Used 360 purchasing

synkr0nized · 09-12-2011, 01:36 PM

This isn't really a tech question, nor is it about new technology or anything.

Long story short, my 360 elite froze the other day and, upon rebooting it, red ringed. It no longer boots beyond the red lights, and the secondary error code is the GPU/CPU general hardware one. But I digress -- I do not need additional help diagnosing this.

As I am out of warranty, sending it to MS will cost me about 100 bucks plus shipping [unless I misread and they pay for that] to service the machine. This also seems to take anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. As such, I have been looking at getting a replacement console if the price is right. The 300 dollar tag on the new 250 GB system has given me pause and reason to look at used consoles -- I can just pop my HD onto one, as I have done that on other machines and have had others bring theirs to my machine. I am also aware of how to transfer my licenses and my data and files (e.g. if I got a new console and couldn't use my current HD). I have also read about transferring registration/warranty from owner to owner.

Now that I've given some context [maybe too much], on to my current issue:

Yesterday I read an ad on Craig's List for a Xbox 360 Slim for less than half the price of a new one retail. This is either great or means something is wrong.

The seller also listed it as "260 gbs" and repeated this value when I asked for confirmation if it was the new design with the 250 GB drive. No such HD size appears to exist for any 360 model... (though he also mentioned a "13 gbs" second console in his ad, and that's the reported size a lot of the folks who own the 20 GB older 360s have of available space on their drives)

He claims to have bought it within the past two months and barely used it.

I am currently awaiting a picture of the console.

I am hesitant to go through with this.
On the one hand, the price is great and gets me a better-produced console and gets me back to gaming quickly. I have also had success on CL before.

On the other hand, I am always wary of deals that seem too good. The seller does not type well, which could just be laziness/poor English but worries me a little, as well. What if the console has been banned from Live (which I asked in the first email but this was overlooked/ignored in favour of responding to the HD size)?

So I guess I am looking for any kind of response, really. Would you do it in this situation? Do you have advice for how I can be more sure of the deal? Basically I don't want to get a less-than-useful console from some random guy, but I also don't want to pass over a great deal.

Sorry for my rambling. I am in a wordy mood.

Meister · 09-12-2011, 02:01 PM

I'd be extremely careful, I'm pretty sure the only way to determine if a unit has been console banned is to actually try and take it online. Ignoring that question sends up huge red flags with me. If you pick it up personally you could ask the seller to show you it works (and if he refused that'd be the red flag to end all red flags), but you're probably not doing that. Yeah I'd probably steer clear of that one unless I was sure I could do without the online component if I had to.

synkr0nized · 09-12-2011, 02:08 PM

Yeah.
If I bother to take this further with this guy, I am going to ask to meet somewhere where he can take it online and prove it works.

Nikose Tyris · 09-12-2011, 02:10 PM

I'm... equally leery of buying used consoles, for reasons that Meister listed.

If you want to get yours fixed, though, it'd be cheaper than buying a used one that possibly does not work, or from the looks of your thread, is being sold by a Nigerian Prince. I don't use my console pretty much at all anymore, and I'd happily make it into a loaner console for you until your machine gets back from repairs.

synkr0nized · 09-12-2011, 02:13 PM

I have a friend who doesn't use hers, so I can borrow that and pop my drive on it for now.

hahaha @ Nigerian Prince

Likely I posted this thread hoping someone would give me the thumbs up but in reality I was expecting to have folks reaffirm my suspicions and help motivate me to pump my brakes. Oh well -- posting a dumb OP like this one is far better than spending money on something I won't like / won't be able to use correctly.

Nikose Tyris · 09-12-2011, 02:16 PM

Absolutely agreed. :P

Professor Smarmiarty · 09-12-2011, 02:16 PM

Could you not get the serial number and then check with xbox live if the console is ok?

Ryanderman · 09-12-2011, 03:46 PM

I have an Xbox elite with a 120Gb drive I don't use. Bought it when I moved away from home, as an attempt to help stay in touch with my brothers by playing CoD with them. Turns out I don't much care for CoD, and there are better ways to stay in touch. It's been taking up closet space ever since. It works perfectly; was just tested this past week after 1.5 years in my closet, when my brother came to visit.

If you're interested in it, PM me with an offer, and I think I could sell it to you. If not, no worries.

09-12-2011, 01:36 PM	#1
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	Used 360 purchasing This isn't really a tech question, nor is it about new technology or anything. Long story short, my 360 elite froze the other day and, upon rebooting it, red ringed. It no longer boots beyond the red lights, and the secondary error code is the GPU/CPU general hardware one. But I digress -- I do not need additional help diagnosing this. As I am out of warranty, sending it to MS will cost me about 100 bucks plus shipping [unless I misread and they pay for that] to service the machine. This also seems to take anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. As such, I have been looking at getting a replacement console if the price is right. The 300 dollar tag on the new 250 GB system has given me pause and reason to look at used consoles -- I can just pop my HD onto one, as I have done that on other machines and have had others bring theirs to my machine. I am also aware of how to transfer my licenses and my data and files (e.g. if I got a new console and couldn't use my current HD). I have also read about transferring registration/warranty from owner to owner. Now that I've given some context [maybe too much], on to my current issue: Yesterday I read an ad on Craig's List for a Xbox 360 Slim for less than half the price of a new one retail. This is either great or means something is wrong. The seller also listed it as "260 gbs" and repeated this value when I asked for confirmation if it was the new design with the 250 GB drive. No such HD size appears to exist for any 360 model... (though he also mentioned a "13 gbs" second console in his ad, and that's the reported size a lot of the folks who own the 20 GB older 360s have of available space on their drives) He claims to have bought it within the past two months and barely used it. I am currently awaiting a picture of the console. I am hesitant to go through with this. On the one hand, the price is great and gets me a better-produced console and gets me back to gaming quickly. I have also had success on CL before. On the other hand, I am always wary of deals that seem too good. The seller does not type well, which could just be laziness/poor English but worries me a little, as well. What if the console has been banned from Live (which I asked in the first email but this was overlooked/ignored in favour of responding to the HD size)? So I guess I am looking for any kind of response, really. Would you do it in this situation? Do you have advice for how I can be more sure of the deal? Basically I don't want to get a less-than-useful console from some random guy, but I also don't want to pass over a great deal. Sorry for my rambling. I am in a wordy mood. __________________ Find love. Last edited by synkr0nized; 09-12-2011 at 02:08 PM.

09-12-2011, 02:08 PM	#3
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	somewhere that is not my home Yeah. If I bother to take this further with this guy, I am going to ask to meet somewhere where he can take it online and prove it works. __________________ Find love.

09-12-2011, 02:13 PM	#5
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	I really want to just buy a new one, but I owe people $$$. I have a friend who doesn't use hers, so I can borrow that and pop my drive on it for now. hahaha @ Nigerian Prince Likely I posted this thread hoping someone would give me the thumbs up but in reality I was expecting to have folks reaffirm my suspicions and help motivate me to pump my brakes. Oh well -- posting a dumb OP like this one is far better than spending money on something I won't like / won't be able to use correctly. __________________ Find love.

09-12-2011, 03:46 PM	#8
Ryanderman Beard of Leadership Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 827	I have an Xbox elite with a 120Gb drive I don't use. Bought it when I moved away from home, as an attempt to help stay in touch with my brothers by playing CoD with them. Turns out I don't much care for CoD, and there are better ways to stay in touch. It's been taking up closet space ever since. It works perfectly; was just tested this past week after 1.5 years in my closet, when my brother came to visit. If you're interested in it, PM me with an offer, and I think I could sell it to you. If not, no worries. __________________ ~Your robot reminds me of you. You tell it to stop, it turns. You tell it to turn, it stops. You tell it to take out the trash, it watches reruns of Firefly.~

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09-12-2011, 02:01 PM	#2
Meister Pure joy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10,689	I'd be extremely careful, I'm pretty sure the only way to determine if a unit has been console banned is to actually try and take it online. Ignoring that question sends up huge red flags with me. If you pick it up personally you could ask the seller to show you it works (and if he refused that'd be the red flag to end all red flags), but you're probably not doing that. Yeah I'd probably steer clear of that one unless I was sure I could do without the online component if I had to.

09-12-2011, 02:16 PM	#7
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	Could you not get the serial number and then check with xbox live if the console is ok?