Just where is everyone on eBay finding these white iMac steals?

[cakedeal]

It seems like in the past two weeks, eBay listings for new, sealed and stock configuration 24" iMacs have absolutely exploded. A lot of the posts say that the seller acquired an unbelievable deal from a 'local vendor' and bought several to resell. Just who are these 'local vendors'? A lot of these auctions have buy-it-now for 1300-1400, that means to make a decent profit, they must have picked up an absolute steal to begin with. Forget eBay, I want to find these phantom 'local sellers' and get one myself. Anyone have any insight to share?

Also wondering if anyone has advice for finding a white iMac with the 256mb 7600 video card. We all know that the online Apple store will no longer custom config them, and lord knows I'm not going to be buying a glossy screen ever (what a bust the new iMac was!), so if anyone has any ideas, do share.

Anyway. Thanks in advance. -JJ

 

[ucfgrad93]

I have to wonder how many of those ebay sales are legitimate and how many are scams.

(what a bust the new iMac was!)

I don't think those new iMacs are a bust.

http://edge.macworld.com/2007/10/images/content/macunitsales.jpg

817,000 desktop sales in 90 days is pretty impressive. I would imagine that the majority of these were iMacs.

 

[Leon Kowalski]

A lot of these auctions have buy-it-now for 1300-1400, that means to make a decent profit, they must have picked up an absolute steal to begin with. Forget eBay, I want to find these phantom 'local sellers' and get one myself. Anyone have any insight to share?

You probably already know his -- but just in case you don't:

You can get still get new white iMacs from Apple-authorized resellers for a little more than those eBay prices. I just bought a 20" 2.16 GHz from SmallDog.com for $1200 + $30 shipping. They also have the 24" 2.16 GHz for $1500.

They shipped it (by 3-day UPS) just hours after I placed the online order, and it arrived, as promised, three days later -- in perfect condition. They even packed Apple's pretty-printed retail carton inside a heavy-duty outer shipping box.

Much to my surprise, my white 20" was manufactured a week or two after the ALU iMac introduction (build date: 2007, week 33). The factory-sealed inner carton included an iLife '08 DVD. Note that iLife '08 was introduced on the same day as the ALU iMacs -- so, it's probably included only with white iMacs built/shipped in the last few weeks of production.

Smalldog.com's web page says specifically that their 20" and 24" units include iLife'08.

LK

 

[MacinDoc]

I bought mine with a 7600GT on eBay, but only because I wanted the 7600GT and a larger than stock HD. Until I saw it, I was planning to buy a refurb.

Don't forget that if you buy on eBay, you will have to pay for shipping, and also full price for Leopard (if you want to update your OS), instead of the $10 Up to Date program for the refurb. So the refurb is really no more expensive.

 

[cakedeal]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still looking to figure out *where* and *who* these local vendors are that are slashing the prices on clearance 24" iMacs. Does anyone know?

 

[RedTomato]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still looking to figure out *where* and *who* these local vendors are that are slashing the prices on clearance 24" iMacs. Does anyone know?

Scam, fraud. I never buy computers on EBay. Only from Apple, Apple Refurb, or local people where I can look at the machine before handing over my money.

 

[Littleodie914]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still looking to figure out *where* and *who* these local vendors are that are slashing the prices on clearance 24" iMacs. Does anyone know?

I got mine at our college campus' Apple Store. They had been using it as a floor model, so it was even further discounted.