New info on Lenovo's outlet

So i got fet up and went to the thinkpad forums, i was just ranting but a helpful moderator gave me the reply of my life:

gonzo1082 wrote:
I ordered an x300 on 4/23, i still haven't received email confirmation from lenovo. i'm pretty fed up with these people, how hard is it to process and order and send a simple email? i called my credit card to see if anything was pending. they did receive a charge from Lenovo for the right ammount, so.. something is in process. i guess they don't care about their customers?

Moderator:

Just a heads up, based on my recent experience with them. There is a very fragmented process that is employed by the Outlet Store. Lenovo provides the computers, and ChannelAdvisor Corporation does the processing and billing. Much like a clearing house. When you first place your "request" (not to be confused with an order) they take your information and then they call your credit card company for an "approval" for the funds. That is _not_ the same as charging your card. Then once they know you are qualified, they must literally send someone out to the warehouse to find the computer you have ordered. While this sound archaic and unbelievable, I know it is how they operate. In the event that the computer is not there (already been sold) you are then contacted and given an opportunity to select another computer for them to "find". The computers that we see on the web site are only "representations" of the ones they actually have at any given moment. So, you may think you have placed an order when indeed you have only initiated the process. If the computer is there, then they turn your request into an order. At that point is when you are assured that sometime in the future it will be shipped to you. The "processing time" from the request to the order stage can be as short as two days or as long as it takes them. Once it's an "order" then they bill you and ship it. That takes anywhere from one day to as many days as it takes them. I have gone to great lengths to gather this specific information (as explained to me by a supervisor at the Outlet Store) and insure it's accuracy. Why? Because I had an "order" (at least I thought it was one) that languished for 30 days, only to be notified that they did not have the computer, and would I like to "try again". And that was after placing an order the prior month that took ten business days, and the very reason I ordered again. In addition, I spoke with another supervisor yesterday to see how busy they were and how fast I could get a computer, and that supervisor said that if they have the computer the minimum quoted is two weeks, but I might have it (if they are in stock) in 8 to ten days at the earliest, or approx 30 days maximum.So it's buyer beware. Good Luck,Cheers....