Thinkpads Forum

Look up item number 260300355003 on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SS:US:1123

Does this seem to be on the up and up to you?

For the experienced ebay buyers out there, is there any protect to speak of from paypal if it turns out to be 'too cheap?'

Thanx.

Seems kinda fishy...

- new eBay seller (joined 9/2/08 )
- located in China
- total of 512 modules for sale (somebody already bought one)
- $9 worldwide shipping, with $6 for each additional module
- auction description looks vaguely familiar, as if he's copied an existing one

So, $26 for the first module and $23 for each additional module does not seem like that much of a deal. As for as protecting yourself when using PayPal, I'd say pay by credit card so you have a second line of contesting the charge if the item doesn't work.

edit: Yeah, here's another seller that's been around awhile that has the same description:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0290638444

Hmmm - I could use a couple of those sticks too.

The 19 USD - is good - but the postage is milking it a bit - even from China. Couple of those sticks would very easily go in a "letter" - even with some protection.
Its not drastically cheaper than buying from private ebayers here in the UK ....

I get the impression that buying from China is usually OK - until there's a problem ....

slaz wrote:Couple of those sticks would very easily go in a "letter" - even with some protection.

Why do people keep writing things like this????

No, I wouldn't want it mailed in a "letter".

The memory I bought from China was mailed in a padded envelope, and I expected the seller to do it that way.

Looking back at what I posted earlier, I guess I should qualify my estimation of what is "cheap":

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0261409275 (SimpleTech $22)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0285497962 (2 Micron for $14; that's $7 each )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264804647 (Lot of 4 - Kingmax & SimpleTech for $70; $17.50 each)

All seven modules were purchased in the last week and all prices include shipping. The only one I've received so far is the first SimpleTech (it works fine). $22 is about my limit for a low density 256MB SODIMM at the moment. I did pay $30 for this one (used Buy-it-Now; I did not want to haggle with the Best Offer) but that was only done to satisfy my curiosity. Assuming that the other six modules arrive fully working, then that makes it an average of $15.15 apiece. That's what I would consider "cheap" for this type of module.

The SimpleTech module arrived safely and undamaged in an antistatic bag, put inside a padded DHL envelope and taped inside of a HUGE USPS Priority box (I'm talking 12" x 12" x 12"). Most of the time I get modules inside those bubblepack envelopes. The P.O. usually delivers them without any damage but it's not what i use. Anyone who has bought modules from me get them in a small cardboard box, reinforced with extra cardboard walls to make the box more "crushproof". I don't like taking chances .

Why do people keep writing things like this????

Because its perfectly reasonable. By "letter" I mean something classified to the PO by size and weight as a letter. I would expect a padded envelope too ....

To some people, a "letter" means envelope with the item wrapped in "protection" thereby lowering shipping cost. I had someone mail me a PCMCIA wiFi card in in such a manner. Needless to say, the item was damaged.