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Nervous about buying on eBay etc

northernmonkeyz

northernmonkeyz

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 15, 2011
36
0
Hi,
Now that I know the Mac Mini refresh isn’t happening soon, I now need to but a late 2012 model.
I am thinking of going down the used route but a bit nervous.
I have seen an i5 (late Oct 2012) with 8 GB ram, apple keyboard and mouse and Apple Care until March 2016.
I can’t see the item before I buy as it’s in another part of the country. There is a Buy It Now for £549.
I can see from the seller’s feedback that he buys/sells mainly computer based items and has 100% positive feedback out of 433.
Is there anything in particular I need to be weary of or ask before I dive in or would you advice a wide berth and go to Apple either new or refurb?
Cheers,
Al
 
northernmonkeyz said:
Hi,
Now that I know the Mac Mini refresh isn’t happening soon, I now need to but a late 2012 model.
I am thinking of going down the used route but a bit nervous.
I have seen an i5 (late Oct 2012) with 8 GB ram, apple keyboard and mouse and Apple Care until March 2016.
I can’t see the item before I buy as it’s in another part of the country. There is a Buy It Now for £549.
I can see from the seller’s feedback that he buys/sells mainly computer based items and has 100% positive feedback out of 433.
Is there anything in particular I need to be weary of or ask before I dive in or would you advice a wide berth and go to Apple either new or refurb?
Cheers,
Al
Click to expand...

Use paypal.

I've bought over 300 items from ebay sellers over the years. The vast majority were from the other side of the world (as I live in Australia). Only had two items not arrive but I could never tell if it was the seller or the postal service anyway.

Also as it is expensive, often the seller has a more secure postage/courier option for a few more dollars.

As for the item its self, you can always message the seller questions.
 
opinio said:
Use paypal.

I've bought over 300 items from ebay sellers over the years. The vast majority were from the other side of the world (as I live in Australia). Only had two items not arrive but I could never tell if it was the seller or the postal service anyway.

Also as it is expensive, often the seller has a more secure postage/courier option for a few more dollars.

As for the item its self, you can always message the seller questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
He has answered all the questions I have. It was bought March this year and is all in as new condition.
Deciding question is the price a good one?
It’s the following spec –
Apple Mac Mini MD387B/A Desktop Computer, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM (upgraded at purchase), 500GB, Apple wireless keyboard and magic mouse. It has Apple care to 2016.
£550.
What do you think?
 
northernmonkeyz said:
Thanks for the reply.
He has answered all the questions I have. It was bought March this year and is all in as new condition.
Deciding question is the price a good one?
It’s the following spec –
Apple Mac Mini MD387B/A Desktop Computer, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM (upgraded at purchase), 500GB, Apple wireless keyboard and magic mouse. It has Apple care to 2016.
£550.
What do you think?
Click to expand...

Can't help you with whether the price is good. I have no idea of the value of the pound relevant to the cost of living in the UK. In Aus everything is so expensive so overseas prices always look cheap to me but to the locals they are not. I would just search around to get a rough idea of if it is in the ball park.
 
opinio said:
Can't help you with whether the price is good. I have no idea of the value of the pound relevant to the cost of living in the UK. In Aus everything is so expensive so overseas prices always look cheap to me but to the locals they are not. I would just search around to get a rough idea of if it is in the ball park.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate it.
New the bundle would be £820, and as its 7 months old I would say it is.
I am way too cautious for my own good.
 
I lucked out a few times on ebay..

I managed to snatch a Late 2012 Mac Mini Server for $830 Shipped (BRAND NEW SEALED) via ebay. Guy was reputable, fast shipping and low and behold it was brand new and never turned on.

Trust eBay, don't trust all of its members.
 
TBH the last line in the comment above makes the most sense, I also have sold and purchased systems from eBay over the years.

Recently sold a PC but have also sold a MBP and bought my 2011 Mini from there at quite a discount over the retail considering it was sealed with a warranty.

Looks like you have done your home work, if the rep is good and the price is right it sounds like it's the one to go for.

Goodluck!
 
eBay and PayPal are safe buddy and your not wrong for feeling that way. To put it in perspective I purchased a car on eBay and a Mac mini around a bunch of other stuff never any issues. And if there is an issue paypal and eBay will take care of it great customer service.
 
eBay and PayPal are very much pro-buyer - meaning the seller has more to lose if he/she does not deliver on the goods stated in the listing, since majority of disputes will go in favor of the buyer, with proof (of course). With that said, if the sellers are open about what the items are, and have good communication, I see no reason why you should not buy from them.
 
Thanks for all the input.
I have bought it and its on its way.
The seller has even offered to load Mavericks on to it!

A quick tech question now -
Will the i5 with 8gb run the latest photoshop and light room etc without too much lag?
This is mainly what I will be using it for.
Previously I got by with a 10yr old PC with 1.5gb in it and it was ok to some extent but started to really slow with RAW files.
 
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