Help on Laptop Deals

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi All,

I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
answer.

(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
a lot there)

(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
this list?

(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?

(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
thorough reviews out there?

Thanks,
ent.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

>Hi All,
>
>I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
>with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
>answer.
>
>(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
>~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
>the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
>sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
>on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
>ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
>on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
>a lot there)
>
>(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
>Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
>laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
>this list?
>
>(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
>
>(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
>was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
>proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
>thorough reviews out there?
>
>Thanks,
>ent.

Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"entropy123" <email_entropy123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:90cdce37.0408141828.6b325b3a@posting.google.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> answer.
>
> (1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> ~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> on e-bay for $1400 or so.

Perhaps the operative term here is "a while back". If a new model came out
in the interim, the predecessor models all take a real hit in price. That
said, there are scams on ebay and I'd be very hesitant about buying anything
there that cost more than a few hundred $.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

AndrewJ <andrewj@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k3jth05ltqvj9t3kvh1lhv4kvh3stee6qt@4ax.com...
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> >with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> >answer.
> >
> >(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> >~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> >the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> >sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> >on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
> >ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
> >on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
> >a lot there)
> >
> >(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
> >Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
> >laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
> >this list?
> >
> >(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
> >
> >(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
> >was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
> >proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
> >thorough reviews out there?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >ent.
>
> Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
> believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
> Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
> to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
> manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".

Why would want to buy a 'NEW' laptop on ebay? No warrenty, no service, no
one to complain to. Too riskey.
Are you saying that 33% of all items sold on fleabay are stolen? Anyway,
buy from a real store, at least you will have someone to complain to and
always use a credit card on major purchases at stores or on eBay.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

AndrewJ <andrewj@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k3jth05ltqvj9t3kvh1lhv4kvh3stee6qt@4ax.com...
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> >with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> >answer.
> >
> >(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> >~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> >the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> >sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> >on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
> >ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
> >on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
> >a lot there)
> >
> >(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
> >Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
> >laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
> >this list?
> >
> >(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
> >
> >(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
> >was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
> >proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
> >thorough reviews out there?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >ent.
>
> Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
> believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
> Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
> to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
> manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".

Why would want to buy a 'NEW' laptop on ebay? No warrenty, no service, no
one to complain to. Too riskey.
Are you saying that 33% of all items sold on fleabay are stolen? Anyway,
buy from a real store, at least you will have someone to complain to and
always use a credit card on major purchases at stores or on eBay.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

AndrewJ <andrewj@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k3jth05ltqvj9t3kvh1lhv4kvh3stee6qt@4ax.com...
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> >with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> >answer.
> >
> >(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> >~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> >the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> >sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> >on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
> >ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
> >on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
> >a lot there)
> >
> >(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
> >Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
> >laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
> >this list?
> >
> >(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
> >
> >(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
> >was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
> >proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
> >thorough reviews out there?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >ent.
>
> Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
> believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
> Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
> to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
> manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".

Why would want to buy a 'NEW' laptop on ebay? No warrenty, no service, no
one to complain to. Too riskey.
Are you saying that 33% of all items sold on fleabay are stolen? Anyway,
buy from a real store, at least you will have someone to complain to and
always use a credit card on major purchases at stores or on eBay.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

AndrewJ <andrewj@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k3jth05ltqvj9t3kvh1lhv4kvh3stee6qt@4ax.com...
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> >with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> >answer.
> >
> >(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> >~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> >the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> >sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> >on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
> >ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
> >on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
> >a lot there)
> >
> >(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
> >Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
> >laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
> >this list?
> >
> >(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
> >
> >(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
> >was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
> >proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
> >thorough reviews out there?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >ent.
>
> Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
> believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
> Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
> to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
> manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".

Why would want to buy a 'NEW' laptop on ebay? No warrenty, no service, no
one to complain to. Too riskey.
Are you saying that 33% of all items sold on fleabay are stolen? Anyway,
buy from a real store, at least you will have someone to complain to and
always use a credit card on major purchases at stores or on eBay.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Sorry about the multiple posts



;-p <no_spam_here34474@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:411f42ca_2@newsfeed.slurp.net...
>
> AndrewJ <andrewj@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:k3jth05ltqvj9t3kvh1lhv4kvh3stee6qt@4ax.com...
> >
> > >Hi All,
> > >
> > >I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> > >with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> > >answer.
> > >
> > >(1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> > >~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
> > >the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
> > >sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
> > >on e-bay for $1400 or so. What is confusing is that I've never seen an
> > >ultralight Sony, IBM, Fujitsu, or Toshiba go on sale, yet they appear
> > >on e-bay all the time. (Am not really into buying on e-bay, but I see
> > >a lot there)
> > >
> > >(2) Are there sellers who get really good bargains and then resell?
> > >Rumor has it that Harvard grads get ~$500 off the purchase of an IBM
> > >laptop...might be a nice way to make a few bucks....How do I get on
> > >this list?
> > >
> > >(3) "Whitebox" laptops?: Worth the risk?
> > >
> > >(4) Independent Reviews: One reason I didn't jump on the nc4000 deal
> > >was my bad experience with HP/compaq desktop computers. All those
> > >proprietary parts tended to piss me off. Is there a good source of
> > >thorough reviews out there?
> > >
> > >Thanks,
> > >ent.
> >
> > Much of the time 1/3 of the items at flea markets are stolen. Experts
> > believe this holds true for ebay or worse.
> > Request the serial number before buying. Then contact the manufacturer
> > to see the status. Many have posted here that after doining that the
> > manufacturer says "that unit is in our warehouse and has not shipped".
>
> Why would want to buy a 'NEW' laptop on ebay? No warrenty, no service, no
> one to complain to. Too riskey.
> Are you saying that 33% of all items sold on fleabay are stolen? Anyway,
> buy from a real store, at least you will have someone to complain to and
> always use a credit card on major purchases at stores or on eBay.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

you could always limit your search to items near you so you could see/pick
up the stuff before you forked over your money. Personally, it's too risky
for me. www.newegg.com has always been a favorite of mine ad far as online
retailers
"Ian S" <iws51remove@cox.net> wrote in message
news:cRITc.25977$Bb.20538@lakeread08...
> "entropy123" <email_entropy123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:90cdce37.0408141828.6b325b3a@posting.google.com...
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
>> with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
>> answer.
>>
>> (1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
>> ~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for
>> the same unit? To answer my own question, the Compaq/HP nc4000 was on
>> sale at www.ecost.com a while back and those units are now perenially
>> on e-bay for $1400 or so.
>
> Perhaps the operative term here is "a while back". If a new model came out
> in the interim, the predecessor models all take a real hit in price. That
> said, there are scams on ebay and I'd be very hesitant about buying
> anything
> there that cost more than a few hundred $.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Your question is easy to answer and that's why ebay is not for you.
Processor, graphics card, wireless, memory, hard disk and cd options are
just too variable. You may get lucky, but the odds are against you.

I just purchased Office 2003 today, and it got past me it was money order
only. The seller's email is invalid and he lists a phone in a different
town that his mailing. I still may do the deal if I get a call and
explaination. There are enough flags to go carefully on this deal, and it's
a sealed box with software.

"entropy123" <email_entropy123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:90cdce37.0408141828.6b325b3a@posting.google.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I've been looking for a laptop for two months now and have come up
> with a few questions about the laptop market which I hope someone can
> answer.
>
> (1) How can someone on e-bay afford to sell a brand new laptop for
> ~$1400 when the lowest price anywhere on the internet is $1800+ for