Notebook online auction buying guide
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) Be wary of multiple good ratings from unrated raters. (Click for larger image) |
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One of the surest ways to find if the seller is genuine is to look at his rating and read up on his past deals. Has he been prompt with sending the item out after receiving the money? Does he provide after-sales support if the item turns up to be faulty? It makes more sense to buy from a someone with high ratings as he will be unlikely to jeopardize his good reputation to scam a few hundred dollars.
But be careful of those who seem to have only good ratings. Some create multiple accounts to boost the their own ratings while not actually making any sales. Take a closer look at those who gave the seller good ratings. If most of them are unrated or have low ratings, it is likely that they belong to the same user trying to portray a false image of trustworthiness. Other tell-tale signs include ridiculously low prices and misrepresenting where the item is actually located.
Price fixing
The bidding system is hardly fool-proof. There are many methods to boost the selling price, one of which is to bid for the item with a second account with hopes that you will try to up the stakes. Countering this is easy. Make sure you do your market research and be firm on the price you are willing to pay. Remember, notebooks are not antiques. If this one is too expensive, wait and another might soon pop up.
Because my label says so
I cannot emphasize the importance of doing your homework when it comes to buying online. Know the terminology of notebooks, like what constitutes a Centrino system, the difference between integrated and discrete graphics cards, etc. Recently, there was a case of Intel Centrino stickers being sold online which some unscrupulous people used to badge their non-Centrino machines as Centrino systems to fetch a higher price.
To avoid this scenario, request that the user email a screen grab of the notebook's system configuration before bidding. True, he may send you one from a different machine, but at least you will have documented proof if he trys the old switcharoo trick.
Really hot items
No, I am not referring to products that fly off the shelves. Fencing stolen goods online is really easy and, unfortunately, hard to detect until the police comes knocking at your door. Request a copy of the receipt from the seller or, in some cases, check who the warranty for the laptop was issued to via the manufacturer's Web site. While not all sellers are cons, be especially wary if he seems urgent to make the sale or the price is, again, too good to be true.
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