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How good is this deal?
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Sounds too good to be true. That machine is worth at least twice that, imo.
If you go along with it, make sure you check out the machine thoroughly. If this is eBay, be prepared to potentially be fighting for your money back.
If you go along with it, make sure you check out the machine thoroughly. If this is eBay, be prepared to potentially be fighting for your money back.
It is through craigslist. I am guessing I can meet him at a Starbucks, open up the laptop and check for the specs before purchasing it. Do you guys have any tips on how I should go about checking whether or not it is legit?
I have been a Windows user for at least 10 years BTW; never played with a Mac before.
I have been a Windows user for at least 10 years BTW; never played with a Mac before.
It will depend on the reply you get. I recently replied to a craigslist ad for an iMac priced at $550. This is the reply I received:
Hello
I still have the imac.
My name is Elizabeth Barker and I am now in Manchester, United Kingdom.
I hope you are still interested and we can make the deal happen right away.
Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.
I have found a way for us to complete the deal fast (3 days) and easy.
The solution is a worldwide delivery company called TNT. TNT is similar
to Fedex, DHL or UPS and they will provide assistance in hadling the
payment and delivery of the imac.
With this procedure I will only receive the payment for the imac
after you will receive it and see that it is just like I said it is.
Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the
imac right away.
Let me know what you think.
Best Regards,
Elizabeth
Absolute scam.
Hello
I still have the imac.
My name is Elizabeth Barker and I am now in Manchester, United Kingdom.
I hope you are still interested and we can make the deal happen right away.
Obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after.
I have found a way for us to complete the deal fast (3 days) and easy.
The solution is a worldwide delivery company called TNT. TNT is similar
to Fedex, DHL or UPS and they will provide assistance in hadling the
payment and delivery of the imac.
With this procedure I will only receive the payment for the imac
after you will receive it and see that it is just like I said it is.
Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the
imac right away.
Let me know what you think.
Best Regards,
Elizabeth
Absolute scam.
That sounds very familiar....
Hello,
The laptop is still available and I hope you are still interested. My name is Kyle Mosson and I am now in Manchester, U.K.
This machine has been used for professional needs over the past 10 Months, it is in great condition and runs perfectly, and beyond evidence of normal use the laptop is in perfect shape. The warranty is good until June 2008 and it is fully transferable. One more thing, it works on US voltage so you do not need a converter.
I have attached some pics with the laptop to this e-mail so you can see the condition of the laptop.
Please get back to me and let me know if you like the laptop if you're really interested in buying it.
Thanks,
Kyle
-------
I knew it was a scam because the pics sent in the email and those posted on craigslist were completely different and the price was too good.
Hello,
The laptop is still available and I hope you are still interested. My name is Kyle Mosson and I am now in Manchester, U.K.
This machine has been used for professional needs over the past 10 Months, it is in great condition and runs perfectly, and beyond evidence of normal use the laptop is in perfect shape. The warranty is good until June 2008 and it is fully transferable. One more thing, it works on US voltage so you do not need a converter.
I have attached some pics with the laptop to this e-mail so you can see the condition of the laptop.
Please get back to me and let me know if you like the laptop if you're really interested in buying it.
Thanks,
Kyle
-------
I knew it was a scam because the pics sent in the email and those posted on craigslist were completely different and the price was too good.
When I was looking in for one on craigslist, I work in Washington DC. I found the same one, and others suppose to be in DC but always the BS line "in Manchester, U.K." or my company bought this but I don't need it, BIG SCAM put out a little more and meet face to face with someone.
It most certainly is a scam. Read the phone number: one digit missing. And I checked craigs list in different cities and the same computer description came up with slightly different phone digits - always missing one.
Remember, you get what you pay for it. If it seems too good to be true - run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
Remember, you get what you pay for it. If it seems too good to be true - run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
It sounds like a scam to me. The old rule of, "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" comes to mind.
If you're not sure that a Mac is for you, but are willing to spend $500-$700 or so to find out, then I'd suggest either a new/used Mac Mini (refresh is supposed to be coming on the new ones), used iBook G4 (867Mhz+), or used Powerbook G4 (867Mhz+). Those all have plenty of power to run OS X Tiger at a minimum and give you a feel for a Mac. If you like it, you can always sell your first one and use that cash to upgrade to a MBP bought from a more reputable seller.
If you're not sure that a Mac is for you, but are willing to spend $500-$700 or so to find out, then I'd suggest either a new/used Mac Mini (refresh is supposed to be coming on the new ones), used iBook G4 (867Mhz+), or used Powerbook G4 (867Mhz+). Those all have plenty of power to run OS X Tiger at a minimum and give you a feel for a Mac. If you like it, you can always sell your first one and use that cash to upgrade to a MBP bought from a more reputable seller.
My take on the transition to a mac
Well, first of all you DON'T have to spend $2000 on a new one. Amazon is offering some great deals (obviously they must have lots of inventory of the 2007 models) and a $150 rebate to boot. Check this link.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1210257948&sr=1-9
After rebate your cost would be $1499 for a BRAND NEW machine with warranty similar to the one you are (or were) considering which looks like a scam to me.
If you are new to macs, go to an Apple store and check them out first. The Best Buy chain now also sells macs (don't know if it's in all their stores, but the one near me has a large Apple kiosk). I was in the market for a new PC last August and after several visits to the Apple store, I was convinced--and with 20+ years of PC experience it took some convincing.
Well, first of all you DON'T have to spend $2000 on a new one. Amazon is offering some great deals (obviously they must have lots of inventory of the 2007 models) and a $150 rebate to boot. Check this link.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1210257948&sr=1-9
After rebate your cost would be $1499 for a BRAND NEW machine with warranty similar to the one you are (or were) considering which looks like a scam to me.
If you are new to macs, go to an Apple store and check them out first. The Best Buy chain now also sells macs (don't know if it's in all their stores, but the one near me has a large Apple kiosk). I was in the market for a new PC last August and after several visits to the Apple store, I was convinced--and with 20+ years of PC experience it took some convincing.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
E-mailed him last night right after I started the post. No reply.
Hah, good spotting.
Thanks for the links; I'll check them out. Playing around with a Mac for 30 minutes is not going to help me find out whether or not a Mac is for me. What I need to do is live with it for a month+. Thanks for the advice!
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
always a fun thing to do after the crappy Manchester email, is to reply saying your going there for 3 weeks next week, and would like to meet and do payment then.
Always gets them.
I have been a windows user all my life, around 9 years by now, I know all the INS and outs, every trick, but because of this I want to switch, well also because I will be following a graphics career.
Always gets them.
I have been a windows user all my life, around 9 years by now, I know all the INS and outs, every trick, but because of this I want to switch, well also because I will be following a graphics career.
Same ad all over Indiana
I'm in Chicago and was quite amazed at the deal I found on a Macbook Pro ($650) in a South Bend, IN craigslist post... until I found the same ad in Indianapolis and 3 other Craigslist sites in Indianapolis. A google search of the 9 digit (incomplete) phone number lead me here to this forum. I guess I'll just wait to see if my emails to the seller get any response (several emails from different accounts responding to multiple craigslist ads). Thanks for confirming that this really IS too good to be true, Mac Rumors Forum.
...ps: anyone see a $100 iPhone yet?
I'm in Chicago and was quite amazed at the deal I found on a Macbook Pro ($650) in a South Bend, IN craigslist post... until I found the same ad in Indianapolis and 3 other Craigslist sites in Indianapolis. A google search of the 9 digit (incomplete) phone number lead me here to this forum. I guess I'll just wait to see if my emails to the seller get any response (several emails from different accounts responding to multiple craigslist ads). Thanks for confirming that this really IS too good to be true, Mac Rumors Forum.
...ps: anyone see a $100 iPhone yet?
You should not be amazed. You should know instantly that this is a scam. You seem like there is some question?
There are so many crooks on Ebay and the net it's mind numbing.
Do a Ebay search for any big ticket electronic device and among every 100 hits you can bet a few will be rip-offs.
Ebay has gotten better about it but it's been a bloody mess.
I would guess ten's of thousands people have been ripped off on ebay with thousands of them over $500 US.
Craiglist .........same thing I would think.
hang on ... the email from 'possible scammer' said that they would send the machine FIRST ,
before any money is sent ...so you can check it out
...what's so bad about that ? , if the machine is ok ...wire the money ...if not ..well, you've lost nothing, have you ?? as no money was sent ! .....maybe I'm being a little naive here ,
before any money is sent ...so you can check it out
...what's so bad about that ? , if the machine is ok ...wire the money ...if not ..well, you've lost nothing, have you ?? as no money was sent ! .....maybe I'm being a little naive here ,