Legit?

[90003]

na

 

[Blue Velvet]

I always thought requiring pre-approved bidders was another warning sign but I'm not entirely sure why. I don't use eBay for large-ticket items.

 

[Maxiseller]

There is another listing similar to this one floating around for an iMac.

The problems with the listing are three-fold:

1) The listing has no real pictures
2) There is a pre approved bidding list. Screams danger. Probably will get you to pay him outside eBay by the time you've contacted him.
3) The price is obviously very low. Whatever he says, even if he won it in a competition he's still going to get the very best price he can.

Stay away!

 

[KD7IWP]

I would be a bit concerned because he says he is listing it elsewhere and can cancel the auction at any time. It seems tricky to me. My opinion, don't do it.

 

[WildCowboy]

The formatting looks awfully similar to the one mentioned here...you can see all the reasons that one appears to be a scam.

 

[vniow]

The general rule of thumb is if you have to ask, then probably not.

 

[ChickenSwartz]

No real pictures is a big sign I think. I vote scam.

 

[Flowbee]

I'm guessing that as soon as you request pre-approval, he'll offer to sell it to you outside of eBay... with Western Union or wire transfer as payment.

 

[90003]

na

 

[ChickenSwartz]

Contact him, ask for approval and if he asks you to do it outside of ebay report him, they will suspend the account (usually at least). If he doesn't offer, ask for real pictures.

 

[ChickenSwartz]

Thanks for the quick replies

What About this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-MacBook...yZ141177QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

nope

 

[90003]

na

 

[WildCowboy]

Thanks for the quick replies

What About this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-MacBook...yZ141177QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

At first glance, this one appears okay to me. It follows the style and template of his other recent successful auctions. Nothing about it jumps out at me as scammy.

Don't know what the reserve price is on it, but the BIN price is reasonable.

I'm also curious about why ChickenSwartz doesn't like it.

 

[90003]

na

 

[WildCowboy]

On the second one, Is it me or is something wrong with the Box, where it says 'MacBook'. It looks pixelated etc... or is that my old crap laptop?

If that is, anyone know why?

I think it's just really crappy compression of the image.

 

[ChickenSwartz]

OK maybe to say it is not legit would not yet be called for. I wouldn't buy though.

-Why is the picture so blurry? If you want to sell something, you need to be sure the person can see your product.
-What's the deal with all the other pictures?
-Before I would buy off e-bay I would make sure you see a picture of the screen and keyboard.

 

[Mr. DG]

the 1st macbook one is a scam. Exactly the same format as this iMac auction:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Apple-iMac-G5...oryZ4603QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


The clever thing is it's not a take-all-your-money and leave you with no computer type scam; it's to get you to sign up to their pyramid scheme when they get in touch with you; telling you the computer has been sold elsewhere.

The 2nd one looks genuine. Plus Currys were selling off those CD macbooks for £699 so £650 doesn't seem too cheap like the other ones.

The real test is always contacting the buyer then using your common sense to read between the lines of the emails.

 

[nitynate]

Simple answer.

Legit?
No.