How safe would it be to buy a laptop off eBay?

[LuDaCriS66]

Assuming that the seller has a great feedback profile, how safe is it to buy a laptop off eBay? I was considering a Dell 600m off Dell.ca. With the specs I wanted, it would come around to approximately $2000 Canadian. Then.. add in the shipping and 15% tax, it'll come to almost $400 dollars more.
I can find similar configured 600m's on eBay for up to $500 less before shipping... especially with the tax out of the way.

Now, as long as the system comes with some sort of warrenty, I should be fine if something goes wrong with the laptop right? well.. maybe ... if the seller is based in the US and the warrenty probably can't be transfered to Canada...

any thoughts?

 

[Eli]

What is their feedback?

Do they have recent feedback? Have they sold other high dollar items?

All things to take into account.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

I'd go new iff possible

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: Eli
What is their feedback?

Do they have recent feedback? Have they sold other high dollar items?

All things to take into account.

Thats what you need to look for.

 

[ElFenix]

dell laptop warranties are international, or so i learned in dell sales training.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Originally posted by: Magnum375
I'd go new iff possible

I want to but we're talking about hundreds of dollars cheaper...

Thanks for the tips Eli. Most of the sellers I even considered had at least a 200 feedback profile.. but those other factors you mentioned are definately worth checking out.

If it's true that the warrenties are international, then I just might go through with this

 

[aeroguy]

Ask if they'll do escrow if you pay for it. If they will, chances are you don't need it and you can say 'never mind'.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

I'd never buy anything on eBay, period. You can always find good deals elsewhere. The 600m just had a price drop (finally - the configuration I have was the same price for months) too. A good price-saving tip on purchasing from Dell is always getting the minimum memory configuration (unless it's a free upgrade) and buying the rest from Crucial or wherever.

 

[Soybomb]

Sure alot of the people on ebay buy them cheap and sell them at a slight markup, but as long as your saving money too.....

Just be sure they have good feedback

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
dell laptop warranties are international, or so i learned in dell sales training.

you work for dell ?
if so why did you have the laptop shipped ?
can you just pick one up ?