afraid to buy online

I've seen many peolpe talking about the P1 computers on this site.... but I'm afraid to buy online. My father who will be financing this purchase p) for the most part is extremely wary of buying online. Why buy online vs something in the store? i dont understand how getting repairs works when you buy something online, either. is there any reassurance or info about repairing a computer bought online w/ the warranty that someone can offer? if i got a computer off portalbeone.com and had to mail it in for repairs how long would it take to get it back?..... these kinds of things are the questions i have about online buying................

thanks.......... sorry if there was a faq on this that i missed somewhere... if there is just hit me on the head...

 

I am a P1 customer. I got my Fujitsu from them back when they used to sell them. When it comes to online retailers IMO they are the best of the best .

They can check and verify (if you ask them to) that the notebook is all functional before shipping it to you. They even do a screen check for dead pixels. Something that no one else does.

They stand behind their products and will service them very professionally and extremely fast. Personally I had to send mine back for a screen exchange, cost me $0 and I had it back in about a week, including the 2 way shipping (notebook was repaired in one day), and there was no way to tell that my notebook was serviced, other than the screen was now 100% perfect.

I understand your concern. I love online shopping cause ... well I am lazy . But when it comes to notebooks I am real apprehensive to go with just anyone. And I do check their policies carefully before pulling the trigger. When I bought the first time from P1 I trusted the guys on these forums for their feedback, and now I am sold. In fact I am still waiting for them to release their P1-SX to get it from them ... I have been waiting for some 3 months now, that says a lot.

By the way welcome to the forums

 

If you read many of the comments posted on this board, buying in a store does not guarantee good after sales service. Very often once a sale is made customer support goes out the window.

Portableone's customer support is, IMHO, unparalleled. They not only answer your questions to make the sale, but are there for you should you have a problem afterwards. Someone who speaks English answers the phone within a few rings or answers your e-mail inquiries quite quickly. If you have an on-going problem you can speak to the same person until it is resolved- no need to repeat the entire story and redo whatever was done before. If you buy a unit from them, you can opt for on-site service (like with many of the other companies) but the real benefit (besides the quality of their own units) is that they are available for help and, if you run into a major problem, you can send the unit back to someone who will actually care about your unit and make sure it is fixed properly. It is a refreshing change to deal with a company that actually cares about their customers.

On a personal note, I had a nightmare with a Fujitsu unit I bought through them. If not for their assistance, I am sure I would have ultimately been out a lot of money because the unit had to be replaced regardless, it was too unreliable. With their help I was issued a full refund, which I doubt I would have been able to secure on my own. They went the extra mile for me after the sale; I can't recommend them highly enough! You and your Dad should feel secure that buying from them is a good investment and will potentially save aggravation in the long run.

 

http://www.bbbsilicon.org/commonreport.html?bid=218250

i don't know if this will help ease your doubts, but it is worth a try...

 

The reason to buy online is you'll save money., but returns are more problematic. It is a trade off.

 

Some dealers, such as Portableone, have a more liberal return policy than in-store. Many stores won't take back laptops for refund or charge a restocking fee. So, while having to ship back is a bit more of a hassle, the ability to send it back, especially if you are not happy with the unit, may be easier. I am not sure if this applies to all their units, but I think Portableone's return period is 30 days and I think Dell's is 21 days, both of which give you a good window to test the unit and ascertain that it meets your needs.

 

I concur.. as a P1 customer, they were very very easy to deal with when I decided to return my Fujitsu. They're up there in my choice of dealers when I buy my next notebook.

 

I would say most internet retailers do not accept returns. PortableOne being one of the exceptions.

 

Qwester, when is p1-sx coming and what will it be based on?

 

It is built on the asus Z35f (13.3") that has been already delayed several times.

Preliminary specs: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1295075#post1295075

obviously the ETA given a couple of posts later is well overdue.

Last I heard from other asus retailers was that end of May, and before the end of may arrived, they changed that to soon. Supposidly the dealy now is because retailers want to get rid of their Z33 (12") stocks before the Z35f hits the shelves

 

Wow, That is exactly what I'm looking for. What about price range?

 

No idea!

Currently the only equivalent other option is the Sony SZ (screen size). I think the Z35f or SX will be priced lower for a simillar configuration. Since Sony's aren't that cheap to start with.

 

I was a little nervous, too. Not abount buying online (I do that all the time!), but because I had never heard of Portable One other than on this forum. I checked their Web site for info, but also called the 800 number and talked with someone about repairs, returns, etc. Got lots of good info, felt very reassured, and ordered my computer. I'd recommend giving them a call if you have any questions at all.

 

also check them out at http://www.resellerratings.com/seller949.html

they have excellent marks. they helped me w/ my laptop 18 and 24 months after purchase! How's that for support? Heck, they even helped me get my rebate after fujitsu botched it.

 

thank you all for the replies. i feel more confident about buying a comp from P1, and i still have a few more weeks to think it over and everything. i shared those websites like reseller ratings and the bbb site with my father so he can check it out as well.