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

[IllIllIll]

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.

At least eBay offers some degree of buyer and seller protection that Craigslist doesn't have.

I've been on eBay since 1997 and after several thousand transactions as both a buyer and seller, I've had problems with less than 0.5% of them.

 

[thundersteele]

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.

I bought my MBP through the apple online store, with in store pickup. My receipt was mailed to me. I could print it 100 times, and it would probably be very easy to modify the PDF to change the serial number.

Buy a refurb from apple!

 

[miker2209]

I think the best choice for you is just to keep the MBP you have right now, it's too much of a hassle to contact the seller on ebay and then contact the guy in CL.
But, if u still want to go ahead and get the one on CL i think it's best if u meet this guy in person and check out the machine yourself. There are so many ways to scam on the internet you can never know. Check how long he's been trying to sell the laptop, a good deal like that usually goes quick, if the posts was quite awhile ago i'd think twice.

 

[Jamesesesesess]

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.

Why not? eBay is totally safe, PayPal makes it even safer.

The seller is a top-rated seller with 99.4% feedback, check out the listing yourself: http://www.ebay.com/itm/33064811316...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_500wt_1180

I bought my MBP through the apple online store, with in store pickup. My receipt was mailed to me. I could print it 100 times, and it would probably be very easy to modify the PDF to change the serial number.

Buy a refurb from apple!

That's true, I was thinking about a regular store receipt printed on that thin paper. I'll see what the guy says and if he can send me pictures of the receipt/s. He takes forever to reply

I was thinking about buying a refurb, but I would rather get a new one for $140 more. But I would also love getting a better model that's used for $500 less

I think the best choice for you is just to keep the MBP you have right now, it's too much of a hassle to contact the seller on ebay and then contact the guy in CL.
But, if u still want to go ahead and get the one on CL i think it's best if u meet this guy in person and check out the machine yourself. There are so many ways to scam on the internet you can never know. Check how long he's been trying to sell the laptop, a good deal like that usually goes quick, if the posts was quite awhile ago i'd think twice.

I've already told the eBay seller to just ship it to me, he said he couldn't hold it for me anyway because he'd be relisting it for Black Friday. He even gave me tips about being safe on Craigslist if I get the Macbook on there but the laptop has been on there since late last month, strange how it hasn't sold yet but I'm not surprised with how long he takes to reply...

I'll keep you guys updated, if everything checks out I'll be meeting up with this guy next weekend to check it out and buy it if everything is okay.

 

[Ant.honey]

Face it. The craigslist thing is a scam. Him taking so long to reply is even more indicative that it's not legit - because he's probably in a country many time zones from you. Also, it hasn't sold... cmon man. You are the reason scammers keep trying.

This thread will no longer be replied to by you very soon I'm certain, because you'll be embarrassed to let everyone know that you got scammed or that it was indeed a scam. You're asking for it. His next replies to you will be apologies and excuses and "here's the deal.."

Why not? eBay is totally safe, PayPal makes it even safer.

The seller is a top-rated seller with 99.4% feedback, check out the listing yourself: http://www.ebay.com/itm/33064811316...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_500wt_1180



That's true, I was thinking about a regular store receipt printed on that thin paper. I'll see what the guy says and if he can send me pictures of the receipt/s. He takes forever to reply

I was thinking about buying a refurb, but I would rather get a new one for $140 more. But I would also love getting a better model that's used for $500 less



I've already told the eBay seller to just ship it to me, he said he couldn't hold it for me anyway because he'd be relisting it for Black Friday. He even gave me tips about being safe on Craigslist if I get the Macbook on there but the laptop has been on there since late last month, strange how it hasn't sold yet but I'm not surprised with how long he takes to reply...

I'll keep you guys updated, if everything checks out I'll be meeting up with this guy next weekend to check it out and buy it if everything is okay.

 

[sjinsjca]

Sounds really good, almost too good to be true, but the availability of the install disks, packaging, receipts etc. make it sound like a safe buy.

Is there AppleCare on it? If not, is it sufficiently new to add it? If so, do so.

You can always sell the one you bought on Ebay back on Ebay.

--S.

 

[Jamesesesesess]

HAHAHA, well you guys were right, it's a scam.

I got a reply:

Hi again,
Before we go forward with this sale I want to tell you that I'm in Charlotte NC.
I will make the deal only through eBay. I'm a member of the eBay Buyer protection program and using this service you will get a 5 days testing period after delivery and the shipping will be supported by me. I want to let you know that this will be a fast process , I will ship the macbook overnight and you will receive it the next day, and I will be only receiving the money from eBay after you receive the macbook and confirm the purchase to eBay.
Let me know if you are still interested in buying it so I can contact eBay and set up a transaction asap. In order to do that I will need to contact them with your name and address (for shipping) and after this you will be automatically included in the eBay Buyer Protection program and you will receive an invoice with further info about the process.
Regards

I guess this is just further proof that if something sounds too good to be true, it is.

I replied anyway, just to see what he says and so I can see how scammers work:

No, if you want me to buy it you will make an actual eBay listing like everyone else does, then I will pay you via PayPal on eBay. This shows every sign of a scam so if we do any deals, it will be either in real life or through the actual eBay and PayPal services.

Well I have to say I'm relieved that this was a scam, I'm excited to get my new basic Macbook Pro (which just shipped out today Fedex btw ) thanks guys!

 

[IllIllIll]

Nice no-nonsense response. Congrats on not getting scammed.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

Of course it was No way someone is selling that computer for $1k, when the software included alone is worth more than that, not to mention the hardware.

That being said, I successfully bought a 2009 13" MBP on CL for $330, because the screen was broken. Fixed the screen myself, and now it's a great little computer. Felt somewhat sketchy, as we met downtown at about 11 PM, though the time was just because of when I actually found the listing.