DealDigs Official Blog

Updated on 6/10/2009: Some of the information below was out of date. Please visit this article for the latest SPP and CPP code.

While my ThinkPad T60 was lost on my last trip, I have been looking for a deal for another ThinkPad. As a team member of DealDigs, of course, I always try to dig the best deal out before I can buy anything. After doing some research, below are the six ways you can buy a Lenovo Notebook:

1. Through Lenovo (IBM) Employee Purchase Program (EPP) program

Direct link: http://www.lenovo.com/epp/

Usually, you can get the best price through this program. However, you must know some IBM employees and get their employee serial number and last name to take this offer.

2. Through Lenovo Contractor Purchase Program (CPP) program with some coupons.

Direct link: 　http://www.lenovo.com/cpp

Ａ passcode is needed in order to use this program and it is changed from time to time. Currently, you can use code 704919 familyandfriends. You can also use some coupon codes to stack with this program.

New coupons for CPP program (updated on 9/16/2008):

USEXSERIES for another 5% on X Series ThinkPads…inlcuding the X200 and X300!

USETABLETSAVINGS for another 5% off Tablets

USEIDEASAVINGS for another 7% off U and another 5% off Y series.

3. Through Lenovo (IBM) Shareholder Purchase Program (SPP) program without coupons

Direct link: http://www.Lenovo.com/ibmspp

As CPP program does, a passcode is needed for this program and it is changed from time to time. Currently, you can use code 536686.

Update on 5/31/2009: This code does not work any more. Lenovo now requires Login Name and Password. You’ll need to click “Create Account”, and provide your name and email to get a password to enter the site. The password is mailed quickly after submitting your account.

4. Through PayPal promotion (This promotion has been ended as of 8/28/2008)

Direct link: https://www.paypal-promo.com/dadandgrad/index.html

From time to time, Lenovo might partner with Paypal to provide some additional discount when you check out using PayPal. Currently, Lenovo is offing 15% additional discount on R series and 10% on T series when you apply discount code USP3PAYPAL at check out.

5. Through Visa card promotion

Direct link: http://usa.visa.com/personal/discounts/index.jsp

Visa card holders can get additional discount (up to 35%) by using some coupon code. Currently, you can use coupon code USXDADSGRADS to get additional 15% off. This offer is valid from 05/14/2008 to 06/30/2008, but you can always check the above link to get the latest one. Of course, you need to pay by your Visa card in order to get this offer.

6. Through cash back websites and Lenovo website with some coupons

Just as Dell does, Lenovo also provides some special discount codes to public all the time. Currently, Lenovo is running a Father’s Day Saving special: 25% off select ThinkPad Laptops + extra 15% off when using coupon code USPGREATSAVINGS at check out.

When you take this offer, don’t forget that you can also get 4% DealDigs cash back when you go to Lenovo through DealDigs.com.

While there are so many ways to buy a Lenovo notebook, let’s see which one is the cheapest way. Below is the configuration of the ThinkPad T61 I would like to buy:

ThinkPad T61 15.4″ widescreen with integrated graphics and Linux

• Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T8100 (2.1GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
• Operating System: SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop version 10
• Display Panel: 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
• System graphics: Intel GMA X3100 GM965
• Total memory: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
• Hard Drive: 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
• Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
• System expansion slots: PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
• Card Reader: 4 in 1 Media Card Reader
• Wireless cards: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
• Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery

I use the the above configuration to check price from each of the 6 ways mentioned above and get the price below as of June 14, 2008:

Conclusion:

While the price from EPP program is unknown, obviously, the best deal is from CPP and SPP program. However, the CPP and SPP program are supposedly not available to public although you can always try to find the login passcodes at Google. When you cannot find such passcodes, you can take the Visa promotion offer which just costs few bucks more and is available to Visa card holders.

Some additional thoughts:

1. You can use credit card that has cash back feature to save more such as Blue Cash from American Express (up to 5% cash back) or Discover More Card (up to 5% cash back).
2. If your configuration is more than $1000, you might consider to purchase Lenovo 3 year depot 9×5 Next Business Day warranty upgrade which just cost $95.

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, ThinkPad, T61, DealDigs, Cash Back, PayPal, Visa