Advice for purchasing a used T60

[chenimen]

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase a used T60 from the local classifieds for $750CAD. It's got T2500 (2.0GHz Dual), 80GB HDD, 1.5GB RAM, X1400 video, CD-Combo optical, etc...

The price is right but I have some reservations that I'd like to share with you guys and get some advice.

First off... his story is kinda hard to believe: He said he bought it off a company that didn't need it any more but now he's thinking about switching over to a Mac so that's why he's selling.

Second... he seems hesitant to give me the S/N. He doesn't have the receipt but guarantees it's under warranty. When I asked to get the serial off him to check with Lenovo whether or not the warranty was transferable he said he'd get back to me but never did.

On the other hand he says he has all other documents like manuals and recovery cd's so that puts me at ease a little bit.

We are still scheduled to meet tomorrow to complete the transaction but I'm considering otherwise right now... Should I pursue this deal further or am I asking for trouble?

Would anyone here still buy for that price even if it wasn't under warranty?

Cheers

[own6volvos]

Until you can get a serial to verify it is under warranty and not stolen, don't go through with it. If it does have a known stolen serial number, even if you paid with your money, you will have to return the laptop to Lenovo/IBM to its rightful owner, and will not receive anything in return for your hard earned money. You will be out your 750 bucks, and depending on your area be fined/arrested the accepting stolen goods.

[chenimen]

Yeah that's what I was planning on doing too. If he doesn't return my messages to give me the S/N tonight then I won't bother showing up tomorrow. Too bad I was all excited too

Is $750CAD a too-good-to-be-true price? If so, then what should I expect to pay for a used T60?

[own6volvos]

What was the full spec of the unit? 15" or 14.1"? For a laptop that is almost pushing a year old with dubious background (consider it ebay like) with the warranty only perhaps 1 year and almost up, I would consider that price to be about normal. Nothing really special.

[Kyocera]

I'd buy it if it was legit and under warranty and on the up and up, but it sounds like the old red flag is waving on this one.

[chenimen]

It's a 14" screen and he says it's 4 months old which would give me 7-8 months left on warranty... but yeah seems like it's HOT

[pianowizard]

I would consider that price to be about normal. Nothing really special.

$745CA is $646US. I have never seen a T60 sold for that cheap anywhere. That's rare even for T43's. The 1GB PC2-5300 module alone is worth $100US.

[own6volvos]

I would consider that price to be about normal. Nothing really special.

$745CA is $646US. I have never seen a T60 sold for that cheap anywhere. That's rare even for T43's. The 1GB PC2-5300 module alone is worth $100US.

Models with similar spec were selling for about 1100-1200 new not more than a month ago, with the newer core 2 duo chips. That said, its a used highly depreciatable item, with dubious background.

[pianowizard]

That said, its a used highly depreciatable item, with dubious background.

Many people don't feel comfortable giving out serial numbers. I didn't feel comfortable doing it when I was selling my X40 last month, so I did a poll here asking how people felt about it. At least one person said it's safer not to give it out.

[crazyfrog]

Until you can get a serial to verify it is under warranty and not stolen, don't go through with it. If it does have a known stolen serial number, even if you paid with your money, you will have to return the laptop to Lenovo/IBM to its rightful owner, and will not receive anything in return for your hard earned money. You will be out your 750 bucks, and depending on your area be fined/arrested the accepting stolen goods.

Even with the serial number in hand, how can one know if the laptop is stolen or not?

[Truthfinder]

Your better off spending a little more, knowing that the unit you are getting is in perfect shape. Moreover, you must get a serial number as well as the model, ie: 2623............

You can than go into the IBM site and learn exactly just how much warnt. time is left on the particular system. DON'T get stung.

The Client Security system may be password protected, thus you will have to have IBM install a new motherboard, that is if the unit is not stolen.

Do your homework.

Best of luck, Steve

[chenimen]

Hey thanks for all the advice guys/gals. The deal fell through as the guy stopped answering his phone and wouldn't return my messages requesting for serial number. I had my friend call him and he got a completely different story than the one I got so now I'm absolutely positive that it's hot.

I contacted the site where it was advertised and had the ad taken off. Also forwarded the phone number I was provided to other local ad sites in an attempt to get him blacklisted.

I was about to fwd his info to the local authorities but decided against it since I have no real proof plus they prolly have better things to deal with (hopefully... err well maybe not).

Anyways... atleast I didn't get ripped off and his ad is down.

Thanks for everyone's help
Cheers

[Army Chief]

I'd be interested in hearing where you guys think a secondhand T60 could be found for anything even remotely close to the sub-$700 figure originally quoted here. That's an absurdly low price on any functioning T60, and depreciation notwithstanding, we're talking about machine that retailed for well north of $2,000 less than a year ago.

I was burned on a similar deal many, many years ago, and have come to believe the old axoim is true: you get what you pay for. Find the machine that interests you, and try to find out what the median/average street price is. Anything below that is of dubious authenticity, and likely a scam.

Chief

[christopher_wolf]

I'd be interested in hearing where you guys think a secondhand T60 could be found for anything even remotely close to the sub-$700 figure originally quoted here. That's an absurdly low price on any functioning T60, and depreciation notwithstanding, we're talking about machine that retailed for well north of $2,000 less than a year ago.

I don't think so; it is quite a good deal to get even a nicely decked out T43 or T42 under around $750. That would, literally, be too good to be true. Even if it is a low-end T60 near bare bones and heavily used, I still don't think it could hit that kind of pricing.

[claudeo]

I can't think of a good reason to withold the serial number from a potential purchaser, unless you expect the purchaser to steal the machine from you and try to re-register it under his name. It's not like the serial number can be faked out or reused for another machine to extend the warranty, since it is also printed into the motherboard and in firmware. In all cases, warranty or factory service will be denied if the serial number has been tampered with. And there are various ways to check whether a machine with a specific serial number has been stolen. If it was reported to IBM/Lenovo, that will pop up as soon as there is an attempt to get warranty service. There are also web sites like juststolen.net that are used to track and check on stolen property.