How Are CTO Sony VAIO'S Shipped?

Hello, brand spanking new to these forums, but reading for some time.

I have a question that has been nagging me for some time, and it really applies to all brand name CTO mainstream notebooks, not just Sony VAIO'S.

I got my first Gateway notebook back in 2005, before that, I customized desktop computers (it eventually got expensive, so I quit, and wanted something portable). Now, I got this Gateway notebook at Best Buy. I have for the past couple of months been wanting to upgrade to a faster machine but have it as a CTO notebook because retail store notebook options aren't for me.

I know if I buy a notebook at a retail store, you know, the notebook packaging box seems fresh and brand new, because retail stores get notebooks in boxes on pallets (or just on pallets). They are typically shipped with a specialty shipping courier, not FedEx, UPS (ugh!), DHL, etc...

So, getting to my point, if I CTO a notebook online, how are they shipped and are the boxed notebooks shipped in a shipping container for protection during shipment and not just the boxed notebook itself?

I called HP last year about this (when I considered HP) and how CTO notebooks are shipped, and the lady said they ship in the notebooks box, not a shipping box with which the boxed notebook would be protected in. She said there was no need. I was frustrated by what she said and automatically thought there must be TONS of DOA (Dead On Arrival) notebooks for CTO customers and held off on the CTO HP notebook and any other for that matter.

Does anyone know anything about how CTO notebooks are shipped, shipped in, what method I should go with, how fast for shipping time, etc...?

Also, yes, I am considering a new Sony VAIO FZ notebook, but will hold off for a while until Intel, Nvidia, and Sony have settled the dust on all this new tech and kinks are worked out. Is Sony really worth getting over other mainstream notebook manufacturers, and why?

Thank you for any help that could be provided.

 

i ordered my customized FZ few days ago and it will be shipped by Fedex
got my track number already.
i don't know how the box will look like though.

 

I ordered a VAIO SZ480NW5 from NewEgg - I think this is one of those "pre-customised" models and I would imagine that they are packaged the same way CTO models from Sony would be.

It came in a large rectangular brown/plain, almost unmarked box. The only indication as to what was inside was a couple of official Sony stickers on the one side of the box (indicating model, specs, etc.) This is much less fancy looking and bigger than the retail packaging which is nicely coloured (black/blue, with the VAIO logo on it, etc.) The laptop inside was actually very well packed. It was firmly 'suspended' on thick cardboard running the height and width of the box, within a plastic sleeve, not touching any of the sides of the outer box (so that any pressure on the sides of the box are NOT transferred to the laptop). I would take pictures, but I have thrown away my box already.

Of course, NewEgg being as awesome as it is, put the VAIO box into a MUCH larger unmarked square box with TONNES of packing material around it to make absolutely sure that nothing even came close to damaging the VAIO box, let alone the laptop itself. This additional packaging might be missing from when you order from Sony direct - but I'm just speculating.

 

Hey Viol8r, Newegg.com is a good store, however I think you may have been shipped a refurbished to look new Sony VAIO laptop, I dunno.

But yeah, I REALLY hope Sony ships their CTO laptops in outer packaging rather than just the notebook packaging (people do save the box the laptop comes in).

I've been really wanting to do a CTO notebook from Sony, before HP, but how they would ship their CTO notebooks bothers me. If I had a CTO notebook get shipped by UPS, I am more than guaranteed to have a damaged everything at my door step. Why would I fear and loathe UPS? I have been there, and their tactics of handling boxes is less than acceptable. It's like they WANT your items to arrive broken, mangled, even destroyed. UPS has never failed me at that once despite complaints to them.

Does ANYONE who owns a new CTO Sony VAIO FZ or whatever CTO model laptop shipped to them from Sony, know how they ship it out? Is the notebook box in another box for shipping purposes? Anyone??? I refuse to pay tons of money for a paperweight because Sony "isn't responsible by third party actions" and therefore no returns or pay tons more money to have it fixed. I would like a working CTO notebook out of the box, not a mangled one. ANYONE?

ANYONE?!

 

Hmm, hope not and I doubt it. Pictures of the box are available on their site (but the exterior only, not the way the laptop is packaged inside) and my box looked exactly like that (there's no mention that the laptop is refurbished - it just says 'retail' - and it most definitely is not priced like it were a refurbished model...) I'd imagine that there would be some indication in the form of a sticker on the notebook or some documentation that came in the box to indicate that this is a refurbished notebook.

Anyway - back to the point: some online web sites sell pre-configured CTOs (like my NW5). If you are worried about how the notebook will be shipped by Sony (though you should call them and see if they can answer your questions), you may want to look into very reputable stores and whether they have a pre-configured model with the specs you want and order from them (e.g. NewEgg - I've always found that they ship everything within another, larger 'generic' box which will take the impact of mishandling during shipping).

Good luck.

 

vaio CTO orders are shipped through fedex double boxed, at least the ones the comes out of our san diego factory are. I work as a repair technician for VAIO manufacturing, by the way.

 

Aren't the CTO Sony VAIO notebooks assembled and manufactured in China and therefore shipped from there into the USA to your home? Where on Sony's website does it mention they ship by FedEx? I am just REALLY concerned about this, and I hope they ship the CTO boxed laptops, similar to the ones you see in stores, in a shipping box. To me, slapping a shipping sticker on the laptops actual laptop box and then shipping it sounds like a beating all the way to your house...

Plus, I increasingly hear and read that Sony VAIO laptops have problems with the hardware like the keyboard, but Consumer Reports, charts Sony as having the less repair history over all other laptops next to Apple laptops. Buttons popping out, hard drive prematurely breaking down, screen breaks too easily, etc...

What is the deal...?

I know some of you have received your CTO notebooks from Sony, so can you please explain and hopefully post pictures...?

By the way, I guess Sony no longer manufactures their CTO and retail laptops in Japan anymore and now do it all in China because it is cheap labor. Does that mean less quality in "Made In China" Sony VAIO laptops, like build quality, components, etc...?

 

bump, Bump

 

Actually I've heard on more than one occasion the CTOs are Made in USA (the parts might be from China but they're assembled in USA). If you want a "Made in Japan" Sony notebook, you'll want to order a NON CTO premium SZ or one of those pricey AR/TX models I suppose.

 

Well, I dunno... I was at Fry's Electronics, and the sales associates were telling me after I asked them, that Sony VAIO laptops were being made in China instead of Japan now. Ever since they mentioned that to me, I have literally checked every laptop I see, and sure enough, all say "Made In China" on the bottom. The Sony VAIO FZ series also show "Made In China" on the bottom of the laptop, every one of them at every store I have been to... Fry's, Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City...

The sales associates at Fry's said that Sony VAIO's used to be "Made In Japan", thus higher build quality and durability among other factors, but now they are "Made In China", they lack what the "Made In Japan" quality used to be. That's what I was pretty much told.

So, I assumed that the CTO Sony VAIO FZ series laptops ARE "Made In China", then shipped to the USA (or other place) to a central distribution center, then from there, USA ships to USA residents.

Anyone know....

It's apparently all "Made In China", and these days, people at stores say that "Made In China" products suck and they don't buy "Made In China", those products break down/fail faster. Maybe it just depends on the company and if it is a USA based company or otherwise, they instruct the builders in China on Quality Inspection and Testing and lay strict standards or not. I guess it had to do with how they are paid overseas...

I notice "Made In China" on most laptops, even Apple's laptops. It's the same with HP, Sony, Gateway, Apple, Toshiba, IBM/Lenovo, etc...

I dunno. Help?....

 

With all things, no matter where it is made, will have products that break down/fail. Of course the rate/percentage of this will vary depending where it is made and more importantly the manufacturer and how they set their QC/manufacturing system.

I think main factors is do your research about what you are going to buy. See what types of problems people complain about. Keep in mind that more people post about problems then people who do not have any issues. Also check the stores return/exchange policy, so if you do have a bad laptop can return or exchange it.

For me, where something is made isn't a big factor as compared to the research I do to find out what types of issues other people are having. Also in regards to my laptop, when I purchased it I picked it up in person, to minimize extra jolting due to more shipping. The only thing I'd be afraid of, in regards to a laptop being shipped, is really the hard drive.

 

Right, well I want to get a "premium high end" CTO Sony VAIO FZ, and I worry about the shipping process. Every line of the FZ series I have checked at every store I have been at says on the bottom of the laptop, "Made In China". Okay, so the Sony VAIO N series that were the basic of all basic and BUDGET laptops from Sony felt cheap and also were stamped with "Made In China" on the bottom.

If I order a CTO Sony VAIO FZ, I live in Oregon, USA, where are the Sony VAIO FZ's REALLY made and where do they ship from - the USA or China???

 

For the second time... The Fry's Sales associate was being incorrect by lumping all the Vaios as being "Made in China." That's simply not true. Sony divies up their notebooks by tiers, and the upper class tier gets the luxury of being assembled in Japan. As I already stated to you, the PREMIUM high-end Vaio notebooks are most certainly still made in Japan. The FZ is *NOT* in that category so far as I can tell (at least most of the models in that line). When I say high-end, I mean the SZ premiums and the ultra expensive TXs that retail for $2000+. Those are most likely going to be made in Japan. I've already made a thread about Vaios and country of origin, by the way, with a few people who purchased premium SZs vouching that their Sony notebooks are made in Japan. Here's the link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=83623

And as mentioned by another kind poster, you shouldn't worry too much about a notebook being made in China or japan in so far as build quality is concerned. If you're one of those types of people like me who just like seeing "Made in Japan" for no perculiar reason other than coolness/novelty factor of having a Made in Japan notebook (which is becoming rarer and rarer) though, then I'd spring for a high end SZ or TX etc as that's your best bet in landing one.

 

my non premium sz330 says made in japan on the bottom too.

 

So If I were to get a VGN-SZ780 CTO from Sony.ca, would that be made in Japan?

 

Even though it says Made in Japan or indeed China, not all components inside are made in the same country. My SZ381 Premium is made in Japan. But the components inside are made in various country. Japan, China, Korea, Philippine, Thailand, Singapore and USA.

 

Since you want to know about shipping...I just bought the FZ from sonystyles.com. The Vaio was suspended inside the Vaio box on sturdy cardboard taps then wrapped in plastic so no movement what so ever. The Vaio box was packed in shipping peanuts inside a plain brown sturdy cardboard box and shipped FedEx. It was shipped from Sony's central processing plant in Colorado (I think, can't remember the exact state).

FYI: It may say "Made in China" on the body but that does not mean that every component in the finished product was made in China. It could mean that only the outer casing was made in China. Large companies like Sony usually buy components from several different sources, depending of cost logistics.

If in doubt call sonystyle and ask your questions. If you want the number and extention of a knowledgeable sales rep I'll pm it to you is you want.

 

My Premium SZ650N was made in Japan too...

 

as far as i know, the TZ and SZ are made in japan (the ones that are not customized)
customized ones i heard are from USA at the san diego factory like a previously poster mentioned

the lower end series ie. FZ, CR are made in china and the savings in manufacturing are passed onto the consumers. i mean u get what u pay for. thats what differentiates a TZ from a CR. if the quality of a CR or FZ was the same as a TZ, then theres no point in buying a TZ

 

But was yours a CTO model though? You see, I wanted to actually buy it online today from Sony.ca but Im all worried about this thing now, and I cant even call cuz their closed today. (VGN-SZ780 CTO)

 

Oh wat color does it come in, Silver or Black?

 

I thought my CTO FZ4000 was made in Japan or China, but I was told it was assembled in San Diego.... As far as shipping, It arrived double boxed via FedEx .

 

Well I just ordered mine and its in for 31st. Question though, does anyone know about Hafnium Technology in the T9300? cuz I read on the U.S website and it says Hafnium technology Now avaible, I wonder if the T9300 already has it or?? Ciao!

 

Just confirming what Die and Sprite have said. I have a TZ and, while the power cord is made in China, the computer itself is made in Japan.

Mine was shipped double-boxed but it was not a customized model and I bought it from a reseller, so they may have been the ones that did the double-boxing.

Benjamin