Are new but open box Toughbooks covered by warranty?

I have a new open box CF30 coming in on Tuesday and while it is a brand new unit, it was a unit that was already opened. Company is a very large toughbook dealer and they said it comes with a 90 day warranty through them. He thought Panasonic would also back it for the 3 years but was not sure. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Don't hold me to it...

but I think the warranty is tied to the serial number, based on date of manufacture, and not date of end user sale.

A call to Panny support on their 800 number should clear things up.

 

If it's never been sold by them before then what is the difference between unopen and open box??? When I got mine it was technically opened. Buytough added some options to it. If I would have left the box there it would not have mattered. I think your going to be just fine. Just do what I suggested to you in the PM I sent you earlier. Let us know what you find out.

 

Panasonic made it very clear to me that "Warranties are not transferable!". If you buy a Toughbook that someone else has registered the original warranty is gone. You often see 90 day warranties on officially refurbished units and they are what they are. If you buy a used unit that was not registered by the original owner, you can register it in your name for the remainder of the three years from the original sale date. I have seen lots of contrary information, but mine comes from Panasonic directly.
CAP

 

Cap, I believe he got it from a authorized reseller, and they are left over MKll's. Would that not make it a new one? Curious...

 

Toyo,
Then most likely he can get the full 3 years. Unless they stated otherwise in the sale.
CAP

 

The ONLY way to know for 100% sure... Call (800) LAPTOP5 and give them the serial number in the BIOS. You can have a seller tell you one thing and it will be another. (I've seen it BOTH ways!) So call them when it comes in to make sure.

 

Yeah, I'd go with TB on this one -

The price of a new Toughbook, I'd be d@mned if I would give up even a day of the OE Manufacturer warranty; I'd say verify that serial number BEFORE you shell out your hard earned cash. "90 Days warranty from us" is nothing; frell, I used to give a 90-Day warranty on used VCRs I sold in the flea market.

If the seller is advertising the product as new, it HAS TO HAVE FULL MFR WARRANTY. Otherwise it is USED/REFURBISHED, no matter WHAT they try & tell you. I mean, yeah - if you get it for half price, MAYBE... but then of course I'd be wondering if it were stolen. I've seen too many times a vendor (Even national chains like Best Buy & Circuiit City) try & sell a customer return for 20%-30% discount; on a $2200 name-brand laptop that sounds like a lot, but not when you find out the MFR warranty is history. I even had one try & sell me the "extended warranty" on his little POS!

mnem
Caveat Emptor!!!

 

I am defintley not saying don't call Panasonic. That would be my 1st call. He simply asked us for our opinion on if it would be covered or not. For somebody to take our advice on a 4K computer without calling Panny deserves not to have the warranty. However, I think he is sharp enough for that.

 

Yes, just can't wait to get my new CF-30 mk2 and wanted all of your input.

 

From a little looking around, "open box" seems to be the dealer's way of cutting the price on new stuff without getting in trouble with the manufacturer or other dealers. Kind of like "MAP" which means minimum advertised price. They still show the price online but only in the shopping cart so I guess its not "advertised"
CAP

 

Thanks for the info. I'll call Panasonic Tuesday when it comes in and I'll let you all know.

 

Heck... Mine is still up in the air. I bought it as a refurb though it was not. It was the type that was set up as some fair to play the same thing over and over advertising Toughbooks. I still have the clip in a file. ZERO hours were registered in the BIOS. The seller told me I had a 90 day warranty. Panasonic told me I had three years. I suppose that since it hadn't been registered... They see it has 3 years instead of 3 months... But I am afraid to call about it.

 

Why be afraid to call them? Just give them a call, register for the warranty, and give us all the great details when you're done. Worst case is that you do not get the 3 year warranty...but does that really matter that much to you? If you do break it, you have what it takes to fix it anyway...so? No big deal either way. That's the way I'm looking at it too.

 

If you register it online under your profile it goes into the Panasonic database, or whatever you want to call it. They will send you a confirmation letter along with trying to get you to extend your original warranty. You could always do it that way and see what happens.

 

Good idea Toyo. BTW, did you get a hold of that guy to see if they had any more CF30s?

 

My unit is covered for 3 years...I am happy.

 

Joe, no I didn't. But thanks for reminding me!

Glad you got your 3 years.

 

woo-hoo!

Things work out OK sometimes.

Congrats!