I'm looking to buy a used iPod on craigslist. I cant decide if i want the larger 80gb or one of the nanos. I will be using it primarily for skiing but i also have near 120gb(i know it's ridiculous) of music on my computer and it would be convenient not to have to have a good chunk of that on my iPod. I dont have alot of cash to spend so i dont care if the thing is scratched up though i feel that may be an indicator of if it's been dropped and will therefore break? What I'm trying to get at is how do i tell if the thing will be a piece of ____? I know how to put an iPod in diagnostic mode but am not sure which tests to run? Is there one to test the battery? How long will that take? Any other advise you folks could give me would be appreciated.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPod Buying a used iPod on Craigslist. What to look for?
- Thread starter Rasheem
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I would buy a nano since they use flash storage. I was snowboarding with my 30gb video and the hard drive died when i fell. Note i did not fall on it but just the shock broke it. My nano has been holding good for over 3 seasons now. I have bought a couple nanos on eBay and have found some to be defective but the battery heated up so i called Apple and they replaced it quickly. Hope this helps. Happy Holidays!
make sure none of the pages on craigslist say "as-is." and if you're afraid of breaking it then you're better off spending less and getting a used nano because if that breaks you didn't loose as much money as you would have if you bought a used ipod video or another model.
hope this helped a little bit. good luck!
hope this helped a little bit. good luck!
Actually, I'd go along with this. If you want an iPod for skiing, don't get the classic; they are not designed for that sort of activity, firstly, they are too heavy, secondly, as gan6660 pointed out, they break. Get the classic for serious musical listening; get a nano, or shuffle for skiing.
Secondly, don't buy from Craigslist, - tales are legion online of scams and fraud, yes, there are success stories, but I'd be very wary of such sites - instead, buy from a reputable outlet, a licenced store or an Apple website.
Thirdly, refurb is an excelent way to go, proven models, Apple's warranty, and competitive prices.
Cheers and good luck
I never quite understand how someone can get scammed on Craigslist. Bring cash, look at the item before you buy it, and do it in a public location. The only scams I see are people being dumb and sending payment info to someone before they ever see the item.
Scratches aren't a good indication of being dropped, but dents are. I would get a nano because of the increased ruggedness of it. I wouldn't trust the ipod's hard drive ability to cope with the bumps of skiing. Also, while you have that much music, if you're like me you don't want to listen to all of it at once. I have more music, and only a 1GB nano and it works fine.
Scratches aren't a good indication of being dropped, but dents are. I would get a nano because of the increased ruggedness of it. I wouldn't trust the ipod's hard drive ability to cope with the bumps of skiing. Also, while you have that much music, if you're like me you don't want to listen to all of it at once. I have more music, and only a 1GB nano and it works fine.