Someone wants to trade me a alienware m17x - How should I go about this?

Question

Hey Everyone,

I have never ever bought a computer from someone over the internet, er in this case trading.

Is their anything I should know about trading a computer w/ someone over the internet? Like - He says he has yet to open it, but how would I know? Could he add anything on the computer that could get my information that I wouldnt know about?

How should I go about trading, what questions should I ask him and any other helpful information would be great. What should I do when I get the computer?

Also, does anyone have a alienware m17x and do you like it? Etc etc

Thank you!

Answer 1

could be stolen.

buy it from the official website.

it couldn't ben any cheaper than retail if it is new.

Answer 2

I guess I'm a skeptical person, but at face value it sounds too good to be true. I suppose it depends on what you're trading this person. Has yet to be opened? Hmmmm. Add hardware that could get your sensitive information? Like a tracking device, or a key logger? As you have said, how do you know it's a good computer? What is it's a piece of junk?

With Ebay at least you can go through Paypal, but then this item isn't a cost item.

Answer 3

"test drive" the the computer... then look at the insides and the specs...

reformat your OS... clean install

if you want the extreme, replace the harddrive with the same type and buy a new os

Answer 4

If you do plan to go though with the trade get a bill of sale so you have some documentation to prove that you didn't steal it if it is stolen. If it is shady he will not want to give his real info to you when you meet to complete the sale. Find out if he has a recipe for it as well those laptops can be costly and allot of people finance them so if he bought it legit there should be some paper work with it. You can ask for the serial number off the laptop to check if it is stolen if it doesn't have a serial number then stay away from it.