How do you know what the heck you're getting at the Lenovo Outlet?

http://outlet.lenovo.com/catalog/product/view/id/8656/category/3/

Does this model have the LED backlight? It's not in the TAbook b/c it's a build to order I think?

Has anyone bought from the outlet? Am I correct in assuming that they do not have their act together at all?

 

If you're planning to buy from the Lenovo Outlet, it's almost mandatory to call in to ask about/confirm details. The number of typos, inconsistencies, misprinted product information details, etc is horrendous on that site. They have improved it from its previous state though, so at least it's moving in the right direction.

 

Making a screen shot of your order never hurts either.

 

I love the title of this thread. It sums up my frustrations when I just look at the Lenovo Outlet.

 

Fact: Lenovo Outlet buyers like to live dangerously and get a buzz from NOT know exactly what they'll get. Like getting a Christmas present. They probably love the thrill of gambling/gaming, too.

 

It is deffinitely annoying to see a T61p labeled as a T61 that clearly has specs only found on a T61p. Do they just jot information down that may not be correct or something? I guess if they get enough complaints or returns they will probably get on it.

 

Well it's not going to be worth it then. I hate returning stuff over the internet just for the chance to save a few bucks. If I may be so bold, I suggest that we refrain from buying until they get their act together.

It's kind of weird to me, but for such a big company, all the downtime that the outlet experiences must = big lost revenues. For a such a large bluechip company, they seem to have an incompetent web team.

 

You'll be surprised how many big companies have insufficient IT operations. It's part of the famous Business/Technology, Suits/Geeks, Neck Ties/Cable Ties, Senior Managers/Program Managers, etc communications gap.

 

I wonder about this. If you call them do they know any better information then going to the same Outlet site?

 

I have never "met" a customer service rep that knew more than what the web says. On the contrary, often you had to tell them something that they didn't know. Good enough if they didn't insist they were right and you were wrong, or even you made up a case.

And by the way, for those who bought outlet machines with incorrect info, how did they solve the issues?

 

Box of chocolates?

 

Lenovo outlet... those words put together just sounds awful

 

You know, you can look up exactly what it's supposed to have.



Take this W500:

http://outlet.lenovo.com/laptops/405r8btba1.html

The 4058CTOR8BTBA1 tells you exactly what you're getting. Go to the warranty site, and plug in the 4058 and R8BTBA1. For this it says it went out of warranty on 9/21 of this year...but you can ignore that. My W500 said I had 34 months of warranty left, and it got knocked down to a year after I bought it.

Parts lookup is available, letting you know what's probably most important: keyboard manufacturer and LCD provider.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...y=897&template=/results/partsLookupResults.vm

 

Only "what it's supposed to have". I have seen x-series with CD drives listed, and wrong wifi adapter info... You can only know when you receive the machine.

 

Wrong information not from the outlet site, but from the main Lenovo warranty & parts lookup system, which is what NecessaryEvil was talking about? Really?

 

I was looking at the T400 at the outlet and noticed not one of their WXGA+ screens says LED backlight, they all say CFL. However, the lenovo retail site doesn't sell a CCFL WXGA+ screen, they're all LED, with or without camera.

 

So if I look up the parts that shipped with the system, will this be accurate?
As necessary evil says, you can look up the exact parts.