Upgrade to real International Warranty?

[donzoomik]

I'm planning to get a T400 from US, because it's much cheaper over there (on my configuration up to $1000 at current exchange rate) and then let a friend bring it into Europe in luggage.
But real IWS service is limited only to certain model numbers. How can i upgrade to real IWS in Europe?

For example, when currently ordering online a T61, the base model is 7662, which only was warranty in northern America and far-east.
7664 on the other hand has real IWS.
I'm pretty certain that T400 will have the same problem.
Does warranty upgrade to 3 years include real IWS?

In US they install MC8765 WWAN only?

I already bought a used X60 in belief, that they all have 3 years IWS, but only to find out that it had 1 year in Americas and Asia. Got a refund though. When i had a faulty display cable, local service (that i have good relations at) repaired without any fee, but warned me, that other services might not be that friendly.

[dickeywang]

I think you can only get the IWS if you buy those pre-configured model (i.e. the models you can find from the tabook) instead of the CTO models. Those models that offer IWS are usually more expensive, but still, if you compare the price for the same model in Europe, it still much cheaper if you buy from the U.S.

[arlab]

I think you can only get the IWS if you buy those pre-configured model (i.e. the models you can find from the tabook) instead of the CTO models.

That's ot true. I bought a CTO T61p in the US. When I bought it, it was supposed to be a 8888-CTO, without IWS, but I received a 6457-CTO, which has IWS warranty... Don't know why.

Maybe because I chose 3 years warranty?

[donzoomik]

Just had a chat with Lenovo sales support (that chat window, when you customize your PC) and they confirmed it, only preconfigured models have IWS.
You can't even have 7664 customized instead of 7662, if ordered over the phone. That'll drive up the price a, since i can't have all the components that i want right away, but it'll still be cheaper than in Europe.
No upgrades to IWS either.

[donzoomik]

I think you can only get the IWS if you buy those pre-configured model (i.e. the models you can find from the tabook) instead of the CTO models.

That's ot true. I bought a CTO T61p in the US. When I bought it, it was supposed to be a 8888-CTO, without IWS, but I received a 6457-CTO, which has IWS warranty... Don't know why.

Maybe because I chose 3 years warranty?

You replied just while i was typing.
Well, this is really interesting information. Did you order online?
Can anyone confirm this?

Edit:
Example about price difference between continents:
T61 573D926 in europe ca $1800-$1900
T61 similar model based on 7658 $1197.15
That's $600-$700 just on base configuration!

Edit2: Apparently model 7660 sold in Europe doesn't have support in Americas. Go figure...

[Dead1nside]

So the base models that are in that Excel sheet that's floating around on this section of the forum and the ones that places like BLT are selling all have international warranties?

[basketb]

go here and put in the first four digits (e.g., 6457, 6459) of the model number to find out where its warranty is valid: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... OOK-IWS#sw

[WojtekJ]

That's ot true. I bought a CTO T61p in the US. When I bought it, it was supposed to be a 8888-CTO, without IWS, but I received a 6457-CTO, which has IWS warranty... Don't know why.

Maybe because I chose 3 years warranty?

Well, this is really interesting information. Did you order online?
Can anyone confirm this?

I have 6459-CTO and the warranty works just in 13 coutries (and not in Europe).
You can check any model on this website : http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... WS.html#sw

[dr_st]

You can check any model on this website : http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... WS.html#sw

The site is mostly accurate, but not 100%. Usually in your favor.

The conclusion I reached is that any CTO model will either have no IWS at all, or very limited IWS (the 13-some countries, not in Europe).

Any model that is in the Tabook (which lists only preconfigured US models) will have international warranty that's valid pretty much everywhere, and sometimes it includes countries not listed on the IWS site.

Same is valid for "global" models (with the last character in the model number being G instead of U).

For instance, if you look up model 2007 (some kind of T60), you will see that Israel (where I live) is covered, because they sell some 2007 models here.

However, if you search for 2623 (another type of T60, that is not sold in Israel, but are sold as preconfigured models in the US), Israel does not appear on the IWS site, but I know for a fact that the service here accepts them.

I actually gave one of the service representatives a bunch of model numbers, and everything that came from the Tabook turned out with valid IWS, whereas everything that came from Lenovo's CTO site turned out without IWS (or with limited IWS, not covering Israel).

It should be the same for any Europe/Middle-East country.

[ALfromparis]

buying a Thinkpad from the states seems to be pretty difficult if you dont get one from ebay...

[Puppy]

Is there an official statement why Europe is not covered ? I smell an EU regulation or megataxes (EU has already introduced 14% tax for monitors with DVI inputs, for example).

[bill bolton]

The conclusion I reached is that any CTO model will either have no IWS at all, or very limited IWS (the 13-some countries, not in Europe).

Standard T400 configurations (that is not CTO) sold in Australia also do not appear to have any EU region IWS coverage, though they do have good IWS coverage otherwise, including North America.

Cheers,

Bill B.