Warranty shrunk to 1 yr?

So I bought an x200 off of eBay in July and it came with a 3 year basic warranty. I checked out the serial number and everything and it said it expired June 25, 2013. When I received the x200 with Vista Business, I used the Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox and saw that the warranty status displayed at the top of the toolbox reflected the same information, as did a quick search online at Lenovo's warranty website. I hadn't checked the warranty information between then and now.

Now, after several clean installs of Windows 7, I happened to check the Lenovo Toolbox today and the top said my warranty expires in 305 days. I thought this was funny and that maybe it was displaying incorrectly, so I went to Lenovo's website and typed in the part number and serial number. Somehow, my warranty shrunk from 3 years to just 1! It now says it expires June 25, 2011.

The eBay listing had a box at the bottom of the page showing the warranty information expiring in 2013. I checked the information myself before and after receiving the computer. Everything said 2013. Now it says 2011. Does anyone have any idea how this happened, and whether I have a chance to get my 3 year warranty back?

 

the ebay seller more than likely sold you a refurbished system and wasn't upfront about it.   because warranties on outlet products take a few weeks to update in the system, the reseller posted the incorrect information before the update.

cases like this only happen on systems sold through the outlet so the chances of your system being retail are slim to none.   whether the seller knew about it or not isn't my place to say but i'd be surprised if they were completely clueless on it being a refurb system.   in any case, you need to contact the seller and take it up with them.

unfortunately there is no way an outlet system can have its warranty extended past 1 year.   it's company policy and no exceptions can be made.

 

Thanks for the post. It sounds like a reasonable explanation, however unfortunate. I tried the upgrade warranty link in the Toolbox and it only gives me a 1 and 2 year post-warranty upgrade option with no option to extend the current plan, which would confirm your theory. I guess that's the risk I took when I bought it from eBay. It just seemed a little bit too good to be true. I'll be sure to keep that in mind if I ever use it for purchasing a laptop again. I will just have to be extra, extra careful with it then.

Though, it's ironic how I was avoiding the Lenovo Outlet because of the inability to extend the warranty, and now it turns out the computer I bought was most likely an Outlet refurb.

 

once the warranty expires you should be able to purchase a post-warranty extension.   so, all hope isn't lost -- it just might cost a bit more than expected.

what's most unfortunate are ebay sellers who don't properly represent what they're selling.   it's not often that the delay in warranty status allows a case like yours to happen but apparently ebay sellers have discovered it and are using it to their advantage.

on a positive note, it sounds like you're happy with your X200.   that's what matters most.

 

If you're within 45 days you can dispute the transaction with Paypal. I wouldn't necessarily send the notebook back, but you can certainly try to get some money back from them for basically lying to you. It's probably easier for them to pay you off than take the notebook back.

On a side note, I never why the database has out for sync for so long. This has been an issue for years.

 

you should definitely take some sort of punitive action against the ebay sellers, so that they should have an idea on why they shouldn't cheat their customers on things like this. a 2 year warranty costs around 100 USD to 150 USD extra, at least dispute this much with this seller.

Also, take a screen shot of the description that the seller posted on ebay regarding the warranty going to year 2013

 

This sounds like "item not as described" case.
Even if they didn't do it willinigly, they should be responsible for it and accept return - or forced to by a dispute process.

Btw its not strictly necessary to take screenshots etc, because eBay has access to history of all description edits for given transaction.

 

I contacted the seller and asked if they knew why the warranty changed from 3 years to 1, without mentioning the outlet in my email. Seller responded saying they did not know why and that they would willing to allow a return with $150 deducted for use, but would also be willing to talk about it other possibilities.

Maybe the seller bought from the outlet without knowing it would have just the 1 year warranty and looked up the info using the serial number before it was updated and assumed it would stay that way.

 

As an eBay seller (soon to be ex) you (as a buyer) have all the power in this situation. You can report it as not as described and get all of your money back as long as you are in the reporting timeframe. (I forget how long they give you.)

It's the seller mistake, intentional or not, so you shouldn't have to suffer. I personally would talk to him and get a partial refund. If he disagrees, report it not-as-described and the hammer of eBay/PayPal will crush them.

I say this as someone who had a mistake (or more accurately something a technically incapable person did not understand) in their auction and the buyer ended up with the device (a cell phone) AND A FULL REFUND, and I was left with nothing.

 

I'm not sure what to do yet. I go off to college tomorrow and class starts Monday August 30, so returning it might mean that I have to start school without a computer. Besides the anemic GPU that apparently won't let me play Starcraft 2 (haven't tried it yet), it's a good computer. However, I was hoping to have it last all 4 years of school and now, the lack of a 3 year warranty makes me a little nervous about making it through undergrad with the x200.

 

As others say, try to negotiate with the seller for the difference of the missing warranty cover. Sellers can't sell you one thing only then to give you something else later since it is against consumer law.

Even so, don't be too nervous about the X200 as it is a solid and rugged laptop. My sister had a 15.4" R61e with only one year warranty coverage but she took it with her for university. It has been taken around, scrambled in rucksacks, used in my ThinkPad deck of cards (and weighs a ton ) but still runs solid as a rock. In fact i'm typing on this machine right now which is testament to the ThinkPad build quality.

 

I tried asking for a refund in the amount needed to upgrade to a 3 year warranty, but the seller refused, saying it was not their fault. They will only accept a return and will refund the amount paid minus $150 USD for use.

I don't know where to go from here. Should I try to argue with the seller, especially since the listing only said it was bought from the "official site" and did not specifically mention the Lenovo Outlet? They will likely say that they did not know about the 1 year Outlet warranty and the delay in updating the warranty information, so how far do I go before I open a case with eBay?

 

Can you actually show the eBay listing in question? If it clearly say 3 years warranty on the listing then this is false information and they have misled you which makes your case stronger as this is against the law (I live in the UK so we got the Sales of Goods Act, but I think it's called the Uniform Commerical Code in the US).

 

I would not continue a dialogue with the seller. I would open a case with eBay/PayPal. If you are willing to send it back to the seller for a full refund, which is what you will get from eBay/PayPal. You should not have to bear any of the cost for the seller's inaccurate listing. In addition it would give you the option to buy exactly what you need. Computer labs in the library etc. should get you by until this is all settled.

 

If you're within the 45 day window, stop talking with the seller and contact Paypal. Dispute the charge as significantly not as described. Most likely you will have to have to pay the return shipping, but will get all of your money back. The seller will lose. It's as simple as that.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220638772720&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123#ht_968wt_1133

 

Contact Paypal. That will get their attention. You only got about a week left.

 

Dispute it. Don't bother asking for refunds in the amount of warranty or whatever. He does not seem to be a reputable seller ($150 for use? yea...)

He misrepresented what he was selling, intentional or not. Anymore delay could cost you the opportunity to dispute with paypal/ebay.

 

The seller got back to me and said they have no intention to cheat me and that they just copied the warranty information from the website when the laptop was bought, so they did not know it would expire in 2011. However, they are still not willing to pay a $329 refund and will only accept a return and refund minus $150. The seller also said they did not make much money on the auction and that they would like me to try and understand their position as well.

I still don't know if I want to pursue this all the way. It very well could have been an honest mistake. But then again, the warranty was pretty much the deciding factor between the auctions I was looking at. Let's say I do dispute it. Do I mention the Lenovo Outlet and the warranty information delay to Paypal at all? Or do I simply say the listing said 3 years and the serial number on the website says 1 year?

Also, I had already left positive feedback on their eBay account, so nothing I can do about that now.

 

All you need to inform Paypal of is that the laptop was listed and sold with a three year warranty, but it actually has a one year warranty. That will be sufficient to get your refund. If you are willing to keep it though that's your choice. I would not just because this guy does not appear to me to have made an honest mistake. He seems quite dishonest and for that I would take my business elsewhere.

 

There's a couple things here, not only are you out the $120 it costs to add the warranty, but refurbed machines are not eligible for regular warranty upgrades. Which means if you want to upgrade the warranty down the road, it's an out of warranty upgrade, which are more expensive. I don't have the number off the top of my head. Personally, if it were me, I'd file a dispute with Paypal. I would ask for the $120 for the warranty loss plus the difference for what it costs you to upgrade to the out of warranty upgrade, which I'm guessing is at least a $100 more.

As far selling it at a loss, I don't see it. They're just giving you their sob story. Don't let them walk all over you. If you do, they will. If they didn't know any better, that's not your fault. Let them learn the lesson, not you. Alls you have to do is log into Paypal and dispute the charge. You can ask for a partial or full refund. The whole process is pretty idiot proof. You'd just be out the return shipping if you decide to send it back, probably around $15-20. You also got to have a tracking number. Personally, I'd send the thing back. It's bad karma all the way around, but I guess it's up to you.

 

+1 about dispute, dont listen to seller, thats his mistake and your money. You shouldnt pay for other peoples mistakes, should you?
I mean, its not like hes your family member or something.

 

With all due respect to the seller, all this does not matter. You still got item not as described, and seller is responsible for his mistake, intentional or not.

I beleive positive feedback does not prevent you from opening the "item not as described" dispute, unless timeframe for dispute is expired.

Its up to you really - wheither you decide to be kind and take at least some of seller losses into you or decide that none of this should be shouldered by you. I wouldn't be so sure if this was intentional or not, most likely not. Still, it's a question if you could afford to be responsible for it - I think seller is in better financial situation than you are.

 

this description sounds like it came from the outlet.   that "big promotion" was a 28% sale on the outlet not long ago.   not knowing exactly what processor came with the system shows the seller did not configure it himself (as he would have done on the retail site).

terms of warranty on outlet products are posted on the site.   the seller either didn't read the terms or got over-excited when he saw it had a 3YR still attached to the system.   whether his claims were a mistake or intentional, outlet systems have a 1YR warranty, period.

that second sentence is a gray area as some people have been successful with post-warranty extensions.   i wouldn't bank on it though since this policy may have changed.

as others have said, take it up with ebay.

 

+1 for dispute.
It might seem easier to just keep the laptop and forget about the whole thing but it's not.
Your decision to purchase this laptop was based on a 3 year warranty and if you don't dispute this case with PayPal/eBay then you'll always be worried if your laptop is going to last and if you made the right decision.
The seller on the other hand can always just resell the laptop to someone else perhaps without even making a loss.
The dispute process is really easy and I'm 100% sure that you'll get your full money back.
Don't mention to PayPal that this notebook is from an outlet or some kind of promotion because you don't know that for sure.
Just tell them it was advertised with 3 years warranty and it is only covered with a 1 year warranty.
The product sold to you did not match the items description and you therefore want a full refund.
Like others have said before me, you'll most likely have to pay for return shipping though.
Make sure the package is insured and you have a tracking number for it.
I would even take pictures of the laptop and the package before sending it because I wouldn't trust that seller one bit.

The whole dispute process is really easy and after you get your money back you can buy a laptop that really suits your needs and you're much happier in the end.

Remember that you have all the rights and the law on your side.
The seller clearly made a mistake (unintentional or not) and he's not in the position to tell you what you should do.
I wouldn't even discuss the whole situation with him anymore.
You're only losing time and he's trying to weasel himself out of it.
He might even say that he never received any complaints or emails from you therefore all your future communication with the seller should be through eBays resolution center and the PayPal dispute system which is the only way that eBay/PayPal can track the whole process and view your conversations.

 

Distribute all the way.