shuffle January 2006 content

[Magnus]

Guide to buying a Mac on Souq.com
by Magnus

With the arrival of web sites like Souq.com and UAE Mall shoppers in the UAE who may be interested in iPods and Macs have new places to shop at. These new shopping channels are not without their problems however and they put more responsibility on the buyer to make sure they know what they're getting. We browsed around on Souq.com and focused on Mac computers and software. Souq has separate categories for different kinds of items, such as desktops and notebooks. Buying items on sites like this really is a case of buyer-beware. You may be able to save some money but at what cost? There are no guarantees that you actually get what you think you're getting, that the seller is who they say they are, etc.

User rating
On Souq.com each buyer and seller has to be registered with the site. For each transaction both parties involved get to leave a rating. Newly-registered users will obviously have a low rating, so someone having just a 1 may not be a problem, but beware of users with negative rating.

Software
If you're buying a computer obviously you're interested in what software is included. If more software is included you may be interested in buying the item which is something many sellers are aware of so they try to "pad" the item with software. What you need to make sure is whether that software is legal or not, whether you get the original manuals, and whether the software comes on original disks (usually cd or dvd). If the buyer leaves software installed on a Mac's hard drive and says it's included in the deal, you should ask if it's licensed software (it may just be a trial copy) and whether the seller will sign a license transfer.

In a hurry
If a seller says that they are in a hurry to sell, as a buyer that's something to be careful about. It may be that they have perfectly good reasons for being in a hurry but it may also be that there is something suspicious going on. The same applies for buyers who want to make a deal because they are in a hurry, like in this example. If a seller is offering to close an auction early, that's something to be careful about too. An auction is supposed to run for a specified period of time and the winning bidder is whoever has the highest bid at the end of that period.

Limited or no information
When a seller puts an item up for sale you would think that they would describe the item as thoroughly as possible, giving detailed descriptions of its condition, features, specifications, etc. If a seller does not say much about what they're selling, be careful. Also, if a seller can show photos of the actual item(s) for sale, that's obviously better than them just taking something from a manufacturer's web site. Many sellers are lazy and they just take a picture from a web site, which obviously is not satisfactory. If you're buying something you want to see the actual item.

Non-responsive seller
Many web sites have some function for buyers to ask questions of sellers. If a seller is not answering questions or takes a very long time answering them, that may be something that puts up a flag in your mind. I noticed one auction for a Mac where a question was asked on June 12th but on July 3rd there was still no answer. Remember it's your responsibility to ask any questions before the deal is done. If you don't make sure to ask all the necessary questions before bidding or buying, it's your fault. Don't count on a seller being willing to accept any returns once the deal is done, especially on an auction site.

History of item
Sellers should describe how old an item is and what the history is. This would include things like where and when it was bought, how has it been used since, etc. If a seller cannot account for an item's history, it may be cause for concern. This is especially important when you're buying something that is still under warranty. One way you can check yourself on aspects of a Mac's history is by its unique serial number. To decode the serial number you can use the Chipmunk web site (www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html). It will tell you when the Mac with a particular serial number was manufactured, where it was made, and exactly what model it is.

If you're selling [MAKE INTO BULLET POINTS?]
So what if you're a seller, what can you do to make the process easier? Here are some suggestions:
Describe the item well, with all relevant details and remember the condition of the item, how it has been used, etc.
One way to include the complete specifications is to include the System Profiler output. You find this by going to the Apple-menu > About This Mac > More Info. This starts the System Profiler and from there you can save that as a text file and include in your listing.
Include real photos of the actual item. Pictures from manufacturers' web sites are good, but real photos are better.
If the item has scratches or other blemishes, be honest about that in the description and try to capture them in the photos.
If you're selling a Mac or an iPod (or anything with storage) make sure you empty the drive and restore it to factory defaults. On a Mac this means running the Mac OS X installation again after reformatting the drive.
If you're including software, make sure you describe what it is, and whether you will transfer the license and if the original disks and handbooks are included.
Be prepared to answer questions.

Wrapping up
As I said in the beginning, there is certainly room for bargains in this type of transactions but it's not as easy as many people think. As a buyer, it's your responsibility to make sure that you know what you're getting by asking questions. As a seller, you should describe the item as honestly as you can, and be willing to answer questions. Remember that in this type of buying and selling there are few set rules so be prepared to be flexible.

SIDEBAR
If you're buying an older Mac it may be a good idea to check out the model's history to find out when it was introduced, discontinued, etc. Apple-History (www.apple-history.com) is a great web site which has comprehensive details on all Mac models ever sold.

SIDEBAR
If you have a chance to actually try the Mac before buying you can get the serial number by going to About This Mac in the Apple menu, then clicking twice on the text "Version...".

Adobe's policy for transferring ownership of software says:
"1. Contact Adobe Customer Service to obtain a case number. Note: Failure to obtain a case number from Adobe Customer Service prior to submitting the Transfer of License form will result in delayed processing.
2. Open and Save the Transfer of License PDF.
3. Follow the instructions on the Transfer of License form and fill in all the fields provided.
4. Write your case number and/or customer number on the form.
5. Both the transferer and the transferee must sign the Transfer of License form.
6. Return the completed Transfer of License form to Adobe at the address or fax number provided on the form."