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Electronic King Inc - legit?

Tears Apart

Tears Apart

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 10, 2009
564
13
Outside Closer
Hello all,

I found this seller on eBay, "Electronic King Inc" - he sells Apple hardware at unbelievable price and I wonder if he's legit.

Offer example.

Normally I would avoid eBay but the guy seems to have thousands over thousands of positive feedbacks.

What do you think - is it a sophisticated scam or is it true?
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Yes it seems legit. I pulled the trigger on this monster on eBay and I will update this thread with all the details of this transaction.

For those who live in Europe this seller has amazing deals, especially since there is no customs to pay. I saved around 600€!

The laptops are US models, but he's offering European plugs for those living outside the UK.

Can't wait for the beast to arrive :D
 
GGJstudios said:
Buying Online - Is This Company Legitimate?
Almost 25,000 feedbacks, mostly positive, going back 6 years.... I'd say it's likely legit, although the price doesn't seem that good:

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-SuperDrive-Thunderbolt-Widescreen-Z0M3-2-2-4G500-HRG/dp/B004PL9ONO
http://www.portableone.com/product.asp?pf_id=MC725LL/A
Click to expand...

Hmm, but those don't include VAT, which is 20% in the UK and 19% in Germany. I find it hard to believe that if he is selling high end Mac hardware with that amount of feedback over six years that he is under the VAT registration thresholds of either country, particularly as he is shipping from the UK. If he is selling from a bonded warehouse, then the buyer will be liable for import VAT.
 
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weckart said:
Hmm, but those don't include VAT, which is 20% in the UK and 19% in Germany. I find it hard to believe that if he is selling high end Mac hardware with that amount of feedback over six years that he is under the VAT registration thresholds of either country, particularly as he is shipping from the UK. If he is selling from a bonded warehouse, then the buyer will be liable for import VAT.
Click to expand...

He has thousands of feedbacks from European buyers and nobody claims he had to pay VAT. Moreover the seller confirms that in the item description.
 
Update: I pulled the trigger, got myself a 17'' mbp 2.3 Matte. Spent 2128 euro with shipping while price at Apple store is 2799 euro (23% discount on a brand new laptop released few weeks ago).

The seller also offers AppleCare protection at 199 pounds instead than 249 pounds retail price (didn't buy).

Note that the models he sells are US ones, but he provides European plugs on request (at no additional cost).

Will keep you updated on the transaction, others might want to benefit from this.

My only concern is whether the unit reveals defective, I would have to bear the return shipping costs, or maybe my Apple Store would repair/replace... I don't know.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't buy anything off them and if you have, I'd demand a full refund. I just today bought a macbook and stupidly only thought to google the name after sending my money.

After confronting the seller about all the complaints online, he started getting sketchy and claiming there had been a 'mistake' that my Macbook was actually a US one when it was meant to be UK.

I've demanded a refund and should he not follow through with it right away will do my best to contact as many people as possible to warn them of his/their dishonesty. I'll make sure update this thread either way though.
 
model citizen said:
After confronting the seller about all the complaints online, he started getting sketchy and claiming there had been a 'mistake' that my Macbook was actually a US one when it was meant to be UK.

I've demanded a refund and should he not follow through with it right away will do my best to contact as many people as possible to warn them of his/their dishonesty. I'll make sure update this thread either way though.
Click to expand...

I don't know what's your problem, of course it's a US machine, but he will provide you European plug if you ask.

Did you see the last 100 feedbacks he received from European buyers? They are all thrilled, I still think this is more than legit, but I feel you, i know how easy it is to fret on these eBay transactions.

FYI my laptop has been sent and I am tracking it, should receive it tomorrow or Friday.
 
My problem is he advertised it as a UK model from UK, knowing it wasn't and so therefore, lied.

Any dodgy dealing means the transaction is off. I'd suggest you google around and see some of his other customers.
 
model citizen said:
My problem is he advertised it as a UK model from UK, knowing it wasn't and so therefore, lied.

Any dodgy dealing means the transaction is off. I'd suggest you google around and see some of his other customers.
Click to expand...

Please link to the auction where he explicitly mentions UK model. I don't think I have seen such information anywhere.

The reason why he sells them this cheap is *because* they are US models.
 
Tears Apart said:
Please link to the auction where he explicitly mentions UK model. I don't think I have seen such information anywhere.

The reason why he sells them this cheap is *because* they are US models.
Click to expand...


Damn, you're right I've checked and it doesn't actually say it is UK explicitly but does say it's posted from the UK. But I contacted him by email to check it was a UK model and he said yes at first then only after paying that it wasn't.

I suppose to be fair, maybe someone got confused and told me it was a UK model by mistake? After compaining and messaging him, he apologised and refunded me.

As long as you're not mislead to believe it's a UK model I guess it's fair enough and you've probably got a fair deal but if he hadn't told me it was first then I wouldn't have bought it. Also, there's a lot of threads out there warning people against him/them.
 
model citizen said:
Damn, you're right I've checked and it doesn't actually say it is UK explicitly but does say it's posted from the UK. But I contacted him by email to check it was a UK model and he said yes at first then only after paying that it wasn't.

I suppose to be fair, maybe someone got confused and told me it was a UK model by mistake? After compaining and messaging him, he apologised and refunded me.

As long as you're not mislead to believe it's a UK model I guess it's fair enough and you've probably got a fair deal but if he hadn't told me it was first then I wouldn't have bought it. Also, there's a lot of threads out there warning people against him/them.
Click to expand...

With all those feedbacks and many of them recent and about new machines you can't go wrong.

The only thing I would not buy from them perhaps is AppleCare.

Will keep you updated.
 
So I got the machine. Super fast delivery. Perfect new conditions.

Only issue: AC adapter is US model. They said they would give me an European one. Asked for partial refund to cover an EU AC plug. Will let you know the response.
 
i bought a 2010 i7 2.66GHz 15" last year, i asked for the glossy edition but got the anti-glare with a 7200RPM upgrade for free... those additions alone covered the cost of a UK AC Adapter, which i already had from my previous MBA :D
 
Bottom Line: Great Deal

I got the laptop, it's perfect and all in all it has been an amazing deal!

The seller also agreed to refund me the money to buy an original Apple EU plug (39€),

To summarise my deal:

17'' mbp 2.3 AG on Apple Store: 2799€

Same model from Electronic King Inc, with delivery: 2,127.71€

I spared 671.29€, or 24% on retail price!

So if you live in Europe enjoy this offer ;)
 
Tears Apart said:
Hello all,

I found this seller on eBay, "Electronic King Inc" - he sells Apple hardware at unbelievable price and I wonder if he's legit.

Offer example.

Normally I would avoid eBay but the guy seems to have thousands over thousands of positive feedbacks.

What do you think - is it a sophisticated scam or is it true?
Click to expand...
I would stay away from this seller, electronic King. My 13 year old son saved up his pocket money and purchased a camcorder from electronic king. Less than 2 years later, it has stopped working for no reason and we can't get in contact with anyone after sending several emails. Canon won't help us because we purchased from electronic King. I have read of the same problems on other forums. Keep away from them, they are scam artists.
 
1980jules said:
I would stay away from this seller, electronic King. My 13 year old son saved up his pocket money and purchased a camcorder from electronic king. Less than 2 years later, it has stopped working for no reason and we can't get in contact with anyone after sending several emails. Canon won't help us because we purchased from electronic King. I have read of the same problems on other forums. Keep away from them, they are scam artists.
Click to expand...

Come on, 2 years later? Canon's standard warranty is 1 year. You'd be paying repair costs out of pocket no matter where you bought that camera.
 
Awesome

I too have found the King, out of curiousity whilst looking around at the new MBA 2011 on eBay. I actually want the US model as i've always used the US style keyboard.

I can't see any issues with buying AppleCare from them as its a code you then register and your covered under eBay's protection if there are problems. That being said I can't see them selling anything dodgy and if its cheaper than Apple, even better. Argos were undercutting Apple products, certainly the MobileMe vouchers were £5 or £10 cheaper.

I don't understand the 'complaints' about broken out of warranty products either. As already meantioned you'd have to pay for its repair whether purchased from Argos or Electronic King.

I'm just hoping that when I return to the site that they have the Thunderbolt Screen and External Storage. I've been buying the MacBook Air each time it updates and even with an employer discount I could never get £150 off the price of one.

For those confused at how they can sell at these discounts bear in mind that the company will be buying a serious quantity to discount by this amount. Couple that with the exchange rates as well as the US products being cheaper you can see how they are achieving the discounts (todays exchange rate makes then £70 cheaper even after adding UK VAT)

I think i've found my new Apple supplier!
 
Warranty Issue

Hi Guys new to this forum:)

Well he seems like a legit seller. My only issue is that I am a bit worried that the Warranty will not work in the UK since it is from the US. Could anyone clarify this for me please? That I wont have any problems if I had to visit and apple store to do repairs while it is still under the guarantee without any problems.

Thanks in advance:)
 
You would be best to call your local Apple Store and check on warranty repairs on US models. It was my understanding that you would have to have warranty work don in the US. I'm not sure about this but I have read this a couple of times.
 
I bought my laptop from them recently, 1 positive 3 negative points

The good.
1. good price

The bad
1. Arrived late, bought on a saturday with next day, didn't receive it until friday.
2. was sold as "sealed brand new in box" but the box was open, and the magsafe adapter was scuffed to *****. the macbook was fine tho. 0 cycles on battery and mint chassis.
3. Its already out of apple warranty, as its already been "sold" my warranty expired in august and i bought it in november.

Seller has provided no explanation to date.
 
darkshadow121 said:
I bought my laptop from them recently, 1 positive 3 negative points

The good.
1. good price

The bad
1. Arrived late, bought on a saturday with next day, didn't receive it until friday.
2. was sold as "sealed brand new in box" but the box was open, and the magsafe adapter was scuffed to *****. the macbook was fine tho. 0 cycles on battery and mint chassis.
3. Its already out of apple warranty, as its already been "sold" my warranty expired in august and i bought it in november.

Seller has provided no explanation to date.
Click to expand...

What year laptop? I bought 2 "sealed" rMBPs...I hope they're not ****ing opened, or ill be pissed.
 
TheGreenBastard said:
What year laptop? I bought 2 "sealed" rMBPs...I hope they're not ****ing opened, or ill be pissed.
Click to expand...

late 2011 17" macbook pro.
i assure you it will probably be opened but taped shut. it will not be in the cellophane. its the only way they wont pay import tax on it. Bringing them to the UK sealed would cost them VAT, but bringing them in opened, "Not for resale" they will avoid taxation on them. Hence the price.

i was extremely pissed off in all honesty. Especially because the apple care was already void. but the seller was totally useless, only offering to increase the warranty they provide to two years. i think they were fobbing me off.
 
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