Anyone has purchased laptops from ebay?

I'm tempted to purchase because of really good deals, but reading about all the scams and frauds that happen on ebay, I'm scared to purchase a 1500$ w510 from there.
Does anyone have any good/bad experiences while purchasing laptops from ebay? What should one look for in the seller profile before ordering one?

Thanks.

 

I have purchased a T410 and just recently a T410s both from eBay and I am thoroughly satisfied with both transactions.
Make sure you check the sellers feedback thoroughly. Ask him any and all questions you have and see how they respond. A sign of a good genuine seller is good communication.

 

I've had good and bad experiences on eBay. I'd suggest paying with a CC. That and Paypal should cover you should things not work out, though it can be a hassle to get your money back, ultimately you will get it back.

 

got mine from ebay... all the way from America....the experience was both good and bad...

 

@ warakawa...you got it shipped from America to Australia? Did you have to pay import duties etc? If yes, how did you do this? Did you have to go to customs to clear it? Or, did you pay the eBay seller and he took care of it? I don't know whether or not import duties are applicable in Australia, so sorry if this appears as a stupid question.

 

i second what Zaz have said about ebay. It is basically like a second hand car dealership, i wouldn't trust your life on these people. While, some people may be legitimate trader or private seller whom are selling products that they described. There are always unscrupulous people/seller whom wants to make a quick buck off you, not caring about how it would affect the buyer's experience.

So inorder to protect yourself from these unscrupulous people, you should use payment method with refund protection, just in case you get a dodgy seller whom sold you a lemon.

 

This is not my experience. I have only dealt with sellers who are honest and reasonable. Sure there are scams and bad sellers out there, but these are mostly very easy to identify and I stay well clear of them.

Never had any issues buying laptops or or related accessories from eBay. I have bought at least 10 ThinkPads from within Europe and from US.

It is just a matter of applying some common sense and asking questions if you feel some info is missing. Look at their feedback (received and given) both as a buyer and as a seller. If something is missing in the listing or i.e. the picture doesn't match the info, ask for clarification. If the seller chooses to not reply or reverts with a reply which does not instill confidence, then I walk away.

So far with these simple steps, I have not had any issues buying from eBay.

 

@JabbaJabba...

Yes what you are saying about vigilance is all true. But not all people understand all the aspects of a product, they may have bought a Thinkpad for the first time, they may not understand all aspects of what they are looking for.

Basically you should know what you are getting before you get it.

Also, what you are describing sounds very much like purchasing a second hand car, where higher level of awareness and reputation of the car dealers must be all taken into account, before you proceed to hand over your money.

 

Agreed. what Zaz said also makes sense: pay with a credit card and through paypal.

 

^ This is extremely true when dealing with people on Ebay.

I've never had a bad experience with buying a notebook on there, but I will say that's because I've armed myself with information. Don't deal with sellers that have less than 99% feedback; accounts with a large amount of positive feedback and a rather high feedback number are generally businesses. Private parties can be hit or miss, so I'll usually up my feedback rule to a solid 100% with sellers that have less than, say, 500 transactions under their belt.

Always pay with Paypal, and always pay with a CC/DC. This way you've got several options for recourse just in case you get a bad deal.

 

I purchased a lot of my Thinkpad's from eBay and I haven't encountered any major problems as yet (touchwood!). You just have to be vigilant with the seller's feedback history and pay via a safe source such as Credit Card or PayPal. My history so far from eBay is:

- Lenovo Thinkpad R61e - £380 in 2008
- Lenovo Thinkpad R61e (T8100) - £360 in 2008
- Lenovo Thinkpad T61 (T7300) - £375 in 2008
- Lenovo Thinkpad R61 (T7700) - £250 in 2009
- Lenovo Thinkpad T61 (T7100) - £250 in 2010 [Current One]
- Lenovo Thinkpad R400 - £200 in 2010

I think in all that lot still cost less than a single specced up W-Series of today! Most eBay sellers are good people, don't be afraid to ask questions if you're unsure such as serial numbers and warranty status which you can lookup yourself on the Lenovo support site. Other than that you can find plenty of bargains and save a lot from depreciation.

 

I bought all three of my ThinkPads from eBay. First an R61, then a T400 and an X200 from the same seller. According to the second seller, he acquired the machines from a business that went out of business and so I got great deals on them, both with 3-year on-site warranties. I would just make sure they have high numbers of positive feedback (Mine had over 1000, with many laptop sales in the past).

 

I have bought two laptops on ebay, including this one; and have been very happy each time. I restrict myself to new machines, "buy now' (not auctions), and from within my own country (Australia). I check feedback comments, and use Paypal. If any doubts or queries, message the seller and wait to see what the reply is like. Once the machine has arrived, you can check the origin of the machine (the initial purchase point) and also extend the warranty (not so see easy with Dell!). Only hassle I have found is waiting a little longer than ideal - and a couple of incorrect itemizations - and being prepared to compromize slightly on configuration compared to configuring on the Lenovo site. But savings on a new machine can be considerable.

 

Thanks for the feedback and tips, everyone. I'll keep in mind all of your points while purchasing from ebay.
Also, a similarly configured w510 is listed on Amazon but it does not say anything about warranty. Anyone bought their w510 from Amazon?

Amazon.com: W510 15.6" 320GB 2GB: Computer & Accessories

 

btw, I emailed Amazon customer service and they have no clue about the detailed specs of the machine or its warranty.