urgent question...! new A31P

[enquirer]

After an obsessive month lond search, I have stumbled upon a gold mine: a small UK computer shop full of, whats probably the last stock of new Thinkpad A31p's in the free world...! (I didn't look in China and North Korea's Nuclear plants, they didn't let me in. Even though I was shouting that I'm not from the IAEA, i'm just looking for A31P's...)

(well, about 4 of them...) and they don't realise what they have. for some reason they want to get rid of them quickly. Suits me. Anyway, just being cautious, I ran a check on some of the serial numbers on the boxes,
which SEEMED sealed. The warranties of those A31P's are expiring on
2006-07-17 or thereabouts. What does this mean? I get only 2 years of warranty when I should get 3 years? or is this merely because the machine was manufactured over a year ago, and IBM would extend the warranty to 3 years from the date of purchase?


please advise...
thanks in advance!

[enquirer]

and not new? (I noticed the sticky tape wrapping on one box...
could be applied afterwards I didn't have time to inspect it in the crime department...)

thanks!

[JHEM]

The clock starts running on the warranty on the date the unit is manufactured. The only way to get the clock to "reset" to the date of purchase is if you buy the unit from an IBM licensed reseller, e.g. Bill or similar.

How much are they selling for???

Regards,

James

[enquirer]

about US$1700, that is model 2653-RQG (2.0GHZ/512MB/UXGA flexview/40GB/no wireless/no bluetooth). that does not include 17%
UK VAT, which as a tourist I shall get back at the airport (you need to fill a form at the store at time of purchase).

I haven't inspected one closely (i.e. turned it on) but over the counter inside their nylon wrapping they look new. I emailed IBM U.K with the serials, they say the warranty date will be initialized to 3 years from date of purchase.

Phone Deepak Kumar, +44 020 7255 3340 ONLY IF SERIOUSLY OBSESSED for A31p... ( the guy's busy!) tell him Oded gave you the tip.
I am not sure you can claim the VAT back if you buy it and have it delivered out of the UK other than physically going out of the country from the airport.

I make no warranties myself for the fitness of the machines or the specs.
Haven't bought one yet. principally because, to my great misfortune,
I have already ordered one from an internet store in holland,
where they had 7 left in stock, but much more expensive.
$2300... (it is a slightly better model though, 60gb and wifi/bluetooth)
they will only refund it for 20% restocking fee, how nice of them, why not 70%.
At least I have the satisfaction of beating NASA in the race to space.
(they have an ad practically begging anyone to find new A31p's for their
astronauts.. im not joking...!)
http://www.cbd-net.com/index.php/search/show/561466

[enquirer]

900 British pounds, thats roughly $1700.
I am still hedging about whether to buy another A31p from this London store for my father....
perhaps being overcautious but... how is it best to tell whether it is really new or not? (the store looks respectable... its in 246 Tottenham court road London.)

Oded

[enquirer]

I think if you dial outside the UK its +44 20272553340 (without the first zero).

[enquirer]

these machines have UK keyboard. (slightly different than US, £ key etc).
can be change upon request for additional cost.

by the way I have no association with this store.

Oded

[enquirer]

this store is known as "elegant electronics"
there's some not so complementing comments about them on the web.
so maybe I'll keep my dutch order instead.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... 26rnum%3D1

its from www.bluelink.nl by the way. the website is not in english but
if you search for "a31P" in their search engine, you'll find it.

Oded