buying T61 @ eBay - any good experience?

[Ghost]

We bought our first R51 at eBay ~2-3 years ago from a guy from Ontario, it was refurbished but like new and still works just fine (except battery which died after 1 year). The only issue we had - the seller stated that the notebook had international warranty, but it turned out that it had only US warranty, so I had to buy that battery myself... whatever.

Now, agian - I see good deals for T61 at eBay, for example this one, and I wonder if it's worth to give it a try again instead of going to lenovo.com?... This time I've asked the seller to provide me with model and serial ## to call Lenovo support to check its warranty before I buy anything.

Does anybody has such an experience of buying "new" stuff at eBay? What traps can be there? What to look for (except feedbacks)? And I wonder where those guys get cheap new notebooks?!

Thank you!

[skitty4gzus]

1450 and still bidding, i wouldnt exactly call that an AMAZING deal unless that was IBM branded oem ram upgrade and the bids stopped there. what 3 year warranty is it? you can build one similarly with the same ram on lenovo for around 1700.00

[ryengineer]

And I wonder where those guys get cheap new notebooks?!

"Authorized IBM Business Partner" the auction clearly states. They get discount...

[pianowizard]

the seller stated that the notebook had international warranty, but it turned out that it had only US warranty, so I had to buy that battery myself...

Batteries are covered for only 1 year. Even if you had an international warranty, if your battery died 366 days or more after the warranty started, you would have to buy it yourself anyway.

Now, agian - I see good deals for T61 at eBay, for example this one

I don't have any words of wisdom for buying new laptops on eBay, because I've never bought one, but I noticed that the weight stated in this ad is incorrect. The 6-cell 14.1" WS T61 weighs 5.3 lbs, not 4.7 lbs. Even with the optical drive swapped out for a travel bezel, it still weighs 4.9 lbs with battery.

[santalink]

I also got my T61's from ebay.
The seller listed the model number and serial number on the listing, and I got the exact machine as described.

From my experience, number of feedback is very important, but the quality of their feedback is too. Especially study their last year's negative feedback comment.

Secondly, try to ask the seller question, and get their response. By doing this, you will know how responsive seller is. And also you will feel if you can trust the seller.

You may also ask if they can ship it within the same day or the next business day. You don't want to pay for your laptop and wait for 1 week before the seller ship the item out.

[skitty4gzus]

also, lenovo only reports battery usage UP TO 3.8 hours on the 6-cell with discrete graphics, not anywhere near 6 hours as stated. even with an ultrabay battery it is only UP TO 5.8 hours.

[ryengineer]

Another thing I noticed you're in Canada and the seller US, you're going to pay customs on top of the machine as well, brokerage; is what UPS calls it.

[Ghost]

also, lenovo only reports battery usage UP TO 3.8 hours on the 6-cell with discrete graphics, not anywhere near 6 hours as stated. even with an ultrabay battery it is only UP TO 5.8 hours.

I think the errors in the unit description come from copy-paste practice of those wholesalers I always can get true numbers from manufacturer (once I know model #)...

[Ghost]

Another thing I noticed you're in Canada and the seller US, you're going to pay customs on top of the machine as well, brokerage; is what UPS calls it.

yes, that's the worst part...

[Ghost]

I also got my T61's from ebay.
The seller listed the model number and serial number on the listing, and I got the exact machine as described.

this guy just sent be model #, and not serial number (saying he does not know what s/n I'll get because they sell them a lot he cannot control that) - so canadian lenovo support cannot say for sure if the unit has warranty coverage in Canada

Ok, I think in my canadian case I should not "play with fire" considering all of the above (and due to lack of canadian T61 sellers on eBay), and rather go to lenovo website.

Thank you again, guys!

[skitty4gzus]

i agree, good chance you could have walked away and saved MAYBE a hundred dollars or so, but what if you didn't? its just not worth throwing away 1500.00 to save a couple hundred POSSIBLY? i know you can find specs online for the machine, thats not the issue, the issue is how honest is the seller? does he know what he's selling? if he's misleading about a couple specs whats to say he isn't misleading you on something else? buy straight from lenovo, its worth the peace of mind

[ryengineer]

this guy just sent be model #, and not serial number...(

FWIW, you only need the Type # to see if a machine is eligible for International warranty service (IWS).

[Ghost]

this guy just sent be model #, and not serial number...(

FWIW, you only need the Type # to see if a machine is eligible for International warranty service (IWS).

I called them and they said they need both to say for sure

[ryengineer]

I called them and they said they need both to say for sure

You don't need to call anyone. Just simply go here and enter the machine Type, if it shows up Canada in the list of countries then it is covered otherwise not.

[GomJabbar]

this guy just sent be model #, and not serial number...(

FWIW, you only need the Type # to see if a machine is eligible for International warranty service (IWS).

I was going to say that you can find out the warranty from the tabook and the model number. Then I remembered something I read once: there are occasions when Lenovo liquidates machines through a reseller, and when this happens, there is no warranty - even if the machine originally had a type number that indicated that the machine would still be under warranty. I do not think this would be a problem with large resellers such as Cost Central, Euclid, CDW, etc. It could be a problem from ThinkPads bought on ebay or from less reputable sources. One really needs to investigate the history of the machine and if possible get the serial number to verify the existing warranty. If you look at the Warranty Lookup page, both type and serial number are required.

[Ghost]

great links, folks, thank you!

funny stuff: the seller gave me type 7664-17U, hence there is IWS, but it is for Australia and New Zealand!!! Mega LOL! Nice "international" warranty. Nice try.

P.S. - but should I assume, whatever warranty is, as far as it's still active it works in US at least (because it's home-country for IBM/Lenovo)?!... Lucky you down there, guys!

[Ghost]

no, I am still confised - I see that type on Lenovo's canadian T61 page: 766416U, hence using type only does not make any sense... Or what?

[ryengineer]

Well, generally speaking without any constraints, the warranty applies to the country in which a thinkpad is bought in, atleast if bought directly from lenovo.

[ryengineer]

no, I am still confised - I see that type on Lenovo's canadian T61 page: 766416U, hence using type only does not make any sense... Or what?

Type in 8744 and watch what you see.

[Ghost]

no, I am still confised - I see that type on Lenovo's canadian T61 page: 766416U, hence using type only does not make any sense... Or what?

Type in 8744 and watch what you see.

why this number? where you get it?

[truehoosier]

I just bought a T60 about two weeks ago. It was an awesome experience. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

[ryengineer]

why this number? where you get it?

It was just an example of IWS Type. Again as I stated before the warranty applies to the country in which a thinkpad is bought in by default, atleast for those bought directly from lenovo; unless it's some sort of exception or special case.

[LBTRS]

I purchased my T61 from that exact seller on Ebay. I got just what I ordered and the guy went way above and beyond to get the machine to me before a trip I was taking. The communication was excellent and I got a T61 without all the hassles of waiting on Lenovo to ship me one.

I had good luck with bmm89 and my T61 purchase.

[unr1]

I purchased my T61 from that exact seller on Ebay. I got just what I ordered and the guy went way above and beyond to get the machine to me before a trip I was taking. The communication was excellent and I got a T61 without all the hassles of waiting on Lenovo to ship me one.

I had good luck with bmm89 and my T61 purchase.

I ordered from this last week as well (last Friday)

I should receive my T61 this Wednesday. I'll post a couple pics and impressions and refer to my thread in this thread.

cost me 1700 + 30 shipping in case somebody wanted to know.

[Ghost]

thank you guys for your feedback. Unf., my shipping will be way more expensive plus UPS brockage and additional taxes on the border will just screw the deal...

[unr1]

I wouldn't call it much of a "deal" to begin with

major benefit is that it comes much quicker. It's not a terrible deal but it's far from a good EPP deal

[Ghost]

so, those of you who bought T61, did you like your babies? what about the image quality? What OS you stay with, Vista | XP?...

... I am confused and disoriented by all the feedback I see around about T61 (not eBay)...

[neednotebook]

Ghost..this is a very very bad deal. Check out the visaperks site they have a similar config machine (only difference is it is 120gb hdd and 1gb ram). And the price is an amazing 1399 CDN.

The only restriction is you have to buy using a visa credit card

[neednotebook]

Also I have seen one more system with same config as the ebay seller but with vista ultimate in visaperks site for just 1649.

EDIT:
Here are the configs
ThinkPad T61 (766416U) ...with instant rebate - A Lenovo Topseller Selection with 1GB Intel Turbo Memory!


Part Number: 7TPE053

Price: $1,399.00

Processor Operating
System RAM
(std) Hard Drive Media Wireless
Intel® Core 2 Duo T7300 - 2000MHz Genuine Windows Vista Business 1024 120 DVD Recordable (Dual Layer) 24X Max

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Business Screen: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT 1440x900 Onboard Graphic Chipset: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Onboard Audio: Intel High Definition Audio Included Modem: 56Kbps data/14.4Kbps fax Hard Drive Controller: Intel Turbo Memory 1GB Onboard Network Contoller: Gigabit Ethernet- Integrated 10Mbps,100Mbps,1000M Battery Type: 6 Cell Lithium-Ion PCMCIA Support: 1 Type I/II (ExpressCard or SmartCard or 4-in-1 MediaCard Reader) External Speakers: 2 (Internal Speakers) Warranty: Three years parts and labor (system battery: one year)



or

ThinkPad T61 Series - A Lenovo Topseller Selection with 1GB Intel Turbo Memory!


Part Number: 766417U

Price: $1,649.00


Processor Operating
System RAM
(std) Hard Drive Media Wireless
Intel® Core 2 Duo T7300 - 2000MHz Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate 2048 160 DVD Recordable (Dual Layer) 24X Max

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Screen: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT 1440x900 Onboard Graphic Chipset: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Onboard Audio: Intel High Definition Audio Included Modem: 56Kbps data/14.4Kbps fax Hard Drive Controller: Intel Turbo Memory 1GB Onboard Network Contoller: Gigabit Ethernet- Integrated 10Mbps,100Mbps,1000M Battery Type: 6 Cell Lithium-Ion PCMCIA Support: 1 Type I/II (ExpressCard or SmartCard or 4-in-1 MediaCard Reader) External Speakers: 2 (Internal Speakers) Warranty: Three years parts and labor (system battery: one year)

[unr1]

Ghost..this is a very very bad deal.

wait a minute now, what is your definition of a deal?
Getting the best price?

Well, that is certainly a part of it but to me a "good deal" is one in which the customer and seller are happy with their transaction. If that constitutes a higher cost, it makes up elsewhere in the "deal" (faster availability, hard to find specs, etc).

the example in the original post shows a seller with 626 positive feedback ratings and 100% positive ratings. Feedback details shows many types of thinkpads sold.
Of course if the thread starter wants the type of deal you have in mind, then it's a different story.