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Just "won" this on Ebay....How do I keep this transaction safe?

I don't get these auctions. How can someone sell a USD 4500 specced machine for 3250? Even assuming he used an ADC discount the price comes down to ~3500 (?). Then FCE adds 200.

IS there any LEGITIMATE way this can be done? Why wouldn't you just return it. Stolen would be my bet, right?

eV
 
eVolcre said:
I don't get these auctions. How can someone sell a USD 4500 specced machine for 3250? Even assuming he used an ADC discount the price comes down to ~3500 (?). Then FCE adds 200.

IS there any LEGITIMATE way this can be done? Why wouldn't you just return it. Stolen would be my bet, right?

eV
Click to expand...

+1 Stolen
 
If he doesn't send back pics and something specific, I would tell him you have a friend or happen to be in the area and would like to meet up.

Call his bluff.

But no actual pictures of the machine, barely any activity in the last 3 years make it seem very fishy to me.

Best of luck.
 
Anyone buying such an expensive machine will buy Applecare. What happens when you register the serial number and it comes up as stolen? You're SOL right? Buying stolen property is a crime, even if you didn't know it was stolen.

I guess it could also be the 3 way CC scam. Bought legitimately from a stolen CC. Set a low reserve, quick auction, payment within 48 hours - profit

eV
 
AdamLikesMusic said:
Yeah, after looking over the auction, I'd see if perhaps your parents/someone close have a card you could use, and give them the money.

The bottom of the auction page states:
Click to expand...

I was unable to see where the item was only covered for that amount. Where is that information on the webpage?

The the buyer does also have the buysafely banner where it says my full purchase price is covered.
 
You do realize if you take out the trivial (cheap) stuff like Apple remote, iWork, and then Final Cut it's basically the same price if you were to order it from Apple...
 
Cloud9 said:
I was unable to see where the item was only covered for that amount. Where is that information on the webpage?

The the buyer does also have the buysafely banner where it says my full purchase price is covered.
Click to expand...

It's under "Payment details" at the bottom. Look on the right, under the "Buyer protection on eBay".
 
**** paypal. I got scammed for 2200 and they did not do *****. I paid using my credit card and I got my money back. Paypal basically sent me an email (btw its impossible to talk to a live person) and saying that they ruled against me. I just thought, ****-em, I'll go through my C.C. company and be done with it.

This seller is also fishy, like the other seller that scammed me. They too had 100% feedback but they were all small items sold under. I learned my lesson. Never by high priced items using paypal alone. Ebay and paypal as a company are scams, you have to protect yourself 100% don't rely on them to protect you.
 
Cloud9 said:
I dont have a credit card, only a debit card. Do I have any other way to protect myself? Seller responded back to me saying he was selling it for personal reasons and was better off ebaying the item then returning to apple.
Click to expand...

Is you credit rating so bad? Why not apply for the ebay credit card, if you get asap approval?
Why not ask a relative or friend to use their credit card and give them the money? This way you are PROTECTED. If you can find a relative(or friend if that's all you can find) that has an AMEX CC. AMEX is great when you have a dispute.

Also, this person's feedback, like you said is ALL buyer feedback. Plus, many of the sellers who left him feedback are 'no longer registered users.'

Third, I'm sure the s/w he's 'preloaded' is either s/w he's copied from a legitimate disc or is a pirated copy, which means you get no support or legitimate upgrade.

Why not get the refurb the person recommend? That way at least you're buying from a well known source.

Or find a friend who's a student and have them buy it from you from apple at the student discount? :p

Why do u NEED it in such a hurry? Unless you have a video editing job or something similar, I don't see why you can't wait.

Are you in such a hurry to lose over 3 grand? :D

What if PayPal makes a final decision in my favor?
If PayPal makes a final decision in your favor, we will collect any available funds in the seller’s PayPal balance at that time. However, recovery is not guaranteed and is limited only to the amounts that PayPal can recover from the seller’s Account. Any amounts collected from the seller will be placed in your Account.
 
I asked the seller to send me a serial # before I purchased. I called the apple store and that is waht they recommended I do. The seller responded back saying they were not comfortable selling to me anymore. I have instead purchased a refurbed 2.93 with matte. I feel much better about this purchase then ebay. Now I am just trying to decide whether to upgrade the ram right away or wait a month...

Thanks all. You protected me from my own greed!
 
Now that you know its a scam can you report the seller or something like that?
 
Cloud9 said:
Hi,

I just "won" this on ebay. I have until tomorrow to pay and I wanted advice on how to keep this transaction safe for me. I have a paypal account linked to a bank account, but the account is empty. I was going to pay with my debit card, but perhaps there is a better way. Seller wants payment with in 24 hours. I just want to make sure I am protected. Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=290324383145
Click to expand...

So the guy bought 135 or so items, all with no problems, never sold a thing, and now suddenly, out of the blue, he sells the top-of-the-range MBP with 8 GB of RAM. Looks very much like a hijacked account to me. Perfect for a scammer.

The person who bought these 135 items is probably a decent, honest person who would never dream of scamming you. The person who is selling the MBP most likely isn't.

eVolcre said:
I don't get these auctions. How can someone sell a USD 4500 specced machine for 3250? Even assuming he used an ADC discount the price comes down to ~3500 (?). Then FCE adds 200.

IS there any LEGITIMATE way this can be done? Why wouldn't you just return it. Stolen would be my bet, right?
Click to expand...

Why go through the hassle of stealing a computer when you might as well sell a computer that doesn't exist?
 
This looks like a definite classic scam to me. Could be wrong, but this has a typical "account hacked" look. No sales for years, and then suddenly one huuuuuge sale, with absolutely NO reason to have such a low reserve.

Proceed with caution. DEFINITELY get a picture or some proof of ownership. A serial number would do it. Then you can call Apple and make sure the serial number matches the equipment.
 
The price is not by itself an indication of a scam, because the price was not set by the seller. The OP won the auction, and the final price is simply the highest bid for the item.

That being said, yeah who knows about this one. I've only had to make 1 or 2 Paypal claims in the past and have gotten refunds for scam auctions, but obviously YMMV.

I think you are probably better off safe than sorry here. To be honest if a buyer suddenly started asking me all these questions AFTER the fact, I might be a bit uncomfortable too. But at the same time I think you did the right thing, and it's certainly within your right to, especially since the seller never listed photos in his auction.

One of the things I do when I'm interested in an auction but not sure of the seller, is to send the seller a message and ask if local pickup is okay. It's not a 100% bulletproof safety check, but if they say no then that's definitely questionable. Of course you should really check all these things out before the auction ends, and before you even place a bid.
 
WilliamG said:
This looks like a definite classic scam to me. Could be wrong, but this has a typical "account hacked" look. No sales for years, and then suddenly one huuuuuge sale, with absolutely NO reason to have such a low reserve.

Proceed with caution. DEFINITELY get a picture or some proof of ownership. A serial number would do it. Then you can call Apple and make sure the serial number matches the equipment.
Click to expand...

While I agree with just about everything you say, there is a big reason not to have a reserve at all in an auction- it dissuades potential bidders. Many many sellers sell stuff with no reserve at all, especially for high volume stuff like computers (where you know there will be multiple bidders.)

That being said, I agree it looks like potentially a hacked account.
 
madmaxmedia said:
While I agree with just about everything you say, there is a big reason not to have a reserve at all in an auction- it dissuades potential bidders. Many many sellers sell stuff with no reserve at all, especially for high volume stuff like computers (where you know there will be multiple bidders.)

That being said, I agree it looks like potentially a hacked account.
Click to expand...

and a majority of those sellers have another account that they shill bid with so they won't sell for too low.
 
madmaxmedia said:
The price is not by itself an indication of a scam, because the price was not set by the seller. The OP won the auction, and the final price is simply the highest bid for the item.

That being said, yeah who knows about this one. I've only had to make 1 or 2 Paypal claims in the past and have gotten refunds for scam auctions, but obviously YMMV.

I think you are probably better off safe than sorry here. To be honest if a buyer suddenly started asking me all these questions AFTER the fact, I might be a bit uncomfortable too. But at the same time I think you did the right thing, and it's certainly within your right to, especially since the seller never listed photos in his auction.

One of the things I do when I'm interested in an auction but not sure of the seller, is to send the seller a message and ask if local pickup is okay. It's not a 100% bulletproof safety check, but if they say no then that's definitely questionable. Of course you should really check all these things out before the auction ends, and before you even place a bid.
Click to expand...
by a seller not providing local pickup you think that's questionable? I sell all the time on ebay and don't provide local pickup bc i don't want random people showing up at my house. I am selling it ONLINE for a reason. If i wanted to meet a random person and sell them an item i would use the newspaper or sell at a garage sale.
 
I buy large purchases on eBay all the time and can tell you two things. One paying with Paypal will cover you in the event you don't receive your item.

Secondly paying by your debit card is fine. All these people who think that your credit card will give you protection in this event are actually wrong. In the case of 3rd party payments such as paypal, western union, nochex etc the credit card company only cover their commitment which is to ensure that the 3rd party is paid and the 3rd party pays the seller. The credit card company have no transaction with the seller themselves and do therefore not cover it. They only cover if the payment is paid directly to the seller by using your debit card and paypal the liability falls on paypal and not the card company.

Enjoy your purchase!
 
rmhop81 said:
by a seller not providing local pickup you think that's questionable? I sell all the time on ebay and don't provide local pickup bc i don't want random people showing up at my house. I am selling it ONLINE for a reason. If i wanted to meet a random person and sell them an item i would use the newspaper or sell at a garage sale.
Click to expand...

If you sell all the time and have good feedback, I wouldn't have bothered to ask you about local pickup- I would assume you are a trustworthy seller.

Again, it's just something I do when I'm not sure of the seller. Is it 100% accurate? Of course not. But it's just 1 thing I do.
 
rmhop81 said:
and a majority of those sellers have another account that they shill bid with so they won't sell for too low.
Click to expand...

For stuff like computers, iPods, etc. most sellers are wasting their time shill bidding. Besides if you go too far you're only going to end up winning your own auctions. Most stuff has a certain market value anyway.

Do you actually think the MAJORITY of sellers do shill bidding? If you simply behave like a good seller, describe your items accurately and post good photographs of your items, and give good service you will come out far better in the long run.
 
madmaxmedia said:


To be honest if a buyer suddenly started asking me all these questions AFTER the fact, I might be a bit uncomfortable too.
Click to expand...


Is asking for a serial number for a high $ product really that unreasonable? Once I asked for the serial number the seller told me they were canceling the transaction because they wanted to be cautious about me. To me that says the item was stolen. I believe they had it, but I felt like it was hot. In any case the seller is not returning my emails and won't let me buy.
 
Maybe he felt uncomfortable because he know the item was stolen.

OP, I say you made a good move. I was just thinking that the account could be hijacked before someone else said it. Enjoy your new MBP! I'm sure it'll last you a long while (barring any breaks, of course :p). Now just get Applecare on ebay for half the cost and you're good to go!
 
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