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alexlai5050

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 9, 2003
49
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Only a few days ago, a new web site was opened, offering Macs at
incredible low prices: http://www.applediscount.com . The site looks very
professional, with lots of Apple logo's and a shopping trolley system.

Just about the entire Apple hardware range is offered here, and the low
prices make ordering very tempting. Example: a 17" Powerbook for euro
1962,-

HOWEVER, here are the facts:
- The site shows no name, address, etc.
- The site claims to have a "warehouse" in Sittard (the Netherlands), but
is unknown to Apple-Netherlands.
- No Sales Policy ("yet"); no mention of transport fees, sales tax or
payment methods.
- The site address was registered only a few days ago (april 2nd),
stating only an address of an internet intermediary in London (DCA
Hosting, London, London W1R 7PB)
- Only after ordering, you are presented with the payment methods: no
credit card, just Western Union, check or Bank transfer (so paying, in
advance, means: no refunds!).
- After ordering (and only then), you receive a name of the bank account
holder, and a bank account number in Estonia:
Vitali Nikiforov
75501, Estonia, Saku, Asula 2-7
Hansabank Estonia Tallin, Liivalaia 8.
- This person, Vitali Nikiforov, is a well-known internet crook - search
the internet, and you will find scores of people who've payed him, never
to hear from him again.

Though most people probably won't fall for this scheme, the low prices
seem to blind quite a few people. And the professional look of the site
helps too.

The site ( http://www.applediscount.com/store/ ) at this moment looks
closed, but it has been reported that they may close it only for certain
IP ranges/countries. As the site has been discussed on several important
Dutch sites in the past few days, they may have decided to target
audiences elsewhere in Europe...

BE WARNED
 
When I see payment methods like Western Union, bank transfer, I stay away. A friend bought a Cinema Display oversees and the auctioner disappeared.

This reminds me of the Nigerian scheme.

If it's too good to be true, it is.
 
From an iPod review on said site:

"False distributor of Apple in internet That the prices do not dazzle, because is a swindle has appeared a place in called internet applediscount com, with truly professional aspect and piles of logos of Apple. Even has store online. It offers all the line of machines of Apple, and the low prices are tempting. Nevertheless, this is the reality: The place does not have a physical direction, neither name of business, etc. The place assures to have a "store" in Sittard (Low Countries), but nobody in Apple of that zone knows him. Do not they have politics of sales ( "still"), does not say which are the prices of the transportation, the taxes or forms of payment. The control was registered does only some you gave (April 2,, contributing only the direction of an intermediary of internet of London (DCA Hosting, London, London W1R 7PB) Only when have carried out your asked, appear the form of payment: there is not credit card, only Western Union, check or banking transfer (The payment in advance signifies that there is
not refund of the value) after carrying out the askedThen) the name of the recipient appears and the banking account for the transfer in Estonia: Vitali Nikiforov 75501, Estonia, Saku, Asula 2-7 Hansabank Estonia Tallin, Liivalaia 8. This person, Vitali Nikiforov, is a known thief of internet -you can do a search and will find data of persons that paid and never they returned to know about him. Although it is probable that the majority of the people do not sting, the so low prices can blind to some. And the cared for aspect of the place also helps to this deceit. The store at this time seems closed, but seems that it is a matter of a countries selection strategy through IPs. As the case extensively has been commented in all the Dutch places of internet in passed days, is possible that they have determined to attack to other audiences in other countries of Europe. "

Thanks for pointing it out.

http://www.applediscount.com/store/..._id/4?osCsid=bd4963518ceb796abb7029e7a49b08d8
 
I think they're closed down now. Good thing too.
If you want to visit them, you get a permission error (403). I tried it from Holland.
 
I am going to check this out tomorrow, and see what I can find! I live 4 miles from Sittard, so it should not be a problem.
 
sprinkle with a bit of futurama humour

Cool, i'm over there now checking out the brilliant prices, i've just placed an order for a dual 1.42 PM and 2 20 cinema displays!

Great!
 
Rather than pronounce judgement, here are some facts along with a little commentary.

Returns
We are unable to accept returns under any circumstances. All items are shipped factory-sealed. If you find any items to be missing from your box you should contact Apple (or the relevant manufacturer) directly under the terms of your warranty agreement. If you believe items have been damaged in transit you must contact UPS and they will provide you with a damage claim form.
Click to expand...
This should be a warning sign.

Another (as stated)
We accept Western Union orders from any country. Your order will not ship until we receive the MCTN payment number.
Click to expand...

A third warning sign is that there is little security, most especially for your password (even in creation).

This company could be legitimate, but then again.

First I decided to do a simple ping, just to see how far this company is.
applediscount.com -> 69.10.141.77-> Melbourne IT- or lest that’s as good of a sleuthing job as I have done so far. I was surprised to see that my pings averaged 67ms. To put this in relation, if I were on the Westcoast next to a T1 Apple.com would ping out at 47ms and the NYSE would ping out at 80ms (its along a T3). This puts the server (most likely) in the U.S., as bouncing to Europe (.uk addresses ping out at 90+ to 160ms on the average).

Traceing the jumps and working backwards:

  • USA- Washington DC
    from Canada (BC-69.10.141.660,
    BC- 69.10.128.10,
    BC-204.244.10.254,
    BC-204.244.12.13,
    VC-144.228.94.38[Sprint] )
    and then several jumps along Sprint or Sprintnet until you get to the US.

    From Whois
    Registrant: Domains By Proxy (TRYAIZDOMD) 16771 NE 80th Street, Suite 10 Redmond, WA 98052 US Domain Name: APPLEDISCOUNT.COM Administrative Contact, Technical Contact: VeriSign, Inc. (HOST-ORG) namehost@WORLDNIC.NET VeriSign, Inc. 21355 Ridgetop Circle Dulles, VA 20166 US 1-888-642-9675 Record expires on 29-Mar-2004. Record created on 29-Mar-2003. ...
    Click to expand...

    Not much else so far. There isn't to much to work with yet. It still could be legit, but hey, there are a lot of here and we can do research to see if it is.
 
MacZone won't accept returns either. That is why I will buy at the Apple store next time.
 
Originally posted by thirdeg
I am going to check this out tomorrow, and see what I can find! I live 4 miles from Sittard, so it should not be a problem.
Click to expand...

Cool, tell us if you got some informations please.
 
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