questionable build quality?

I sent my ideapad Y550 back to replace the hinge, after I received my x201.

And I sent my x201 back once I started noticing the gap. It's not a big deal, but it just haunts me...

I have an Archos 101 tablet. That thing is ridiculous... I 'owned' it since Nov. This is the third time it went back for repair... They only use ups ground (I had to pay for the first time). Every time it took at least two weeks...

Oh. I might have told the lenovo rep that I won't buy another thinkpad, but I knew I was bluffing.

But I can safely say that I will never buy an Archos device ever again.

 

don't give up to use Thinkpad. In my case, I like Thinkpad style and I don't care about a little thing because I see other thinkpad that like mine so I just think in positive way that is lenovo design. Any laptops must have a little problem or a big problem if you cannot accept it, you should return because if you will repair it then you get it back, I guess you might be not good feeling with this your X201 or find some a little bit problem that make you feel bad again. try to do your feeling good so everything is not color blind.

 

I can't help but notice that recently there have been a lot of threads on the build quality of ThinkPads...don't you think so?

 

I can't help but notice the number of machines made by Lenovo and called a "ThinkPad" have gone up, too. Coincidences?

 

probably more consumers can afford thinkpads now.

corporate users never come out and complain...

 

you mean the numbers sold?

 

No, I think he means that Lenovo is trying to brand more laptops with the Thinkpad name that are NOT true Thinkpads (such as the X10X series, the Edge, the SL/L series, etc.).

I think he is 100% correct. To me, a TRUE Thinkpad is the T, W, X, and (now gone) R series.

Back on topic, that sucks for the OP to have to go though all of these QC issues with Lenovo. I know you got the machine at a good deal, so I guess your only option is the send it in for service (which it looks like you have already done ).

 

hehe I know. I was being a devils advocate and playing the literal word game

 

Yes. if I had spent 2k on it, I will have more to bargain...

 

Thinkpads don't cost $2k+ anymore. Of course there's going to be a tradeoff.

 

A well configured W510 or W701 does.

 

Isn't repairing a gap like that an easy fix?

 

I think people have complained on this forum more about so called "true" ThinkPads lately more than those that bought Edge's/L/SL series
So nothing to do with brand delution.q

 

Just checked my repair status. It shows 'hold for customer information'.

I called. And to my surprise....

The depot said, we can repair it but will have to charge you $350, because certain things are not covered by warranty....

I mean, !

They told me they cannot issue replacement, but can fix it. Nobody told me I have to pay $350 for that repair...

Does this even make sense?

 

This sounds like one of those 'wet motherboard' claims by the depot.

 

what's the story behind that?

I am so pissed off now... This is so ridiculous.

 

No particular story. Ive just heard reports that sometimes the repair depot claims the customer has 'wet' their motherboards and thus voids the warrenty coverage as they will have to exchange a motherboard. Sometimes as small as a dried water spot or something, while the customers claim on their end they had never spilled anything on their notebook. On the other hand, maybe they did and are lying about it to get a repair. Who knows. Its kinda a he said she said sort of deal but presumably you can ask the depot to show pictures for proof that liquid spilled onto the notebook.

However i duno if this is your case. Just ask for specifics from the depot.

 

they said they have to replace the screen bezel and keyboard, which are not covered by warranty. $350 .

 

Is this a lenovo depot or some junky third party with a 'licensed thinkpad technician'?

I duno, call customer service, pray you get someone who cares, and plead your case.

 

I believe is the lenovo depot.

I called again, they said they will do some research...

as I mentioned earlier, if I didn't get this thing for a good price, I'd return it. also, it's purchased through my employer, kind of hard to return and get the credit to make another purchase.

 

I hope youll get your laptop repaired as soon as possible and at no cost to you!
Sometimes repair service policies vary vastly from one country to another.

Here in Latvia for example I carried my brand new, less than two weeks old R400 into IBM service center and was told to go home because "there is nothing wrong with my laptop and Lenovo doesnt authorise IBM to replace plastic parts due to risk that user might have broken them" so I had to contact Lenovo directly and ask for assistance and only after regional CS sent information and approval to IBM my laptop was finally serviced free of charge.

So yeah, overall it looks like unless your laptop is really faulty and keeps you from actually using it then Lenovo/repair service will try to do their best to milk some money from you if you happen to be uninformed customer.
Id say its quite pathetic practice. I know, I know, ThinkPads are the best of the best and so on, I do agree to some extent and love my ThinkPad, but service horror stories that I and others have experienced are just crazy We dont live in perfect world, but still...

Some say only those who experience problems complain and that those who dont have any problems wont come to forums to start topic about how great ThinkPads are might be wrong to some extent.

You WONT see large business IT department posting on forum boards complaining about faulty laptops they have received, will you ?
Point being - its not couple of people starting complaint threads on forums that have problems, I believe much more people and corporations are experiencing problems with their ThinkPads except that corporations dont go online to post complaints at ThinkPad forums because they have other options how to make Lenovo listen to them, unfortunately often average users who have one or two ThinkPads dont have other choices but ask for help online, because Lenovo doesnt listen, Lenovo doesnt care, at least part of it and thats when you need to knock on their door harder and with greater intensity until those who ignore you start to pay attention to you or until those who care and can help hear your call for help

 

They have policies in place to prevent abusers. Sometimes these policies hurt genuine honest people but its the way it is to maintain order. Same reason companies slap a restocking fee to prevent people from abusing the system. Its like some people pay off their visa immediately and some make late payments or default on it, so you invent a credit sore and interest rates.

However, some lenovo CS reps in their GA call centers are pretty terrible from my own experience last i had to call a few years ago. Their attitude left a bad taste in my mouth too but luckily the higher ups in the customer satisfaction chain has restored my thinkpad loyalty, but honestly they need to hire people that take pride in their work.

 

I completely agree about abuse, but the problem is that not everyone everywhere in the world receive the same cusomer service level.
Thats weird if two people with the same machines and the same problems might get drastically different attitude from Lenovo or its repair service providers, like one could think that there is no unified policy. And that doesnt even have to happen in different parts of the world.

 

Well thats always the thing with large multinational corps. Im sure they have a corporate goal of sorts and a company policy and a desired attitude. But this isnt always translated down to the bottom level or to the employees that deal directly with the customer. So in effect, even though they may want to be nice, they may have hired someone who dun give a crap and ends up pissing off customers for life without the higher ups knowing or being able to do anything about it.

Thats why companies should probably generally train their staff better, but like they say, an _bleep_ is an _bleep_ and you cant change that by training, so sometimes it comes down to hiring the right people with the right attitude.

 

just want my laptop back...

 

I told you to return the damn thing. I would setup a return ASAP. I would not put up with that crap.

 

I would return the item and get your money back - up to you to buy again or buy another brand. My Samsung laptop was absolutley unacceptable in the build quality so I had it refunded and I ordered a L series. Should be hear next week!

To be honest, I think this die-hard approach to the T series and X series and whatever else is the "True ThinkPad" is got to stop eventually! Lenono have been very clever and have opened up the product portfolio and now make some excellent laptops, yes they aren't as solid as the T or X but they beat many of the other small business notebooks hands down, for example - Dell Vostro. And without doubt they beat all the home laptops too!

I have seen several Dell Latitudes and I would say they are getting close! And IBM no longer are in the picture, so probably eventually to make the product more profitable the quality will have to be lowered ever so slightly. The Dell Inspiron has slowly got cheaper and cheaper (in quality) over the last 5 years - yet the price to own one also has fallen. Therefore that is the trade off!

I bought the L series as it was in my price range, I will probably end up in 18 months buying the T series as I'll need the quality as it will be with me all day and travelling a hell of a lot! But if Dell can do it cheaper and better then maybe they'll get my order. But for the average user, I think paying out for a T or X probably is a waste!

But for now, I am grateful Lenovo have seen sense and started selling more afforable ThinkPad's!

 

I got mine on a really sick deal. so I am gonna hold on to it...

 

Just an update...

Still waiting for the resolution.

HF 02/15/2011 01:00:00 M Hold for customer information
HF 02/11/2011 09:36:00 M Hold for customer information
OS 02/09/2011 06:53:00 M Machine being repaired
AK 02/08/2011 03:27:00 M Carrier processing request to ship container
AK 02/07/2011 11:49:00 M Carrier processing request to ship container

 

Thats long for repairs, too long IMO.

 

I suppose some responsible Lenovo employees are reading this thread and taking appropriate actions.

 

You mean you hope that "some responsible Lenovo employees are reading this thread and taking appropriate actions." Yes?

 

I hate to quote an old first page reply, but I couldnt resist. Every single laptop I have owned from a cheapo acer aspire one to the monster m17x I bought last year has had battery wiggle. Its what happens when you dont bolt a moving part down. The only exception was my m11x which had its battery inside the computer.

As for on the topic of build quality of lenovo products, I cannot say much as I havent touched much other then the x100e and my t400. But I will say that I was EXTREMELY disappointed when they removed the screen roll cage.

 

Yes, my friend, I hope and pray!

I heard somewhere that forums such as this one are part of the new social media that Lenovo is proactively using to reach out to its customers!

 

just got off the phone with the billing department. they are sill waiting for the approval to fix it at no cost. I was told it will take a week or two.

i am not happy.

I will see if i can buy another brand. the thing is this is for work and i already got reimbursed and everything. also bought extra battery and ac charger.

why can't they just fix it? it's a new machine.

i can't curse here. those words are screened.

 

you should have just returned it fullly reimbursed if offered, or take a hit on the restocking fee if theyre not nice and complain to BBB.

 

What was your invoice date?

According to this thread, you've had the machine since 2/3 which is 14 days. If you are still inside the 21 day return period, I would return it. I don't see them charging you a restocking fee.

The machine will soon be yours forever. Time is running out.

 

Waiving restocking fee? I seriously doubt it. They tried to make our friend PAY before they repair their sloppy assembly job!

They make "abusing customers" an art. This kind of business won't last.

 

If the return had been requested on the day the machine was received and the defect discovered, we wouldn't be having this thread and conversation.

But hey, what do I know.

 

Lenovo made faulty laptop with poor assembly quality, cusotmer return it for fix, Lenovo asks money for that, Lenovo is bad.
But hey, what do I know, Ive never owned IBM ThinkPad and it seems that many people still live in the past and let Lenovo rest on IBM laurels.
See, neither I nor anyone else who gets bad machine cares about how much more IBM ThinkPads cost and how much more ThinkPads laptops Lenovo has sold than IBM did.
Price is not an excuse, number of laptops produced is not an excuse.
I pay for legendary quality, which, to my disappointment isnt there.
Ive tried SL510 - many call it not real ThinkPad, Id say given its price and intented use its best ThinkPad Ive had a chance to try out, tho for a brief time, but still...
Ive used R400, which was poor quality, yet I loved it.
It got replaced by T410 which while being IMO superior to R400 still lacks build quality 1000$ should have, I mean, Im ok with minor flaws it has, but if I had bought it for 1000$ I would be really disappointed and pissed off! And the loud cooling system - its really annoying, no such thing on R400 or even cheaper Edge/SL series Ive tested.

I had a chance to use Edge 15 for couple of days and only thing its worth to pay money for is, again, only supposedly better customer service and trackpoint. They keyboard flexes terribly, screen flexes alot, not all parts (just like on my previous R400 and current T410) align together perfectly and have gaps and chassis flex when taken by the corners.

So, Lenovo, quo vadis?

I see Dell releasing redesigned Latitudes and while their design at first look made me experience shock, closer look at Dell's info reveales that they might be much superior build quality wise compared to ThinkPads.
So, what gives?
Im not dissing ThinkPads, but I think I need to post this to all Lenovo worshipers, Im still one of you, still having high hopes regarding X220

Numbers of angry customers are growing year by year, at least these forums are evidence for that.

 

veer, didn't you get the R400 cheap from USA?

 

@vēer: Thank you for a candid post.

I do not worship Lenovo (rah rah brotherhood craziness), nor do I drink "Kool Aid" from any manufacturer. I only find that it is absolutely unfair to the customers that Lenovo milks the "IBM ThinkPad" halo while producing low-quality products and selling them at "premium" prices. At the same time, Lenovo's cavalier attitude toward the customers, especially those having obvious problems with their newly-purchased laptops, reveals an unhealthy and immature business conduct.

 

Just called to setup the return. Depot will send it back to me and I already received a return label.

Bought a refurbished x200s last night from the outlet. 40 bucks cheaper than what I paid for this x201.

Higher res screen, half memory (2gb vs 4gb), less hard drive capacity (160gb vs 500gb), slower processor. 6cell vs 9cell..

but I think I will like the higher res. it came with fingerprint reader as well, which is useless to me.

I already bought extra battery and AC charger. I am glad they are compatible.

 

Yes, I got it filthy cheap from USA, yet it doesnt matter whether I bought it just released back in 2008 for 1000$ or as EOL product in 2010 for half the price, it should not reflect product quality, user experience and customer service.

1000$ comment was directed towards my current T410, I believe in many markets it costs around that for specs that I have, only thing that is missing in mine is SSD and dedicated graphics. The rest is here, wwan, gps, smart card reader, wxga+, 9 cell, fingerprint reader.
So, what I meant - its meant to be top of the shelf and the best in class laptop, yet it has its flaws and competition starts to take the crown away from Lenovo, pitty Lenovo doesnt see it and looks like they might be too much into their own ego-tripping rather than looking at what competition offers

Dont get me wrong, I love my T410, I loved my R400, I like Edge 15 too, but for the price people have to pay for these laptops they are far from perfect.
Too often I see people complain getting lemons or poorly assembled machines, and to me it doesnt matter whether its 1000 unhappy Lenovo customers out of 1'000'000 sold products or 1 unhappy customer from millions of happy ones. It doesnt make those who received faulty products feel any better or their laptops any better and experiences less sour.

 

Yes Lenovos are not real Thinkpads (T43 & prior). We have so many T4x at work and their hinges are still SOLID. We also have quite a few faulty T4x0 series.

For my X201, the fan sometimes make clicking noise and 2 of the 3 USB ports make up its own mind to show my USB stick whenever it feels like it. Can't complain I guess since I got it from work.

To be fair I think Lenovo quality is just as average as the rest of the industry. They're no different than other brands.

 

I would pay extra to have good build quality. My t400 seems to be the middle man on quality. Right before things got really bad and right after things were really good. Mine holds up VERY well and has taken alot of drops, bangs and rough use; but still I think it pales in comparison to the older thinkpads I only dreamed of owning. Dell business on the other hand has continuously impressed me, although the vostro line isnt as tough as it once used to be. But then again they are trying to gear the vostro series differently and to a lower price point then usual.

I hope that lenovo changes their ways.

 

I think the problem is that Lenovo are living off the brand, but then I can say the same for so many computer brands!

I remember in 2000 I saw this 14" Dell Inspiron, and it was absolutely solid! I think a friend of mine still has it for Linux. And today, the last Inspiron I saw fell apart within 10 months.

I suppose the first IBM ThinkPad's were again totally solid - but you paid more. Lenovo have still got a good product, but it's not the same. And as it appears that so many T series users have had nearly every one! Then of course this upsets them. But I do ask, have you paid the same price each time?

I just want a sturdy, reliable, and good quality machine. Now, if I find with my L series that it's just not that, I'll switch brand. Lenovo can either impress me with that machine or not. And I need to buy another one now! And it's a choice of the T series or the Dell equivilent.

If Lenovo can still make high quality machines, which probably won't be as good as the IBM ones - then still I'd buy it as I don't know any difference. But what I've seen before is brands living off a product line and selling whats thought to be premium at a high price even when it's not!

Just my 2 cents!

 

Uh... I hate to break it to you, but do you realize that Lenovo were the ones doing the fab. for the entire T4x line?

I think the comforting glow of nostalgia may be warping some folks' memories of some of IBM's ThinkPads. Does anyone remember the T3x RAM slot failures? The X3x bezel cracking? The T4x motherboard flex?

I have quite a few complaints about a number of Lenovo-produced ThinkPads as well, but I also think that they're still some of the best-designed, best-built laptops in their class, and I can't really imagine things being any better if the brand were run by IBM. By the turn of the millennium, IBM was trying hard to scale back the losses on their PC division which had yet to turn a profit in all its years of operation. Somehow, I have a tough time believing that a division that had (at the time of the sale) lost money for nearly two decades would escape cost cutting...

 

But that does not mean that the very same manufacturing facility cannot go downhill in terms of quality production and control.

 

It is interesting that your profile and I quote here partially states: