Buying from Gumtree, anything to watch out for?

[Dupont666]

Im looking at buying a Macbook pro from gumtree, now obviously im going to do the deal in a location of my choice and not hand anything over until i see the thing working, etc.

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

I suppose they bank cash so would it be difficult to just do a bankers draft instead, not liking the idea of carrying lots of money. I will be taking a friend just incase it is a scam tho.


Anything else?

[Martin2008]

Its not called SCUMTREE for nothing

[Nic Jones]

I wouldn't trust that site as far as I could throw it (and the internet is a big thing to throw).

Be VERY careful.

[paulmurr]

I've bought a amp and several guitars from Gumtree. I've always gone to the sellers house and throughly inspected the goods before parting with any cash.

[V8mate]

Dupont666 said:

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

Would it matter if it is? How could you avoid that situation with any private sale?

[Dr KT]

Box, and original charger would help. Although can be bought from eBay anyway. Back up CDs etc.

[Dupont666]

V8mate said:

Dupont666 said:

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

Would it matter if it is? How could you avoid that situation with any private sale?

i suppose it would play on my mind for a few seconds, biggest thing i want to see is the thing booting up, working and a quick review of the harddrive, installed programs, manuals and certs for programs.

[Hoppy2008]

Dupont666 said:

V8mate said:

Dupont666 said:

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

Would it matter if it is? How could you avoid that situation with any private sale?

i suppose it would play on my mind for a few seconds, biggest thing i want to see is the thing booting up, working and a quick review of the harddrive, installed programs, manuals and certs for programs.

Is it brand new, or second hand.
The reason I ask this, is a friend has just this very second emailed me saying he has bought a macbook of a "fella".....

[Dupont666]

Hoppy2008 said:

Dupont666 said:

V8mate said:

Dupont666 said:

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

Would it matter if it is? How could you avoid that situation with any private sale?

i suppose it would play on my mind for a few seconds, biggest thing i want to see is the thing booting up, working and a quick review of the harddrive, installed programs, manuals and certs for programs.

Is it brand new, or second hand.
The reason I ask this, is a friend has just this very second emailed me saying he has bought a macbook of a "fella".....

the one im going to be looking at is brand new and available cause someone got made redundant.

edited to add, did he get a good deal on it?

Edited by Dupont666 on Tuesday 25th November 09:22

[Hoppy2008]

Dupont666 said:

Hoppy2008 said:

Dupont666 said:

V8mate said:

Dupont666 said:

How do i check things like its not a stolen macbook, etc?

Would it matter if it is? How could you avoid that situation with any private sale?

i suppose it would play on my mind for a few seconds, biggest thing i want to see is the thing booting up, working and a quick review of the harddrive, installed programs, manuals and certs for programs.

Is it brand new, or second hand.
The reason I ask this, is a friend has just this very second emailed me saying he has bought a macbook of a "fella".....

the one im going to be looking at is brand new and available cause someone got made redundant.

ah, OK.
I suspect the one my 'friend' has bought is also new, but rather more 'hot' than yours.

[okgo]

I only ever sell on there, wouldn't dream of buying a laptop off it.

[Garlick]

It was only recently the PH office discovered you could view adverts for ladies looking for 'fun' on Gumtree.

No meetings arranged at the time of posting.

[minimoog]

Nic Jones said:

I wouldn't trust that site as far as I could throw it (and the internet is a big thing to throw).

Be VERY careful.

Why is it any more dodgy than adtrader or the classifieds in the back of the local rag?

[Dupont666]

if noone dreams of buying on there, can anyone suggest where i can get a second hand/refurbished macbook/macbook pro from then?

Ebay and gumtree seem to be inhabited by the scum of the earth according to this place, so is there a place out there?

BTW... dont want a new macbook as they have removed firewire.

Found this place:

http://www.macconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Deta...

but looking for the uk equivilent and not having luck, whats the issues with shipping one of those across to the uk?

[okgo]

I would put ebay far above gumtree.

[DucatiGary]

Garlick said:

It was only recently the PH office discovered you could view adverts for ladies looking for 'fun' on Gumtree.

No meetings arranged at the time of posting.

its also fun putting your mates details on asking for men, pics only, so I hear . . . . .

[princeperch]

It appears to be full of sexual deviants.

[minimoog]

princeperch said:

It appears to be full of sexual deviants.

But...but... all I sold on there was a synthesiser! How did that give it away?

[DucatiGary]

a word of advice if using to prank people.

make sure they can take a joke.

one of the lads made a prank advert and put one of the girls mobile number and email address on it asking for "men, pics of pricks only"

she was still living at home and her dad seen all the pics of cocks in her email then proceeded to boot her out of the house . . .

she did find it funny though, fortunatly.

[carter711]

Watch for laptop switching, i watched an episode of 'The Real Hustle' once where they switched laptops when the buyer was unaware and he bought a yellow pages without realising it.