Is this a scam?

Angel95 · Dec 21, 2012, 10:58 PM

I posted a ad looking for MacBook Pro under $1000 and got a reply from a guy saying he had a 15 inch MacBook Pro 2.3 ghz core i7 that he would sell to me for $900 said there was no damage at all. I've seen videos on people robbing people they met on Craigslist, so I'm a little nervous about it. Does this sound like some type of scam or does the price seem legit for the laptop? I'm not trying to meet up with him and end up robbed, even in a public place. What's your opinion? Thanks (:

ezramoore · Dec 21, 2012, 11:04 PM

If you think you're getting a current gen 15" MBP for $900 you're kidding yourself.

It is likely stolen, or nonexistent. I wouldn't waste my time communicating with someone that was trying to sell a nearly new computer for almost 50% less than MSRP.

Look around those computers aren't going for that price.

If you go ahead with the transaction you are setting yourself up for (at the least) disappointment, and at the most physical harm or criminal activity.

Angel95 · Dec 21, 2012, 11:10 PM

Thank you, I asked for pictures and he said he will have to send them tomorrow - I'm guessing he will be sending me pictures off of google. I'm not going to go through with it, to much of a risk :\

ezramoore · Dec 21, 2012, 11:12 PM

One way of gauging an accurate price of an item for resale is to do an advanced search on eBay and select the checkbox for "Show only completed listings." You will see a green price when an item was sold, and a red price when the item was not sold.

Just an FYI, I use that method pretty frequently.

iJays · Dec 21, 2012, 11:28 PM

I thought you were looking for a MacBook Pro for under $1k?
Now someone reply to your ad and your question is if it is legit?

Are you legit?

Anonymous Freak · Dec 22, 2012, 12:39 AM

Yeah... Have the person include your email address handwritten on a piece of paper with the computer if you want to be sure.

Then make the meeting in a populated public place (inside a coffee shop for example,) where he can't just openly rob you. Don't do it in a parking lot, and *DEFINITELY* don't do it offline. No money orders mailed, no Western Union, etc.

When there in person, ask if you can call Apple real quick to have them check the serial number. If he gets up and walks out, yeah, it was stolen.

But no, you're not going to get a recent 15" MacBook Pro for under $1000. Period.

Spink10 · Dec 22, 2012, 03:56 AM

Call him up - ask him why is he selling - ask where you can meet - feel him out on the phone. I have sold over a dozen MBP's on CL - zero problems.

Bob Coxner · Dec 22, 2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymous Freak

Yeah... Have the person include your email address handwritten on a piece of paper with the computer if you want to be sure.

Then make the meeting in a populated public place (inside a coffee shop for example,) where he can't just openly rob you. Don't do it in a parking lot, and *DEFINITELY* don't do it offline. No money orders mailed, no Western Union, etc.

When there in person, ask if you can call Apple real quick to have them check the serial number. If he gets up and walks out, yeah, it was stolen.

But no, you're not going to get a recent 15" MacBook Pro for under $1000. Period.

I would add that you don't describe the car you will be driving or what you will be wearing. There have been a number of robberies in parking lots as the seller/buyer was walking towards the agreed-upon inside location. Here is just one. This one happened at a busy McDonalds. http://www.cbs8.com/story/20371746/c...mission-valley

My personal choice would be a bank lobby. Armed guards and security cameras should discourage even stupid robbers. And, you can immediately check the cash to see if it's counterfeit or not. The lobby of a police station would be even better.

ZacT94 · Dec 23, 2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezramoore

If you think you're getting a current gen 15" MBP for $900 you're kidding yourself.

It is likely stolen, or nonexistent. I wouldn't waste my time communicating with someone that was trying to sell a nearly new computer for almost 50% less than MSRP.

Look around those computers aren't going for that price.

If you go ahead with the transaction you are setting yourself up for (at the least) disappointment, and at the most physical harm or criminal activity.

2.3GHz could also mean early 2011 model. Apple did have them as a higher spec option and still sell them as refurbs.

Brian33 · Dec 23, 2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacT94

2.3GHz could also mean early 2011 model. Apple did have them as a higher spec option and still sell them as refurbs.

Yup, I've got one I bought as a refurb in the summer of 2011. But $900 still seems too low, even for an Early 2011 model, to me.

ZacT94 · Dec 23, 2012, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian33

Yup, I've got one I bought as a refurb in the summer of 2011. But $900 still seems too low, even for an Early 2011 model, to me.

I agree. The lowest prices I'd be expecting would be $1300 at least.

PinoyAko · Dec 23, 2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Coxner

I would add that you don't describe the car you will be driving or what you will be wearing. There have been a number of robberies in parking lots as the seller/buyer was walking towards the agreed-upon inside location. Here is just one. This one happened at a busy McDonalds. http://www.cbs8.com/story/20371746/c...mission-valley

My personal choice would be a bank lobby. Armed guards and security cameras should discourage even stupid robbers. And, you can immediately check the cash to see if it's counterfeit or not. The lobby of a police station would be even better.

I made a transaction before on a police station parking lot. The seller gladly obliged. I bought an iPad during that time.

Ccrew · Dec 24, 2012, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinoyAko

I made a transaction before on a police station parking lot. The seller gladly obliged. I bought an iPad during that time.

If you're a seller that knows the item is legit and not stolen it's a reasonable request. It's the ones that won't that you have to be concerned with.

glenthompson · Dec 25, 2012, 10:26 AM

I bought my MBP off Craigslist and did the transaction at the police station. The kid's step-dad was a policeman. We all felt safe in the transaction.

jrasero · Dec 28, 2012, 12:45 PM

I have had only 100% positive experiences on CL BUT we live in a crazy world and there are a lot of scams on there

It does seems to good to be true. What year is the MBP? I would ask for extra pictures and ask why he is selling?

Every Mac computer I sold was on CL

So if you buy from me at least you will not get ripped.

Ardzii · Dec 29, 2012, 09:54 AM

Why not using Paypal for the transaction ? It'll cost you a little more for the commission and like $50 more for UPS but worth the cost to secure the transaction...

Dec 21, 2012, 10:58 PM	#1
Angel95 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Is this a scam? I posted a ad looking for MacBook Pro under $1000 and got a reply from a guy saying he had a 15 inch MacBook Pro 2.3 ghz core i7 that he would sell to me for $900 said there was no damage at all. I've seen videos on people robbing people they met on Craigslist, so I'm a little nervous about it. Does this sound like some type of scam or does the price seem legit for the laptop? I'm not trying to meet up with him and end up robbed, even in a public place. What's your opinion? Thanks (:
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 12:39 AM	#6
Anonymous Freak macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR	Yeah... Have the person include your email address handwritten on a piece of paper with the computer if you want to be sure. Then make the meeting in a populated public place (inside a coffee shop for example,) where he can't just openly rob you. Don't do it in a parking lot, and DEFINITELY don't do it offline. No money orders mailed, no Western Union, etc. When there in person, ask if you can call Apple real quick to have them check the serial number. If he gets up and walks out, yeah, it was stolen. But no, you're not going to get a recent 15" MacBook Pro for under $1000. Period. __________________ 20" Aluminum iMac 7,1 (mid-2007, Santa Rosa,) upgraded to 2.6 GHz Penryn, 6 GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 4 TB total external hard drive
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 10:26 AM	#14
glenthompson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Roanoke VA	I bought my MBP off Craigslist and did the transaction at the police station. The kid's step-dad was a policeman. We all felt safe in the transaction. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro (late 2011), iPhone 5 iPad 3rd gen, iPod Touch 3rd gen,ATV3 Snow Leopard Server 5TB
	0

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Dec 21, 2012, 11:04 PM	#2
ezramoore macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Washington State	If you think you're getting a current gen 15" MBP for $900 you're kidding yourself. It is likely stolen, or nonexistent. I wouldn't waste my time communicating with someone that was trying to sell a nearly new computer for almost 50% less than MSRP. Look around those computers aren't going for that price. If you go ahead with the transaction you are setting yourself up for (at the least) disappointment, and at the most physical harm or criminal activity.
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 11:10 PM	#3
Angel95 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Thank you, I asked for pictures and he said he will have to send them tomorrow - I'm guessing he will be sending me pictures off of google. I'm not going to go through with it, to much of a risk :\
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 11:12 PM	#4
ezramoore macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Washington State	One way of gauging an accurate price of an item for resale is to do an advanced search on eBay and select the checkbox for "Show only completed listings." You will see a green price when an item was sold, and a red price when the item was not sold. Just an FYI, I use that method pretty frequently.
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 11:28 PM	#5
iJays macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2009	I thought you were looking for a MacBook Pro for under $1k? Now someone reply to your ad and your question is if it is legit? Are you legit?
	1

Dec 22, 2012, 03:56 AM	#7
Spink10 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2011	Call him up - ask him why is he selling - ask where you can meet - feel him out on the phone. I have sold over a dozen MBP's on CL - zero problems.
	0

Dec 28, 2012, 12:45 PM	#15
jrasero macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NYC	I have had only 100% positive experiences on CL BUT we live in a crazy world and there are a lot of scams on there It does seems to good to be true. What year is the MBP? I would ask for extra pictures and ask why he is selling? Every Mac computer I sold was on CL So if you buy from me at least you will not get ripped.
	0

Dec 29, 2012, 09:54 AM	#16
Ardzii macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Why not using Paypal for the transaction ? It'll cost you a little more for the commission and like $50 more for UPS but worth the cost to secure the transaction...
	0