Where can I buy refurbished/used gateway laptops?

I'm trying to find myself a used/returned/refurbished P-6860FX or P-6831FX. I've seen a few on ebay but they were either new, broken, missing an OS, or being sold my shady people.

Thanks!

 

Look in the craigslist too.that will be better than ebay definitely.

 

Here's the official Gateway Outlet site: http://www.gateway.com/reman/reman_landing.php?seg=hm but they dont have the model your looking for. Newegg also sells refurbished Gateway systems, but again, they don't have the model your looking for at the moment.

I would check both of those places periodically as their inventory may change frequently.

Have you tried Craigslist?

 

Thank you I've tried craigslist but I think you're only allowed to browse one city at a time, and I haven't come up with much of anything.

 

ebay has a ton of used ones. 6831fx model and some for parts

http://computers.search.ebay.com/p_...fQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZpf

 

You can actually get some ebay models with OS and all. Just keep looking.

 

A lot of those "as-is" auctions scare me. The laptops I'm looking at buying should be going for less than $500 unless there is something wrong with them. Stock photos also make me nervous.

 

Yeah, If you contact them and they cannot produce non stock pics proving ownership (like the ones in NBR's BST forum) then I would steer clear.

 

Look at the return rack at BestBuy I saw a P6831 for $1100 that was a return.
Seanno

 

From what I understand this seller is *maybe* either BESTBUY themselves or an agent for BESTBUY selling their defective items or returns.

2ndturn


You may get lucky like me, I bought a Gateway Quad Core computer from them that was labled as
"Rattling noise from inside machine during operation"


Brand new at the time the computer costs about $1000 and I bought it for about $450. When I received it, it booted up and loaded windows fine. The rattling noise ??? It was the hard drive loading up windows for the first time. My guess is that someone purchased the computer from BestBuy and when they heard the rattling noise, they thought it was bad and immediately shut it down and returned it to BestBuy, as when I purchased it, it was still trying to finish the preliminary loading of Windows Vista Premium Edition for the first time. I received the computer in the original box, with everything still packaged almost like it was brand new. I am guessing that BestBuy does not even check these so called Defective returns and just sends them some place to be auctioned off. Computer still working fine Hope this helps. God Bless





Funny thing is that a few months ago, there was a Gateway P-6831FX in my local BestBuy that had the display model missing 2 certain keys and a few weeks later on an auction from this seller I see a P-6831FX also missing the same keys. I do not know if it is the same laptop I saw but I found it interesting. Again God Bless

 

How much are you looking to spend, I've been kicking around the idea of selling mine.

 

I got my p-6831fx on ebay. Actually two of them. The first one from 2ndturn, it arrived but NOT in the condition stated in the auction. I don't think anyone really bothered to look at it aside from how shiney it was. The HD compartment wasn't snapped in properly and the battery came halp attached. It would only give a few loud beeps with nothing on the screen at all when I hit the power button. I wasn't a happy camper. They will only operate via email so getting it returned and my money back has been a long process. In the meantime they of course have my money. It took my 3 days to get an RMA and they got it last thursday. Yesterday I got an email that it will take them up to a week to inspect the unit and tell me if they will give
me my money back or not.

This will be a MONTH LONG PROCESS in total. That is from the time I bought a laptop till the time I get the money back in my paypal account.

Their emails are mushy saying, at their option, they may give my money back, or repair it and send it back or give me another unit. I finally dug long enough and got a phone number and talked to a live person that suggested they would give me my money back if it arrived there in the condition I said it was in. I explained I bought the unit to have it, I had my old unit sold and needed another NOW. I suggested I would buy another for the same price and PP the money to them or I would have to buy another from someone else. I got only canned responses until I got ahold of someone on the phone. Then their responses were still mushy saying I should tell the RMA dept that I wanted a full refund and I should get my money back. I had just gotten a RMA attachment to an email to me with a UPS shipping tag paying only for ground shipping. It takes another week for it to get to them.

I will never deal with those folks again. You might notice there are several "sellers", different names but similar page layouts that all ship from the same places in TX and Ca, and have similar names. Hmmmmm....I suggested to the phone rep, who is located in Minneapolis area, Best Buy's home, that the company is owned by Best Buy. He didn't disagree with me.

If you are willing to take the chance that you will get what they say you will get, and don't mind your money being tied up if not, go with them.

A bunch of these units were apparently sold to other resellers like the one I did eventually buy from. Their P-6831fx's go a little higher usually but not by much.

I got a virtually perfect unit with only major scratches on the battery. When they say you don't get an OS, indeed Vista is not on the hard drive. BUT, the gateway white OS DVD was with both machines and I had another with my existing MX8711. I installed from that and the SN for home premium magically appeared. I understand the Vista SN is enbedded in the bios, like my MX8711, so you DO get an OS.

I'd say buying from one of the smaller resellers, where you can easily get ahold of them might be a good bet. That's what I did. I could afford to put a t9300 in it and have a High res LCD on order too. Mine has a better processor and will have the same screen as the P-172x fx being sold by Gateway for 2K + tax, delivery etc for $500 less plus work.

It's all Best Buy merchandise! They undoubtedly got a ton back, since they sold a load of 'em. Rather than reducing the perceived value of the product and dealing with the repair issues on a store level, selling them off via ebay is probably a good deal for them now that they are marketing the P-6860 in the stores at a higher price with only minimal changes hardware wise.

If a laptop, like most consumer electronics, works on day one, it will work, aside from keyboards, hard drives and the like 2 years from now. That's been my experience and that's how long I plan on keeping this one.

Larry

 

I just listed my P-6860FX on Ebay a few minutes ago due to unforeseen family bills. I know mine is in perfect shape...but as usual with Ebay you have to be careful.

Definitely as a previous poster mentioned, stay away from any listing that only has stock pictures. We took 5 pictures of my 6860 and it only took us a few minutes to get that done. Anybody who isn't willing to show you the actual machine probably has something to hide.

 

dang holliday??? how many gateways you selling??
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3131647#post3131647

that's already 2700.00 bucks in lappy's! i see a 6831 and now a 6860

 

I bought holliday777's first one

 

i think he better get a sony or a sager or something because every time he gets one of these...something not so good happens....

 

You guys make me laugh. So I'm Gateway jinxed? Funny. I wish I could blame the laptop....but I think the culprit is the one I see in the mirror every morning.

Flynnaz can at least be a witness to the fact that I take good care of my Gateways when I can afford to have one.

Wasn't trying to hijack the original thread. Just adding an "amen" to the post about watching out for ebay listings with stock pictures. When we sold my 6831, we had another seller actually steal our pictures and post them for a Gateway they were selling. We contacted ebay and they were forced to take the pictures down and remove the auction...

As they say, you can never be too careful.

 

Holliday777 is correct, The Lappy a received from him was in perfect conduction. My son uses it daily, I upgraded the ram, and added a second HD set it up in raid 0, runs awesome.

 

Glad the laptop worked out so well for Flynnaz's family. I was honestly thrilled when my 6831 went to a fellow forum member.

It's high praise for these Gateway P models that once you have one, you have a hard time living without them. When I had to give up my 6831, I saved everything I could to try and get another one. By that time, the 6831's were nowhere to be found. I just happened to stumble into a Best Buy a month ago when the 6860's had just come in. Bought it before I probably should and so back to Ebay I go.

Anyway...back to the original intention of this thread...hopefully this gives schoolboydj some hope that there are some really good quality Gateway P-series laptops on Ebay as long as you're careful who you deal with.

 

I bought one from ebay 2nd turn. It gets here on friday. p-6831 fx

As for a source for the gateway models I dont know of one.

Figure there might be as many of the gateway models in the world as the best buy models. However probably way fewer returns because theres no store front.
It would be worthwhile to call gateway and ask because that website is worthless.

edit none of the 2nd turn ones are refurbished, they are all used.

Often the display model so expect like a messed up keyboard and some gum.

 

I'm actually watching your P6860FX on ebay. I noticed the P6831fx in the feedback but forgot all about it, just realized after reading this thread that it was yours.

 

on there bidding on a few myself.(broken)..so i can act like im going to make a manual for one....lol. dont want to be experimenting on my nice new upgraded machine...

 

The only problem with the ebay models is the warranty issue. holliday777's shouldn't have an issue, but most of those ebay lack a warranty.

 

yep, very true!! warranty.

 

Yeah, I have a copy of the receipt which helps anybody who needs warranty information. Anybody who is running a legit auction will be able to provide actual pictures of the laptop you're bidding on (and not just stock pics) and also be willing to fully divulge the specifics on what (if any) warranty remains.

 

I had no problem what so ever switching the warrenty information from holliday777 to me. Gateway asked me no questions about the past owner, I just updated my information.

 

The problem is I doubt most of 2nd turn's laptops or any of the large ebay sellers selling returned 6831FX's have any claim on warranty, from Gateway at any rate. I'll see how your auction goes along.

 

I called gateway prior to buying the laptop on ebay and asked them if I could transfer a warranty from a ebay seller and was told yes. I guess if your going to buy one from a private seller, call and ask first.

 

I expected as much, but I'm not sure if Gateway would cover the models from 2nd turn and the like. Some of those are in a pretty bad condition. Would Gateway accept the "as-is" models for example?

 

i wouldn't think so, since they would run a check on the serial and most of those as are being sold by a best buy affiliate more than likely. (at least i would flag those serials if i was them) else you get people like me buying for cheap and sending it in under the 1 year manufactures warranty and come out on top with a refurbished model, because they couldn't fix yours. (speculation of course)

 

Yep, that's what I'm guessing. Anyone care to fork out a few hundred bucks to see if it works? You'll have my eternal gratitude as a bonus.

 

hahahahahaha!

i was trying and got out bidded at 400 bucks!

 

Looks like I picked up holliday777's P6860FX after the winner of the auction backed out. Probably going to toss in the T9300 I have lying around if I'm dissatisfied with the T5550.

 

aaah, well dont beat yourself up too hard *cough* *cough* with throwing in that t9300 *cough* taht you have laying around..*cough* probably take you longer to find it than to install it...

j/k

you made a good choice dtwn83.

 

Lol. Nah I know where the T9300 is, it's been packaged and awaiting a buyer for a while. Guess I might not have to sell it.

I'm just not entirely comfortable with switching it out even though I know it's really simple.

 

You'll love the T9300. I put that and a 1920x1200 LCD in my "ebay" P-6831fx. I can now play H264 and mpeg2 high def files I recorded off Dish on this and they look perfect. I'm a high def movie guy not a gamer. Net investment under $1500.

Larry

 

hummm, you sound like your still ready to make that 275.00 bucks for selling it in it's nicely rapped packaging....i understand, i was the same way. *LOL* till i unrapped it and threw it back in the hp. *LOL* and we already know that you have to take an hp dv9000 series completely apart to switch the cpu...*L*

 

i think i have close to the most spent on one of these. and it's just under 2600.00 for everything. still need a matching 320 gig hd.

 

Pretty sure you've spent the most lol.

Anyway, I'll see how the T5550 works out I guess.

 

lol

yep

better watch out...might catch yourself doing the same thing....

 

Haha, nah, won't be happening. I don't use Blu-Ray. I might go for the 1920 x 1200 upgrade. Since I've been using a 1650 x 1080 on a 15.4 for the past couple of years, I'm technically downgrading with the P6860FX.

I don't use much HD space, so the original 320's way more than I need. lol
Might pick up a set of speakers, but I just got a pair of creative HS-900 headphones, hopefully they're good enough.

All in all, I think I'm fine with the T9300 upgrade at most. lol

Is there anything else you can do with yours aside from the HDD? LED upgrade?

Thinking of picking up an old IBM X31 or 41 for convenience.

 

that and or a lighted keyboard

 

I received my puter from 2nd turn

my auction went for 820 thats above average

mine was listed as minor scratches I see none at all.
Mine does have the os disk most of them dont.

Almost new condition. Lots of light leakage on the lcd. My theory is someone owned it one day and turned it in to get a screen without leakage.

 

Have you checked the warranty status of your unit? I've been curious about these 2nd turn laptops.

We decided to deal outside Ebay so he could save on fees and I could pay a little less. It went for a grand shipped.

 

no how do i check the warranty status?

 

http://support.gateway.com/support/contact/Owner_Change.shtml

Try transferring ownership to you and see how it goes.

 

It's here! Haven't had time to open it yet though.

 

Gratz!!!! Play some games buddy!

 

yeah, play them both at 1.8 and at 2.5 and see if you can tell the difference.

then do the same with the new chip. us rmclock to down clock the chip and see how much of a difference between a t9300 running at 1.8 and the real 1.8.

im a bit lazy right now so i haven't gotten around to doing it....*LOL*

but enjoy your new toy!

 

it was unregistered i am now the first owner.