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nayr x · Jul 21, 2003, 03:44 PM

I know there have been tons of threads about the whole eBay scamming on apple notebooks, but I just ran across this one for a 900mhz iBook and didnt know what to think... for one the seller offers to include his copy of Mac OS 10.3, Panther (riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.....), as well as any other software title the buyer can think of (because the seller has 200 osX titles and will include any with the purchase....Photoshop...dreamweaver...etc.) In addition, he is selling a 900mhz iBook that is bluetooth/wifi ready yadda yadda yadda... Anyway, It just pisses me off that a lot of people (potentially new mac users) are getting taken... I dont know if this one is legit or not (im assuming not, since it is making claims that can't possibly be true (panther?!), as well as blatantly offering to break the law (pirating software licenses) for anyone who will purchase.) I dont know why apple or whoever isnt trying to do something to track down these people and stem this tide of eBay scamming. I have heard a lot of awful stories from people. Does anyone know if anything is being done? Investigations etc? I cringe thinking about less computer savvy people looking at auctions like some of those out there and thinking it's legit... anyway, that my rant for the day.

here is the auction in question:
here

NeXTLoop · Jul 21, 2003, 03:54 PM

There's no way it's legit. It has all the signs and indications of one of the fraud auctions. I just wish eBay could do a little more to reign in these jerks.

CrazedVW · Jul 21, 2003, 04:02 PM

And the moron that won it just payed $25 more then retail price for it plus he'll have to pay shipping.

Eug Wanker · Jul 21, 2003, 04:04 PM

Could be fraud, but could also be legit, with bootleg software.

We all know that X.3 is already in the wild, as is just about every other application.

I do note it's shipping from the US only to the US, and PayPal is ok. (Not that I really trust PayPal either, but it's better than Western Union to Romania.)

And the moron that won it just payed $25 more then retail price for it plus he'll have to pay shipping.

Too bad he paid so much, but at least he won't have to pay tax.

CheesePuff · Jul 21, 2003, 04:09 PM

I don't think its a fraud - either the guy is including the WWDC preview copy of Panther or he is confused with Apple's web site and thinks Panther is the newest shipping version so just put that instead of Jaguar.

nayr x · Jul 21, 2003, 04:09 PM

I think i will just create an ebay account called "This Auction is a Fraud" with all fake information and bid on the auctions that are bull sh*t so potential 'morons' wont be tempted to buy. After I've won the auction I will just send the seller an email saying "go F*** yourself." I'll be like an Ebay super hero!

P.S. i dont think the seller is 'confused' about panther... In the topic for his auction he said OSX 10.3 Panther! Like it was a big deal to draw attention... plus he mentions a lot of other things that make me think he is in the know, he is just praying on the less informed.

ASIMO · Jul 21, 2003, 04:46 PM

Shenanigans. But please. Do carry on.

romeosc · Jul 21, 2003, 05:17 PM

The buyer paid a premiom for the promise of illegal software..... a common ploy!

It cost the seller nothing..... if he isn't caught. Most say "for evaluation purposes!

CrazedVW · Jul 21, 2003, 05:17 PM

Actually, according to eBay's TOS, offering Beta versions of the software or other versions that aren't the retail version are against their rules.

Originally posted by CheesePuff:
I don't think its a fraud - either the guy is including the WWDC preview copy of Panther or he is confused with Apple's web site and thinks Panther is the newest shipping version so just put that instead of Jaguar.

romeosc · Jul 21, 2003, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by romeosc:
The buyer paid a premium for the promise of illegal software..... a common ploy!

It cost the seller nothing..... if he isn't caught. Most say "for evaluation purposes!

bwahahax · Jul 21, 2003, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by NAYR X:
I think i will just create an ebay account called "This Auction is a Fraud" with all fake information and bid on the auctions that are bull sh*t so potential 'morons' wont be tempted to buy. After I've won the auction I will just send the seller an email saying "go F*** yourself." I'll be like an Ebay super hero!

Risky, but I like it!!!

DigitalEl · Jul 22, 2003, 03:01 AM

Nobody mentioned it's an auction for a 12" iBook and the seller has a picture of the 14" model there. Stock photos or photos stolen from other auctions are a good indicator of fraud.

I had an auction taken off of eBay, because I stated I was leaving my copy of Office v.X on a machine I was selling. Funny how this guy is blatantly pimping his software and the auction is left to market.

As Liam Lynch would say, Whateva!

(Wish we could find out how this all turns out, but we'll probably never know).

Papa Jupe · Jul 22, 2003, 11:11 AM

OMG, warez on a computer on eBay!! Call the FBI!

My god, some days every friggin' auction on the first page of PowerBook or iBook auctions include "evaluation copies" of software on them. Big deal. I've also got Panther, as do every other Mac user I know.

Go after the blatant scammers if you want; I do this very often and have auctions shut down, but give this guy a break. He's not doing anything that wasn't done 200 times last week.

nayr x · Jul 22, 2003, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by Papa Jupe:
...give this guy a break. He's not doing anything that wasn't done 200 times last week.

Would YOU bid on this auction? And what if it turned out to be a fraud and you just dumped a grand down the toilet? THAT has happened also last week. I think there is reason to be concerned, and if this auction was legit, the seller could have done an...uh... less-shady job. There are a lot of red flags going up in that auction. I know thats not how I would try to sell one of my machines...

Papa Jupe · Jul 22, 2003, 11:52 AM

Leaving software installed on a computer raises absolutely NO red flags for me.

After reading the auction again, I see he has 2 negatives out of 11 auctions, and he's recently changed his user ID. Now those DO raise red flags.

I'd pass personally, but my point was more that the "evaluation software" really isn't that bad of a thing. Plenty of completely legit sellers do this.

NYCFarmboy · Jul 25, 2003, 09:30 AM

One thing on ebay.. I wish they would have posts on each item for sale so that people could add comments...similar to this forum.

That way...at least people could be warned of all the scams...or be pointed to new prices often times being lower than what used stuff goes for on ebay.

I guess this would cause ebay's commission sales to drop though so ebay would never do it.

Oh well.. a fool is born every minute...

Like many I learned the hard way....I have purchased 3 Macintosh computers on ebay so far. 2 were great sellers...but they lived in New York City so I could just cab it over to pick up my purchase and check it out etc.

One computer I purchased though before I didn't know any better was from upstate somewhere... the buyer would not ship it even though I paid for it on paypal. However I filed a complaint with PayPal and the seller finally did ship the computer to me... but it was 28 days after the auction ended before I got my Mac from him. But I did get it...and it turned out to be a very good computer. (relief)

After that experience on ebay I would ONLY buy from people who live close by that you can pick it up in person.