T60 - 2.0 ghz is impossible/bad customer service

[mattbiernat]

okay so i called IBM. I had two questions:
1. i want to know how much student discount i can get
2. i want to know whether i can customize T60 to have 2.0 ghz speed instead of 1.83 or 2.16

the first rep i called:
pros- very nice, calm, not intimidating. he answered the first question by giving me a website and the second by telling me that yes you can customize it on that website. i was happy with the call.
cons- the website has expired
the second rep i called:
pros- i told him that i called previous rep and that he gave me that website and it says that "the page is not available." he said that this page probably does not exist. nice straigh forward answer.
cons- i asked him where i can find out any discounts for students? he said that you cannot. which is obviously a lie because i talked to my school and they can find out the student price for me.
i asked him whether i can customize T60 to have 2.0 ghz processor instead of 1.83 or 2.16. he said NO. and when i told him that i know somebody that customized their thinkpad over the phone he started asking me about how much money do i have. personally i don't tell no body how much money i have and i think that just being rude. he asked me to give him specs for what kind of machine i want. so i told him that i want T60 with 2.0 ghz speed, 512 ram, 40gb hd. he said that it is impossible to buy a thinkpad like that and that anything that comes close to it is a thinkpad for $2400. And he asked me again if i have money like that.
his tone of vioce was very rude and inpolite. im surprised that IBM support has sales reps like this. im sick and tired of lenovo, i've called them 3 times already and i still can't find out what kind of student discount i have. my school is equally bad about their customer service.

moderator: im unsure if this belongs to "T60" (because its about specific t60 model that i want), "Off topic" or "General Thinkpad" secions.

[DIGITALgimpus]

A few years ago when I entered college, I did get a discount over the phone. From what I've heard they have about $200 to play (if they think it will get the sale). My discount IIRC was about $200 (this was 4 years ago). Not sure if they do it for all price ranges, or just > x dollars. Not sure if they still do it.

In general, anyone but Apple you can get a discount on ANY computer they sell (Apple is what the website offers, and that's it in regards to student or any discount). Just about any PC manufacturer will discount a little, or throw something extra in, to get the sale. If your clever and willing to go through it, you can get a little off.

It's a gray area.

[mattbiernat]

thanks for the info about student discout but im mostly wondering if the t60 is offered with 2.0 ghz option or do i have to buy t60p. im a perfectionst about small things and i just like to have a nice round number.

[archer6]

okay so i called IBM. I had two questions:
1. i want to know how much student discount i can get
2. i want to know whether i can customize T60 to have 2.0 ghz speed instead of 1.83 or 2.16

I understand your frustration completely. Unfortunately since the migration from IBM to Lenovo the level of service and courtesy on the phone has degraded dramatically. Some telephone sales reps are skilled and knowledable and others seem to care less. The web site leaves a lot to be desired as well. I just does not have to be this difficult or confusing.

There is a publication called the tabook, which lists all preconfigured ThinkPads currently available. Prices are not listed. Then there is the web site where they begin with a particular configuration and allow some customization from there. Noticed I said "some" as it's far from giving one complete freedom to choose from all available components.

So that said, I'm providing a link below to the tabook which will make it easy for you to see all models. As far as pricing goes, it would be best to get your pricing from the school once you have a model in mind. Then also be prepared that your school may only have discount pricing on certain select models.

tabook Aug 2006 Once you click on this, be patient as it takes time to load.

Hope this helps....Cheers...

[mattbiernat]

thank you archer. now i know exactly what i can get from lenovo.