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Buying a new sealed macbook, can't check serial number online

V

vista.john

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 24, 2008
189
18
I am thinking about getting a brand new sealed Unibody Macbook (2.0GHz, 2GB, 160GB) from craigslist. Decent deal, 1050$. I checked the serial number on the box of the macbook on apple website. It couldn't give me any information, instead it is showing "We're sorry, the number you have provided cannot be found in our records. Please verify the number and try again,"

I've checked the other websites.
"http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php"

and

"http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html"

The best I've got so far is the approximate manufacture date and specs. Should I buy this? Is it safe?

BTW, I did call apple and they have no idea on the information of the serial number, either...

suggestions, help! please...
 
Is it a local sale first of all? Usually you can tell that it is not local if they don't put a location.

If so, ask the seller to verify the SN again, maybe he gave it to you wrong.

If you still can't come up with a working serial number I'd pass. Probably a scam.


What is the serial number by the way? I bet someone on here could dissect it and tell you if it's even at all close to being like the unibody MB serial numbers.
 
Is it local? Sealed?

If it's local you'll see it plain as day. If it's open just turn it on and check it out before handing over any money. I personally wouldn't buy anything off craigslist if it wasn't local.
 
All Apple serial numbers can be entered here. If you called Apple and they can not find info on the macbook serial number, than the serial number is most likely wrong. Ask the seller for the correct serial number.
 
Is it a number that starts with FF or ZZ or similar? Is it unlike the normal style like W881739Y0P1? If so it's a CTO model.
 
Update

thanks for all the response and input...

It is a local Sale. The person claims that he got it as a gift...

Long story short, I was able to meet him in person. Package was sealed. Open it up, brand new macbook in plastic wrap, apple agreement seal is still intact, Macbook boots to start up menu without problem, after all the initial setup. I was able to navigate to the "about this mac". It showed exact same serial number that was on the box. Copy and paste to apple support, no information...

Anyway, everything looks fine. I paid the guy 1 grand and took it home. Will call apple again tomorrow to sort things out... don't know. sounds risky... but everything works...

BTW, it is not a BTO model, the serial number starts WQ845K941..

:confused:
 
JNB said:
AFAIK, the lack of serial info from Apple indicates that it's never been registered, hence no warranty data. AppleCare is a year from date of purchase, so the clock won't start until it's been registered online.
Click to expand...

you are right. It was never registered. So I called apple and had them registered the serial number under my name. Just told them an approximate purchase date. they update the information without any problem! :D
 
vista.john said:
you are right. It was never registered. So I called apple and had them registered the serial number under my name. Just told them an approximate purchase date. they update the information without any problem! :D
Click to expand...

Oh.
Nice!
I never knew that happens!
 
Cool, I had a similar situation when I purchased a MB in Aug 2007, and registered with Apple, and did Coconut Identity with m SN and it said that my MB was three months old, when I had purchased it one day earlier; and that it was made in China...:eek:
 
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