T400 / T500 and newer T series ThinkPad Laptops

[#1]

zdwrz,

Yes, that could be a normal status.  I can check if you send me a private message with your order number.

The charge you see is a charge hold and that is part of the credit validation process to make sure there is sufficient credit available once the order ships.  The bank automatically releases the hold after a period according to their particular policy.  

The acutally charge won't be placed until the order invoices and ships.

Unimpressed,

If you purchased, hopefully you found something compelling about the ThinkPad, right?.  

Fair points on USB port locations, etc. We've made a few mistakes along the way, but generally learned and made changes and improvements with each new generation.  Subjectively, we sometimes appear to take a step sideways, or even backward depending on what features some of our most loyal customers measure us by.  

Also fair to note that competitors have some similar and compelling features as well.  The market seems a closer race every day - prices are getting lower and lower, and the industry is closely aligned with major component supplier roadmaps - intel, etc.   However, I believe ThinkPad still has a lot of compelling points - the overall design, keyboard feel, trackpoint, Thinkvantage technologies - TVSU, Power manager, Access Connections, etc.    I believe we will  continue to listen to the criticisms and find ways to improve, whether it is product design cues, or improving our ordering process, and I hope that our customers will continue the journey with us.

Best regards,

Mark

[#2]

I've been using the T series for 7 years (T40, T42, T500) and a X41.

the T500 is fine machine but I was very upset with the power adapter, you could have kept the old one. Now I end up with several adapters I cannot use anymore. I liked them, one in the office, one in the room, one in the home office...

also I really miss my T40/42 keyboard feel. It is better than the T500's

At this price point I would also expect:

- dual USB/e-SATA or a separate e-SATA. Dell does that and I've got a couple of external disk with e-SATA port.

- 4/5 usb ports: 2 on the left, 2 on the right and one in the back.

- the LCD mate panel could also be brigther.  I still hate the glossy panels for work (but i love them for home use)

get rid of this RJ11 port, nobody use them anymore, use that space for a USB port, the few people who still need that port can buy a cheap usb-RJ11 adapter.

Finally: the most annoying part: the network port: why don't you put it in the back? It's a pain in the xxxx to have it on the left side. I'm left handed and the network cable is a real problem when I use an external mouse.

it would also make sense to have it the back, I sometimes struggle at a client site to find a network cable long enough.

else thanks for keeping the VGA port, all my customers still have projectors with this port.

Moderator edit: Changed subject for clarity.

[#3]

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anonymouse99 wrote:

I have experienced similar issues. I changed my order slightly and they put the order on hold indefinitely, I had to call in and cancel it. After reordering it online, I received a date of 11/13, which is in a couple of days. I am hopeful that they will be able stay close to the estimated shipping date.

I have never been able to get the real reasons for all these delays. I wish they would communicate more effectively with customers.

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Quick update - ship date now changed, and moved back 10 days to 11/23. Anyone else had their ship date changed?

[#4]

First of all, my apologies to Mark_Lenovo and Cleo_Lenovo that this post is so late.

I needed to post this as a followup and as a kudo to both of them in my ordering experience earlier this month.

I had ordered a T400 for my business (I am an IT consultant) early in November and for some reason, the order website did not update the status of the order nor did Customer Service know the whereabouts of the hardware.  Needless to say, I was concerned as I had need of the computer for an upcoming contract.

Mark and Cleo jumped in to help during a time when things, I am sure, were really busy for them (the windows 7 deployment issues).  They quickly responded and that fact put me at ease.

Needless to say, I am used to poor customer service, broken promises, etc in this business.  It was refreshing and almost shocking to get this kind of assistance.  It made me confident that I was dealing with a professional and caring organization focused on customer care.  I have long been convinced of the quality of this product, but until this experience, I have had doubts as to the quality of the customer service.

I received the T400 and it has performed like every IBM I have used - flawlessly.

I would personally like to thank both of you.  I only wish that you both ran customer service.  If that were the case, we might see a much shorter T400 shipping thread!

[#5]

Hi finalvector,

I read through your post, and i am very thankful for your follow-up post back in the forum to update others about the outcome. Sometimes, it is not fair that people hear only the process for a situation and not the whole story of it.Your post gives a good example to others and i expect to see more follow-up post from others

I am sure Mark has helped you as i do not find your record in my engagement list. How i wish you were inside the list! I"m glad that you like your machine, so am i (love my T61 as it's so durable even though i have accidently dropped it from my desk)

Alright, i wish you have a nice day and take care!

Best regards,

Cleo

[#6]

1. I ordered a computer for on Nov 2.
2. The ship date was Nov 16
3. The ship date has magically changed to Nov 27 without any notification
4. I called Lenovo on 11/16
5. They started explaining to me about warehouse procedures and critical orders. I just want to know when I can get a computer.
6. They will look into it and get back to me by email by end of the day.
7. I call back at end of the day and speak to same rep. He says it takes 24 hours to get response and to call back tomorrow.
8. I called back today (11/17)
9. Same story about warehouse procedures. I just want to know when I can get a laptop.
10. It takes 1-2 business days to get an update on the status of my order.
11. I ask if there are any laptops that I can get shipped today.  Put me on hold to get sales rep.
12. Sales rep said. No more computers available in Thinkpad line that can be shipped within next 9 business days.

13. No one from Lenovo has been able to tell me when my laptop will be shipped

14. Today the Lenovo rep said December 11 (That is right 6 weeks after it was ordered)

15. Anyone want to bet that it doesn't ship before January?

[#7]

Check your ship dates! My 11/16 ship date was moved to 11/27 and now to 12/11. On top of that they will not let me cancel the order. 

[#8]

LOL.  Glad to see I am not alone.  I have never purchased or used Lenovo, but upon suggestion I did order the Thinkpad T400.  I added a number of items to the notebook, one of which cracked me up.  I paid $30 for a DOWNGRADE to be able to still use Windows XP, an environment my custom programs worth with.  I ordered this on 11-4-09 and today 11-19-09 I received the machine.  Unfortunately they did not load Windows XP or provide any discs to install the application.  I called returns and rather than offer me a computer, replicating the one I ordered, the gentleman indicated Lenovo does not exchange machines they can only offer me a credit.  Wow, Lenovo the economy must not be affecting your company stock.  Not once did the return agent offer to send me out another computer.  I was so stunned I called Lenovo and spoke with Robby who apologized and indicated he could not guarantee that I would be offered the same deal.  Again, stunned I asked Robby to allow me to understand this.  Lenovo screws up an order and sends the wrong computer.  Rather than try to retain the customers $1200, your mission would to be simply to say your sorry and refund the amount charged.  Really??  I can only ascertain that Lenovo is earning profits hand over fist and kudos to you Lenovo!  I'm glad to hear you really dont need to keep customers or cultivate new ones, especially ones that have never used your product.  By the way, its been several hours and "Robby" has yet to call me back to let me know if managment would overide this.  Are you kidding me?

[#9]

Hi DELTASVCS, and welcome to the Lenovo User Community!

This is not an answer to your customer service issue, just a suggestion for your situation: If your system has Windows 7 loaded, why not enjoy Windows 7 and run your custom programs in Windows XP mode? It's free.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

[#10]

Ordered a custom-configured T400 (T9600, 4gb ram, discrete graphics, blah-blah-blah) Nov 12th. My first ever Lenovo/IBM product (having used mostly Dell in the past). Estimated shipping date at the time was Nov 20th. On the 21st, the shipping date was pushed forward to Nov 30th. Received email Nov 23rd that the laptop had shipped that day (this past Monday) with a delivery date for Weds (today), Nov 25th.

Bingo, UPS was at my door around 10:30 a.m.  This is the earliest they've ever delivered to me; normally it's between 6-7 p.m. in the evening. I did pop for the extra $10.00 for 2nd day shipping on top of the free ground shipping.

Laptop arrived as ordered, and I absolutely love it. No mushy, springy topside, solid keyboard, no software bugs discovered as yet. Was ordered and delivered with Win7 64-bit Home Premium fully pre-loaded, latest BIOS, only needed a couple minor updates (Power Manager and some other minor utility).  

Jeepers, I had spent hours reading through these forum posts having to do with the T series and the General Discussion area and, boy, was I ever spooked and expecting the absolute worse-case experience with Lenovo. And god only knew what I was actually going to receive, both hardware and software wise! The keyboard issue really had me concerned, and I was rehearsing for days a sob-story for my doubtlessly impending call to Customer Service in order to get a real keyboard.

I don't know what the overall percentages are for screwed up orders and deliveries but I gotta say I couldn't be more pleased thus far with my Lenovo experience from start to finish.

Interestingly, I paid with a debit card and my account wasn't debited until this afternoon, well after the laptop had already been delivered. I know it is well-accepted practice to complete a billing transaction upon actual shipment but never heard of it upon delivery - cool!

Great service from Lenovo.

________________________________________________________

Location Date Local Time Description

 EL PASO, TX, US 11/25/2009 10:27 A.M. DELIVERY

   11/25/2009 8:40 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY

   11/25/2009 8:17 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN  

   11/25/2009 8:02 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

   11/25/2009 7:41 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

 SAN ANTONIO, TX, US 11/25/2009 7:10 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

   11/25/2009 5:09 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

LOUISVILLE, KY, US

   11/25/2009 3:39 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

   11/25/2009 2:24 A.M. IMPORT SCAN

   11/25/2009 2:08 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

ANCHORAGE, AK, US

  11/24/2009 6:27 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

  11/24/2009 11:58 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

 INCHEON, KR

  11/24/2009 9:45 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

 CHEK LAP KOK, HK

  11/24/2009 5:08 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

   11/24/2009 2:27 P.M. EXPORT SCAN  

   11/24/2009 2:27 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN

 HK 11/23/2009 8:51 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Tracking results provided by UPS: