of the warranty was more determined by what was needed for this years bottom line, rather than any rational calculation of future failure rates. I hope Lenovo is smarter than that.

 

OK everyone get your tin foils hats on and make sure the men in black are not following you, I will give you the real truth about warranties
Basically they are like gambling. In Vegas they will let you win back say 98% of every dollar you spend, knowing in the long run they will always come out ahead. That is how warranties work. A good baseline is look at 1 year of a warranty vs the cost of the item. It will probably be 10% or less. When I was looking to buy a Dell the price of the warranty went up by roughly 10% each time.
My best guess would have them expect a failure rate of 5 to 7%. For the first series of that item, then depending on how often they break they adjust the warranty cost. Auto warranties work the same way, take a look at teh warranty cost for a Honda Accord vs a Jeep Cherokee
I use to work for a company called Barrister and we did a lot of aftermarket warranty on pc's and laptops. So I got to see the cost on the other end. Pretty much if you call in any computer that is off the manufaturer warranty the company that tAkes the work is paid a limited ammount to fix it, if they get it in 1 trip they get some nice cash, if it gets prolonged or they have to replace it after the 4th trip they pay for it out of pocket. They actually only make about 4 to 12% per call once they are all averaged together

 

I had a Toshiba with enxtended warranty. Within the warrenty period, the following including quantity were replaced:

Motherboards 3x
HDD 1x
FL Inverter 2x
LCD screen 1x
Case 2x (once due to tech destroying it during a repair)
Rubber Feet (about 10 of them replaced due to falling off)
FDD 1x

It was worth it. It came with a 1 year warranty. The only replacements within the first year were 1 motheboard, 1 FDD, and 1 HD.

My Toshiba was assembled by Compal for Toshiba. Same people that assemble the T.

I think you should consider the aggregagte cost of your T including extended warranty and compute an average annual cost. IF that cost is reasoable then get the warranty that meets your desired or budgeted spending. A few $100 per year for enhanced productvity is worth it.

 

I use to do work for Toshiba warranty till my old company lost the contract. I forgot the name of the national contractor who was it not want to say it is called Cyber something, they basically are contracted through Siemens Business Systems. I do find you getting your case repaired due to a tech breaking it, since Toshiba rerquires you to have these special tools to use (plastic screwdrivers and certain types of grease and so on)

But for the T series I would definently get it, I want to say mine came out to roughly 100 per year and that includes spills and drops but I went for the depot plan