Tie the Knot with Fujitsu's Laptop'4'Life Program, Get a New Laptop Every 3 Years Till Death Do You Part
Tie the Knot with Fujitsu's Laptop'4'Life Program, Get a New Laptop Every 3 Years Till Death Do You Part
Posted 12/02/2008 at 6:55am
| by Paul Lilly
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Call it fear of commitment or old fashioned skepticism, but we have no idea how Fujitsu plans to pull off its latest marketing promotion. In what the company is rightfully calling a "unique proposition," Fujitsu's looking to create a life-long partnership with new Lifebook owners as part of its new Lifebook'4'Life replacement program.
The way it works is you purchase a new qualifying Lifebook and opt for the extended 3-year warranty, and Fujitsu will then replace your notebook with a brand new one every three years for the rest of your life. Not only that, but Fujitsu will kick in an extra 10 percent of the original purchase price to offset inflation. So what's the catch?
None that we can find, though there are a few niggling caveats. First, the offer is only valid to UK residents (bummer!). Second, while you can choose to keep your laptop after 3 years, doing so boots you off of the program. You also must hold onto your original purchase invoice so you can send in a copy every 3 years. And finally, your laptop has to be "in good working original order." Other terms and conditions apply, but nothing that strikes us as obvious deal killers, which then raises the question, how can Fujitsu afford to do this? For that, we don't have an answer.
Would you pounce on this if it were offered in the U.S.? Hit the jump and tell us what you think of Fujitsu's new promotion.
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rayatwork05
December 03, 2008 at 4:24am
theres obviously a big enough profit margin to do so....seeing as how LIFEBOOk's are probably lower end cheap computers....say cost fujitsu $50, they sell for $500-700. in 3 years, the same value (better pc parts, but still low end for the time) still only costing them $50.
if you can hold onto an original invoice as long as you can mortgage paperwork/title then its a good deal. there eating cost, but not much, and theres very very few people who will actually be able to sustain adhering to the conditions for 3,6,or even 9+ years.
ps: chances are theres a "terms may change at any time clause" which they will take advantage of when the time comes.
bloodgain
December 04, 2008 at 12:46pm
Margins on computers are much lower than that. It's the newest, most expensive stuff that the OEMs make big profits on. I sold computers for Dell, and we were shown in our configuration software what the margins were (because commision is paid on margin, not sale price). You'd be surprised how low some of those margins are -- Dell is selling some of those parts for retail or below off a 10-25% bulk/OEM box discount. There are exceptions (e.g. RAM), but OEMs make most of their money by selling service and accessories, which is what Fujitsu is banking on with this deal.
I'm betting you have to renew your service agreement at full price. Offering to extend it for another 3 years within that price couldn't be profitable.
nekollx
December 04, 2008 at 12:51pm
even so how much is a service contract? my dell is 350 for 3 years.
Thats a lot less then a new laptop.
benvoliothefirst
December 02, 2008 at 4:45pm
Sounds too good to be true to me. However if the company really honors the intent of this deal, then I would LOVE to participate, even if there's a significant premium on the original purchase. Bring the deal stateside, please!
statewd
December 02, 2008 at 1:05pm
I'm not sure I understand the concept. So Fujitsu is offering to GIVE ME a FREE new replacement laptop every 3 years and I don't give them anymore money? Would I have to renew the 3-year warranty each time there was a new laptop shipped to me?
"Under this programme, should you purchase any notebook from our
LIFEBOOK range you will be eligible to receive a brand new LIFEBOOK of
like for like specifications every 3 years for the rest of your LIFE!"Does this mean that I buy a laptop today with Core 2 Duo processor and 1GB RAM .... after 3 years I would then receive a new laptop with the same Core 2 Duo processor and 1GB RAM? Uh, in 3 years I would want a faster processor and more RAM wouldn't I?
chronium
December 02, 2008 at 8:24pm
From my understanding you will pay the difference between your old laptop with a new more powerful one, but im not sure exactly what price the old laptop they use, I believe they'll go by what the old laptop is worth in 3 years.
Thinking about it more I wish they would apply this plan to desktops as well.
Paul_Lilly
December 02, 2008 at 10:03pm
The terms and conditions are surprisingly clear on what Fujitsu is doing. Namely:
2) Fujitsu Siemens Computer customers are entitled to a replacement Lifebook every 3 years for the purchaser’s lifetime, at no cost, as long as they adhere to the terms and conditions of this offer.
5) The replacement Lifebook value will be determined by the original purchase price shown on the invoice, increased by 10% every 3 years. For example; a Lifebook purchased for £1000 today would be exchanged for a model with a recommended retail price not exceeding £1100 in 3 years time.
In short, you never pay Fujitsu another cent and the replacement model every three years will be worth the same amount as original purchase price of the one being traded in, plus 10 percent to account for inflation.
Shalbatana
December 04, 2008 at 10:06am
You must wear aT-shirt wearing the Fujitsu logo every day of your life while enrolled in the contract. You must also show up at fujitsu headquarters to make your replacement claim in person. That's the worldwide HQ in Japan, not your local HQ.
Nothing's free.
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
FusilliJerry82
December 02, 2008 at 9:18am
With how volitile the tech market is, why would you subscribe to any lifetime deal when for all you know Fujitsu could stop making laptops in 5 years or 5 months?
chronium
December 02, 2008 at 9:34am
its not like you're going to lose anything if they do, it just means you have to pay full price for a new laptop instead of the difference
chronium
December 02, 2008 at 8:55am
Considering how more competitive the laptop market is getting every year I do not see how they could not afford to do this.
bloodgain
December 02, 2008 at 8:45am
I'd have to learn more, but... intriguing.
Even if you only got 1 replacement and then decided you hate Fujitsu, it'd be worth it. If you can throw more money at it every 3 years, it sounds like a good way to work your way up as you get closer to being a powerful businessman!
big_montana
December 02, 2008 at 10:23am
I myself do not see how they can afford to do this. Laptop prices drop every year and the technology gets better. My current laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad X60s which I paid $2600 for two years ago, it's replacement, the X61s spec'd out the same would only cost me $1600 today. Again, I do not see how Fujistu could afford this program.
Shalbatana
December 02, 2008 at 8:16am
At the moment I have the same feeling about this as Kirk did about the Klingons in ST 6.
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