Pack PowerBooks Properly

[MultiFinder17]

Just wanted to share with you all a rather sad story. I'm a teacher, and I use a 1.5GHz 12" PowerBook that I've had since I was in college as my main machine for the classroom and lesson planning. I like it because it's small, relatively light, I have a long happy history with it, and it can be replaced for around $100 so I wouldn't be devastated if it walked off. My mother is also a teacher, and has become quite enamored with the little 'book. I was looking around for one to get her for Christmas this year, and I came across a 1.5GHz machine in nearly perfect shape on eBay for $70 shipped. The guy shipped it USPS priority, and that's where the story gets sad. Apparently the box took a few good whacks, and it was not packed very securely. It took a deep whack to the front right corner which smashed in and warped the base, palmrest, and lid. The lid doesn't close unless you mash it down, the frame is bent over the ODD, and the battery barely stays in. I haven't heard back from the seller on eBay when I reported the damage a few days back, so I may be stuck with it. It still works fine - if nothing else it will be good for spare parts for mine, or maybe I can whack it back into some semblance of shape. Moral of the story - pack your PowerBooks well.

 

[thescotsman4]

Sorry to see the damage done to this, I hope you can get your money back. I've always wanted a 12" Powerbook, they look like great little machines!

Some people are clueless when it comes to packing. I had someone ship me an iBook G3 in a USPS box...without any bubble wrap, foam board etc, just the iBook inside some flimsy cardboard. Unbelievably it wasn't damaged aside from a small hairline crack and booted without issues. Sucks to see you weren't as lucky.

 

[eyoungren]

File a claim with eBay. That's why they have buyer protection. They will go after the seller.

 

[catzilla]

Yep, I had a moron put a TiBook and a power brick in a priority mail box with no packing at all.

 

[happyfrappy]

Some people are clueless when it comes to packing. I had someone ship me an iBook G3 in a USPS box...without any bubble wrap, foam board etc, just the iBook inside some flimsy cardboard. Unbelievably it wasn't damaged aside from a small hairline crack and booted without issues. Sucks to see you weren't as lucky.

Doubtful if the seller packed it with more bubble wrap & foam would have mattered, USPS boxes have a lower crush ratio vs boxes you can buy at the UPS Store, OfficeDepot/Staples or reusing an Amazon/NewEgg box. Most USPS "flat rate" boxes are only able to sustain ~15-20 lb impact, chances are the OP's PowerBook was struck by a larger object with a double density box as it dropped through FedEx/UPS hub auto-sorter--I've had a few small Amazon boxes look like it was run over on the side.

 

[weckart]

I have had a few things damaged because of poor packaging - some arrived in an even worse state than yours. Just file a claim with eBay, upload the photos including the damage to the packaging and your money will be refunded by eBay even if the seller does not respond.

 

[thescotsman4]

Doubtful if the seller packed it with more bubble wrap & foam would have mattered, USPS boxes have a lower crush ratio vs boxes you can buy at the UPS Store, OfficeDepot/Staples or reusing an Amazon/NewEgg box. Most USPS "flat rate" boxes are only able to sustain ~15-20 lb impact, chances are the OP's PowerBook was struck by a larger object with a double density box as it dropped through FedEx/UPS hub auto-sorter--I've had a few small Amazon boxes look like it was run over on the side.

True. I guess there's a certain amount of luck involved. Shame to see a 'mint' Powerbook ruined by shipping. Hopefully he'll get a claim and his money back to find another PB!

 

[rawweb]

Just wanted to share with you all a rather sad story. I'm a teacher, and I use a 1.5GHz 12" PowerBook that I've had since I was in college as my main machine for the classroom and lesson planning. I like it because it's small, relatively light, I have a long happy history with it, and it can be replaced for around $100 so I wouldn't be devastated if it walked off. My mother is also a teacher, and has become quite enamored with the little 'book. I was looking around for one to get her for Christmas this year, and I came across a 1.5GHz machine in nearly perfect shape on eBay for $70 shipped. The guy shipped it USPS priority, and that's where the story gets sad. Apparently the box took a few good whacks, and it was not packed very securely. It took a deep whack to the front right corner which smashed in and warped the base, palmrest, and lid. The lid doesn't close unless you mash it down, the frame is bent over the ODD, and the battery barely stays in. I haven't heard back from the seller on eBay when I reported the damage a few days back, so I may be stuck with it. It still works fine - if nothing else it will be good for spare parts for mine, or maybe I can whack it back into some semblance of shape. Moral of the story - pack your PowerBooks well.View attachment 603303View attachment 603304View attachment 603305View attachment 603306

Just request a return on eBay. If an agreement between you and seller isn't reached by a certain date, eBay will step in and auto force a return. Buyer protection completely protects the buyer.

I myself just went through a horrendous sale and will never sell on eBay again. Sold a year old mint MacBook air and 10 days later the buyer suddenly "found a scratch" on the screen and requested a return because it wasn't as described. Ironically, it was the very same day black Friday sale prices were announced. I fought it the best I could but no matter what eBay in most cases sides with the buyer. Now I'm out about 100 bucks in shipping and get a returned scratched unit because the buyer found a way to easily scam the system.

If they can scam me, certainly you can use the system since your item is actually beyond damaged.

 

[thescotsman4]

I myself just went through a horrendous sale and will never sell on eBay again. Sold a year old mint MacBook air and 10 days later the buyer suddenly "found a scratch" on the screen and requested a return because it wasn't as described. Ironically, it was the very same day black Friday sale prices were announced. I fought it the best I could but no matter what eBay in most cases sides with the buyer. Now I'm out about 100 bucks in shipping and get a returned scratched unit because the buyer found a way to easily scam the system.

If they can scam me, certainly you can use the system since your item is actually beyond damaged.

I read about your situation in your thread, rather disappointed to hear that eBay sided with the buyer. Did they not accept your side of things, with pictures of the screen etc?

 

[rawweb]

In my opinion, they didn't seem to take any of my evidence into consideration. A phone call presented no additional information either. Since it's been a long nightmare with this buyer I would rather just get it over with and stop fighting it. Let's just hope I get the item back...

 

[thescotsman4]

In my opinion, they didn't seem to take any of my evidence into consideration. A phone call presented no additional information either. Since it's been a long nightmare with this buyer I would rather just get it over with and stop fighting it. Let's just hope I get the item back...

That's a real shame. Fingers crossed it gets back to you without any more issues.

 

[bobesch]

Just wanted to share with you all a rather sad story. I'm a teacher, and I use a 1.5GHz 12" PowerBook that I've had since I was in college as my main machine for the classroom and lesson planning. I like it because it's small, relatively light, I have a long happy history with it, and it can be replaced for around $100 so I wouldn't be devastated if it walked off. My mother is also a teacher, and has become quite enamored with the little 'book. I was looking around for one to get her for Christmas this year, and I came across a 1.5GHz machine in nearly perfect shape on eBay for $70 shipped. The guy shipped it USPS priority, and that's where the story gets sad. Apparently the box took a few good whacks, and it was not packed very securely. It took a deep whack to the front right corner which smashed in and warped the base, palmrest, and lid. The lid doesn't close unless you mash it down, the frame is bent over the ODD, and the battery barely stays in. I haven't heard back from the seller on eBay when I reported the damage a few days back, so I may be stuck with it. It still works fine - if nothing else it will be good for spare parts for mine, or maybe I can whack it back into some semblance of shape. Moral of the story - pack your PowerBooks well.View attachment 603303View attachment 603304View attachment 603305View attachment 603306

Sorry for you...
The "Curse of the Bogies" (or the smell of thousand smelly G3-keyboards) should hit seller and postal service!!!
If you don't get aid by eBay nor response from seller nor refund from USPS keep the PowerBook as a source for replacement-parts (Murphys Law might spill the next cup of coffee onto your beloved PowerBook...)
Get a white iBook G4 with 1,2 or 1,33 Ghz for your mother instead. She'll like the color!
Max out RAM with a 1GB Chip. (Mothers like us doing our best!)
Do the mSATA-IDE-Converter-mod. (Mothers like handcrafted gifts too!!!) It's no rocket science.
With a 128GB mSata that machine will hold the ultimate xmas-song library & much more.
You are happy that your mother likes the PB or the iBook (mine is too old to cope with the iPad & FaceTime without help unfortunately)
You're a good son!
Me too, or I'll try to be...

Another son.
Cheers and Merry Xmas.
Robert



PS: the "Red Apple" nicely fits for xmas...
PS2: & the replacement-batteries do fit better at the white iBooks

 

[rawweb]

I've got a 15" Late 2005 1.67, pm me if you're interested.

 

[Intell]

Reminds me of how I got a 1.5Ghz 12" from eBay as parts. It came in a manila envelope with postage, nothing else. No damage done to it, took it out, pressed the power button, started right up with the battery it came with to the welcome video. Still had 76% charge. It was promptly stripped down for parts. But I'll never forget or know how it lasted a cross country trip in just an envelope.

 

[bobesch]

Reminds me of how I got a 1.5Ghz 12" from eBay as parts. It came in a manila envelope with postage, nothing else. No damage done to it, took it out, pressed the power button, started right up with the battery it came with to the welcome video. Still had 76% charge. It was promptly stripped down for parts. But I'll never forget or know how it lasted a cross country trip in just an envelope.

Shame on you, stripping down that running unit just for parts ...

 

[Intell]

That's what it was sold as and bought for.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Welp, I just picked up another 12", this time on craigslist so no shipping worries. Got a 1.5GHz model in pretty decent shape for $75 with the power cord. Already got it all loaded up for my mother, got all of our school software, Office, etc on it, so she should enjoy it

 

[128keaton]

Welp, I just picked up another 12", this time on craigslist so no shipping worries. Got a 1.5GHz model in pretty decent shape for $75 with the power cord. Already got it all loaded up for my mother, got all of our school software, Office, etc on it, so she should enjoy it

Excellent! Interested in offloading the broken one for parts, to someone like me?

 

[bobesch]

Welp, I just picked up another 12", this time on craigslist so no shipping worries. Got a 1.5GHz model in pretty decent shape for $75 with the power cord. Already got it all loaded up for my mother, got all of our school software, Office, etc on it, so she should enjoy it

Nice to hear, everything came to a good end (al least concerning xmas).
I'd keep the crushed PB for replacement parts: optical drive, logic-board, keyboard, display, ac-adapter and battery... (I'd keep off the hard drive, since it might be unreliable after the crush - and changing the hard drive is too much of a hassle to use anything else but an mSata mod. Buying one of the above replacement-parts is currently much more expensive than you will get from selling your damaged PB. It might also be a good idea to find another non working device assemble a working unit...

 

[MultiFinder17]

Excellent! Interested in offloading the broken one for parts, to someone like me?

I think that I'm gonna keep it around - seeing as how I have two of these little guys around now, it'd be good to have a parts machine. Everything internally works, it's just ugly as sin

 

[thescotsman4]

Welp, I just picked up another 12", this time on craigslist so no shipping worries. Got a 1.5GHz model in pretty decent shape for $75 with the power cord. Already got it all loaded up for my mother, got all of our school software, Office, etc on it, so she should enjoy it

Glad to hear you managed to source another PB! Hope your Mum loves her new Mac when she gets it.

 

[rawweb]

Glad you got everything taken care of! Please tell me you opened a return claim with eBay and have your money back?

Out of curiosity, what kind of programs do you and your mom enjoy these days on those old beasts?

 

[flyrod]

That's too bad! The 12" powebook is my favorite.

 

[bobesch]

Out of curiosity, what kind of programs do you and your mom enjoy these days on those old beasts?

Here's a list of nice progs that work on Leopard PPC (iBookG4 1,2GHz).
I'm also curious about more suggestions...

 

[MultiFinder17]

Glad you got everything taken care of! Please tell me you opened a return claim with eBay and have your money back?

Out of curiosity, what kind of programs do you and your mom enjoy these days on those old beasts?

I opened a case with eBay about ten minutes after I opened the box; I waited for several days for the seller to respond, and now eBay is getting involved because the seller has stayed mum. Still waiting to see what eBay has to say about it all.

As for software, it's mostly productivity stuff. MS Office 2008, FirstClass, iCal, and QuickTime are probably my most used applications in the classroom on a daily basis.