Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

New G5 Quad for $2,300?

K

Khashyar

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 30, 2006
40
0
Los Angeles
Hi Everyone,

Someone has offered to sell me a G5 Quad with 4GB RAM and a 500GB HD for $2,300.

It does sound cheap.

Apparently it was bought new for a student, and the student changed their mind and wanted a different kind of computer. The seller says that the Mac is still in the box.

I am going to go over and look at it tomorrow.

Any words of advice?

Anything I should look out for or be careful about?

Although I am fairly new to G5s, I know how to check RAM, the type of Mac, etc...

Obviously, I want to be careful about deals that seem too good to be true.

Thanks for the feedback.

Khashyar
 
Good deal, if it is as advertised.
However also possibly too good to be true. That's a $4300 machine if the RAM and hard drive are from Apple. Less maybe 5% for Edu discount. Remember they can take it back to Apple unopened within 10 days or something, and get 90% of their money back.

Ask them for the serial number off the box so you can query the warranty at Apple. If they have some excuse why they can't give you the serial, back out. It possibly means they don't actually have a machine to sell.

Do you know the seller?
Or is it a blind contact off Craigslist or similar?
If you don't know the seller, take a friend with you to witness.

Consider that $2300 cash is more than enough incentive for some lowlifes to roll a person. Be careful! Choose a public place to meet, maybe?

Did the seller approach you out of the blue (like, responding to a post in a users forum?)
If it was an unsolicited approach "I saw that you were interested in Macs and I happen to have this brand new one I bought for my student relative for $4000 but I will to sell it for $2300" Then run away.
 
Take a friend with you if its an unknown person who's selling it to you.

Anytime your gonna drop that much Cash then take the system for a test run. Youll have to fire it up and Make sure it works... Check the serial (on the back of the Tower) while your doing that and Contact Apple about it after your done with the meeting. The serial will tell you when it was manufactured, and possible sold(registered).

If its under a year old you can Still get AppleCare for it, if it wasnt bought with it already.

Good luck :D
 
Thanks for all of the feedback, guys.

I saw the computer in a classified advertisement.

He gave me his phone number, and I am supposed to call him tomorrow morning.

I do obviously want to start the computer up and see if it works :)

That's a good idea about taking the friend with me.

I also was wonderign why he didn't just take the computer back to where he purchased it? I think that I will ask him that.

Also... I'm sure if he holds out a bit, he can sell the G5 for more. Or, is it hard to sell a Mac for $3,000 now adays? I'm sure that someone who wants a G5 might want to spend that kind of money.

Thanks again,

Khashyar
 
Firstly, don't let the Intel announcements fool you. Anyone would kill to have this for $2300. That is a sick price.

It's the oldest scam in the book; just look at eBay. They entice the buyer with a shockingly low price, but give them a context, so they construct legitimate reasoning.

The fact is, that is an immensely powerful computer. I'm very suspicious. That machine is worth $3500 at the lowest. No student that I know needs a juggernaut with those specs.

You must watch it boot, open programs, etc. Run the diagnostic CD. Open the case door and peer inside. Ask for the receipt (he should have one).

If you make the deal, print out a complete report from System Profiler. Take a few pictures if you can. And like the others said, bring a friend to witness the transaction.
 
Very good advice.

I am certainly not getting excited about this computer, and make any decision to purchase it, until I see it and test it.

It is very good advice to be very cautious.

I am wondering why he doesn't take more time to sell it for a higher price.

Khashyar
 
Somewhat OT...

I just had some fun maxing out a Quad G5. With 16 GB RAM and a couple of 30 inch displays, I had no idea it was possible to find a computer for just under £16,000. :eek: But hell, shipping is free ;)
 
I'm hoping that the sale might be genuine.

I received an email from the seller this morning who emailed me his address, as well as told me to come by (after a certain time in the afternoon) after his son's baseball game had finished.

I am going to check it out.

Khashyar
 
Yes, I will let you know how everything goes.

I will be careful about checking everything out before buying it...

Khashyar
 
My big suggestion is bring a friend along, and obviously don't use cash. Take a check and write it out in front of him if you finally see the machine and you are satisfied with it. If he tries and rip you off, worst case call the bank and cancel the check.
 
SC68Cal said:
My big suggestion is bring a friend along, and obviously don't use cash. Take a check and write it out in front of him if you finally see the machine and you are satisfied with it. If he tries and rip you off, worst case call the bank and cancel the check.
Click to expand...

If the guy is legitimate, you'll scare him off if you insist on a check. If it boots and runs fine (check system profiler to verify RAM and specs), drop the cash and take the machine before he changes his mind. If there are any problems, it's still under warranty.

Of course, this is easy for me to say since I'm not the one dishing out the dough.
 
SC68Cal said:
My big suggestion is bring a friend along, and obviously don't use cash. Take a check and write it out in front of him if you finally see the machine and you are satisfied with it. If he tries and rip you off, worst case call the bank and cancel the check.
Click to expand...
A classified seller is seriously not going to accept an uncertified personal cheque in payment :confused:

IF you go through with this, make it clear you are not bringing money, that you are inspecting the machine and then you will go to your bank and get a bank draft to pay for the machine. If the machine is good, get a bill of sale written out with a full description of what you are buying, specifying the payment to be delivered by a specific time and date, and give the seller a $10 down payment, making it a legal contract.
 
CanadaRAM said:
A classified seller is seriously not going to accept an uncertified personal cheque in payment :confused:

IF you go through with this, make it clear you are not bringing money, that you are inspecting the machine and then you will go to your bank and get a bank draft to pay for the machine. If the machine is good, get a bill of sale written out with a full description of what you are buying, specifying the payment to be delivered by a specific time and date, and give the seller a $10 down payment, making it a legal contract.
Click to expand...

Ah, it seems that I left my brain in park and my fingers in drive. Ignore my advice.
 
CanadaRAM said:
A classified seller is seriously not going to accept an uncertified personal cheque in payment :confused:

IF you go through with this, make it clear you are not bringing money, that you are inspecting the machine and then you will go to your bank and get a bank draft to pay for the machine. If the machine is good, get a bill of sale written out with a full description of what you are buying, specifying the payment to be delivered by a specific time and date, and give the seller a $10 down payment, making it a legal contract.
Click to expand...


Well if you want the g5...You should just check it out at quick as possible since if it is real it will be gone already. I sell stuff online all the time if somebody does this whole down payment thing and contract i will just find another buyer.

It is probably a stolen machine or a scam. But if he posted it on some website it would of been gone in an hour or less. Did he delete the post?
 
Acehigh said:
Well if you want the g5...You should just check it out at quick as possible since if it is real it will be gone already. I sell stuff online all the time if somebody does this whole down payment thing and contract i will just find another buyer.

It is probably a stolen machine or a scam. But if he posted it on some website it would of been gone in an hour or less. Did he delete the post?
Click to expand...

Yes, I am going to bring both a friend AND cash. (I withdrew the cash out of the bank this morning).

I am of course going to boot it up, and run some things, and perhaps runs the check program, and verify the components.

I asked him if he had a monitor that we can check it on, and he said yes.

He emailed me both his phone number and address (and I gave him mine), so I think that this reduces the chances of a scam or the apple being something stolen.

He said he has a son who is getting ready to go to college, and so if this is true, then this also reduces the likelihood of a scam.

I was wonder if:

1) I should ask him for the receipt.

2) Is there any documentation of a warranty?

3) When he bought it

4) Why he didn't try to return the machine for a refund.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Khashyar
 
How do I verify the video card that it should have?

I think that I should print out, and take with me, the specs of the Quad from the Apple website.

On the Mac OS, how can I check the date that the OS software was installed? (which will give me a clue to the computer's age).

Khashyar
 
Hi guys,

Obviously, I don't want to buy a computer that is stolen.

Is there any way that I can ensure that it was not stolen?

Do I ask him for the receipt?

Can I call somewhere to verofy the serial number?

What can I do, when I go see the computer, to ensure that it is not stolen?

Is having him address and phone enough to protect myself?

Khashyar
 
I think I know why he can't return the Mac:

from: http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/salespolicies.html

RETURN & REFUND POLICY
If you are not satisfied with your Apple purchase of a product, please call 1-800-676-2775 for a Return Material Authorization (RMA) request within 14 calendar days of the receipt of the product. Configure-to-order, personalized or other customized product may not be returned for refund or exchange under any circumstances unless DOA. If the item is returned unopened in the original box, we will exchange it or offer you a refund based on your original method of payment. The product must be returned to the Apple warehouse within 14 calendar days of the issuance of the RMA. All products must be packed in the original, unmarked packaging including any accessories, manuals, documentation and registration that shipped with the product. A 10% open box fee will be assessed on any opened hardware or accessory. If you purchased your order using an Apple Business Lease, you may be asked to provide a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) for apple to assess the 10% open box restocking fee.

Please note that Apple does not permit the return of or offer refunds for the following products:

1. Product that is custom configured to your specifications
2. Opened memory
3. Opened software*
4. Electronic software downloads
5. Personalized iPods
6. Software Up to Date Program Products (SW upgrades)
7. Apple Gift Cards
Click to expand...

His computer was custom built, rather than with the standard configuration.

Khashyar
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back