I was going to post this is Hardware but I guess it applies to more than computer parts. Anyway, how many people regularly do this? I don't mean regulated sites like eBay and Amazon, but like Gumtree and Craigslist. I'm asking because there's some GPUs on Gumtree I'm considering buying it, but there's always the off chance they're faulty, and if they are, there's no "safety net" to get back my money, unless it's through Paypal, then I guess I could claim back, but most people ask for physical cash, which is understandable.
If it looks too good to be true then it probably is. I would never buy computer parts off eBay or a site like gumtree, oo much risk and hassle involved if something did go wrong.
Second that. Although way back when I first started building my own computers I did get a processor off ebay and had no problems. Got lucky I guess
Never purchased PC part from the bay but purchased a lot of second hand parts. I had a refurb GA-P35-DS3L (Still work in a friend pc, 4 years later), I currently have a refurb audio card, my GPU is second hand and I had a second hand raptor 74 not so long ago (Retired in my Grandma PC, easy work). Is the part still under warranty ? Is the seller have good reviews ?
It's all about calculating the risk - Gumtree is very VERY risky because there is absolutely no safety net. When working with Gumtree I always make sure my deals are face-to-face if I'm the buyer; as a seller I really don't mind... very happy to post stuff if the buyer is happy to put money in my bank account, which is usually the case. Bottom line: see what you're buying before you pay for it and make sure it is as described, and ask as many questions as you can. I recently bought an air rifle on a forum for £550 and everything went well - I called the guy beforehand to make sure I could grill him on the spot, and only after doing so was I satisfied that he could have my money. When I received the rifle I tested it extensively, and after one week of testing I found that there was a fault with it and that it needed a professional service; since then the seller has ignored me and I've had to pay for the service myself, which has taken more than four weeks and has cost me a further £200. Since this online experience I'm now satisfied that even the guys who seem nice can be d!cks, and from now on I'm going to be even more careful with my purchases. I'm drawing a line under this particular experience because although the seller lied to me, I still got what I wanted eventually and it's not like he ran away with all my money... there is even a very slim chance that he wasn't aware of the need for a service, but I doubt it. LOL. Be careful, whatever you do.
Graphics cards from ebay have been a bit hit or miss. I try to personally be very upfront about the condition of my stuff when I sell it on. Shame that not everyone is.
pretty much all my current photography gear are from forums. the 5D mark 2, 24-105 L, 430exII flashgun, worth over £1600. with computer gear, i have bought my share off the forums. currently the case, motherboard, CPU and SSD are all second hand from this very forum. i won't trust Gumtree, no. i would trust these forums where it's moderated and any untruthful seller are shamed and banned. also, for the expensive camera gear, i went to visually inspect before handing over the money. as said, if it's too good to be true, walk away.
I love bit-tech marketplace and I'm really sorry for the few guys who have been screwed here... I've bought well over £1K worth of components here and every experience has been absolutely brilliant. LOVE YOU GUYS
I'd buy from the forums, but I've a few weeks yet until I can see the boards, damnit. I need me a cheap 7850...
I have bought and sold a fair bit of hardware on eBay, and as a buyer it's usually very easy to get your money back if something isn't clearly as described. As a seller... I'm disillusioned. I always extensively test any hardware before listing it, and I've had a handful of problems over the years. Usually these have been found in my favour (error made on the buyer's part), but one or two cases have been bitterly fought and lost with, quite frankly, idiots. On each of those occasions, the item received back worked flawlessly, apart from one occasion (a very cheap old PCI graphics card) which did actually die en route to the buyer. Instant refund, no harm done. I take extra time these days when preparing listings to try and make sure that all bases are covered. Although that doesn't stop the odd buyer treating me as their own IT support guy often for several months after a sale Bit-tech marketplace Cheesecake, no doubt about it! Preloved by geeks = loved by new geeks.
Though not hardware related I use eBay alot to sell used 360 games and the idiots that can't read my descriptions on there irks me massively but there's just no other easy place to get rid of them for a decent price. Love the BT Marketplace though
ebay just seems the safest bet. Most people welcome returns anyway, so look out if they mention that.
I hate selling on Ebay, had a few problems with buyers lying about the condition of items they bought, I'd rather sell it for cheaper on here, much nicer bunch of people
Thing with ebay is that you need to be streetwise. I've been buying and selling there for YEARS and I've developed my own knack of sussing an untrustworthy seller, and it's not always based on their feedback... after some bad experiences with seemingly "good" sellers I've learned my lesson. Can you give us more info on the GPUs you've found on Gumtree? What are they and how much are they? BTW the CPU, motherboard, RAM, and GPU in my rig are all second hand.
I have used eBay before for buying parts and such and as somebody else mentioned, it can be hit and mess. I think you're pretty safe if your seller has a lot of good (and recent) feedback.
It was a 6950 for a very cheap price, but it all looked a bit seedy. Anyway guys, what about used goods from Amazon? Are they reliable?
