Anyone have LCD replaced by warranty or Thinkpad Protection?

[fefland]

I was wondering how hard it was to get them to replace screen. And if they did were there bad pixels. If my laptop were to accidentally have the screen damaged, will they give me a hard time about it?

[DIGITALgimpus]

I just had A31 serviced (including a LCD repair for a grey area in the corner), and they gave me a display that was even worse... sent it back, now no working LCD at all:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=14918

I'm really disappointed... and *really* upset... they said they will take it again (3rd time) and said it *will* be repaired.

I can't say if this is normal or not... but I'm royally disqusted with IBM's service. It's not what it was even back in 2002 when I bought my thinkpad.

[keku]

if it was "accidentally" and your laptop has signs of accident and you don't have thinkpad protection, yes you are in trouble. BUT if it was just accident and no sign of it, your warrenty MIGHT cover it. OR if it was not accident then you are covered under warrenty they will change it if it meets their minimum dead pixel requirement.

[ruthlessbrad]

I got a brand new T43. After a couple weeks the screen had 3 vertical lines 1 pixel wide that were dead. The lines went all the way from bottom to top. IBM support didn't even ask me to do any troubleshooting, they just arranged for me to ship it to them for service. Had it back in less than a week with a brand new screen, replaced under warranty.

[Roy_W]

I sent my T41p back twice due to either dead pixels or grey spots. It came back both times with a shiny new screen. You must meet the dead/stuck pixel quota though

[fefland]

thanks for the feedback. I have thinkpad protection and would not mind if the screen got damages since I have a couple bad pixels.

[keku]

then why wait call 1 800 IBM Serv

[j-g]

I assume that there exists a minimum dead pixel count for getting warranty work done. Does it vary by model? product? A- vs T vs ? T30 vs T40 vs T43?
Just curious. I have a dead-pixel issue with a T30 still under warranty...what am I in for?
I probably have to buy a good magnifying glass, regardless....

T30 owner in the rust belt

[pphilipko]

I assume that there exists a minimum dead pixel count for getting warranty work done. Does it vary by model? product? A- vs T vs ? T30 vs T40 vs T43?
Just curious. I have a dead-pixel issue with a T30 still under warranty...what am I in for?
I probably have to buy a good magnifying glass, regardless....

T30 owner in the rust belt

The minimum dead pixel count is the uniform for all the models. I believe you have to have at least 7 dead pixels on the outer edge of the screen and/or 3 dead pixels in the center...

[aamsel]

It doesn't have to be a dead pixel issue to warrant a screen replacement under Thinkpad Protection.

All it has to be is accidental damage to be covered.

That could be ANYTHING that happens to a screen due to accident.

Again, dead pixels do not have to be involved.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[jasondavis]

So, theoretically, if someone had a dead pixel that was not covered by warranty, and then broke their own screen, they would get a replacement? Doesn't that increase the chances of 'accidental' breakages?

[c333]

Theoretically, yes. But I would guess many customers do not even know about or look for dead pixels. Either they don't know about them, don't care, or don't know there is a policy for replacement. Especially when thinkpads are provided through a corporation, I doubt they would want a replacement. Only a small segment demands perfect screens and would break their own screen just to get one.

[aamsel]

Well, your "accidental" breakage you are describing sounds intentional.
It comes down to honesty in that case.

Andrew
Austin, TX

So, theoretically, if someone had a dead pixel that was not covered by warranty, and then broke their own screen, they would get a replacement? Doesn't that increase the chances of 'accidental' breakages?

[fefland]

I would disagree that the segment of people who want a perfect screen is small. Most people get a perfect screen would be my guess. The ones who don't, would prefer a perfect screen. If provided by corporation, then it is easier to live with. For those who buy their own, I would suspect most want a perfect screen. Why would anyone not want a perfect screen? Once everyone agrees that bad pixels are acceptable than why would manufacturers strive to keep quality up? Also, those who say that people are being picky because bad pixels bother them probably don't have bad pixels themselves. And it they do, they are probably not in the center stuck on a bright color which always stands out. And for the breaking of the screen, if Lenovo chooses to hold to a stingy pixel policy and cranks out laptops with bad pixels, then what should the customer do, go buy somehwere else? Break their screen? In either case Lenovo loses. Having a bad screen slip through the cracks or having one in which pixel dies after delivery is one thing, but to keep sending out laptops with bad pixels from the get go, that's just bad QC and bad business.

[aamsel]

That's why you have 30 days from date of invoice to send it back if they bother you.
Got bad pixels "from the get go"....send it back.

Do I, however think that it is legitimate to "accidentally damage" your screen down the road because the number of dead pixels don't meet the replacement standard???

NO I DON'T!!

After 30 days, you know what the number of dead pixels required for screen replacement is. If you don't like that policy, then you need to find a notebook manufacturer (if there is one) with a better policy for the life of the warranty. Lenovo has the same policy that IBM did.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...Having a bad screen slip through the cracks or having one in which pixel dies after delivery is one thing, but to keep sending out laptops with bad pixels from the get go, that's just bad QC and bad business.

[pphilipko]

That's why you have 30 days from date of invoice to send it back if they bother you.
Got bad pixels "from the get go"....send it back.

Do I, however think that it is legitimate to "accidentally damage" your screen down the road because the number of dead pixels don't meet the replacement standard???

NO I DON'T!!

After 30 days, you know what the number of dead pixels required for screen replacement is. If you don't like that policy, then you need to find a notebook manufacturer (if there is one) with a better policy for the life of the warranty. Lenovo has the same policy that IBM did.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...Having a bad screen slip through the cracks or having one in which pixel dies after delivery is one thing, but to keep sending out laptops with bad pixels from the get go, that's just bad QC and bad business.

Asus has a wonderful Zero Dead Pixel Policy...

I especially like the W3V and V6V models..

[fefland]

aamsel,

You make it sound so easy. Just pack it up and send it back. If I do that, I pay shipping for return. Then I order again, get bad pixels, and return. Where does it stop? I would not agree that customers should intentionally break their screens, I just think that it is surprising to me that the sales rep would tell me that a machine running hot, poor keyboard, stiff trackpoint, bad pixels (especially if it is over 7 or so for SXGA+ replacement) is normal. I have colleagues at work that were turned off by the poor quality of the Thinkpads I have recieved. One was going to buy IBM and decided against it because of the issues mine has had. Sure you have 30 days, but why even buy it in the first plase if odds are you will be sending it back? I really like thinkpads, had one previously, and don't want to get another brand.

[aamsel]

I say return it, assuming that getting one that it would be rare to get one that is unacceptable to you. In that case, returning it and getting another would take care of the issue.
I don't say that assuming that you would get another unacceptable one.

Andrew
Austin, TX

aamsel,

You make it sound so easy. Just pack it up and send it back. If I do that, I pay shipping for return. Then I order again, get bad pixels, and return. Where does it stop? I would not agree that customers should intentionally break their screens, I just think that it is surprising to me that the sales rep would tell me that a machine running hot, poor keyboard, stiff trackpoint, bad pixels (especially if it is over 7 or so for SXGA+ replacement) is normal. I have colleagues at work that were turned off by the poor quality of the Thinkpads I have recieved. One was going to buy IBM and decided against it because of the issues mine has had. Sure you have 30 days, but why even buy it in the first plase if odds are you will be sending it back? I really like thinkpads, had one previously, and don't want to get another brand.

[fefland]

I thought that too, although the second was more unacceptable than the first. Actually build of second looked haphazard. The first one was better. I am not a perfectionist but expect a laptop that looks well built and has a good screen and keyboard. For that matter, just a good screen. I have to develop User Interfaces on occasion in my line of work so a good screen is important. Then again performance is important as well since my main job is writing software. My old Thinkpad was solid which is why I chose Thinkpad again.

[wantathinkpad]

If you respect the thinkpad how could you ever intentionally damage the screen. What a direct hit with a hammer or your foot? Chances are you will also break something else. You get it fixed but everything is rattled up.

[fefland]

I have to much integrity to intentionally damage the Thinkpad. If I want a screen with every pixel working (perfect would by HYDIS) I could just keep returning them. At some point, that hurts both IBM and me. Me because I have return costs, and IBM because they have shipping costs and are left with used laptops. I have a call into customer satisfaction to see if they can help. When doing web development and dealing with design down to the pixel, bad pixels do become an issue. If it was along the edge, no problem. The reason I want to make it work with a Thinkpad is because the ThinkVantage technologies are easy to use and solid. Not to mentio the incredible tech support and service.