Advice on buying used Alienware M17x laptop?

So I found a seller for alienware M17x what should I ask for information on the laptop to know if I I decide to buy it?

 

Usual stuff, model, age, GPU, Display, and finally warranty status. Compare prices between warranty valid and expired to see the value of this

Good luck.

 

I would say depends on the model, condition, specifications, warranty. Certain models/specification I would avoid.

 

I see...would you know which one to avoid? They are selling the Alienware M17x model do I need to find more details about which model number it is?

 

I'd avoid the R3, mostly cause of the 580M/6970M/6990M just randomly crapping out. I think R3 had USB/SATA 3 issues with certain BIOS versions. Yes I would highly recommend finding out which model it is, M17x has 4 generations, R1/R2 Flextronics models with metal chassis and R3/R4 which are Compal designed with plastic chassis (IMO worse build quality compared to R1/R2). Alienware 17 (aka R5) drops the M designation.

 

Ok I will ask the seller to identify which exact M17x model line they have....

 

OK good and bad news....the seller isn't where I am located and they won't be back for long time. And want to do a paypal to make the purchase. I was like ok so when would you be back to sell in person and they were like long time. I gagged at that...thinking now way will I do paypal unless I can see and test the unit and know what model and make it is. So I will have to tell them until they get back making paypal without seeig or having some kinda of insurance for such deal is hard to make.

 

Are you speaking to this person through Craigslist or something? 99.8% of the time, anyone who asks to use PayPal through Craigslist is a scammer. Also, don't accept checks and don't use Western Union. They'll send you a fake check (happened to me before).

 

Nah, don't go near this unless he comes up with all the details and maybe some pics. If you get the service tag you can check out the warranty on the dell support site and it will show the model.

 

Simply: They are trying to scam you.

 

I figure this much when he said make payment through paypal. I bought used laptops and part from craiglist but I never sent money only when I seen the product then I decided if it was worth buying.