Another price matching question

Hi guys. I searched the forum but couldn't quite find the exact answer, so...

I'm currently about a week in process for a W500, which is scheduled to ship in the first week of May. It was a pretty good EPP deal for Canada, with an additional 10% coupon on top (10% off Ws, 15% off Ts). As of today, though, the new coupon flips the affected models, meaning the Ts now have a smaller discount, and the Ws have the 15%. This drops the price on my config by just over $100 (which is my lazy-guy threshold for doing something about it)

I don't really want to cancel and re-order as there are still significant delays on the W500. I know if I wait for the order to be billed and shipped, I can request a price protection match.

What do I have to do to prove the current price? If the computer ships ahead of schedule, the promotion will still be in effect (expires May 4), but if not the current coupon will expire. Do I have to call in to get a quote number or something?

Much thanks!

 

Can't answer your question specifically, just curious when you placed your order? I placed mine on 4/20 (Monday) and just checked and it says it shipped today 4/23. My original Ship Date estimate was May 09. I assumed it would take awhile because I ordered the configuration with the WebCam and that was one of the items that were causing delays before, but obviously they got that sorted out...

From what I've read in the past on price matching, if you configure an identical system online and use the "convert to quote" option you can email that to a sales rep to get them to credit the difference. I also believe that's "after" it's been shipped and charged however, but you wan't to price it out obviously before hand and get it to them so they have it. Again, I've never this but I did talk to a rep before that explained the process and have read other posts on here that sounded similar...

Good luck and keep us posted...

 

Yep..get a re-quote and they will credit your account the difference...takes a few weeks to credit. I did it through email...took a couple of minutes.

 

April 14. We don't seem to get estimated dates here, but we do get a lead time and mine was 16 business days = May 6.

I'm assuming you got a W500 too. Did you order one with the WUXGA? I know that display was shipping out much faster than the WSXGA+. Playing around with the configurator, it's down to 2 business days with the WUXGA. The WSXGA+ is 9 days. With the webcam, it still shows 13 business days - like your original estimate.

BTW there is no convert to quote process in Canada. I guess I'll just sit on it awhile and maybe it will bill and ship before the current promo ends.

 

Oh hey - what do you know?

I just checked the online status and sure enough, an estimated ship suddenly appeared - April 25, a couple of days from now. Guess they really did clean up the supply issue.

Once it's out, I'll call customer service and get a price match. Thanks!

 

It shipped earlier today, April 24 from the factory in Shenzhen, China. So it looks like the current supply issues with things like the WSXGA+ panels and webcams are starting to be cleared up.

For those interested in such things:

They provided an initial tracking number right away, which is the UPS Freight bulk shipment of 150 notebooks for the Canadian market:

Shipped To: MISSISSAUGA, ON, CA
Service: Trade Direct Air
Number of Pallets: 0.0
Number of Pieces: 144.0
Shipment Weight: 430.0 Kg
Description of Goods: LAPTOP COMPUTER
Manifest: 24/04/2009, 0:00
Cargo Ready: 24/04/2009, 14:05
Shipped From: SHENZHEN, CN
Origin Port: CNSZX
Destination Port: CAYYZ
Estimated Arrival: 28/04/2009, 12:00

UPS' service standard for air freight is about 2-3 business days to the import facility at Pearson Airport in Toronto. Once there mid-next week, the freight shipment will be broken up into individual units for final delivery, at which time the "regular" waybill tracking numbers will become available via online status or phone (judging by the NBR experience, notification emails are somewhat hit or miss). For free ground delivery from this point, it's anywhere from next day in Greater Toronto, to about a week for the west coast.

I called CS to do a price protection match. The rep got me to email the new cart to him along with the original order number, and will do a credit, which takes a week or so to process.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the ordering experience, sloppy as it is sometimes. The $130 I'm saving ($1557 -> $1441 plus taxes) helps too. I think it's a pretty good deal for a workstation-class notebook.