eBay Computer Scam?

[Amie]

Apparently, they are selling new PowerBooks on eBay for $5 (free shipping). Something tells me there's something VERY wrong with this. I'm highly suspicious. I would appreciate if someone would go to eBay, do a search, read about the items listed, and share your thoughts with me? It's a joke, right?

[eric2006]

What listings? Either it has been removed already, or the powerbooks had a starting bid of 5 dollars.

But, yes, no one in their sane mind would sell powerbooks for 5 bucks. Unless they were very rich.

[symphonix]

My rule of thumb is, if you have to ask "is this a scam?", then it almost certainly is. A link would be good, as we could really look at it then.

I did see something recently on BoingBoing.com (can't locate it now) about an auction for a PowerMac quad G5 that closed at well over $1000, and the listing was titled something like PowerMac Quad G5 with Studio Display! NEW! List and the page long sales spiel about how great the PowerMac was ended with the words "This auction is for a list of suppliers who can provide you with a PowerMac at massively discounted prices."

So, in essence, some poor sucker paid over $1000 for a piece of paper advising them of where they can buy a PowerMac. I think its currently under review by eBay and the courts, but it'll be a while before the buyers get their $$$ back.

EDIT: while hunting, I found this: http://www.boingboing.net/2002/10/15...id_on_the.html

Caution: U r bidding on the oppritunity to buy me one of these players, not urself. so don't expect to recieve one.

Ha ha ha! Some people will try anything. Thats tantamount to walking up to someone in the street and muttering really quickly "If you say what then you agree to give me your wallet.", stealing their wallet, and expecting to be able to use that as a defense later in court.

And this one is great: http://www.boingboing.net/2004/05/14...tist_inte.html

... culminated with him taking delivery of a "P-P-P-Powerbook" made out of keyboard bits glued to an old binder

And ... http://www.boingboing.net/2003/10/03..._ebay_one.html

He he - an Air Guitar. Nice!

And I finally found the article. Wow, my memory of it was way off. It was $51 paid for the list for an LCD monitor. http://www.boingboing.net/2006/03/06...n_does_th.html

[Amie]

Originally Posted by symphonix

My rule of thumb is, if you have to ask "is this a scam?", then it almost certainly is. A link would be good, as we could really look at it then.

I did see something recently on BoingBoing.com (can't locate it now) about an auction for a PowerMac quad G5 that closed at well over $1000, and the listing was titled something like PowerMac Quad G5 with Studio Display! NEW! List and the page long sales spiel about how great the PowerMac was ended with the words "This auction is for a list of suppliers who can provide you with a PowerMac at massively discounted prices."

So, in essence, some poor sucker paid over $1000 for a piece of paper advising them of where they can buy a PowerMac. I think its currently under review by eBay and the courts, but it'll be a while before the buyers get their $$$ back.

EDIT: while hunting, I found this: http://www.boingboing.net/2002/10/15...id_on_the.html



Ha ha ha! Some people will try anything. Thats tantamount to walking up to someone in the street and muttering really quickly "If you say what then you agree to give me your wallet.", stealing their wallet, and expecting to be able to use that as a defense later in court.

And this one is great: http://www.boingboing.net/2004/05/14...tist_inte.html



And ... http://www.boingboing.net/2003/10/03..._ebay_one.html

He he - an Air Guitar. Nice!

And I finally found the article. Wow, my memory of it was way off. It was $51 paid for the list for an LCD monitor. http://www.boingboing.net/2006/03/06...n_does_th.html

LOL!!!

Unbelievable. I'm sure glad *I* didn't bid.

Good hunting.

[Amie]

Just an update: When you mentioned that you couldn't find any listings like that, I did a search on eBay myself. Nothing! They just ... poofed. Weird. There were at least three listings like that when I started this thread. They might have sold really fast, but I doubt people are that stupid to buy such a suspicious product at such a ridiculous price. More than likely, the seller had complaints and scam report alerts from eBay and quickly removed his listings.

I even e-mailed the seller and said something like, "Why on Earth would you sell a PowerBook for $5? This is a joke, right? If you *are* serious, e-mail me with more information. If you don't reply, I'll know it's a scam."

And guess what? He didn't reply. Big surprise. lol

[bobw]

Moved to Cafe

[Amie]

Originally Posted by bobw

Moved to Cafe

Thanks, Bob.

[Amie]

Did some more eBay digging: This is an Apple PowerBook? lol

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Powerbook-...QQcmdZViewItem