Fujitsu's 'Laptop4Life' program gives you a new laptop every 3 years
December 1st, 2008 by Lisa Zyga
As part of Fujitsu´s Laptop4Life scheme, customers will receive a new laptop every three years until they die. Image credit: Fujitsu.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Buy any LifeBook laptop from Fujitsu Siemens, and the company will provide you with a new laptop every three years until you die. The only requirements are that you need to buy a three-year extended warranty, you can only upgrade using Fujitsu parts, and you must turn in your laptop in good condition with the original receipt after three years.
As part of the scheme, Fujitsu will give LifeBook customers a new laptop of the same value as the one they originally bought, plus 10% to cover inflation. Most importantly, the new laptop will be equipped with updated hardware and software.
To participate, customers must register their new laptop within 21 days of purchase. Then, customers are part of the program for life, but they cannot pass on the deal in a will. Fujitsu is also limiting purchases to 10 laptops per person or business.
Although it seems like the company is giving away laptops, Fujitsu says that it will make money by selling other goods, services, and accessories to its lifetime customers. For instance, customers may want to invest in a Fujitsu insurance pack to protect their laptop against theft and accidental damage.
Fujitsu says that the Laptop4Life program underscores its high level of confidence in its technology.
More information: Fujitsu Siemens
Jun 24, 2009 |
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another scam the 3 years insurance, and other things they will push pays for donw low 100 dollar laptop u gonna get after 3 years
Yeah right.... You send it in - Oops we didn't get it(bold face lie). Send it in again with the original receipt... uh huh... you don't have it cause you sent it to us? Too bad so sad....
OR...
Aw... you got a teeny weeny little scratch on the outside. That's not good *enough* condition! Sorry, deals off! You blew it!
It doesn't take a genius to see that they will use every excuse they can come up with or lie about to say you don't qualify....
"you will be eligible to receive a brand new LIFEBOOK of like for like specifications every 3 years"
>> for like specifications.
Which means you won't be able to buy laptops with new technologies under this plan.
Or am I getting it wrong?
..updated hardware.
Where do i sign up?
Or the company dies.
But this is a good idea though as always everything will depend on execution.
The next laptop is not free of course its covered in part in the guarantee fee and the rest is in the customer loyalty which they plan to turn into additional income.
The whole scheme is more like a leasing.
But still this is a nice idea and there are many who could potentially benefit from such a plan. Again all depends on execution.
you only have 21 days to register for the program after you purchase the laptop....this is also close to the 'rebate' scheme. as alot of people will forget and its an oops so sorry too bad thing...yet they still have a sale.
"you must turn in your laptop in good condition with the original receipt after three years."
most people will have lost the receipt within 3 years....
plus you will only get 'like specifications' every 3 years...so if you buy tech that is not the most current they are going to keep sending that to you.
customers will also be more willing to put up with bad customer support, receiving old tech, more expensive repairs and upgrades thinking that in the long run they will continue to get a 'FREE' laptop for life.
when a customer finally wants something better or different they will have to drop out of the program ...so really there is no 'for life'.
it is simply a gimmick....
Yes, if you bought their insurance, otherwise you would probably have to start the program over by buying a new laptop,... but who normally buys insurance for their computer, except in this scheme?
Like their 'Fujitsu insurance pack', and their mandatory 'three-year extended warranty', every three years, not to mention their sales pitches to their cornered market ,and the initial over priced system.
If their systems are so good, why would one need an extended warranty every three years anyway,... possible answer,...
This sounds like you get a refurbished hand-me down computer every three years. In other words, today's top of the line laptop system, will eventually trickle down to those who bought a relatively cheaper system, and their system likewise will be recycled.
Nothing wrong with that in itself, but the point is they are not selling your next computer they are just transfering ownership,... they are selling warranties, insureance, servies,.. thats what this program is all about.
Still there will be many who will drink the cool-aide.
and as far as damage and theft goes, most homeowners insurance covers damage in the home to the laptop, and theres a good opensource theft recovery program
http://adeona.cs....ton.edu/
(everyone with a laptop should download this, if you dont already have a laptop lojack kind of program)
all in all, might be worth it if all you have to buy is the 3 year warranty which usually runs between 250-400 usd.
thats my thought anyway....