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This post is a little long-winded, but still very informative and helpful. :black:
It is the holiday season and I am sure that some people with some new found wealth would be interested in purchasing a new or "new to them" Mac. However, this thread and others like it are common on this forum. People sometimes have problems and issues with computers they purchased and the only way to fix it sometimes requires the install discs. When purchasing a computer online from an auction site, always be sure to ask if the install media is included. If it isn't, then I would suggest not making the purchase.
Be sure to read the listing thoroughly and don't be afraid to ask if you don't see it listed. Some sellers will look to take advantage of you and will knowingly not include these necessary discs so they can use them again and again on multiple machines they intend on selling. Also be sure to ask for the original discs, not copies or CD-R's. Anything other than the original would be pirated software and is more likely to cause problems/issues that would require a reinstall or repair to the application.
Here is an example of what NOT to fall for:
There was a listing on a popular auction site for a Mac notebook. The seller included a line in his listing that stated:
Two, "you must license as necessary". This again implies that the software isn't legal and won't have any media included in the sale.
Three, he mentions only that the software is "word processing" and "graphics" related. A good sign that he is installing MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite with no license or media.
To give him the benefit of the doubt, I sent an email since he stated that he would respond in his ad. This would give me written confirmation of what he would include, something that any upstanding seller would do.
This is only one example of the nameless rabble of sellers out there doing things the wrong way. Hopefully, this example will help others interested in getting that 'hot deal' from an auction site to not fall into a tough situation when something goes wrong with their new computer. If anyone else has any stories or words of wisdom to add, please feel free.
It is the holiday season and I am sure that some people with some new found wealth would be interested in purchasing a new or "new to them" Mac. However, this thread and others like it are common on this forum. People sometimes have problems and issues with computers they purchased and the only way to fix it sometimes requires the install discs. When purchasing a computer online from an auction site, always be sure to ask if the install media is included. If it isn't, then I would suggest not making the purchase.
Be sure to read the listing thoroughly and don't be afraid to ask if you don't see it listed. Some sellers will look to take advantage of you and will knowingly not include these necessary discs so they can use them again and again on multiple machines they intend on selling. Also be sure to ask for the original discs, not copies or CD-R's. Anything other than the original would be pirated software and is more likely to cause problems/issues that would require a reinstall or repair to the application.
Here is an example of what NOT to fall for:
There was a listing on a popular auction site for a Mac notebook. The seller included a line in his listing that stated:
There are three huge red flags here. One, no specific titles are listed. It merely says "Tons of software". The fact that the seller refrained from listing the titles is a good sign that the software isn't legit and the discs won't be included.Seller said:
Two, "you must license as necessary". This again implies that the software isn't legal and won't have any media included in the sale.
Three, he mentions only that the software is "word processing" and "graphics" related. A good sign that he is installing MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite with no license or media.
To give him the benefit of the doubt, I sent an email since he stated that he would respond in his ad. This would give me written confirmation of what he would include, something that any upstanding seller would do.
His reply was less than helpful:My email said:
I could have left it there, but I wanted to know why he was being so tight-lipped about the software. I replied:Seller said:
His reply to this only confirmed that what he was selling wasn't legit:My reply said:
His refusal to give a written ledger of what he intends to sell shows that he knows what he is selling is illegal. He is trying to cover his "assests" by not leaving any indelible mark or trace as to what pirated software he is including in the sale. He also thinks he is absolved of wrong-doing by adding the bit about the buyer needing to obtain the licensing on their own. That way, if something were to go wrong, then there is no way to prove that he ever provided or promised to provide such software to the buyer. A phone conversation could be recorded, but would only be admissible in a legal sense if both parties agreed to such. I have a feeling that if I were to have allowed him to call me, that he would have refused such a request to record the conversation.Seller said:
This is only one example of the nameless rabble of sellers out there doing things the wrong way. Hopefully, this example will help others interested in getting that 'hot deal' from an auction site to not fall into a tough situation when something goes wrong with their new computer. If anyone else has any stories or words of wisdom to add, please feel free.
