Tips for the iPod Holiday Gift Shopper: Where to Buy, How to Pay, etc.
| by Joe Leo, Columnist |
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Third, speaking of case in point and broken plastic seals, inspect your iPod purchase if you can, before leaving the store, or buying it in the first place. If you think it's been opened, ask. Or better yet, ask for another one. Also, compare the box/unit given to you with others in the group. Does yours kind of look off when compared to the rest? Look for telltale signs.
What we've noticed is that Apple seals their iPod boxes with plastic wrap, in a special, and definitely consistent manner. Two sheets of plastic joined together at the seams, with one "layer" covering the front of the box, and another "layer" covering the bottom of the box, both of whose seams circle around the sides of the box.
At the top and bottom, the seams form an "H" pattern. Check it out for yourself!
Fourth, if buying your iPod online from a source other than an online-only retailer, or just a plain old website that sells things (a mom and pop style thing)-- such as online venues like eBay or Craigslist, be wary of the old adage, "If it looks to good to be true, it probably is."
Check the prices against what normal retail prices are. An item labeled as brand new, but selling well below retail, should be a huge red flag that something is up. If it's not rocks sealed inside a box, it could be a fake version of an iPod inside. Functional yes, but not from Apple!
For eBay only, check the reputation of the seller. Feedback does mean something, and you are more likely to "Shop Victoriously" if you buy from someone with lots of positive feedback, is labeled as an official "Power Seller," or has an established eBay storefront.
That doesn't mean, however, that good deals won't be found with those people who are first time sellers with low feedback or even zero feedback. (Remember, everyone had to get their start somewhere! They didn't start off on eBay with automatic 1000 points).
With Craigslist, all of the above in terms of price, and signs of tampering--if you decide to meet the person locally to inspect the item before purchase, or after purchase to pickup--should be taken into account.
Personal safety is paramount when picking up your product in person. Meet in a public place or bring a friend. (Best recommendation is not to buy on Craigslist at all, and if on eBay, don't meet people in person to inspect items before purchase, and don't pickup in person after purchase!).
Fifth, take into account any payment methods. At retail and online resellers, credit card is the best way to go. Of course, cash doesn't apply there. Checks, maybe. On eBay or even Craigslist, pay securely via PayPal. If doing PayPal, you have a double layer of security by paying with your credit card versus "instant transfer."
While PayPal guarantees to back you on your purchases and provide protection from fraud and the like, you technically only have one layer of protection. If you use your credit card via PayPal, they protect you, but your bigger line of protection is your credit card company itself.
Speaking of protection?
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