Is this bargain electronics site a scam?
January 20, 2010 6:07 PM
Is this electronics website legit? How can I find out more about them?
The prices they have on Apple products are unbelievable. However, it seems more than a little sketchy. I tried to find some references to the site on various message boards, but to no avail.
I know it mentions that they're a wholesaler, but I also can't find any indication that you have to purchase more than one unit of a given product.
How can I find out more about these folks?
The prices they have on Apple products are unbelievable. However, it seems more than a little sketchy. I tried to find some references to the site on various message boards, but to no avail.
I know it mentions that they're a wholesaler, but I also can't find any indication that you have to purchase more than one unit of a given product.
How can I find out more about these folks?
If the prices are unbelievable, I wouldn't believe them. ESPECIALLY on Apple products given their generally large markup over similar hardware configurations. I don't think you need to do much research to consider this one too good to be true.
Also, it may not be the case this time, but China is easily the most notorious when it comes to electronics knock-offs, and I know reasonably well that Apple products are a fairly high priority.
My guess? The scam, which seems somewhat likely given the prices, is that you'd receive a knock-off as opposed to absolutely nothing.
posted by dinx2582 at 6:17 PM on January 20, 2010
Also, it may not be the case this time, but China is easily the most notorious when it comes to electronics knock-offs, and I know reasonably well that Apple products are a fairly high priority.
My guess? The scam, which seems somewhat likely given the prices, is that you'd receive a knock-off as opposed to absolutely nothing.
posted by dinx2582 at 6:17 PM on January 20, 2010
Well, you can do a little poking around. What you'll find is some reports that they promote themselves through spam, which generally means scam, full stop.
Another hit: McAfee Site Advisor
Yeah, not taking credit cards and insisting on unsafe methods like Western Union is a huge red flag.
posted by jedicus at 6:17 PM on January 20, 2010
Another hit: McAfee Site Advisor
Yeah, not taking credit cards and insisting on unsafe methods like Western Union is a huge red flag.
posted by jedicus at 6:17 PM on January 20, 2010
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no such thing as a wholesaler of Apple products.
Good point. Well, I guess technically Apple acts as a wholesaler for authorized resellers. And Apple offers volume discounts to the public in certain situations. But yes, generally there are no Apple wholesalers.
posted by jedicus at 6:43 PM on January 20, 2010
Good point. Well, I guess technically Apple acts as a wholesaler for authorized resellers. And Apple offers volume discounts to the public in certain situations. But yes, generally there are no Apple wholesalers.
posted by jedicus at 6:43 PM on January 20, 2010
The nonworking Verisign and McAfee links are another red flag.
posted by zombiedance at 7:39 PM on January 20, 2010
posted by zombiedance at 7:39 PM on January 20, 2010
Western Union, Moneygram, bank transfer - FAIL.
100% - SCAM. End of story.
posted by VikingSword at 7:59 PM on January 20, 2010
100% - SCAM. End of story.
posted by VikingSword at 7:59 PM on January 20, 2010
If you spilled a 40-gallon drum filled with scam in your living room, this site would reek even harder than that. A 17" MacBook Pro for $562 is a pipe dream.
posted by porn in the woods at 8:26 PM on January 20, 2010
posted by porn in the woods at 8:26 PM on January 20, 2010
Impossibly good prices and they don't take credit cards?
You know the answer here. Don't let your greed for bargains win out.
posted by rokusan at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2010
You know the answer here. Don't let your greed for bargains win out.
posted by rokusan at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2010
Impossibly good prices and they don't take credit cards?
... and a domain registered two months ago... in China....
posted by rokusan at 8:39 PM on January 20, 2010
... and a domain registered two months ago... in China....
posted by rokusan at 8:39 PM on January 20, 2010
Thanks everybody. I wasn't about to just wire $500 out into the ether, but I wanted to find some substantive indications that something was amiss beyond an intuitive sense that these sort of deals just don't happen before I totally wrote them off.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 10:16 PM on January 20, 2010
posted by solipsophistocracy at 10:16 PM on January 20, 2010
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If you pay by credit card you have pretty good protection against fraud, but it looks like this place wants Western Union or the like. Looks like a scam.
posted by exogenous at 6:16 PM on January 20, 2010