[quote author=“qua77ro”]With all the scams that are going on in eBay, I would be very wary of purchasing such an expensive laptop from a total stranger even with feedback to back him up. There are too many account hijacks going on these days. I always take a deal too good to be true with a grain of salt. Call me stupid, but I would always prefer to pay more to get such an expensive ‘toy’ from a reliable source.
For those of you who are interested in eBay scams, visit . I am sure it will give you a good laugh! 
That’s true, qua77ro, and I advise caution on every online-deal/transaction. All my deals have been successful up to now, and I’m still looking for my first unlucky one. I once bought an Acer Travelmate C102Ti Tablet for $850 plus shipping off of a 0-feedback bidder—the deal was legit and I received the computer/accessories within a few days in a small package, nicely packed. What I analyze is not just the feedback, but also the pictures ( I judge how authentic they are, if they’re rendered, composites, etc, and if they’ve been used or “stolen” off of another auction description—also, searching for the picture’s date signature is a big help ). I also analyze the description to determine how good of a deal this is, and if the person is “trying” to sound as reasonable as s/he possibly can.
I’ve risked so much from ebay and off-ebay transactions that I feel I’m pretty much “immune” to analyzing what’s potentially a good and legit deal and what isn’t. Of course, I would beat myself to death if I had to purchase a TR3A at retail price or higher, just because it’s so small, so fragile, and if things go wrong, definitely a poor investment. On the long-run, if I’m not satisfied with it, I can just sell it for the same price, and sometimes for a higher price, than what I originally payed for it! It pays to be a smart shopper. 
Guest, that TR5 deal sounds a little too shady. I wouldn’t trust the deal if I were you.
Good luck, fellow ebayers!!! 
-best,
Concura
8 July 2004
