Thinkpads Forum

A few of us are doing a "group buy" on Flexviews. There's about a hundred of them to choose from. T42's and T60's and P models. They probably have some T43's. All machines come with a 3 year Warranty from an official Lenovo reseller.

The seller has hundreds of non Flexviews available as well.

Most are new, IBM Factory Sealed refurbs with warranty, and extended warranty is available.

Great prices on top machines with 7200 RPM drives, DVD burners, UXGA or SXGA, fat GPU's, etc.

PM me if you are interested. I will send you more information, and I will ask you which machine you are looking for. I am rounding up your requests, and then sending them in for a price this week..

The order will ship directly to you, UPS or Fedex. You will pay the seller directly using various payment options.

I am only arranging the group buy.

Without some estimates for prices its hard to sign up. Can you give some price ranges please? Thanks.

You've got PM!

Best regards,

Johan

can you pm some pricing info, thanks

I am interested too.

It would be nice to get some general pricing posted to give people an idea of what range you're talking.

I've specifically asked in PM twice but received no answer:

- Models, specs, availability
- Prices
- Payment methods
- Sellers's references

Personally, I find it very difficult to proceed with purchasing anything without being provided this important info.

thanks George, we definately need some more info on this.

Hello, I have replied to your PM's. I hope that the PM clears up most of your questions.

Please answer the questions regarding what you are specifically looking for. I will gather them up, and get them answered for us ASAP.

Thanks.

Still waiting for that PM...and am looking for 2623-DDU or similar...

ajkula66 wrote:Still waiting for that PM...and am looking for 2623-DDU or similar...

Sorry AJ "Thinkpadder". I got you mixed up with "Thinkpad" whom I PM'ed earlier. I just sent you the PM.

Kyocera wrote:It would be nice to get some general pricing posted to give people an idea of what range you're talking.

Prices are based on which machine the buyer wants. There are various types of machines and options involved here.

I am trying to get a price and availability list on Monday.

I am gathering all our requirements via PM and then sending them to the seller this week.

I gave a PM a long time ago, but I just realized that I didn't have my email set up properly.

This is actually my first post, but I joined Nov 17th.

You are all set Officefan.

I have no involvement in this transaction, but may I suggest that the buyers 'seriously' consider using an escrow service like that provided by Bill Morrow for a fee. I'm sure that a deal could be worked out with Bill so that the individual cost is reasonable.

Thanks for your concern, but the individual buyers will be dealing directly with the seller (authorized Lenovo Reseller) for their credit card and shipping info.

There is no need for an escrow service.

All I am doing is pooling together some buyers so we can all get a better price.

Happy New Year, fellow forum friends!

While I certainly do find this thread very interesting – and likewise not the least the kind initiative by fparisi!- about potentially "pooling" to buy a bunch of FlexView/IPS ThinkPad's and obtaining a good price, I still feel that there are a number of open/unanswered questions and issues of common interest, which I hereby kindly suggest to be addressed in this public space. The issues in my belief are of interest to all potential buyers, and therefore it will also be in the interest of fparisi (and the seller) to address all this well in advance, rather than dealing with any potential trouble(s) after a sale, such troubles which could have been avoided by providing sufficient information prior to the sale took place. So, here goes:

PS: I realize that for ”business purposes” there may perhaps be one or two issues you don’t want to disclose, but I feel that you should yet have the opportunity, in any case…

- How/where have you managed to find all these high-quality, discontinued ThinkPad's? As is well known to many forum members, FlexView/IPS ThinkPad's have been out of production for quite some time. The last (new!) T42/p's were e.g. manufactured back in 2005, and the very last T60/p's w/UXGA were sold in the spring 2007, I believe... so interesting/strange if a bunch of "new" FlexView/IPS ThinkPad's have suddenly turned up somewhere, straight out of the blue?! What’s the story behind??

- Condition of items: Are we talking about brand new, or refurbished or re-manufactured ThinkPad's? If the latter is the case, beware of the severe limitations with respect to very limited warranty coverage (see e.g. the thread IBM Certified used notebook questions - see the post of Sat Dec 01, 2007, 3:54 am).

- Warranty: Are we talking genuine three-year EZServe IBM/Lenovo (Worldwide) warranty, from the date of this sale (sometime in Jan. 2008), or is it three year from the date of original manufacturing of the particular ThinkPad?? As the last T42/p's were manufactured by IBM/Lenovo in autumn 2005 this mean that they are in 2008 running out of the three-year warranty... as also evident from many advertisements on e.g. eBay. If the warranty mentioned by you is actually issued by some third-party service provider such as e.g. MACK camera & video service or Square Trade this, I suggest, should be clearly stated.

- What are the exact models available (type number, and numbers of each model)?

- Rights of return: Will the buyers ("us") be able to return the item bought for, say, 7 days after the receipt of item, if for some reason not satisfied with the ThinkPad received? If so, is there any fee associated with such "re-stocking" at the sellers shop?

- Payment: To who shall the payment be made, and what means of payment is possible? Credit Card? PayPal? Wired bank-transfer?

- Sales invoice: Will buyer receive an original invoice issued by the authorized Lenovo reseller? (NB: Such an invoice is necessary to invoke IWS abroad --> IBM's International Warranty Service).

- Shipment abroad: Will the seller ship out of the USA? There are quite a few forum members abroad, whom may be very interested in this sale (including me!).

- What is the name of the "official Lenovo" reseller? Someone like IBMFactoryOutlet (being an ”IBM authorized business partner”) or ThinkPad World (being an ”IBM authorized dealer”), or is it a company with a better reputation? Kindly note that many forum members have reported mixed experience with e.g. these two sellers.

- Pricing: What is the selling price, with shipment to an USA address?

NB: If of interest, specifications on T42/3/p’s may be found in the ltwbook - Personal Systems Reference Lenovo ThinkPad Notebooks 2005 to present - withdrawn, December 2007 - Version 332 .

For T60/p’s, I have found most T60p’s w/UXGA listed in the Lenovo Personal Systems Reference - Version 324 - June 2007. There may be later T60p’s with newer CPU’s around (and/or CTO’ed UXGA’s?); the advertisement --> here claim a T7200 T60p w/UXGA; is this an original IBM laptop, an error in the ad, or a user upgrade? The last batch of T60p’s w/UXGA were sold by Lenovo this spring (I believe) – according to the thread T60p w/ IPS UXGA on Lenovo Outlet!.

Many questions, but I hope you understand that this only reflect my interest and in no way should be thought of as being "suspicious" or the like towards your absolutely fine initiative!

Thanks a lot in advance for your reply to the above. Keep me posted about the progress of this...

Kind regards,

Johan

I think a price range is a must. T60p

See fparisi's first post in this thread. It says he's buying "a refurbed T60P T7600, w4Gb's RAM, with Flexview (SXGA+) with 3 years warranty for $1,350.00". If it's the same seller, then that gives you an idea of the prices and specs.

OK folks, tonight I am going to gather up your requirements, then start sending them to the sellers. I have a couple sellers actively bidding on this group buy.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED. PM me if you want in. I will send you a responce with my questions.

The T60 mentioned in the thread above this one is the top of the line scenario (T7600 C2D, Mulit burner, 4gb RAM, Flexview, etc) Accordlingly it is at the top of price range. Most machines that we are looking at will come in much much less.

Folks, I just sent some PM's, let's get these answered real quick.

Others: Its not to late to join in, but you need to know exactly what you want.

You've got a PM !
(Note that I am in France but I can have it delivered in the US at a friend's)
Thanks !

fparisi wrote:OK folks, tonight I am going to gather up your requirements, then start sending them to the sellers. I have a couple sellers actively bidding on this group buy.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED. PM me if you want in. I will send you a responce with my questions.

Frank: I PM'ed you the other day with my interests (being 15" SXGA+ T42's and/or 15" UXGA T42p's both with fingerprint reader; all relevant models listed in my PM). I have unfortunately not yet received any reply from you?

I am still looking forward to hear from you - thanks!

Best regards,

Johan

As a reasonably interested observer, what would really be ideal is a full list in pdf form of the hundred or so models on offer with prices for sample configurations as quoted by the supplier (whose contact details and address would be on the pdf) with a date up to which these quoted prices would be valid. The price and availability list mentioned by fparisi in post 12 would be the most efficient manner.

People can't know exactly what they want unless the details are disclosed to them in a manner that will leave them confident enough to hand over the money required. A post with a price for a loaded T60p would be IMHO far from suitable for someone like Johan whose needs are less "modern", for want of a better word.

Sorry to sound like a pedantic critic, but I'm just like George - I need as much info as possible in a trustworthy format before I buy anything.

just sent you a PM with my "must haves" and "nice to haves" ... Thanks !

fparisi wrote:

OK folks, tonight I am going to gather up your requirements, then start sending them to the sellers. I have a couple sellers actively bidding on this group buy.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED. PM me if you want in. I will send you a responce with my questions.

The T60 mentioned in the thread above this one is the top of the line scenario (T7600 C2D, Mulit burner, 4gb RAM, Flexview, etc) Accordlingly it is at the top of price range. Most machines that we are looking at will come in much much less.

As of this moment, after sending several PMs, I have not yet received:

- Any specs or pricing information on any machines available
- Any warranty info
- Any acknowledgment of who the seller is/are or his/hers/theirs references

Johan reports the same lack of response in his post above.

What are we doing here?

If you don't want to do business with me, or anyone else for that fact, open communication is the best way of relating it to the party in question. I would've taken no offense to that, I'm too much of a seasoned professional.

I have no problem saying this publicly, for two reasons:

a) Everyone on this forum knows who I am and what I stand for.
b) You've initially used my WTB thread to advertise this opportunity to get great machines on great terms.

Where are the machines? What are the terms?

Let's get all the details in the open, now.

The way everyone who has been selling stuff on this forum has been doing all along.

I'm eagerly awaiting for your response, and I know that I'm not the only one.

Pardon me for being negative, but this all seems like nonsense. I received a PM from him, it was a bottled generic message, which asked much but SAID nothing.

I think this is a fools errand, just my opinion.

Oh by the way, if anyone hears anything about someone giving away great machines at rock bottom prices, please be sure to let me know!

scosgt1 wrote:Pardon me for being negative, but this all seems like nonsense. I received a PM from him, it was a bottled generic message, which asked much but SAID nothing.

Actually, I did not even see anything for sale as soon as I read the title:

"A few of us are doing a group buy on new Flexviews".

I would propose that if no real items for sale are put forth within 5 days (Jan 9th), that this thread be closed.

I think it'll be closed quicker than that the way it's looking right now.

Yeah, this is very negative. Wow.

I never said that I was going to list the hundreds of prices on all these machines. The prices would be based on volume anyways.

It's called a group buy. A "group" buy. I guess you are not familar with those.

Here's how they work. Buyers group together to try to get a better deal. They tell the organizer what they want. He adds up all the folks interested. He presents the supplier with the needs of the interested people. The supplier will offer larger discounts to the group. ( BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE GROUP AND WHAT THE GROUP WANTS)

And yes, you were being negative.

Kyrocera close this thread if you think it is making some of our "people" nervous.

The moderators do a great job on this board. In fact, this one of the best run boards that I am a member of, so I will respect their judgement. Seriously.

I was only trying to help. And if it is bugging out some folks, the hell with it. As I said, I was only organizing this so we could possibly all get a better price. As I said, I am not collecting the money or shipping the product.

Not sure what the "polite" guy was talking about, but I only asked three questions.

1. Which model they want. (for example T60 or T42 or x41 etc.)

2. What their must have options are. (Flexview , processor speed, etc.)

3 Their "Nice to have" options.

Actually I should of asked a few more questions, since most respondants gave me much more info than I asked for.


Today, I sent the 24 requests, which took me a couple hours to compile, to the two sellers I have lined up. I will continue to pursue this.

I will be replying to the 24 people in a couple days when the sellers contact me.

I have returned every PM that I have recieved. Most within a couple hours. None went longer than a day. None. My Sentbox proves that. MODS, take a look if you want.

I've had a lot people thank me for pulling this together. Your all welcome.

I am looking forward to a fast as hell, Flexview.