Ebay listing that made me chuckle

[weckart]

Looking at the base of that eBay photo, my first thought was that it was rather brown as though there has been a leakage in the past. My guess was that they probably suspected that this was either a goner or might spark if plugged in due to any number of possible shorts, so therefore £50 for "untested" would be a better return than £5 ono for burnt offerings.

Having looked at the other photos on eBay, it looks more like sticker or glue residue, possibly from adjoining hardware. I think they tested and found it dead. Back in the day, when I went to computer fairs "untested" was a polite way of admitting "we can't fix this".

 

[weckart]

Hold onto your RAM, folks

 

[B S Magnet]

Hold onto your RAM, folks

View attachment 2173508

This guy thinks really highly of himself — so much so that he watermarks his eBay items with not only his signature, but also his creepy mug. As if that green-blue circle bed sheet background in all his pics wasn’t enough of a tell that it’s coming from him.

This makes me want to buy a whole bunch of his stuff… just after I finish up buying photography stuff recommended by Ken Rockwell.

 

[Tratkazir_the_1st]

@weckart
...no words, only letters...

 

[spyguy10709]

Looking at the base of that eBay photo, my first thought was that it was rather brown as though there has been a leakage in the past. My guess was that they probably suspected that this was either a goner or might spark if plugged in due to any number of possible shorts, so therefore £50 for "untested" would be a better return than £5 ono for burnt offerings.

Having looked at the other photos on eBay, it looks more like sticker or glue residue, possibly from adjoining hardware. I think they tested and found it dead. Back in the day, when I went to computer fairs "untested" was a polite way of admitting "we can't fix this".

"untested" means broken and "OEM" means aftermarket.

 

[Amethyst1]

Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ | eBay

Entdecken Sie Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

 

[TheShortTimer]

It’s not entirely beyond reason that they didn’t have an adapter around (or they do, but it’s buried somewhere they can’t get to readily) — given how they seem to run a high-volume of sales and probably have shelves and bins full of various bric-a-brac.

No it's not entirely beyond reason but the odds are extremely low that they wouldn't have picked one up (or considered doing so) for £1 GBP on their next trip to the local stores.

I think they tested and found it dead.

Very likely and then they concealed this discovery behind the risible claim that they're unable to check it out due to the lack of a converter. Maybe I should message them and helpfully explain that it just needs a £1 US-UK adapter and ask if they'll get one and see whether it powers up.

Back in the day, when I went to computer fairs "untested" was a polite way of admitting "we can't fix this".

You saw untested stuff at computer fairs? At the ones I visited, the items were always new or used but working.

"untested" means broken

Usually, however there are occasions where the item is working but in the case of the PowerBook, I won't be spending £50 GBP on a gamble that I'd almost certainly lose.

Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ | eBay

Entdecken Sie Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

Maybe it's a prototype or a mod project where someone has transplanted a 13" 2012 i7 MBP into a BlackBook case.

 

[B S Magnet]

Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ | eBay

Entdecken Sie Black Macbook Pro 13"Mitte 2012 2,9 GHz Prozessor Intel Core i7 ⚡️⚡️⚡️ in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

Wait… is that a spray-painted (or powder-coated) case and trackpad?

 

[weckart]

You saw untested stuff at computer fairs? At the ones I visited, the items were always new or used but working.

Untested hard drives were a staple of every fair I ever visited. Supposedly harvested from working but obsolete/e-wasted corporate computers, I got bitten the once on my first visit. Then learnt never to trust a stallholder again.

 

[Amethyst1]

Maybe it's a prototype or a mod project where someone has transplanted a 13" 2012 i7 MBP into a BlackBook case.

Wait… is that a spray-painted (or powder-coated) case and trackpad?

Grounded and painted according to the description. And I have to say, I like it. Bright red keys would complement it nicely.

 

[weckart]

.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Remember this listing from 2021?

Wow! ?

I've never seen this before. Anyone else?

From the listing:



It's really interesting and curious as a chapter of Apple history and an entry within the Mac range but at $9,500.00 USD this is beyond my budget.

It remains unsold almost two years on, even with the price reduced from $9,500,00 USD to 7,499,00.

People just don't recognise a bargain when they see one!

 

[Amethyst1]

Remember this listing from 2021?

I love the contrast between the colourful case and the monochrome LCD!

 

[TheShortTimer]

Goodness... The seller is unable to describe the condition. Indescribably bad?

$66 USD for this? I wouldn't pay six dollars!

 

[rampancy]

It looks like that machine was in an excessively hot room. Maybe even a housefire? Heartbreaking.

 

[weckart]

I'm a bit perplexed. The plastics around the display, including the bezel seem fine. Is that the screen panel top layer puckering and buckling or did the seller cover it with some plastic sack material? If it burnt enough during use, I would have expected some melting of the bezel nearest it. Doesn't seem to be much heat damage at the back of the panel either.

 

[B S Magnet]

Goodness... The seller is unable to describe the condition. Indescribably bad?

$66 USD for this? I wouldn't pay six dollars!

Immediately I thought, “Florida.”

I wasn’t far off: southern South Carolina, which amounts to about four-and-a-bit hours of driving, American-style. Prolonged high humidity and heat in a storage area checks out. I would not want to smell its putrid, vinegary odour or hazard to guess the extent of corrosion of traces on the logic board within. Good mercy and good-night to that.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Here's another one, for the must-have price of $60 USD:

I've seen this listed and re-listed for a long time. Really can't imagine why the seller hasn't been able to find a buyer for it so far. A 17" PowerBook G4 with 512MB RAM and 100GB HDD for £999 GBP.

In fairness, there is the option to make an offer - so perhaps there might be the chance for negotiation...

 

[B S Magnet]

Here's another one, for the must-have price of $60 USD:

I really did not expect this to be from California, as there is only one specific region to have high humidity for much of the year, but even so, that humidity tends to be on the cool side (whereas most “vinegared” displays come from places with both high humidity and heat). Turns out Arcata is in that high-humidity area of the state, but aside from fire season, it’s not a part of the continent — especially as close as it is to the ocean. So who even knows if it’s been there this entire time.

I've seen this listed and re-listed for a long time. Really can't imagine why the seller hasn't been able to find a buyer for it so far. A 17" PowerBook G4 with 512MB RAM and 100GB HDD for £999 GBP.

In fairness, there is the option to make an offer - so perhaps there might be the chance for negotiation...

The price they want for that is put best by Cat Face: “You talk, but all I hear is silliness.”

 

[VirtuallyInsane]

In fairness, there is the option to make an offer - so perhaps there might be the chance for negotiation...

I offered them £60 but I got turned down

 

[m1maverick]

Goodness... The seller is unable to describe the condition. Indescribably bad?

$66 USD for this? I wouldn't pay six dollars!

I've actually put in some offers on some of these units (not this particular one) and all have been rejected. Amazing what people want for a known bad system with all kinds of parts removed.

Here's one I made an offer on:

VINTAGE APPLE MACINTOSH POWERBOOK 160 LAPTOP

 

[TheShortTimer]

I've actually put in some offers on some of these units (not this particular one) and all have been rejected. Amazing what people want for a known bad system with all kinds of parts removed.

eBay has become a haven for them it appears. I suspect that it stems from an arrogance that old gear must command a high price and that someone will buy it - and bad advice from peers who tell them that you can sell anything onlne and someone will buy it. That's clearly not the case because many of these ridiculously priced listings remain for sale in perpetuity.

I've bought "untested" or spares/repairs items but they were cheap - because of the understanding that being faulty or dead, they could only be sold for cheap.

It might be a better bet at this rate to scour flea markets or place an advert, offering to collect computer gear from homes, businesses and organisations - and get paid in the process.

Here's one I made an offer on:

VINTAGE APPLE MACINTOSH POWERBOOK 160 LAPTOP

Gosh, these prices!

What was your offer?

 

[m1maverick]

Gosh, these prices!

What was your offer?

It was for $35.00 which I considered reasonable for what it was:

• Body damage
• No hard disk or hard disk bracket
• Untested so who knows if the electronics could be useable in another system
• No power supply

As it is untested I don't know who would be willing to buy it for its electrical components / screen. I was interested in it for the floppy drive and to use to test my cleaning supplies to see if they had any adverse effects on the plastic.

 

[Doq]

"untested" means broken and "OEM" means aftermarket.

Usually, but not always. Found the only TiBook battery on eBay at the time to put in Vittorio to remedy the CPU throttling a while back. Untested open box, but it turned out to have only three (3) cycles on it. It was basically brand new.

---

If you want a quick laugh, search for "ipod dock connector usb + firewire" and just scroll.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Usually, but not always. Found the only TiBook battery on eBay at the time to put in Vittorio to remedy the CPU throttling a while back. Untested open box, but it turned out to have only three (3) cycles on it. It was basically brand new.

You see? It was probably new old stock.

If the price is right then I'll take the risk - especially if I can still make use of it in some capacity: cannibalise elements etc. but if it's a clear case of someone looking to pay their mortgage for the month via some absurd figure for something that they know doesn't work: forget it.

Speaking of absurd...

In British money, you can buy this type of RAM 10 times over for less than this price!