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goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 01:33 PM

I'm buying a 23" Cinema Display on Craigslist. I have access to Apple's GSX system, so I thought I'd get the serial number of the display to look it up...

The seller replied with this:

"Due to problems/issues I have encountered, on several past occasions (when I freely doled out serial #'s). I will only provide the serial # of a computer/peripheral (i.e: display) after I have received payment for the item, sorry. "

He then gave me the information that this site gives him when he plugged in the display's serial number.

Should I be worried? A quick Google search found a lot of other people who seemed worried about giving out serial numbers when selling equipment. Why would this be?

phantomdragonz · Feb 5, 2008, 01:37 PM

possibly the buyer then reports that he has found his "stolen" monitor?

-Zach

Big Mac · Feb 5, 2008, 01:41 PM

That does make some sense, dragonz. But I say it's more likely a fishy transaction.

Are you proposing to buy an expensive item on Craigslist without seeing it physically? I would say that's a huge gamble.

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Are you proposing to buy an expensive item on Craigslist without seeing it physically? I would say that's a huge gamble.

I would pick it up locally. He says it's from a lot of 9, and I can see the others on Ebay. He has about 1800 sold items on Ebay with 99% positive feedback. Still, I've never run into a situation where someone won't give the serial number. I was just wondering what sort of trouble a seller could get into by giving out the serial.

Eug · Feb 5, 2008, 01:46 PM

I tend not to want to give a serial number either, unless it's a deal in person.

Big Mac · Feb 5, 2008, 01:46 PM

Sounds like they could be "hot."

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Sounds like they could be "hot."

I asked him to tell me about it's history if he couldn't supply me with a serial number. I'll post when he gets back to me.

His Ebay ones have a 3 day return policy. He's also selling a lot of other Mac stuff on Ebay and claims to be an Apple dealer.

ort888 · Feb 5, 2008, 02:06 PM

If I was a seller I might get weirded out if buyers were asking for serial numbers. I don't know. It might be a red flag but it might not be.

♥ · Feb 5, 2008, 02:11 PM

I have sold things on eBay and Craigslist and I won't give out a serial until after payment either. I don't think it's a scam. Have you spoken to him on the telephone? If you can look him up on Whitepages.com then he's probably legit.

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by ♥

I have sold things on eBay and Craigslist and I won't give out a serial until after payment either. I don't think it's a scam. Have you spoken to him on the telephone? If you can look him up on Whitepages.com then he's probably legit.

He gave me his phone number. I called and got voicemail.

Shaddim · Feb 5, 2008, 03:00 PM

Given the circumstances, they could very well be stolen.

RAILhead · Feb 5, 2008, 04:18 PM

Just forget him and buy my 22-inch Cinema Display. It's in 100% working order and it's still only $107.50.

22-inch Apple Cinema Display ADC LCD - eBay (item 200197938964 end time Feb-12-08 08:21:09 PST)

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Just forget him and buy my 22-inch Cinema Display. It's in 100% working order and it's still only $107.50.

22-inch Apple Cinema Display ADC LCD - eBay (item 200197938964 end time Feb-12-08 08:21:09 PST)

Sorry, buying for a Mac Pro.

The plot thickens. He gave me the serial number for the display, and I looked it up in GSX.

I don't think I can post the exact details in GSX, but according to GSX, the display had a power supply replaced by order of the police.

So not currently hot, but at one time hot?

Chuckit · Feb 5, 2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Just forget him and buy my 22-inch Cinema Display. It's in 100% working order and it's still only $107.50.

22-inch Apple Cinema Display ADC LCD - eBay (item 200197938964 end time Feb-12-08 08:21:09 PST)

It's got a week left to go. I don't imagine it's actually selling for $100.

dowNNshift · Feb 5, 2008, 05:18 PM

I'd be concerned -- Thats a pretty out of the ordinary case note for GSX.
Does it have many entries? Usually a unit with lots of entries either means 1. An owner that is constantly hassling AppleCare or 2. A problem unit that is being dumped.

It could be possible the unit was confiscated by the police. I've had Macs come into our shop that the police has requested repaired and ready for resale on the market.

Shaddim · Feb 5, 2008, 05:20 PM

Yeah, it sounds like a unit that was confiscated and then sold at auction.

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by dowNNshift

I'd be concerned -- Thats a pretty out of the ordinary case note for GSX.

Agreed, I'm going to try to get a source in Apple retail to pull more information for me. Because we didn't initiate the repair I can't get full information on it.

Originally Posted by dowNNshift

It could be possible the unit was confiscated by the police. I've had Macs come into our shop that the police has requested repaired and ready for resale on the market.

I'm not sure whether or not to be concerned. The unit is almost exactly a year old, so it's not a very old display. The price is pretty good, but for another $150 I could get a new one at education prices. It's supposed to be in mint condition though.

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 05:57 PM

Now it gets more bizarre. According to my source, the monitor is clean, but the power adaptor was taken for police evidence. Not the display itself.

Weeeeiiiirrrddd.

Uncle Skeleton · Feb 5, 2008, 06:13 PM

Maybe it had blood or prints on it

turtle777 · Feb 5, 2008, 06:49 PM

Dude, I'd go for the new model for ed pricing.

Not worth the hassle to keep going with this.

-t

goMac · Feb 5, 2008, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Dude, I'd go for the new model for ed pricing.

Not worth the hassle to keep going with this.

-t

Yeah, that's my plan right now. I'm probably just going to go pick one up in Portland tax free.

rickey939 · Feb 5, 2008, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Just forget him and buy my 22-inch Cinema Display. It's in 100% working order and it's still only $107.50.

22-inch Apple Cinema Display ADC LCD - eBay (item 200197938964 end time Feb-12-08 08:21:09 PST)

Just forget that bid and sell it to me early for $215.00 + shipping.

CollinG3G4 · Feb 6, 2008, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Now it gets more bizarre. According to my source, the monitor is clean, but the power adaptor was taken for police evidence. Not the display itself.

Weeeeiiiirrrddd.

Maybe the pervious owner was beaten to death with the power adaptor and it is needed for evidence in an upcoming trial.

red rocket · Feb 7, 2008, 04:00 AM

I'm suspicious about that power adapter, mainly because the police have had their mitts on it. Even if the monitor itself is perfect, there may very well be bugging devices installed in the power adapter, in fact I'd consider it negligence on the part of the police if they haven't installed some form of ‘counter‑terrorism’ espionage mechanism whilst they had access to the device.