Z-series shipping delays

[Zak]

In reply to my question about potential problems with the Z61p, hoopics reports that it he's been waiting for his for over a month. I'm planning to order a new computer on Monday and I need it within a couple weeks. Has anyone else had significant delays when ordering a Z-series? Is this problem specific to the Z61p?

I'd be willing to downgrade to a Z61m Advanced if that would increase the chances of it arriving on time. Has anybody had any trouble getting one of those on time?

[pianowizard]

Order from www.costcentral.com or www.euclidcomputers.com instead. They ship immediately, I believe.

[GomJabbar]

Good advice. I bought my ThinkPad from CostCentral a couple of years ago.

[hoopics]

Zak,

From talking to my customer support contact, it sounds like all Z61's ordered direct from Lenovo may be delayed at the moment, but that some models are more delayed than others. My rep was saying that she's at a point where getting out 1 to 3 units a day to people on her list (mainly from cancelled orders further up in the queue or from unopened returns) has been the norm lately. Not sure what the story is right now on T60 widescreens, but as of a week or two ago they weren't looking at any builds of those until next week either.

If you are going to order from Lenovo, I'd try to find out when machines of your configuration that are currently being shipped were ordered (i.e., are they filling October, November, or December orders). I'd also call back more than once to speak to more than one person, to see if you get the same answer, as their stories seem to change from person to person.

I'd agree that finding a retailer who has a configuration you can live with IN STOCK is the way to go, if you can find the configuration you want. I couldn't (at least not within $1000 of the price I'm getting from Lenovo directly). If they aren't in stock, they may be getting delivery quicker than you would (if they have an order already in), but they might also be jumping into the same backlog, which will delay you further.

Good luck to you. I'll be sure and post when my unit actually ships (they swear it could be as soon as Tuesday), to let you know that the supply chain on z61p's is at least flowing again.

[GomJabbar]

CostCentral is showing a couple of Z61p model's in stock. Scroll part-way down the page.

ThinkPad Z61p

[pianowizard]

And Euclidcomputers has four Z61p's.

[hoopics]

It's unclear if Euclid actually has any - they show as "usually ships in 7 to 10 days," not in stock.

[hodad]

I ordered a preconfigured Z61t a couple weeks ago and it got here in 3 days from China. Zippity-do-dah.

[Zak]

Thanks for the alternate sources. I looked around, but it seems that they all have expensive options I don't want (XP Pro and extended warranty, mostly). I might be willing to spend the extra $200 or so, but I want to talk to someone at Lenovo first. Unfortunately, they aren't going to answer their phones until Tuesday.

[GomJabbar]

Just so you know what you get with XP Home vs XP PRO.

Why You Should Choose Windows XP Pro and Not Windows XP Home

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition: What's the difference?

Windows XP Comparison Guide

[Zak]

I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons to choose XP Pro over Home, but the first thing I'm going to do is wipe the hard drive and install Debian. If I have to pay for an OS I'm not going to use, I want to pay the smallest amount possible.

[jkozlow3]

Zak, I've been waiting on my Z61m advanced for a month, so stepping down to a Z61m won't improve things for you. There is a long thread about shipping delays in the Lenovo subforum over at notebookreview.com, and it sounds like ALL the z-series shells have had supply issues.

[pianowizard]

So, it looks like there aren't any Z61p's that can meet the OP's deadline or budget. Perhaps the only choise would be to get an HP or a Dell!

[Zak]

I've taken apart enough HPs and Dells to be absolutely certain that I don't want one. The estimated ship date for a Z61p or Z61m is January 10. I'm considering a non-widescreen T60, but I'm not especially happy about that option.

[hoopics]

I give up. My customer service rep called me this morning, to say all Z61 builds are delayed again, with no builds of any significant quantities to happen before January 11. They aren't building any z61p's until that date at the earliest, which is what I've been waiting for.

Having waited (somewhat) patiently since November 7, I am now ready to throw in the towel. It looks like the Dell Latitude D820 is comparable to a z61p in most specs, and may actually be ahead in some respects. The downside is, it's a Dell. After my last experience, I hate Dell.

Two questions for all of you:

1) Should I keep waiting for my z61p?

2) If not, do I go with the D820, or is there some other option out there? I'm looking for a high resolution screen (UXGA) for photographic work.

[pianowizard]

2) If not, do I go with the D820, or is there some other option out there? I'm looking for a high resolution screen (UXGA) for photographic work.

Forum member PRGeno recently wrote a very positive review of the HP nw9440 in this thread.

[hoopics]

thanks for the link to the review. It does look like a great machine. Thing is, I'm trying to stay away from a 17 inch screen -- I may need to fly with this computer a few times a year, and I think 17 inches takes you outside the bounds of reasonable portability. Also, the HP as configured comparably to a z61p or the D820 seems to be more than $1000 more.

[pianowizard]

thanks for the link to the review. It does look like a great machine. Thing is, I'm trying to stay away from a 17 inch screen

HP also has the 15.4" nw8440 which has a WUXGA option and is only 5.9 lbs.

[ghosh9691]

Just like most of the folks in this forum, I too had a long wait for my Z61m. I had ordered the laptop on 11/17, and the Lenovo website indicated a tentative ship date of 12/20.

On 12/18, I put in a call to Lenovo sales support to find out if there was any chance of actually getting the laptop prior to Christmas. I was told that Lenovo was having trouble with the 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+ LCD screens and that a lot of them had been recalled/replaced. Therefore, my laptop would not ship before 1/16!

And then, lo and behold, on 12/19, the Lenovo website said that my laptop had been shipped and I would get the tracking number next day! To cut a long story short, UPS finally delivered the laptop on 12/26 (after having been stuck in Louisville, KY for 3 days).

So that begs the question: What's wrong with Lenovo support? It appears that they are completely out of sync with reality!

======================
ThinkPad Z61m
Core 2 Duo @ 2 GHz
100 GB HDD
WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050)
ATI Radeon X1400

[pianowizard]

So that begs the question: What's wrong with Lenovo support? It appears that they are completely out of sync with reality!

And what I don't understand is, despite such obviously lousy support from Lenovo, people still swear by it.

[hoopics]

Based on my limited experience, there are at least four groups within Lenovo located in at least three different countries who all have the ability to mess up a U.S. consumer's experience in acquiring a new machine.

"Sales" is run out of Canada. Their information is the most out of date, and they have the least of it. They seem to be unable to communicate with the "warehouse" about component status. They are poorly trained, and the answer to a question will seem to vary based on what a particular rep had for breakfast. They have a vested (commission) interest in making you feel like problems are minimal, so you'll place an order.

The "warehouse," presumably in Shanghai, is where completed systems are held, and assembly seems to take place. If they are short on even one part for your system, it doesn't get built. They don't care, though, as they're running at 110% capacity as "sales" sells more units than they can build. So long as they send assembled parts out the door at the same rate they get components in, they have zero interest in making sure the oldest orders get filled first or that "sales" gets reliable information about future build status.

"Customer Service" is run out of the U.S. They take complaints from people who are sick of dealing with "sales." They have a direct communications link (seems like an IM type system) with the "warehouse," but are unable to process or change orders - only kick the warehouse in the backside and figure out where a delay is and (maybe) why. They can offer you a 10% discount on your total order if you complain, but can't match prices for new offers or offer discounts on components of systems - you need to go back to "sales" for that. Their motivation is to keep you from cancelling your order, and to keep Lenovo from getting whacked with a consumer protection-based class action law suit for false advertising.

The "website" doesn't seem to be run by, or answer to "sales," "customer service," or any other entity that is of this earth. Despite "customer service" having full information that builds are on hold for a month, the website continues to show 1 to 2 week availability. "Customer service" apparently warns the "website" about the dangers of false advertising and law suits from time to time, but the "website" doesn't seem to stop handing out misinformation and accepting orders.

At every step of the process, people seem to be looking into different data systems for information, and seem to be motivated by an "I do X, person Y does the other thing" mentality. They also seem pathalogically required to give people "good" or "happy" information, even when false, not realising that shifting targets and crushed expectations are more damaging than simply having told people at the outset they'd need to wait six or eight weeks for a machine. I have no doubt they want to keep their supply chain stocked at 110% capacity, and that an x% order cancellation due to delay rate is part of their business model. If their supply chain gets to flush, and they're actually building and shipping units with a day or two, they hold a sale to block up the chain again, and get every portion back to over capacity.

It's not how I'd run a railroad, but it seems to work for them. The only thing holding them up are notions of build quality and feature sets geared to higher end / business users. I suspect those people are going to be least willing to deal with delays and mis-information over the long term. If they keep it up, people will turn on them.

[waraich]

I waited for over a month to get my z61p. Finally it got shipped after i talked to the line supervisor that i will consult with my lawyer about the misleading info on the website.

But when it came with a dead pixel and predominantly light leakeage form the bottom of the screen and COA lable torn off. Its not worth waiting for a long period and for the price i paid for the system.
tech support is lousy. this model is not mentioned in their dead pixel policy so i'm planning to file complaint about this in consumer protection services as they failed to provide me the policy.

booting is slow. machine is heavy.
i won't recommend anyone

[pianowizard]

machine is heavy. i won't recommend anyone

I am sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience, but did you look up the weight of the Z61p before purchasing?

[andreasimone]

I ordered a Z61t on December 5th, and am still waiting. Every two weeks there is another delay. At first I was moved onto the so-called priority list, where I now sit, and have already got the 10% discount for waiting for so long. It was supposed to be delivered today, and I found out it is delayed again until February 12th! What can I do? Are they just lying to me? I find it hard to believe that every single order is backed up by 2.5 months. Should I cancel the order and go with another computer (I really need one!) and is there some action I can take against Lenovo for continually lying to me?

[dsalyers]

I ordered a Z61t on December 5th, and am still waiting. Every two weeks there is another delay. At first I was moved onto the so-called priority list, where I now sit, and have already got the 10% discount for waiting for so long. It was supposed to be delivered today, and I found out it is delayed again until February 12th! What can I do? Are they just lying to me? I find it hard to believe that every single order is backed up by 2.5 months. Should I cancel the order and go with another computer (I really need one!) and is there some action I can take against Lenovo for continually lying to me?

Unfortunately, from what I have seen they are still way behind on the orders. I waited for a little over two months to get mine. I know how you feel. They really need to do something about this. I am currently waiting for a second z61p. Although, from what my rep has said to me is that there is no shortages right now, they are just full filling their back orders. Also, I really wonder how much the priority list helps because I image everyone is on the priority list .

I was willing to wait so long because the z61p was on sale when I bought it and with the discount it was much cheaper then anything comparable I could get anywhere else.

If you need a computer now, I really don't know what else you can do, other then go with another vendor. Although if you like one of the T series (which are not supposed to be under the same delay) you might want to order one of those and keep the one that comes first.

[Ken Fox]

I ordered a Z61t on December 5th,

I can't tell from your post if you have talked to someone, a human, at Lenovo as opposed to dealing strictly through the net. I've had variable experiences with Lenovo sales staff, but the last three calls have been very positive. On one, I had a closeout T43 order that was also in limbo; every few days they would change the ship date until they finally made the ship date the same as the order date, which was 2 or 3 weeks in the past, but it had not shipped! So I called and the guy I spoke with said that somehow the order had not been sent to the warehouse. He said they'd get it out in a week since he resent it. In fact, it shipped that very same day and I had the machine in my hand as quickly as UPS could get it to me.

So, I'd encourage you to call them and hopefully you'll get a rep who will go to bat for you.

As to the Z61T, I like the machine a whole lot more than I expected to. It is every bit a Thinkpad. I think you will like it, but I do suggest you call and try (nicely) to get someone to help you out.

[pianowizard]

So I called and the guy I spoke with said that somehow the order had not been sent to the warehouse. He said they'd get it out in a week since he resent it. In fact, it shipped that very same day and I had the machine in my hand as quickly as UPS could get it to me.

I don't like Lenovo's "We'll serve you better if you call us" approach.

[Ken Fox]

So I called and the guy I spoke with said that somehow the order had not been sent to the warehouse. He said they'd get it out in a week since he resent it. In fact, it shipped that very same day and I had the machine in my hand as quickly as UPS could get it to me.

I don't like Lenovo's "We'll serve you better if you call us" approach.

I could make a list of all the things I don't like about dealing with companies whose products I like. Or, I could figure out how to get what I want out of their systems and do that.

Which approach is more likely to produce satisfactory results?

[pianowizard]

I could make a list of all the things I don't like about dealing with companies whose products I like. Or, I could figure out how to get what I want out of their systems and do that.

You forgot a third approach: Getting the products from sources other than the companies themselves. In this case, I avoid buying Thinkpads from Lenovo or IBM Certified Used Equipment. None of the >20 Thinkpads I've owned were purchased from IBM/Lenovo.

[gotconsultants]

I had 30 seperate orders backlogged... Nothing but BS from Lenovo management and PR about it...