Clevo system rock-bottom pricing question

I have read from reliable sources like Gophn that the companies importing Clevo systems into North America are Sager, Pro-Star and Eurocom. I just read that Sager and Pro-Star are the same company on another forum (don't know if I can link it here)

My questions are as follows;
1. Is it true that the distributor like Sager build and support all the Sager computers that are being sold by resellers ???

2. I looked at Pro-Star computers because it was posted they will beat reseller pricing, but their computers are named differently than I have seen on the forums.

Is this the NP9262?
Is this the NP5796?
Is this the NP8660?

3. Has anyone called Pro-Star and asked them to meet or beat reseller pricing?​

 

1. I think that would depend on reseller. Some resellers have you send the unit to them first for support issues, which I understand is what K|N does. But that would certainly be the case for resellers like XoticPC or Powernotebooks.

2. Yes, you're correct for all 3.

3. I've heard the same about Pro-Star, but have not confirmed it myself.

 

I don't think sager and pro-star are the same company

Anything that is sold as a sager with a sager badge will be built, shipped and warrantied by sager, unless the reseller has a separate warranty. If they do, the sager one is still there as a backup

pro-star will probably price match (not beat)

Yes those models are correct

 

1. Yes
2.Yes,Yes and Yes
3.Never ordered from Pro-Star, but just call or E-mail them to confirm about price matching.

 

Sager and Pro-star are two separate companies. Sager was formed in 1985, Pro-star in 1992.

In answer to your question about the three systems, no, that isn't the 9262, that's the D901C as sold by Pro-star; the same applies to the other two, those are Clevo models as sold by Pro-star.

On a curious sidenote - the domain name for Sager is sagernotebook.com; however, the registration on the extremely similar domain name sagernotebooks.com has apparently just expired on 20 Sept. 2008. I'm a little surprised that Sager hasn't registered all of the most obvious look-alike domain names to prevent confusion and dilution of their online trademark.

 

fine then shyster, those models are the equivalents of those sager models.

Strange, sagernotebooks.com used to point to sagernotebook.com...

 

Sorry about putting such a fine point on it, but the clear implication of the OP was that the Pro-star models were, in fact, Sager-branded systems being touted as Pro-star models, which isn't the case.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds that registration expiration a little odd.

 

thats fine, but I did say I didn't think they were the same company, and that:

So I though I made that clear anyway

 

So Pro-Star did not simply spin off from Sager in 1992?

After I read about Pro-Star I did some internet searching and found a few things.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11183-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=185281&messageID=1895082

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/209225-29-anyone-assemble-laptop

I was confused when you said the Pro-Star 9194 was not the Sager NP9262 but instead the Clevo D910C. Then l I read the Sager NP9262 is the Clevo D901C also. So if my transitive logic is correct and a=b, b=c then a=c.

 

That point is utterly irrelevant. Assume Sager did spin off Pro-Star as a separate corporate entity in 1992 - by the very definition of a spinof, that would make Pro-Star a separate company from Sager. Second, I assume that you're not making the claim that, because, say PNB sells Sager systems, that PNB is owned/controlled by Sager, correct? In which case, whether or not Pro-Star was, or was not, formerly a part of Sager has absolutely no bearing on whether or not the systems sold by Pro-Star today are, or are not, Sager-labelled systems.

Furthermore, as indicated by this sample importation report from importgenius.com, Pro-Star imports directly from Clevo, which pretty much confirms Gophn's statements that Pro-Star is one of the three NA direct importers from Clevo, and raises the obvious question: if Pro-Star is actively importing directly from Clevo, why on earth would they have any reason to be covertly selling Sager-branded Clevos?

 

With all due respect, so what? Suppose I own stock in both Ford and GM, putting aside the dubiousness of my investment strategies, does that mean that the one is a captive of the other? I didn't think so. The mere fact that there is common ownership does not, ipso facto, mean that the products of one company are automatically those of the other sister company.

Furthermore, as I've indicated, Pro-Star imports directly from Clevo under its own name, so they have no earthly reason to be buying from Sager instead.

Just to clear up any lingering confusion, both the Sager 9262 and the Pro-Star 9194 are Clevo barebones D901Cs that have been customized by Sager and Pro-Star, respectively, and rebranded as Sager and Pro-Star systems, respectively.

To clarify your algebra, let a=Sager 9262, b=Pro-Star 9194, c=Clevo D901C, then you get the following relationships:

a=c+"Sager label"

b=c+"Pro-Star label"

Since "Sager label" ≠ "Pro-Star label" it should follow that a ≠ b.

(Mind you, I haven't established that all of the predicates for algebraic addition are satisfied here, so I am asking that the more punctilious take a bit on faith; however, I think the algebraic analogy is sufficient to get the point across).

 

The pot on the left is the decaff. If one forum is saying that Pro-Star will match or beat reseller pricing, and I have never heard of them before I thought I would ask if the information was correct. I asked to find out from people that may know. You definately sound like you know and I believe you.

If Pro-Star and Sager are the same, or have the same ownership or Pro-Star is a spin-off then I trust them. I had never heared of Pro-Star before and I was trying to figure out the differing information I saw on the internet.

Thank you for your help.

 

I got the best overall deal from Pro-Star configured exactly the way I wanted it and shipped to me in four days from placing my order with approximately the same warranty/support promise as anyone else to the best of my knowledge and inquiries.

The Pro-star 9194 is the Clevo D901c. Pro-Star is an OEM Distributor for Clevo.

The Sager NP9262 is the Clevo D901c. Sager is an OEM Distributor for Clevo.

Clevo is a Taiwanese OEM notebook manufacturer.

The only differences are the oem distributor naming/branding and from whom you can get support regarding drivers, etc. That said, there are plenty of people on this board who offer various answers to any Q's you may have on tweaking your notebook any further than what you can get stock from the OEM/Distributor.

Yes, you have to telephone any vendor you are considering purchasing from for any specifics regarding price/desired configuration/Warranty/Support/Shipping/hardware options, etc. Ordering directly off a website limits you to whatever presets exist therein. FYI When I called Sager, the distributor that is, they didn't seem interested in my business.

 

What's decaf?

 

I know what you mean sometimes.

Thank you for posting this. I feel much better. How did you find out about Pro-Star? I never heard of these guys before.

 

Darksmileysystems.com will give you best ever deal on sager nb8660.
Rjtech&Lynnbay.com will beat any reseller pricing for sure.

 

On what basis? Have they affirmatively stated that it's their policy to not only price match, but to underprice, and by how much?

 

You are quite welcome. For further information regarding purchasing Clevo based notebooks check Gophn's comprehensive guide here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=264311

 

@ Shyster 1
DDS put incomparable price for sager nb8660 while it was in pre-order stage but when it start shipping they put new price similar to other resellers and when i email them that i want the old cheap price they honor it.

 

This logic seems a bit flawed, as DSS IS a reseller, so you're saying RJtech&Lynnbay will beat them...

 

cause DSS have special price for sager nb8660...
rjtech&lynnbay probably will beat only announced price by only 30$ or less.

 

That's good to know; thanks!

 

What is "DSS" do you have to do anything to get the special price?

 

http://www.darksmileysystems.com give them call first then call lynnbay.com>>>>reliable&will give you good deal.

 

That's sort of silly logic, and it was repeatedly said that they're not the same

Anyway, what you asked was "Is this the 9262" etc., and then linked ProStar's site, which listed the official Clevo model as their listed name. Fact is: Sager is the one 'rebranding' the machines, and the base machine from both companies is Clevo's D901C. What you SHOULD ask is "is Prostar's listed D901C the same as Sager rebranded NP9262" - because Clevo is the manufacturer, and Sager rebrands it. Prostar essentially builds the same system, without rebranding it, and retains the original Clevo manufacturer badge & name.

Anyway, both Prostar & Sager are reliable; Eurocom (Canada) is the one that's had a few people post quality control issues. All other sellers of these notebooks in the US are 1) reselling from Prostar OR Sager or 2) are rebranding them or rebranding Clevos (in the case of some (older) Alienwares).

 

This guy Jeff at Xtremenotebooks.com says,

Sounds pretty, " the same."

 

NY, if you're really that concerned, call them. The number is on ProStar's site. IMO, I don't think ProStar and Sager are the same 'cause ProStar slaps a big ole ProStar label on their PC like Sager. If Sager owned ProStar, somewhere on their website would be Sager's logo, name, company info, something. Plus, when you google Sager, ProStar would come up and vice versa. When you google Sager NBs, ProStar is no where to be found.

 

Even if true, still doesn't sound "the same" at all. Ford Motor Company - the parent corporation - owns/controls, or at least used to own/control until recently, Aston Martin and, obviously, Ford USA. Last time I checked, an Aston Martin was nothing like a Crown Victoria.

Secondly, where's "[t]his guy" from xtremenotebooks getting his info from? Does he have a source, or is he just making it up off the top of his head? So long as you don't ask me for sources, I'll give you whatever "facts" you like.

 

Shyster, he got it from another forum 'cause I googled his question and the forum with Jeff's quote popped up.

It's not good to get ALL your info from forums.

Heck, I can say Sager owns Xotic, Powernotebooks, Killernotebooks, CyberpowerPC and anyone else I can think of. Doesn't make it true.

 

Agreed.

...​

 

Are you sure about this? Because this Jeff guy with 3 posts on another forum seems like a reliable, verifiable source.

 

Just to poke sticks at an ant-hill - on what basis does he seem like a "reliable, verifiable source?"

 

If YOU want to take Jeff's word on Sager and ProStar, then that's you and that's all Kool and the Gang.

ME, I don't take anyone's word on it. I see it, go research it and make a determination on that. My research says that Sager and ProStar are separate.

 

Right on. If one were to actually directly contact both Clevo distributors rather than attempt to draw a conclusion by analyzing obscure blog posts you would have your answer.

 

I don't know; I assume ny.sky.scraper would enlighten us

 

Fair dinkum - either too much coffee, or not enough, as I missed the correct ... emphasis the first time around.

 

pro star is a seperate company and it is also a spin off of sager.

Orignally it was handling different odms than sager

they have stockholders in common and are closely related but they are seperate.

 

Jeezus, Shyster, just plain 'Jeezus'

 

Coffee is my best friend!

 

I can verify that it's fun reading his posts while highly caffeinated too