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[–] 1 pt

Perhaps, but in this case who has the knowledge to test something like this?

[–] 1 pt (edited )

Generally the person who bought it before reselling it. I’m not saying it’s impossible that it’s innocently true, just that anyone who does have knowledge of something like this should be insistent on testing it fully before purchase, because it’s entirely possible or even likely that it’s known that it doesn’t work

[–] 1 pt

It's assumed that things such as this are buyer beware, and many of the vendors have things they have no idea what they are - one of the people I went with was training one vendor on a low-frequency HP SpecAn the guy had, no idea how to use it or anything about it other than SpecAn.

While it's possible the thing is broke, you're not really buying something like this to use. It's a piece of computing history.

[–] 1 pt (edited )

Sure, but pieces of history are more valuable when they’re in good or working condition, which should be taken into consideration when deciding what to offer.

Two decades ago I was a reseller, professionally. I’d go to open air markets, yard sales, estate auctions etc, buy things cheap and sell them for what they were worth. Mostly I stuck to easy stuff, new in box/sealed items, but every now and then I’d dabble in highly collectible items if the price was right.

I went to one estate auction where they were selling off a collection of a well-known brand of antique pottery, piece by piece. I bid on every piece, but they were all going for $500-$800; less than what they were worth but too expensive to make any real profit. The last piece I won for $85, couldn’t believe it, was gonna make a killing.

Immediately upon researching the piece I discovered it was fake. Like an actual well-made counterfeit. Of course realized why I got it for 10% of value.

I couldn’t take a total loss on it, so I listed it on eBay in an auction starting at $10. Posted tons of photos from every angle showing clearly that it was fake to anyone who knew what they were looking for. Listed “as-is,” “no knowledge of manufacture date,” etc.

It sold for $18, and I still had to give a refund to the winner of the auction because they eventually figured out it was fake for themselves.

Just saying, any reseller has the ability to learn how to properly test/check the quality or authenticity of an item, so if they say that they’re unwilling/unable to, my first thought is that they’ve actually done it and just don’t want to tell you.

I’d pay $300 for a piece labeled as “xxxxxx doesn’t work” over paying $400 for a piece labeled as “untested” any day.