Laptop computers are hot, and if you don't already have one, you're
probably shopping for one. One thing you may not know as you click around
searching for discount laptop computers is that there are scammers out there
looking to rip you off. Here are some of the common scams and
how to avoid them and get the discount laptop computer of your dreams:
The Plain, Simple Rip-off
This is the simple "promise them discount laptop computers, but never deliver"
scam. This scam doesn't just apply to discount laptop computers, it can apply
to anything you purchase, online or offline. To avoid it, make sure you're
dealing with a reputable seller. If you're buying at one of the auction sites,
check out the seller's feedback rating and how long they've been selling. A
scammer can get a good feedback rating by buying many inexpensive items
being auctioned. Then they put up an auction to sell discount laptop
computers or other expensive items and they take your money and run. Always
check to see if the seller has a good record as a seller, not just as a buyer.
If you're looking for laptop computers from an online retailer, you're much
less likely to run into a scam, but you should still check out the various
rating sites that rank many online sellers.
The Overpriced Shipping Scam
If you've found what looks like a good deal on discount laptop computers,
either at an auction site or an online store, make sure you take a look at the
shipping charges before you buy. This is also more common at auction sites,
but you should always check before you purchase from an online store. Some
scammers charge shipping fees so high that your discount laptop computer can
end up having no discount at all! If you see a shipping fee that makes you
wonder if they're going to be delivering it by private jet, look elsewhere
for your new laptop computer.
The Special Payment/Approved Bidder Scam
Some scammers aren't looking to take your money at all. Instead, they're
scamming an affiliate program from a payment service. You may see an auction
for discount laptop computers that says that the seller will only accept
payment through a particular payment service and that all bidders must be
pre-approved before the seller will sell to them. You'll find a convenient
link in the auction listing, too, so you can go and sign up with the payment
service and contact the seller so you can bid on the laptop computers. The
problem is that the seller never approves anyone as a bidder. Instead, they
are collecting an affiliate commission from the payment service for everyone
who signs up with the service through that link. If you see one of these
auctions, notify the payment service about what you've seen and let them
investigate the seller. Don't bother trying to bid; Look for discount laptop
computers elsewhere.
The "Wholesale List" Scam
This may be the nastiest scam going. The auction sites have cracked down on
these, but some still sneak through. The way this one works is that a seller
lists discount laptop computers (or snowblowers or mp3 players or other
expensive items) at prices that look like a great bargain. The auction title
may have the words "wholesale list" in it, or that phrase may be buried
somewhere in the auction listing text. Usually these listings will have
complete descriptions for discount laptop computers, including all of the
specifications of a particular model, photos of the laptop, etc. And the
prices on the auctions will be a few hundred dollars less than the retail
price, so the average person thinks that "wholesale list" means that's the
wholesale list price that dealers pay for the laptop computers direct from
the manufacturers which they then sell to you at the retail price. That's
NOT what "wholesale list" means in these auctions. What it means (and you
may find this actually spelled out in small print somewhere in the middle
of the mile-long auction listing) is that you're bidding on a list of
places where you can buy discount laptop computers at wholesale prices.
That's it, just a list of wholesalers selling laptop computers! But the
people who either don't see the "wholesale list" part of the auction or
misinterpret it and think that it's an auction for actual discount laptop
computers end up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for a sheet of
paper. To avoid this scam, make sure you read and understand everything in
an auction listing. Contact the seller if you have any questions. If you
do spot one of these "wholesale list" listings, notify the auction site
immediately. They'll shut the scammer down.
The Grey Market Surprise
This one is common with photo equipment, but you may find discount
laptop computers that aren't supposed to be sold in your country. Sometimes
a product is available for a lower cost offshore, so sellers and some stores
will offer it for sale on what's called the "grey market." The problem with
grey market laptop computers is that they probably don't have a warranty
that's valid in your country. You may have to ship your system overseas to
have it serviced, if you ever have a problem with it. Also, you may not get
a power adapter for the PC that works in your country and the software on
the PC may be in another language. Always check to see if the discount laptop
computer has a warranty for your country. If you see mention of an
"international warranty," that often means that it's not warrantied for your
country. Check with the seller or store to make sure that you don't end up
with a surprise when your laptop computer arrives.
Don't be scared off by the scammers. You can still find legitimate
discount laptop computers at the auction sites and at the online stores.
Just keep your eyes open and make sure you understand everything about
the item you're purchasing before you spend your hard earned cash.
