ThinkPad T series shipping thread - 2012 edition [ Edited ]

[T520_CLE]

Greetings everyone, 

This has been my experience so far:

4/10/12: Original status: 

Order Date: 04/09/2012

Estimated ship date: 04/15/2012

Estimated delivery date: 4/19/2012

Order contains the T520, a laptop bag, Lojack software, and a Bluetooth mouse.

4/13/12: Bag and Lojack DVD arrive.

4/16/12: It's after the est. ship date and the status has not changed, so I sent an email to customer service.  I didn't get a reply, but the status changed:

Actual ship date 4/13/12 and status changed to "shipped".  However, there is no tracking number for the laptop.  

The status for the laptop, bag, & mouse are all "shipped". The Lojack software is still listed as "Released to Manufacturing," though I have already received the DVD.  

4/17/12 3:06 AM: I receive 3 identical emails indicating a delay in my shipment:

"We apologize, but we are unable to ship one or more items on your order at this time. We anticipate shipment within 30 days of this notification. Our online order status tool displays the latest information on your order therefore a revised estimated ship date is not included in this notification."

However, the online status has not changed from "shipped" on 4/13 and there is still no tracking number for the T520.  I'm getting nervous that the T520 hasn't actually shipped yet.      

Update 4/17/12 11:30 AM: I received a status update email with tracking information.  It looks like the T520 will still arrive as scheduled on 4/19!  My guess is the flight delay at 2:41 AM caused the Lenovo order tracking system to kick out a standard "up to 30 day delay" email.  If this is indeed the case, then perhaps the system could be improved to give a better estimate of the delay.  The Bluetooth mouse also arrived today.  

Update 4/19/12: The UPS tracking page indicates that my T520 will be delivered today, but it doesn't appear to have left Loiuisville yet.  I chatted with a UPS rep online and got the following information:

"Unfortunately, I don't see that this package has arrived to its destination center yet. My records indicate that the package got misloaded and we are currently working on having the package routed to the correct location. It hasn't cleared customs either and, since I don't see a revised delivery date,  I would advice you to keep on monitoring this package to follow up"

So UPS dropped the ball and I mostly likely won't get my system before this weekend. Bummer!  jwkeiser and hippy, I wish you luck with getting your systems delivered soon!   

Update 4/21/12: I still haven't received my system, but it finally cleared customs yesterday.  It looks like I'll get it on Monday. I think my laptop is jinxed though- two bad airplanes!  (I haven't seen these sort of messages on other shipments before.)

Update 4/24/12: I received my laptop today- I had to pick it up from UPS, though due to the signature requirement..  Everything looks good so far. 

04/23/2012	7:47 A.M.	Out For Delivery
Akron, OH, United States	04/21/2012	9:25 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Cleveland, OH, United States	04/21/2012	8:30 A.M.	Departure Scan
	04/21/2012	7:54 A.M.	Arrival Scan
	04/21/2012	7:09 A.M.	A flight delay occurred because of aircraft mechanical reasons.
Louisville, KY, United States	04/21/2012	7:01 A.M.	Departure Scan
	04/21/2012	12:54 A.M.	Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/20/2012	11:12 P.M.	Released by Clearing Agency. Now in-transit for delivery.
	04/20/2012	12:33 A.M.	Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/19/2012	12:28 A.M.	Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/18/2012	12:16 P.M.	Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/17/2012	3:27 A.M.	Arrival Scan
	04/17/2012	2:41 A.M.	A flight delay occurred because of aircraft mechanical reasons.
Anchorage, AK, United States	04/16/2012	5:42 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/16/2012	2:32 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Shanghai, China	04/16/2012	9:34 P.M.	Departure Scan
Shanghai, China	04/14/2012	8:09 P.M.	Export Scan
China	04/14/2012	12:44 A.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

 Overall Impressions:  

The online status updates are slow and inaccurate, but I won't mind too much as long as my T520 arrives within a reasonable time period.  I would advise others that a custom-ordered Lenovo system will require additional time for shipment and clearing customs than some other well-known brands. 

[jwkeiser]

Interesting, T520_CLE, and it's nice to hear someone with some sense saying " I won't mind too much as long as my T520 arrives within a reasonable time period."

I did a lot of research on this subject because my t420 was hangin around hong kong for so long:

Update 4/18 -- I guess the only hurdle is customs now, hopefully I'll get it by Friday so I can have the weekend to do a clean install/throw my ssd in there. Would be nice to have it for a big work week next week.

Update 4/19 -- Amazingly looks like it's going to arrive on time, i guess i got lucky with customs. I just hope he shows up when my girlfriend is home, and that she hears the doorbell :-)
 

Hartford, CT, United States	04/19/2012	7:07 A.M.	Out For Delivery
	04/19/2012	6:20 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Windsor Locks, CT, United States	04/19/2012	5:43 A.M.	Departure Scan
Windsor Locks, CT, United States	04/18/2012	11:36 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Jamaica, NY, United States	04/18/2012	9:05 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/18/2012	5:37 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/18/2012	3:27 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/18/2012	11:11 A.M.	Import Scan
	04/18/2012	2:18 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States	04/17/2012	4:09 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/17/2012	1:47 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong	04/17/2012	8:03 P.M.	Departure Scan
Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong	04/14/2012	4:39 P.M.	Origin Scan
Hong Kong	04/13/2012	6:18 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

It seems that shipping can take forever sometimes, but the status updares are REALLY slow and inaccurate, so I'd probably call if I were you, even if it's just for peace of mind. Mine said "Shipped" since 4/11, and I didn't get a UPS tracking number until 4/14, AND UPS couldn't find the tracking info until the 15th so...yeah, a bit of a delay.

Good luck, keep us updated.

[hippy]

• 4/11: Order Placed, initial estimated ship date is 5/1, which is unbelievable. 
• Update 4/13: Estimated Ship Date changed to 4/15, which is Sunday. I don't believe it. Another werid thing happened that if I login to Lenovo EPP site using my account and click the order in my account history, it will show up as an invalid order. It makes me nerverous and chatted with customer service. They said the order is still in process. 
• Update 4/18: Estimated Ship Date changed to 4/17, which is already passed. I feel nervous again and found this post. 
• Update 4/20: it's still "In Production" and the Estimated Ship Date is still "2012/04/17". Don't know what's going on there. I chatted with Lenovo website customer service agent and he said based on his query the estimated shipping date is 5/2. 
• Update 4/21: Estimated Ship Date changed to 4/18, which is still an already passed date. Status is still "In Production". Weird!
• Update 4/23: Estimated Ship Date changed to 4/22, which is yesterday. Status is still "In Production".  I'd rather they cancel my order.
• Update 4/24: Finally shipped, but order not trackable yet. 
• Update 4/25: Order trackable now. Package left HK.

[jwkeiser]

hippy, don't worry about the invalid order thing, mine STILL says that even though my package is now out for delivery. You're better off just clicking the "Order Status" link in the email they sent you, that was the only way i could view my order info. If your ship date changes to the day beforehand, it has likely shipped, it may take a few days even to get your tracking number, I'm sure it's fine, but I know it's annoying.

btw, you'll get an email from lenovo confirming shipment at some point, that'll have your tracking number

[hippy]

Thanks jwkeiser for the comfort. 

[veechee]

Here's one for a ThinkPad T420 that went especially quickly for me a couple of months ago:

Edmonton, AB, Canada	02/27/2012	9:24	Delivered
	02/27/2012	7:38	Out for Delivery
	02/27/2012	4:45	Destination Scan
	02/27/2012	2:00	Arrival Scan
Calgary, AB, Canada	02/25/2012	11:21	Departure Scan
	02/25/2012	9:16	Import Scan
	02/25/2012	8:22	Arrival Scan
Sioux Falls, SD, United States	02/25/2012	7:04	Departure Scan
	02/25/2012	7:03	Departure Scan
	02/25/2012	6:25	Arrival Scan
	02/25/2012	6:15	Arrival Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	02/25/2012	5:26	Departure Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	02/23/2012	9:07	Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States	02/22/2012	23:02	Departure Scan
	02/22/2012	12:28	Arrival Scan
Shanghai, China	02/22/2012	21:06	Departure Scan
	02/22/2012	19:59	Export Scan
	02/22/2012	19:51	Origin Scan
China	02/22/2012	19:02	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

I have a T420s arriving today.  I'll post that one once I receive it.

[veechee]

My ThinkPad T420s was just delivered.  The shipping documents show it as being shipped from a factory in Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.

Edmonton, AB, Canada	04/25/2012	15:53	Delivered
	04/25/2012	12:30	Destination Scan
	04/25/2012	12:21	Arrival Scan
Calgary, AB, Canada	04/25/2012	9:15	Departure Scan
	04/25/2012	7:58	Import Scan
	04/25/2012	7:31	Arrival Scan
Sioux Falls, SD, United States	04/25/2012	6:10	Departure Scan
	04/25/2012	6:01	Departure Scan
Sioux Falls, SD, United States	04/24/2012	22:10	Arrival Scan
Minneapolis, MN, United States	04/24/2012	18:37	Departure Scan
	04/24/2012	18:35	Arrival Scan
	04/24/2012	18:07	Departure Scan
	04/24/2012	16:27	Arrival Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/24/2012	15:34	Departure Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/22/2012	9:53	Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States	04/21/2012	23:59	Departure Scan
	04/21/2012	22:30	Arrival Scan
	04/21/2012	19:15	Departure Scan
	04/21/2012	18:36	Arrival Scan
Shanghai, China	04/22/2012	5:41	Departure Scan
Shanghai, China	04/20/2012	20:40	Export Scan
	04/20/2012	20:22	Origin Scan
China	04/20/2012	20:00	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

[hippy]

Finally delivered. It takes 19 days to fulfill the order. 

Location Date Local Time Activity

Northbrook, IL, United States	04/30/2012	10:47 A.M.	DELIVERED
	04/30/2012	7:44 A.M.	Out For Delivery
Chicago, IL, United States	04/30/2012	7:06 A.M.	Departure Scan
	04/30/2012	1:05 A.M.	Out For Delivery
Chicago, IL, United States	04/28/2012	1:06 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Hodgkins, IN, United States	04/28/2012	12:29 A.M.	Departure Scan
Hodgkins, IN, United States	04/27/2012	8:51 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/27/2012	5:17 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/27/2012	12:02 P.M.	Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States	04/26/2012	9:15 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States	04/25/2012	11:21 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/25/2012	3:13 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong	04/25/2012	9:15 P.M.	Departure Scan
	04/25/2012	12:34 P.M.	Export Scan
	04/25/2012	12:34 P.M.	Export Scan
	04/25/2012	12:34 P.M.	Origin Scan
Hong Kong	04/24/2012	9:02 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

[Shunshin]

I placed my order for a new T420 about four days ago but my status still reads as "submitted" and the estimated shipping date is blank. I'm not quite sure how long it takes an average company to verify my credit card and process an order but this seems a little on the long side. And from what I see, Lenovo usually posts an estimated shipping date pretty quickly?

And I was under the impression Lenovo would ship the machine within 10-12 business days when I was ordering it... After reading alot of these posts, it seems very unlikely that my machine will be shipped in 12 business days. I do need it for school soon...

[Shunshin]

So I phoned customer service today regarding my order. The representative could not even find my order in the system. He went to check my order with the "senior team," and afterwards told me that my credit card information was incorrect. When i asked him about the details, he did not know and told me that the order would be cancelled. I asked for the cancellation confirmation but stated  that it would take a day or two. Now, I don't want to order another machine without the cancellation confirmation but I am pressed for time because the model I want is on sale for a limited time and I do need a machine in a week and a half.

I have a few questions:
1) Why was not I notified about this incorrect credit card information? And why does the customer service department lack  the information to tell me my credit card information on record so maybe I can just change it on the spot?

2) Why does it take so long to cancel an order? Considering the lack of communication from Lenovo, will I even get a cancellation email?

I am very frustrated. I turned to Lenovo after my old Toshiba broke down at the recommendation of couple of friends but this experience is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.