So, Was I Scammed?

jeepsarecool · 02-01-2008, 01:52 AM

Well, I either just got a GREAT deal on two imacs or got completely ripped off. I just won this auction on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160203680604&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006

Basically, it's two new 24" imacs for less than the price of one. The seller has ZERO feedback and is a terrible advertiser.

But, I did contact him several times before bidding and he has a believable story.

Something like this, "my friend had a computer business that folded. he had these two imacs that he'd bought for a company that never payed for them. he gave them to me for a great price. i registered on ebay to sell them to get some cash to go toward a car."

I bid being fully aware that it could be a total scam, but I believe paypal and ebay protects me to a certain extent. I just couldn't pass it up. I am in dire need of a new imac for my graphic design classes and these things go for insane amounts. I can resell the second one and probably get ALL of my money back and maybe even MAKE money. This guy is either a goon who is a very very poor salesman, or he doesn't care because he's not sending the computer anyway.

What do you guys think? Will I get two imacs or will I just wait and eventually contact ebay and the police?

I'll keep you updated.

jeepsarecool · 02-01-2008, 01:57 AM

Oh, and another thing............ have people learned how to hack into ebay to prevent competing bids? I was doing the old "wait until the last minute to bid routine" when suddenly with about ten minutes to spare, I couldn't access any pages to bid on the computer. I tried everything. I cleared all my cookies, opened and closed everything, logged out......... nothing worked. Finally I just kept refreshing the page out of frustration when it went through. I had one minute left to re-log in and bid, but I had to keep refreshing every page at least five freaking times. I got my bid through with TWELVE seconds left. It seemed like I was purposefully blocked. Just wondering if this is a new fad?

fastredjeep · 02-01-2008, 02:40 AM

This will help you feel better. Not only did you get a Mac (2) but you probably will be scammed. Usually if it is too good to be true, it is. Make sure you go through PayPal and get tracking and insurance information is it is in fact a real deal. If not, you just bought him a lift kit, some new tires and shocks along with custom bumpers...to put it a certain way.

jeepsarecool · 02-01-2008, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastredjeep

This will help you feel better. Not only did you get a Mac (2) but you probably will be scammed. Usually if it is too good to be true, it is. Make sure you go through PayPal and get tracking and insurance information is it is in fact a real deal. If not, you just bought him a lift kit, some new tires and shocks along with custom bumpers...to put it a certain way.

I'm pretty worried. But, I really think the reason it was "too good to be true" is because the guy doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Why would you sell two imacs in the same auction? And if it was a scam, wouldn't he try to make his listing look better? I don't think he even knows what an imac is. He just ended up with two. Anyway, I did pay through paypal. I really think the worst that can happen is he doesn't send them and I go through a few months of trying to get my money back.

fastredjeep · 02-01-2008, 04:05 AM

PayPal can be a nightmare however.

I sold some lacrosse gear to a kid in October of last year and the total was $280. His mom finds he had used her credit card (however, his name showed up when he sent the money) to buy it. Called the credit card company and canceled my transaction for $45 (a piece of the whole pie) on December 7th. Later, on January 2nd, I get hit for the rest of it ($235) and this puts me negative in the hole where I am currently at waiting to do something to get out. Hopefully this kid's mom comes through with the money to pull me out of the hole because I don't like it. He also did this to some other people for over $2000.

**Awshux** · 02-01-2008, 06:16 AM

According to the pictures, those are two different iMacs. I'm assuming the specs are for the newer one, so what about the older one? I don't think they've made that version with the round base for a few years, have they? I'm not sure you've been scammed so much as it seems like you bought a new iMac for a few hundred less than you could have gotten it for retail, and you're getting an outdated one for free to go along with it.

Davejb · 02-01-2008, 06:34 AM

I see one 24" and one old G4, (round one), it isn't worth a quarter what the new one is worth, they were around from 2002 to 2004 I think.
If it were two 24's I'd say your about to get screwed, but only one of those is worth what you paid, so your probably safe.

2005X · 02-01-2008, 06:39 AM

remember if he collects the money through paypal, then cancels his account, there is no way to get your money back

**_Kyle_** · 02-01-2008, 07:00 AM

If you have to ask, probably.

Deschain · 02-01-2008, 07:37 AM

He's in a big hurry to sell, no feedback and a story. I'd take the strike and not pay him if I were you, unless it's too late.

x550x · 02-01-2008, 08:32 AM

A few concerns...

The listing says "new, sealed in box" but yet the picture is of an iMac sitting on a table.

The other iMac pictured is a G4 which isn't worth much of anything. I highly doubt there are any G4 iMacs that are still "new in box".

The processor speed is listed at 3MHz. Obviously, that's wrong.

The RAM and HDD listed are upgrades. He would have had to have them custom configured with those specs. Not to say it didn't happen, but it's a little suspicious.

Combine that with the fishy story and the zero feedback and you've got the makings of a scam.

I hope it works out for you. I wouldn't have chanced it, myself.

BTW: I have that iMac. It's great.

x550x · 02-01-2008, 08:39 AM

Upon further investigation, I have some bad news for you.

I found this pic from a simple Google image search.

It's the same pic as the one in your auction.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=iMac&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

bottom of the first page.

http://edge.macworld.com/2007/08/images/content/imac_main.jpg

It's not looking good.

**Divinitous** · 02-01-2008, 09:25 AM

Have any personal information? We can dig up anything. Hell maybe he's a registered sex offender.

**Divinitous** · 02-01-2008, 09:27 AM

There's a famous ink company but they're located in Florida, not CA.

**Divinitous** · 02-01-2008, 09:29 AM

Could have been worse.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

02-01-2008, 06:16 AM	#6
Awshux Cynical Bastard Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The desert Posts: 1,744 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	According to the pictures, those are two different iMacs. I'm assuming the specs are for the newer one, so what about the older one? I don't think they've made that version with the round base for a few years, have they? I'm not sure you've been scammed so much as it seems like you bought a new iMac for a few hundred less than you could have gotten it for retail, and you're getting an outdated one for free to go along with it. __________________ You live and learn. At any rate, you live. -Douglas Adams