A couple of weeks ago, I had seen an ad for a 15 inch Macbook Pro in the "Toronto Blackmarket" facebook group. In the listing, the seller specified it was a 2009 model and in mint condition. He wanted "600 - 700", but said he could go lower. I offered 500, he said okay. I bit.
We schedule a meetup at Yonge-Bloor station for 4:00pm. He informs me through e-mail that he doesn't have a phone, and suggests we communicate through facebook. I conclude he is lying about not having a phone, maybe because the laptop has flaws I would discover with use after the purchase. I decide to meet anyways. My thoughts: if the Macbook Pro does have flaws, I will notice them while inspecting it, and can refuse to purchase it.
4:00pm comes, and I'm at Yonge-Bloor. No sign of him. I wait half an hour. Nothing. Around 4:30pm, he calls me through a private number. I was right, he has a phone. He says he forgot the laptop at home, and tells me to meet him at Eglinton Station. I say okay. It's 5:00, and I'm at Eglinton. He calls me again and tells me he will be another half an hour. At this point I'm very frustrated, but decide to wait it out one last time.
It's 5:30, he facebook messages me he's here. We agree on meeting in a restaurant near TD Bank. I see him, we greet each other, I see he brought a friend. We sit down in the restaurant. After some small talk, I find out they both play on their highschool football team. I'm impressed, mostly by their university-student-like builds. He asks me if I have $500 on me, I tell him yes.
I'm excited to see the laptop. He pulls it out of his bag, upside down. Right off the bat I notice it's the 2008 model. I'm extremely disappointed, but I don't say anything. He also points out he lost his charger, I become extremely suspicious this laptop was stolen and, in my mind, decide I am not interested, I stay silent. I observe; the laptop has scratches and dents on the top and keyboard, and it does not power on. He says the battery must be dead.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as you will soon find out), I have my Macbook charger in my backpack. Surprisingly, he's okay with me charging it. It powers on after five awkward minutes of charging. I am scared to tell him I don't want it, he seems to be set on selling it today. I muster up the courage and tell him the inevitable; I don't want it, it's not a 2009 model, and it's not mint.
He's furious. "It's not my fault. The manual said it was 2009, it's your fault, you should have asked me for the specific details!". His friend remains quiet. I explain to the seller that he falsely advertised it. He continues to fallaciously and ignorantly justify himself. I become anxious, his eyes are red, his gestures are aggressive, his voice is loud, he may get violent. "Just take it now for 500, you're lucky I'm not robbing you!" I think "What have I gotten myself into."
I continue to tell him I don't want it, and he continues to argue. Ten minutes, and he's had enough. He slams his laptop. Pulls my charger out of the wall, "I'm taking this". Him and his friend get up and hurry out the door. I sit there shocked. I don't follow him, I'm just thankful he didn't go for the $500 and that I'm in one piece. I wait five minutes, peering out the window every ten seconds, making sure they are not outside. I leave eventually.
I sit here now, on my basement computer, looking up the costs of magsafe chargers. I have class tomorrow, and need my 13" MBP charged. I don't know whether to be glad I'm safe, or upset that I no longer have a charger. All in all, I know I've learned some very valuable lessons. Time to move on. $90 at the Apple Store? Eh. Looks like someone is selling a brand new 85W one on craigslist for 65. I'll bite.
We schedule a meetup at Yonge-Bloor station for 4:00pm. He informs me through e-mail that he doesn't have a phone, and suggests we communicate through facebook. I conclude he is lying about not having a phone, maybe because the laptop has flaws I would discover with use after the purchase. I decide to meet anyways. My thoughts: if the Macbook Pro does have flaws, I will notice them while inspecting it, and can refuse to purchase it.
4:00pm comes, and I'm at Yonge-Bloor. No sign of him. I wait half an hour. Nothing. Around 4:30pm, he calls me through a private number. I was right, he has a phone. He says he forgot the laptop at home, and tells me to meet him at Eglinton Station. I say okay. It's 5:00, and I'm at Eglinton. He calls me again and tells me he will be another half an hour. At this point I'm very frustrated, but decide to wait it out one last time.
It's 5:30, he facebook messages me he's here. We agree on meeting in a restaurant near TD Bank. I see him, we greet each other, I see he brought a friend. We sit down in the restaurant. After some small talk, I find out they both play on their highschool football team. I'm impressed, mostly by their university-student-like builds. He asks me if I have $500 on me, I tell him yes.
I'm excited to see the laptop. He pulls it out of his bag, upside down. Right off the bat I notice it's the 2008 model. I'm extremely disappointed, but I don't say anything. He also points out he lost his charger, I become extremely suspicious this laptop was stolen and, in my mind, decide I am not interested, I stay silent. I observe; the laptop has scratches and dents on the top and keyboard, and it does not power on. He says the battery must be dead.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as you will soon find out), I have my Macbook charger in my backpack. Surprisingly, he's okay with me charging it. It powers on after five awkward minutes of charging. I am scared to tell him I don't want it, he seems to be set on selling it today. I muster up the courage and tell him the inevitable; I don't want it, it's not a 2009 model, and it's not mint.
He's furious. "It's not my fault. The manual said it was 2009, it's your fault, you should have asked me for the specific details!". His friend remains quiet. I explain to the seller that he falsely advertised it. He continues to fallaciously and ignorantly justify himself. I become anxious, his eyes are red, his gestures are aggressive, his voice is loud, he may get violent. "Just take it now for 500, you're lucky I'm not robbing you!" I think "What have I gotten myself into."
I continue to tell him I don't want it, and he continues to argue. Ten minutes, and he's had enough. He slams his laptop. Pulls my charger out of the wall, "I'm taking this". Him and his friend get up and hurry out the door. I sit there shocked. I don't follow him, I'm just thankful he didn't go for the $500 and that I'm in one piece. I wait five minutes, peering out the window every ten seconds, making sure they are not outside. I leave eventually.
I sit here now, on my basement computer, looking up the costs of magsafe chargers. I have class tomorrow, and need my 13" MBP charged. I don't know whether to be glad I'm safe, or upset that I no longer have a charger. All in all, I know I've learned some very valuable lessons. Time to move on. $90 at the Apple Store? Eh. Looks like someone is selling a brand new 85W one on craigslist for 65. I'll bite.
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