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What should I do with iMac 27 inch core i7 from Ebay missing 4GB RAM/Applecare?

A

aneftp

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 28, 2007
4,379
574
First of all I purchased a 27 inch week 51 core i7 from a power ebay seller, MacMan812 (I've seen his posts on macrumors). He seems legit and I've actually talked on the phone with him last week about my shipping status and he promptly emailed me back the fedex tracking number.

So I received the package today. It's brand new, sealed in the box (as described). I was hoping for a wireless keyboard and wireless magic mouse but it came with the wired keyboard and wireless magic mouse (no big deal since I wasn't a big fan of the wireless aluminum keyboard on my 24 inch alumn iMac previously).

Now the more pressing issue is it's missing 4GB of RAM. He advertised 8GB of DDR3 memory and the system only reads 4GB. For me to purchased an additional 4GB DDR3 RAM would cost between $100-120 online and it's missing the 3 year AppleCare.

What should I do?

Thank god this iMac doesn't have the "yellow tinting" as reported by numberous macrumors member so I'd like to keep this computer. But I've only had the computer for 3 hours so I've heard the yellowing could occur the more you use the computer. But I am missing 4GB DDR3 RAM and the 3 year AppleCare.

I left MacMan812 a voicemail a couple of hours ago and also send him an email.

Do you think it's reasonable to ask for at least a $150 refund credit to my original purchase price (I paid $2459 for the iMac which is supposed to have 8GB RAM/3 year warranty). I get a $196 bing.com cashback. I have 3 days to return the computer.

Or if he doesn't respond, should I file an ebay dispute since the item is obviously missing RAM/Applecare?

I was impatient and wanted an iMac now instead of waiting for 2-3 weeks to have it shipped. Price wise, I would have paid almost the same from ebay or apple.com (since I get a little educational discount).
 
Give him some time to respond and rectify the situation, it may be an honest mistake. If you still get nowhere then file a dispute as the product was not as advertised.
 
You also want to be careful, as a refund of any sort CAN nullify your Bing cashback. It never has when I've received any refunds, but it COULD. So be warned. It's in the terms and conditions of BCB. I'd just ask him to send you a code for the Applecare, and the 4GB. Applecare takes 2 seconds to register at any point during the first year, and putting in the extra 4GB takes about 2 minutes.
 
Beyond any reparations you may seek, perhaps the best thing you can do is to learn from this experience and think twice next time you purchase this type of item from eBay in order to save a couple of weeks on the delivery time.
 
bobob said:
Beyond any reparations you may seek, perhaps the best thing you can do is to learn from this experience and think twice next time you purchase this type of item from eBay in order to save a couple of weeks on the delivery time.
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous. Ignore this guy. You made a an honest purchase from what appeared to be an honest seller. There's always some risk, but I would have done the same myself.

Anyway, $150 won't cover the RAM and Applecare, so I'd really try to get him to send you the correct extras.
 
You mentioned that the iMac was still in the sealed box. Does the box spec state that the iMac contains 8GB of RAM? If so, I'd call Apple ... if not, the seller needs to make good the promises on the listing.
 
jmoore5196 said:
You mentioned that the iMac was still in the sealed box. Does the box spec state that the iMac contains 8GB of RAM? If so, I'd call Apple ... if not, the seller needs to make good the promises on the listing.
Click to expand...

I think the OP is getting a little ahead of himself. Sounds like an honest mistake that will get rectified once the seller has a chance to check his email. It's too soon to freak out!
 
bobob said:
Beyond any reparations you may seek, perhaps the best thing you can do is to learn from this experience and think twice next time you purchase this type of item from eBay in order to save a couple of weeks on the delivery time.
Click to expand...

WilliamG said:
That's ridiculous. Ignore this guy.
Click to expand...

You're right, what was I thinking?

Don't try to learn from your experiences, and whatever you do, never think twice!
 
Update:

MacMan812 emailed me back. He said he will give me a call tonight. I'll see what he says.

The package from FedEx came in a big brown box (with the iMac Box enclosed in it). The iMac box fits perfectly into the big brown box. The serial number on the outside of the brown box matches the serial number on the offical iMac box.

The iMac was sealed and everything was perfect in terms of packaging. It reminds me of my 24 inch iMac aluminum packing.

What's weird and I just noticed this was that the iMac box contains a wireless keyboard picture along with a wireless mouse. But I received a WIRED keyboard with numeric keypad along with the wireless mouse. I don't mind the wired keyboard; that I can live with. I missed the numeric keypad when I had my wireless aluminum keyboard with my previous 24 inch alum iMac.

This computer is brand new. Maybe his shipping company made a mistake and shipped me the wrong computer with 4GB RAM instead of 8GB and without the Applecare? Maybe they included the wired keyboard instead of the wireless keyboard that's pictured on the box?

I'll see what he says if he decides to call me back tonight.

I've waited so long for this iMac core i7. I actually sold my 24 inch aluminum iMac in Dec 2009 so I can upgrade to this iMac (yes I waste a lot of money on computer products). Money wise, I don't really save that much on this ebay purchase vs. buying with my educational discount.
 
jmoore5196 said:
You mentioned that the iMac was still in the sealed box. Does the box spec state that the iMac contains 8GB of RAM? If so, I'd call Apple ... if not, the seller needs to make good the promises on the listing.
Click to expand...

I looked at the box and it says 2x2GB. So that means 4GB.
 
aneftp said:
Update:

MacMan812 emailed me back. He said he will give me a call tonight. I'll see what he says.

The package from FedEx came in a big brown box (with the iMac Box enclosed in it). The iMac box fits perfectly into the big brown box. The serial number on the outside of the brown box matches the serial number on the offical iMac box.

The iMac was sealed and everything was perfect in terms of packaging. It reminds me of my 24 inch iMac aluminum packing.

What's weird and I just noticed this was that the iMac box contains a wireless keyboard picture along with a wireless mouse. But I received a WIRED keyboard with numeric keypad along with the wireless mouse. I don't mind the wired keyboard; that I can live with. I missed the numeric keypad when I had my wireless aluminum keyboard with my previous 24 inch alum iMac.

This computer is brand new. Maybe his shipping company made a mistake and shipped me the wrong computer with 4GB RAM instead of 8GB and without the Applecare? Maybe they included the wired keyboard instead of the wireless keyboard that's pictured on the box?

I'll see what he says if he decides to call me back tonight.

I've waited so long for this iMac core i7. I actually sold my 24 inch aluminum iMac in Dec 2009 so I can upgrade to this iMac (yes I waste a lot of money on computer products). Money wise, I don't really save that much on this ebay purchase vs. buying with my educational discount.
Click to expand...

Sorry to sound sorta mean, but could you please answer the question from post number 6? The poster was asking what did the spec say on the box? The specs are on the sticker on the side of the box at the bottom. That will show what you exactly what should be inside that box. Ram, CPU, GPU.
 
HLdan said:
Sorry to sound sorta mean, but could you please answer the question from post number 6? The poster was asking what did the spec say on the box? The specs are on the sticker on the side of the box at the bottom. That will show what you exactly what should be inside that box. Ram, CPU, GPU.
Click to expand...

Says 27"/2.8c/2x2gb/1TB/4850-512mb/SD/WLM

I know my computers. I have owned multiple PCs and Apple products.
 
The keyboard with numeric keypad is optional. The box art itself will show the wireless mouse and keyboard because those are standard. Either the product was falsely advertised or there was a mistake on his part.

Keep us updated.
 
aneftp said:
Says 27"/2.8c/2x2gb/1TB/4850-512mb/SD/WLM

I know my computers. I have owned multiple PCs and Apple products.
Click to expand...

Cool, I wasn't doubting your computer knowledge, although I don't know you, so even if I did, I wouldn't be necessarily out of line. :). I was more concerned that the Ebay seller sent you a machine with specs that didn't match what the box said.
 
bobob said:
You're right, what was I thinking?

Don't try to learn from your experiences, and whatever you do, never think twice!
Click to expand...

No, you're just jumping to a ridiculous conclusion. What are you telling him? Don't buy things on eBay from people with exemplary feedback? Mistakes happen. I wouldn't sweat it.
 
Update:

So MacMan812 called me back tonight. Everything is good. I was just jumping to conclusions for no reason.

He said he shipped the 4GB RAM via a different package earlier this week and I should have it by the end of the week. Plus I requested a boxed Apple Care. He said he would ship me out the box with the serial number.

I figured that he would send the 4GB RAM via a different shipping method because no one would kill their profit margin by paying Apple an extra $180 for 4GB RAM when you can buy it online for $100-120.

Not sure if I will use the boxed Apple Care he will send me. I'll think about it. If I don't use it, I will just buy the $120 AppleCare for iMac from my university education store. And I'll just give the Apple Care he sends me to my brother (who has the 21.5 iMac). My brother doesn't intend to buy Applecare at all. He doesn't think it's worth it for his $1200 iMac. It'll just be a bonus for my brother if that AppleCare works.

My main concern was the screen on this 27 inch iMac and thank god the screen on my week 51 looks pretty good after 5 hours.
 
So realistically rather than dealing with the seller as you should have you've come on here and writing up this large entry in a panic, you would have been better served being patient and dealing with the seller in a private and correct manner.
 
aneftp said:
Update:

So MacMan812 called me back tonight. Everything is good. I was just jumping to conclusions for no reason.

He said he shipped the 4GB RAM via a different package earlier this week and I should have it by the end of the week. Plus I requested a boxed Apple Care. He said he would ship me out the box with the serial number.

I figured that he would send the 4GB RAM via a different shipping method because no one would kill their profit margin by paying Apple an extra $180 for 4GB RAM when you can buy it online for $100-120.

Not sure if I will use the boxed Apple Care he will send me. I'll think about it. If I don't use it, I will just buy the $120 AppleCare for iMac from my university education store. And I'll just give the Apple Care he sends me to my brother (who has the 21.5 iMac). My brother doesn't intend to buy Applecare at all. He doesn't think it's worth it for his $1200 iMac. It'll just be a bonus for my brother if that AppleCare works.

My main concern was the screen on this 27 inch iMac and thank god the screen on my week 51 looks pretty good after 5 hours.
Click to expand...

Badabing! Told you you were worrying for nothing. It is easy to get scared when buying stuff on eBay, but really - you had nothing to worry about. You often just have to give the seller a bit more time to get back to you on these things. He isn't Amazon.com, with 24-hour staff. :)
 
aneftp said:
Update:


The package from FedEx came in a big brown box (with the iMac Box enclosed in it). The iMac box fits perfectly into the big brown box. The serial number on the outside of the brown box matches the serial number on the offical iMac box.
Click to expand...

I got my 27" from MacMall (week 53 model) and it was shipped in the same exact box within a brown box.

As noted, mine is a week 53 and the screen is fine after 2 weeks.
 
Apple care normally ships separately. Did the seller said he would ship in the same box as the iMac?
 
kittiyut said:
Apple care normally ships separately. Did the seller said he would ship in the same box as the iMac?
Click to expand...

There's no way you can fit an Applecare box in the same box as the computer. The brown box is form-fitting, and you can't fit it in the iMac box without opening it.
 
aneftp said:
Update:

So MacMan812 called me back tonight. Everything is good. I was just jumping to conclusions for no reason.

He said he shipped the 4GB RAM via a different package earlier this week and I should have it by the end of the week. Plus I requested a boxed Apple Care. He said he would ship me out the box with the serial number.

I figured that he would send the 4GB RAM via a different shipping method because no one would kill their profit margin by paying Apple an extra $180 for 4GB RAM when you can buy it online for $100-120.

Not sure if I will use the boxed Apple Care he will send me. I'll think about it. If I don't use it, I will just buy the $120 AppleCare for iMac from my university education store. And I'll just give the Apple Care he sends me to my brother (who has the 21.5 iMac). My brother doesn't intend to buy Applecare at all. He doesn't think it's worth it for his $1200 iMac. It'll just be a bonus for my brother if that AppleCare works.

My main concern was the screen on this 27 inch iMac and thank god the screen on my week 51 looks pretty good after 5 hours.
Click to expand...


Why wouldn't you just use the Applecare he is sending you? Apple care comes boxed when it is shipped to you.
 
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