[richlevy]

Originally posted by vsp
Dell Financial Services seems to be selling a metric ton of refurbed Dell laptops (mostly 600-800mhz, varying specs, formerly leased units) on eBay.

Generally not much of a warranty left on these, but they are direct from the source.

Anyone ever dealt with that end of Dell's business?

After I read your e-mail, I visited their site since I am looking for a cheap new desktop. They listed -

DELL (NO O/S) DIMENSION 4100 1000MHz 256MB 40GB 56K CDRW 32X $422.00

Compusa has this NEW HP computer

Pavilion a300n Minitower
Intel Celeron Processor, 2.6GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive, 48X24X48 CD-RW Drive, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Product Number:307428
Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Monitor not included unless otherwise specified. $499.97

So for $422 plus shipping you get a 1ghz desktop with no OS or application software and no warranty, where for $70 more you can get a BRAND NEW 2.6ghz machine from a major brand with a licensed copy of XP home and basic application software.

This reminds me of the time I went into an old mom-and-pop electronics store. The guy was selling LED calculators with no memory function for $30. This was at a time when you could buy one with an LCD display and memory for $15. When I mentioned this to him he replied that he paid so much for them and couldn't bear to let them go for less. He went out of business shortly after that.

There are a lot of stores selling used computers who do not appear to understand how much they lose their value. That $422 stripped desktop should be $150.

Laptops are even worse. A new 2 ghz laptop from Toshiba can be had for $700-800 after rebates, but some sub-1ghz used notebooks are selling in the same range.

The best place to buy a used laptop is at a computer show, after they have plugged it in for you.