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WTF do I do now?! (buying Macbook Pro)

J

Jamesesesesess

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 26, 2011
595
66
Hey guys! I'm new here so sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section. I've been wanting a Macbook Pro for a while now and last night I finally jumped the gun and bought a new MC721LL/A on eBay for $1,500. Good deal, right? Well I've also been checking Craigslist too, and I found some AMAZING deals on there. Sketchy? Absolutely. But you never know the deals you can find on there. I found this fully loaded, used Macbook Pro (Feb 2011 model) for $1,000. I would probably not even consider it because of how good of a deal it sounds, but read the message that the seller sent me:

Hi there,
My 15" Macbook Pro is still available and it's in excellent condition, has a Wrapsol clear skin installed on top and bottom case and palm rests and also the battery has only 67 power cycles on it. I'm selling it because I already bought a new iMac and I don't need the macbook any more. This is the newest model which was just released on February 24, 2011, with the Thunderbolt Port. It was purchased on March 31 from an Authorized Apple Reseller and it has every available upgrade and accessory,it's still under warranty till March 31, 2012 but you can also purchase additional extended AppleCare Warranty coverage. This unit, runs OSX Lion 10.7.1, comes also with MS Office 2011, Adobe CS5 and iLife 2011, I will provide the install discs for all the software and also the original purchase receipt. The final price I want for it is $1000.
Get back to me if you are interested in purchasing it so I can provide more details!
Thank you!

SERIAL #: [removed]


Specs:
*Intel i7 2.3Ghz Quad Core Sandy bridge CPU (2820QM) turbo boosts up to 3.4Ghz
*8GB 1333Mhz DDR3 Ram
*AMD 6750M 1GB DDR5 Vram graphics chip with auto switchable graphics Intel HD3000
*Hi-res (1680x1050) Anti-glare screen no dead pixels
*750GB HDD 5400 RPM
*Thunderbolt port
*SD card slot
*Optical DVD drive
*FaceTime HD (720P) iSight camera
*Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1
Click to expand...

In the pictures it also shows the original box, along with screencaps of the 'About this Mac' section showing the specs with the matching serial # next to it.

They said they have the original receipt, should I be able to trust them? What should I do? Ask the seller that I bought my new Macbook from to refund me, then go after this? Or should I keep my new Macbook and try to convince one of my parents to give me $1,000 to buy this, then if this deal turns out legit, sell my new Macbook?

No way in hell am I just going to let this deal slide by without reasonable cause, it's too good.
 
If you already bought the Mac from the one seller, I would just stay with the one you got.
 
Jamesesesesess said:
Hey guys! I'm new here so sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section. I've been wanting a Macbook Pro for a while now and last night I finally jumped the gun and bought a new MC721LL/A on eBay for $1,500. Good deal, right? Well I've also been checking Craigslist too, and I found some AMAZING deals on there. Sketchy? Absolutely. But you never know the deals you can find on there. I found this fully loaded, used Macbook Pro (Feb 2011 model) for $1,000. I would probably not even consider it because of how good of a deal it sounds, but read the message that the seller sent me:



In the pictures it also shows the original box, along with screencaps of the 'About this Mac' section showing the specs with the matching serial # next to it.

They said they have the original receipt, should I be able to trust them? What should I do? Ask the seller that I bought my new Macbook from to refund me, then go after this? Or should I keep my new Macbook and try to convince one of my parents to give me $1,000 to buy this, then if this deal turns out legit, sell my new Macbook?

No way in hell am I just going to let this deal slide by without reasonable cause, it's too good.
Click to expand...

This is why I always like to research my options before "jumping the gun". Well, actually, at that point, my decision wouldn't even be considered "jumping the gun" - it would just be considered a damn good decision.

Now, in your case, you have "jumped the gun", only to be shot in the back.

Craigslist is a breeding ground for good deals and ill intentions.
Still, though such a deal does sound too good to be true, it is most probably legitimate as the poster is offering the receipt, original packaging, & pictures w/ his post.

If this is eating you up inside, and re-selling the EBay purchase is not too much of a hassle, sure, go ahead, just do it already.
 
visim91 said:
This is why I always like to research my options before "jumping the gun". Well, actually, at that point, my decision wouldn't even be considered "jumping the gun" - it would just be considered a damn good decision.

Now, in your case, you have "jumped the gun", only to be shot in the back.

Craigslist is a breeding ground for good deals and ill intentions.
Still, though such a deal does sound too good to be true, it is most probably legitimate as the poster is offering the receipt, original packaging, & pictures w/ his post.

If this is eating you up inside, and re-selling the EBay purchase is not too much of a hassle, sure, go ahead, just do it already.
Click to expand...

Honestly though, I've been looking at the prices of Macbooks for months now. I've seen a few go in the $1,200s range, or a little higher (used I mean, I was originally going to purchase a used one). But as of late I've seen most go around $1,400, which is why I thought a new one for $1,500 was such a steal. I think my case was just horrible, horrible timing and bad luck.

I've messaged the seller on eBay about giving me a refund, but also holding the laptop for me (in exchange for like $10 PayPal) incase this Craigslist deal ends up being a scam. I hope he says yes, but otherwise I'll just resell it.
 
Jamesesesesess said:
Honestly though, I've been looking at the prices of Macbooks for months now. I've seen a few go in the $1,200s range, or a little higher (used I mean, I was originally going to purchase a used one). But as of late I've seen most go around $1,400, which is why I thought a new one for $1,500 was such a steal. I think my case was just horrible, horrible timing and bad luck.

I've messaged the seller on eBay about giving me a refund, but also holding the laptop for me (in exchange for like $10 PayPal) incase this Craigslist deal ends up being a scam. I hope he says yes, but otherwise I'll just resell it.
Click to expand...

Then you have answered your own question, haven't you?
 
reminds me of the scam where they rent the same apartment to 25 people because those 25 people could not resist the deal ... $25,000

I would just go meet the guy in person and check out the computer

good luck
 
Jamesesesesess said:
I'm asking for different opinions on the situation. Maybe a point of view that I never thought of that could change my decision.
Click to expand...

You have already entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the MBP from the eBay seller, so all you can really do is ask if you can renege on the deal. Asking him to hold it for you while you check to see if a Craigslist offer is legit is unfair to him. If I was the seller, I would refuse to do that.

Another thing you could do is ask if the eBay seller will do a 2nd chance offer to the 2nd highest bidder, and pay the difference between what he sold it to you for and what the 2nd highest bidder paid.
 
IllIllIll said:
You have already entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the MBP from the eBay seller, so all you can really do is ask if you can renege on the deal. Asking him to hold it for you while you check to see if a Craigslist offer is legit is unfair to him. If I was the seller, I would refuse to do that.

Another thing you could do is ask if the eBay seller will do a 2nd chance offer to the 2nd highest bidder, and pay the difference between what he sold it to you for and what the 2nd highest bidder paid.
Click to expand...

I bid $1, I hope I was second.
 
IllIllIll said:
You have already entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the MBP from the eBay seller, so all you can really do is ask if you can renege on the deal. Asking him to hold it for you while you check to see if a Craigslist offer is legit is unfair to him. If I was the seller, I would refuse to do that.

Another thing you could do is ask if the eBay seller will do a 2nd chance offer to the 2nd highest bidder, and pay the difference between what he sold it to you for and what the 2nd highest bidder paid.
Click to expand...

You're right, I just told the seller that he can continue the purchase and send it to me. I'll resell it if I go forward with the Craigslist offer.

It was a Buy It Now auction, so I can't do that.

Swain said:
I bid $1, I hope I was second.
Click to expand...

Death
aln0H.gif
 
What part of 'too good to be true" do you not get? "Deals like this, most especially on craigslist or almost certainly scams, stolen, fakes, etc. You're going down a dumb road IMO.
 
Ant.honey said:
What part of 'too good to be true" do you not get? "Deals like this, most especially on craigslist or almost certainly scams, stolen, fakes, etc. You're going down a dumb road IMO.
Click to expand...

I don't see what the harm is in just checking it out. Maybe the deal IS true. And if the seller is local to the OP, they can simply meet in a public area and the OP can inspect the product in person before handing over any money.
 
Have you contacted the person on CL yet?

About 75% of the MacBooks on CL are scams.

When you contact them, they will say something like " I had to go out of town/country all of the sudden and I am currently in the UK, Canada, insert random country/state far away here".

Now if it is a person who has it locally and is willing to meet locally go for it.

But like i said 75% of the MacBooks on CL are this scam.
 
I don't know about the 75% number, but there ARE a lot of scams on Craigslist. If the seller won't meet you locally in a public place and insists on completing the transaction online or via mail I would bail on it right away.
 
Jazwire said:
Have you contacted the person on CL yet?

About 75% of the MacBooks on CL are scams.

When you contact them, they will say something like " I had to go out of town/country all of the sudden and I am currently in the UK, Canada, insert random country/state far away here".

Now if it is a person who has it locally and is willing to meet locally go for it.

But like i said 75% of the MacBooks on CL are this scam.
Click to expand...
I agree completely. I would meet him in person before you do anything.
 
Yes, of course I will be sure to meet in a public area (I'm thinking a Starbucks at a mall?). I don't really see the harm in checking it out, I just don't want to buy it and have it break down on me or something. It still has Applecare which I guess would help.

The person hasn't asked any funny stuff about sending them money, or having it shipped to me, or any of that. Nothing that has yelled SCAM to me, besides of course the price itself. But they're willing to give me the original receipt, I don't know why I couldn't trust them :confused:

I'm going to ask them why they're selling it so cheap, it really doesn't make sense.
 
Jamesesesesess said:
Hey guys! I'm new here so sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section. I've been wanting a Macbook Pro for a while now and last night I finally jumped the gun and bought a new MC721LL/A on eBay for $1,500. Good deal, right? Well I've also been checking Craigslist too, and I found some AMAZING deals on there. Sketchy? Absolutely. But you never know the deals you can find on there.
Click to expand...

Around this time of year there are a bunch of ( what look to be ) good deals on craigslist.

A lot of college students selling off gear that someone got them that they don't use or that they want to sell because of financing next semester etc.

Typical caution applies to craigslist purchases ( or even extreme caution ). Meet in neutral location that has adequate protection etc. If it looks shady going in just ditch out.

Verify machine is in working condition and double check serial number on machine against whatever you were told it was. If you are sure it is still under warranty that's all good.
 
Jamesesesesess said:
I'm going to ask them why they're selling it so cheap, it really doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Except if the seller is a complete idiot, he knows he could get a few more hundreds for it. It seems pretty odd to me.

But if you check it out and everything seems fine then go for it I guess.

Even though there could be problems that won't notice after only a few minutes use. We've had 2 laptops shut down after 30-60min in my family. Even though they weren't macs, you can never be sure.
 
IllIllIll said:
I don't know about the 75% number, but there ARE a lot of scams on Craigslist. If the seller won't meet you locally in a public place and insists on completing the transaction online or via mail I would bail on it right away.
Click to expand...


Dunno about 75%, but a lot of stolen laptops move on CL. We have 900 or so at work, and more often when one walks it shows up on CL.

The receipt is an east creation with any word processing program,.
 
Ccrew said:
Dunno about 75%, but a lot of stolen laptops move on CL. We have 900 or so at work, and more often when one walks it shows up on CL.

The receipt is an east creation with any word processing program,.
Click to expand...

I think I'll be able to tell the difference between a fake receipt and a real one, I doubt it's that easy to make a legit looking fake.
 
Ccrew said:
Dunno about 75%, but a lot of stolen laptops move on CL. We have 900 or so at work, and more often when one walks it shows up on CL.

The receipt is an east creation with any word processing program,.
Click to expand...

For a second I thought you had 900 stolen laptops at work and was trying to figure out wth you do for a living ;)
 
How do you know the ebay deal is legit? I'd never shell out those big buckx on ebay. At least with the sounds too good to be true cl deal you can meet the seller in a public safe place and examine the computer carefully.
 
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