References for Bill

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MommyT · #1 Post by **MommyT** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 7:46 pm

Dear All:
About to arrange for purchase of one, maybe 2 ThinkPads. Having recently been way stung by a shifty online dealer, I'm extra cautious.
Bill encourages me to solicit advice of those of you who've purchased from him, especially recently. Especially eager to hear from people whose transactions did NOT go smoothly, for better or for worse. How did the return/replacement/exchange process go? Any experience with IBM's site also useful. Reply by private e-mail please
Thanks,
Abigail

#2 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 1:20 am

I think that is probably a pointless request.
Bill is obviously very reputable.
I have never purchased from him, but, he sells many, many Thinkpads, and I have never seen a complaint posted about him on this website, and I have been reading posts here for about 8 months.
If people had gripes with him, there would be posts here, without a doubt.

As for ordering direct from IBM, I have done so, and returned two Thinkpads for refunds within the 30 day satisfaction period. They were ordered over the phone from a representative, and their return was arranged over the phone also. It was totally and completely hassle-free in both cases. One unit was defective, and one unit was just not to my liking. It did cost me $43 each for the 2-day air freight (non-refundable) and what I paid in return shipping. If I had requested ground shipping, it would have cost me even less. Other than that, setting up the returns took 15 minutes or less, and the charges were credited back to my credit card within 1 week or less of IBM getting the notebooks back.

I currently have an X40 on order.

I suggest that you not order Thinkpads from any online vendor, since they usually do not accept any returns on notebooks. Usually, with these companies, all sales are final, unless the unit arrives damaged or defective.

Andrew
Austin, TX

#3 Post by **JaneL** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:50 am

Google is your friend, however I doubt that you'll find any complaints about Bill. In all the years I've known him, I don't remember anyone complaining about his service (other than not responding to e-mails during hurricanes) from IBM's old TP forum on CompuServe to the TP Mailing List to here on Bill's own forums. I don't even think I've ever seen anyone complain about him in comp.sys.laptops, and people there are even whinier than they are here.

Re your request for an e-mail response:

Post it here; read it here.

WildEye · #4 Post by **WildEye** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:56 am

I bought a X40 from him three weeks ago, which arrived a week ago.

While the shipping had some problems with a wrong country code, the service Bill did while the package was on the sightseeing trip is unmatched by any company/person i've experienced.

I don't think you have anything to worry about...

JHEM · #5 Post by **JHEM** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 12:25 pm

MommyT,

Nonny and I are (obviously) biased, but for good reason.

We've both known Bill for more years than we care to admit and we've never heard a bad word about him personally or his services.

I suggest you Google for "Bill Morrow" and "thinkpads.com" in the NGs, you'll soon read enough that any and all fears you might entertain will be put to rest.

I daresay that Bill may not have sold Thinkpads to someone living at the end of the Earth, but he's certainly shipped to places where you could see it!

Regards,

James

Cobos · #6 Post by **Cobos** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 1:10 pm

I've also bought a X40 recently from Bill and if you do a search of my posts I had one just like yours a month or so ago. And as a matter of fact Wildeye's X40 was bought on my recommondation and after seeing my X40 when we were in the US on vacation together.
If I should say anything negative it might be that sometimes Bill needs a reminder of what I wanted/asked about even though scrolling down the long email record would say just that, but of course I don't know how many deals Bill is concluding at the same time so it's obviously easier for me to remember the case than for him.

I did a Google search before I concluded the deal though and I didn't find anything negative rather the opposite and from posts and entries dating back to 1987 I seem to recall.

Cobos

PaulO · #7 Post by **PaulO** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 4:38 pm

aamsel (above) recomends buying from IBM direct as the safe choice (for ease of return, etc.)

In light of aamsel's point, what are the benefits of buying from Bill?

sk33 · #8 Post by **sk33** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:10 pm

PaulO wrote:aamsel (above) recomends buying from IBM direct as the safe choice (for ease of return, etc.)

In light of aamsel's point, what are the benefits of buying from Bill?

I'd assume price.

verktyg · #9 Post by **verktyg** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:30 pm

PaulO wrote:aamsel (above) recomends buying from IBM direct as the safe choice (for ease of return, etc.)

In light of aamsel's point, what are the benefits of buying from Bill?

Pretty much the same as buying from IBM but more personal service and maybe some price, tax and shipping issues.

I just bought a new X31. I got a special discount through my company.

I probably would have purchased it from Bill instead but he didn't have any X31s or X40s in stock and I wanted/needed it fairly soon.

I bought small things from Bill going all the way back to 1995 when he was one of the few sources for TrackPad caps.

I can't recall ever seeing anything negagative posted about him.

leesiulung · #10 Post by **leesiulung** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:21 pm

I have never purchased from Bill, nor have I heard anything negative of Bill on this forum. But one thing I think I should mention is that this forum is "maintaned" by Bill... if there were bad posts, it could be deleted.

Keep in mind that I have no experience shopping from Bill, nor do intend to imply anything negative about Bill. I don't think Bill would delete posts, but it is certainly something that could happen.

On the note of what benefits, the only thing I can see from ordering from Bill is personal service and savings from tax (which is significant on a $1500+ purchase). In addition Bill did tell me he would do exchanges and returns just like IBM... (but don't hold me to that).

The downside is you probably have to pay cash, which means in the unlikely event of disputes you do not have the credit card company on your side.

Deb Suran · #11 Post by **Deb Suran** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:27 am

this forum is "maintaned" by Bill... if there were bad posts, it could be deleted.
As a moderator on this forum I feel the need to say that I have never been asked/told to delete anything negative about Bill or his services.

I have made purchases large and small from Bill over a long period and he has always been completely honest and filled orders in a timely manner. It did cost me big on one occasion when I got the ThinkPad I ordered and it did not meet my expectations. This was not Bill's fault so I didn't feel I could return it and ask Bill to take the loss. If I'd bought directly from IBM I would have felt no such compunction. I lost $800 and a lot of time trying to fix the issue (video drivers), and wished I'd bought directly from IBM in that case so I could have made the return. I recommend you try before you buy so you are not disappointed in the unit you buy, as I was. If you know you will like the model you're buying I can recommend Bill without hesitation. Otherwise ask Bill in advance if he'll take the unit back if you don't like it, and if not you might prefer to buy from IBM or another business with a no-fault/no-cost return policy so you can return/exchange the unit if it does not meet your expectations.

#12 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:06 am

I didn't say that, and suggest that you read my reply again.

The original poster asked for experiences ordering from Bill and also from IBM. I said that I had not ordered from Bill, but had no reason to believe that he was anything other than reputable.

I also commented on my experience with ordering (and returning) direct to/from IBM, and said that it was a painless experience. I did not say that it was the "safe choice" as you suggest. I merely commented on my experience.

Since I have not ordered from Bill, I can not make any comparison of the experience between ordering from him or from IBM.

Also, when I recommended that people not order Thinkpads from "online vendors" I was NOT referring to Bill. I was referring to places like PC Connection, Newegg, etc. which are good vendors, but who do not accept returns on Thinkpads or other notebooks.

Just thought I would clarify.

Andrew
Austin, TX

PaulO wrote:aamsel (above) recomends buying from IBM direct as the safe choice (for ease of return, etc.)

In light of aamsel's point, what are the benefits of buying from Bill?

gpvillamil · #13 Post by **gpvillamil** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:03 am

I ordered a T41p from Bill, and it arrived 3 days later in Japan (where I live).

No problems whatsoever with anything, and probably 40% cheaper.

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