T23 Ebay Story - For Amusement

[glgermain]

In an act of pure stupidity, I bought a T23 off of ebay - advertised as "excellent cosmetic condition." Well, the screen had some bruises, and the machine spontaneously rebooted while encoding video. I checked the number on IBM's site, and it was still under warranty. I was told that someone purchased a 3 year on site policy when they bought the machine. IBM sent a tech to my house who ordered and installed a new screen. While putting it in, he noticed that there were a whole bunch of screws missing or in the wrong place on the inside - including a screw over the cpu fan. He replaced the missing screws, put in a new screen, and the machine is now perfect - no more spontaneous reboots. Keyboard is properly tight instead of loose. I'm starting to enjoy it. I really got lucky. I've got to say it's a big risk buying used laptops sight unseen. I don't think I'd do it again.

Only thing I'm missing is the screw holding the hard drive bay in. Any idea where one can get a hard drive bay screw?

I'm thinking of upgrading the hard drive to a 7200 rpm hitachi. I'd like bigger than 60 gigs - maybe I should wait a little while. Coming from a 240, this T23 feels like a big machine, but it's nice working with this big screen and full size keyboard.

[AssPenny]

Got lucky, good job!!

[MadeInJapan]

I had a hard drive screw missing too, and so I called IBM and told them I needed the screw. The very next day a package arrive...and it was not a small package....sent from somewhere in Asia...double bundled with small box inside a much larger one with air cushioning all around. I opened it to find the entire screw kit to the T22 I had bought....nice surprise....and there was a screw to the hard drive retaining screw in the kit....you might just call IBM and see. It's always nice to have a spare set of screws for your TP for backup anyway.

[BillMorrow]

and they wonder why the PC division was losing money..

[MadeInJapan]

Yeah, Morrow...I totally agree. I originally posted this story a few months ago in this forum's General News/Comments section , pointing a finger at IBM's excesses (though great customer service) and we ridiculed by others for complaining. Although I wasn't really complaining, I was questioning IBM's practices. They could have refused my request for a "screw," or sent me just the one screw....I wasn't even in a hurry to get it. Anyway, I feel redeemed knowing "the Man" agreed with me on this one....
BTW, a very Happy New Year to you and all those who read this!

[Thinker]

In an act of pure stupidity, I bought a T23 off of ebay - advertised as "excellent cosmetic condition."

Strangely enough, I am immersed in a similar (but worse) situation involving a "virtually perfect" T23 described to me to "look and operate like new, with no wear or defects". The seller had 100% positive feedback, so I thought everything would be fine. How wrong I was...

When the laptop gets here, the first thing I see (the laptop is wrapped in bubblewrap) is that the AC adaptor leads are bent badly. I think OK, don't panic maybe the computer will be as described...
I proceed to unwrap the computer, and I am presented with an obviously used and worn out outer casing. Crap...
So I open the screen. More crap: The left latch is broken and I need to move it with my finger because it is stuck!!!!!
Once I open the laptop, I don't believe what I see. The amount of dirt is incredible, the screen is beaten up and dirty. The keyboard has shiny keys and so much dirt between the keys that I begin to wonder if this laptop has been kept in a pigpen (Probably not, it would be cleaner if that were the case). The Intel sticker on the palmrest is sticking up and hanging by a thread (the least of my problems, but still!)
I proceed inspecting the laptop. I turn it on, and to my horror I see that there are several bright spots in the screen (Someone later tells me that this is most likely damage in the background diffusor foil). The amount of dirt in every port interface is inexcusable.

Basically, this "virtually perfect" and "like new" T23 turned out to be virtually useless and like it was used by a 4 year old kid in a sandbox. Obviously, at this point I am pretty [censored] off. I email the seller and tell them about all the problems (like he didn't know ).
He gets back to me saying that "virtually perfect" and "like new" are relative terms. When I hear this I almost can't believe it, since these are probably the least relative terms that you can use when describing the condition of an item in eBay. He proceeds to say he feels insulted by my email, but that he will refund my money (discounting the shipping both ways and his eBay fees).
I respond saying that although I shouldn't be paying for shipping and his eBay fees since this mess is a product of his blatant misrepresentation of the item, I accept.
Next thing I know, the guy tells me that now I have offended him and that he will decide what amount to refund at his discretion (arbitrarily). Obviously, this does it for me. I call on the phone, and after being able to have him pick up the phone, he hangs up on me after 15 seconds, saying that I shouldn't call him but just use email (Hey folks, I'm just using eBay procedure to resolve transaction issues, plus I am being polite and respectful all the way).

To make things shorter, I email the guy and let him know that what he has done (blatant misrepresentation of an item) falls squarely within the legal definition of fraud. I tell him that I have had the condition of the item documented. I also tell him that I will forcefully pursue litigation through eBay, PayPal, and my Credit Card company (I didn't tell him I will also look into possible legal (as in small claims court) action)

Finally, he emails back and tells me that he will refund my money (but not the shipping or his eBay fees). Once more, I agree. He tells me that he will let me know when his COD money order (I had to split the payment in a PayPal payment and a COD payment since he didn't want to upgrade his account which has a monthly limit) gets there. The money order went out on Monday, and it is now Saturday. I was told by USPS that it should take 3 days to get there...I guess this ain't over.

I am [censored] off and angry with myself obviously.
Let this be a cautionary tale to all of you that are thinking about going the eBay route. Even if your seller has 100% positive feedback, that doesn't mean anything. Only bid on auctions from sellers you have a very good reason to trust (beyond positive feedback), and require to see pictures of the actual item being auctioned. Better yet: Buy direct from IBM or from Bill.

Have a happy new year.

Ruben

[MadeInJapan]

I hate that this happened to you. In my case, I was lucky to buy from a reputable (almost 100% eBay feedback) person when I bought my T30. I was so impressed that my school has now purchased over 10 T22's from him directly. Look not only on the rating but how many items the person has SOLD. A person who buys 1000 things and has 100% rating and only sells 2 items may not be trustable. Anyway, looks like a very hard lesson learned. I hope that you get things straightened out soon. I guess there was no IBM warranty on the Thinkpad...if there were, you could have had virtually everything replaced on it and it would be practically a new machine. I agree with you that there is no excuse what so ever with what this guy did to you. Watch out for the money order too....don't be satisfied until you have it cashed.