Forums | MacLife

bcdynamic · 2006-03-16 7:06 pm

Hello,

I am a sixteen year-old student, looking to purchase a used Apple Powerbook. This will be my first purchase off of eBay.

Can I realistically buy a used Powerbook (15", 466MHz or higher) for $550? I would love to get an aluminum Powerbook, but I'm looking mainly at the Titanium models. Spending more than this is not a possibility, neither is an iBook (I need the PC card slot).

What's the most I should spend on a 17" Titanium Powerbook (DVI, Gigabit Ethernet models) in good condition, with only 512MB RAM? Do you have any suggestions for a first-time used laptop buyer? Is there anything outside of the obvious defects that I should watch for?

Your insight would be appreciated, thanks.

GreenAlge · 2006-03-17 2:22 am

Be careful about used laptops. Portable machines break way easier than desktops; and you won't have any kind of warrenty. I bought a TiBook off eBay; and the logic board was fried 'bout a half year later. The seller didn't rip me off or anything; the machine came in excellent condition, it was just bad luck.

_Nik

D'Eyncourt · 2006-03-17 3:42 am

You might take a look at Craig's List (this link goes to the original page for the San Francisco Bay Area but there are others for many cities around the US and around the world). Look in the computers for sale section to get an idea of what some people are asking for their PowerBooks (Ti or Al). If you see a deal on eBay which is much less than those, you should proceed with lots of caution: it might be a deal literally too good to be true.

If you have a Craig's List for your area, then a considerable advantage is that there you can arrange to take a good look at the machine before making the purchase.

canadiancarebear · 2006-03-17 8:05 am

I don't plan on buying a used computer... especially not a used laptop...

bcdynamic · 2006-03-17 4:05 pm

Thanks, both of you. I took a look around my area, and found that most people selling used Powerbooks that appear to be in excellent shape, are asking for $1000CAN. Are $450USD 15" Aluminum Powerbooks too good to be true, then? What about buyer feedback, is it an accurate representation?

Canadiancarebear, thanks for your valuable input. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

D'Eyncourt · 2006-03-17 7:08 pm

bcdynamic wrote:
Thanks, both of you. I took a look around my area, and found that most people selling used Powerbooks that appear to be in excellent shape, are asking for $1000CAN. Are $450USD 15" Aluminum Powerbooks too good to be true, then? What about buyer feedback, is it an accurate representation?
[snip]

US$450 for a 15" AlBook? I'd check the fine print and make sure that this is an accurate description (i.e., not for the box that the AlBook came in, not for an AlBook which has significant problems like a broken screen or having had a can of soda poured into it). Also, of course, since this is on eBay it just may be that the guy low-balled the initial price to generate interest--when the auction ends the winning bid might wind up in a more reasonable range.

eBay's buyer feedback can be gamed: several users can agree to give each other high ratings, for example. There was one particularly bad situation where a guy spent a couple of years building up a terrific feedback rating. Finally he put up for auction a set of very rare collectables, sent messages to nearly everyone who put in high bids saying that the people with the higher bids bowed out, cashed out all of the checks and other payments (around $160,000, I think), then disappeared. Things like this would have given me pause to ever use eBay (if I hadn't been soured on them because of PayPal first).

bcdynamic · 2006-03-17 7:31 pm

D'Eyncourt wrote:
US$450 for a 15" AlBook? I'd check the fine print and make sure that this is an accurate description (i.e., not for the box that the AlBook came in, not for an AlBook which has significant problems like a broken screen or having had a can of soda poured into it). Also, of course, since this is on eBay it just may be that the guy low-balled the initial price to generate interest--when the auction ends the winning bid might wind up in a more reasonable range.

That's true, the auction is far from being over (5 days). If there is no reserve set on the auction, however, isn't there always a chance that you could get a pretty good deal this way?

eBay's buyer feedback can be gamed: several users can agree to give each other high ratings, for example. There was one particularly bad situation where a guy spent a couple of years building up a terrific feedback rating. Finally he put up for auction a set of very rare collectables, sent messages to nearly everyone who put in high bids saying that the people with the higher bids bowed out, cashed out all of the checks and other payments (around $160,000, I think), then disappeared. Things like this would have given me pause to ever use eBay (if I hadn't been soured on them because of PayPal first).

That's what I've heard in the past. I would love to be able to buy a new or factory refurbished Powerbook rather than something off of eBay, but frankly, that's not financially possible.

Thanks again for your input. I think I'll watch the auctions for a while and wait for something I feel really good about.

resedit · 2006-03-21 7:54 pm

Apple Laptops are one of the biggest scams.

For the scammer - it is easy. People who want a Mac laptop often are really in love with Apple, which makes them less suspicious - the want it to be a good deal so (even without realizing it) they ignore warning signs.

Same thing happens with iPods too, btw.

Be extremely careful of buying Apple Laptops from places like eBay and Craigs list.
Genuine deals can be found, but there are an aweful lot of scams.

smeghead · 2006-03-21 9:43 pm

wegenermedia.com has pretty good deals on stuff. I've known people who purchased computers from them and they're pretty satisfied with them.

mrkvb · 2006-05-17 12:35 pm

DONT BUY ANYTHING FROM WEGENERMEDIA!
i bought for $500 in hardware from them but 1) i never got the goods 2) never got my money back. They are complete and utter scammers.
Look at this post here that includes an official BBB report where its obvious that they are not to be trusted.:
http://jackwhispers.blogspot.com/2005/1 … ck-of.html

And i am just one of many people that got ripped off by them.
You have all been warned!

darwin27 · 2006-05-23 6:08 pm

mrkvb wrote:
DONT BUY ANYTHING FROM WEGENERMEDIA!
i bought for $500 in hardware from them but 1) i never got the goods 2) never got my money back. They are complete and utter scammers.
Look at this post here that includes an official BBB report where its obvious that they are not to be trusted.:
http://jackwhispers.blogspot.com/2005/1 … ck-of.html

And i am just one of many people that got ripped off by them.
You have all been warned!

Pardon the inquisition... But if you paid with a credit card, why didn't you just file a claim with Visa/Mastercard/Amex/etc?

You can do the same with your bank and a debit card...?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2006-03-16 7:06 pm

Purchasing a Used Laptop

#2 2006-03-17 2:22 am

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#3 2006-03-17 3:42 am

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#4 2006-03-17 8:05 am

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#5 2006-03-17 4:05 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#6 2006-03-17 7:08 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

bcdynamic wrote:

#7 2006-03-17 7:31 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

D'Eyncourt wrote:

#8 2006-03-21 7:54 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#9 2006-03-21 9:43 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#10 2006-05-17 12:35 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

#11 2006-05-23 6:08 pm

Re: Purchasing a Used Laptop

mrkvb wrote:

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