Things You'll Need:
- internet access (library will work)
- between 2-300$
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Step 1
Ok, lets say you don't have a computer now. All you need is a library card!
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Step 2
Go to the library, set up a PayPal account at https://www.paypal.com .
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Step 3
Set up an Ebay account https://www.ebay.com .
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Step 4
Don't just buy anyone of them, what you want to do is spend your first day looking at the available ones, search "laptop" then go to "laptop, notebooks" and view your results. You have the option of viewing lowest price first, but this will be a waste of your time.
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Step 5
Decide what your budget is in relationship to what you want to do with it. If you are only looking to surf the web, you may get away with spending only $100 - 200 . Consider Wifi options as well, especially if you live in a major metro area. I did not pay for internet access for 4 years because I live downtown in a major metro area. Free and open signals are everywhere. I suggest an external Wifi card, as it is easily replacable and upgradable. Your best bet is to make sure the laptop has the neccessary slot (PCMAI) and is set up, or has the card with it. This is the card I use.
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Step 6
Has your PayPal account been fully set up? If you don't use this, or use credit/debit, then you will have more difficulty finding a seller.
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Step 7
Ok, now you know what you want! This can be done in less than an hour. What you want to do now is go to your ebay account and I will walk you through a wonderfully deplorable method I call "sniping". Search back into the laptops, once you have them up, list them as "ending soonest" at the right top of the listings. Now you can look at them and see what is going to end now, but don't do that. You want to be able to check the sellers records and actual product, don't rush too much!
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Step 8
The best time period to check is the ones ending between 30-40 minutes from now. Look at your options and put any you are interested in on your "watch list", that way you can go over them at your leisure. Now, go through each one and look at the available options, does everything work? Do they tell the truth, such as "battery has no guarantee, but comes w/AC adapter". Remember, you are going cheap, not the time to complain about having to plug it in to use it!
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Step 9
Look at the buyers "feedback" they are not all going to be nice, see why they have any negative...if any. Sometimes it is the customer, (ie* slow shipping, charged too much for shipping, that sort of thing). Ebay can be a great resource if used wisely.
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Step 10
Do they have a lot of sales? Especially in computers? What does the positive feedback from customers say? Now...the tricky part, I did end up with two laptops once. If this happens it is not hard to find someone who wants a working laptop for less than 300$, haha. I did! Bid on more than one, if you find more than one that you like. All you have to do now is wait, do not be alarmed if you miss out. Rome wasn't built in a day, and you may have to do it more than one day to achieve what you want!
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Step 11
Do think about wireless, this is a recent map of towers.
Comments
Katushia said
on 9/27/2008 Good article. Ive bought 2 computers from ebay and they were both great buys, but I followed the above tips. The main thing was that I read everything, compared, and asked questions if needed. 5 stars to you.
auscom said
on 5/5/2008 Hi there,Great advice on this site.I have purchased Laptops on ebay for amazing low prices..and got some bargains..I am now converted and have even these cheap laptops on my own site.follow the advice here and you will get a bargain laptop.and always check the sellers feedback before you bid.
http://www.laptop-computer.biz
check and read my note info on safe ebaying
presnick said
on 3/26/2008 Thank you for the article. You took a plan that was forming in my head and gave it legs.
I WILL compute from my recliner again!
JohanM said
on 5/10/2007 Keep in mind that if you bid on more than one laptop, be prepared to pay for all of them in a worst case scenario!
slavrenz said
on 4/19/2008 This article gives bad advice for appropriat eBay activity. You shouldn't just bid on any and all laptops - a bid is a BINDING LEGAL CONTRACT, and you will be responsible for paying for the item if you win it. It's people like this guy that undermine the efforts of eBay to establish itself as a legitimate form of commerce.