Before proceeding, be advised that I have been working on IBM thinkpad laptops for 10 years, and have had extensive experience using Ebay for 9 years. Now here is my report.
I won auction on Ebay for IBM laptop computers, lot of 3, which seller described as goodfor parts and repair. Paid $96 on auction #260248942539 on 6/14/2008
Items were significatly not as described. there was much undisclosed damage. Undisclosed damage or deficiencies for each is as follows.
The a22M had a physically cracked LCD, cracked hinge cover from another item (marked from an A21M), the mini pci card was missing, and it had a cracked lower case.
The T20 damage shows that it was dropped on corner which broke lower left case, lcd bezel, and lcd cover. The battery was cut in half then taped together, a bad 14.1" lcd was stuck in place where a 13.3" one should be, since the lcd was wrong one, it was incompatible with ribbon cable, letters were worn off keys E,A,S,D, among many others, screws attaching lcd hinge to base were missing, mini pci was wrong one, had modem only, card should have included ethernet.
The T21 has broken palmrest bezel and all screws missing, lcd screws missing,lcd ribbon cable was physically damaged,no screws present in keyboard, and it was missing guard under keyboard.
Shipping was not as described. Seller crossed into US and shipped items by US parcel post at cost of $16.27 from zip 48120, I got this information from shipping label. He stated in ad shipping would be from Canada at rate of $36 and that is what I paid him.
The seller removed any parts of value then computers were poorly reassembled with the bad parts removed from other items. There was nothing left on these items to salvage. As such, they had no value. After emailing complaint to seller, seller emailed back and said to return for refund. Items sent back on 6/26/2008 by cheapest shipping method available to me via USPS at
cost of $39.70 to Windsor, ON. No contact from seller as of 7/9/2008.
After starting with Paypal resolution center, seller finally did offer a refund of $65. This was unacceptible to me because it was far less than what I spent on this fiasco. I am requesting refund of $136.68. Details are cost of item $61.99 and shipping cost paid to him $34.99 and return shipping $39 I paid to send back to him in windsor,ontario, canada.
I started with Paypal resolution center on 7/9/2008.
I have moved the dispute to a Paypal claim #PP-508-760-516. I have heard nothing as of 7/25/2008. Does buyer protection trumpeted by Paypal work? I wlii report back with outcome.
Bob
bloomsbury, New Jersey
U.S.A.