Buying from Ebay is it worth the risks?

[Sandra28]

I need to upgrade my Dell Pc 4550 Fsb 533mhz purchased Jan 2003 with an
extra 1 GB RAM (256Ram installed currently)

and my Packard Bell Laptop R 8750 12 months old by 1 GB RAM too
(512Ram installed currently)

Is buying from Ebay worth it could I wreck my Pc by installing substand
memory thats assuming I am sold Counterfeits or Fakes which I am told
have poor quality rating?

The seller on ebay has 100% feedback and is a powerseller.

I realise I will not have a 12 month gaurantee if I buy on ebay too.
****************************************************************************************************
Heres what Crucial UK
will be charging me

Remove Part No. CT563555 512MB, 184-pin DIMM Upgrade for a
Dell
Dimension 4550 (533MHz FSB) System £37.99 Quantity 2
£75.98

Remove Part No. CT6464X335 512MB, 200-pin SODIMM Quantity 2
£37.99
£75.98

Subtotal £151.96

Shipping Charge £5.00

VAT calculated at 21% for Ireland: £32.96

Estimated Total £189.92 (UK Sterling Currency)
(Click to recalculate basket if changes are made.)

Any suggestions? has anyone on here purchased memory on Ebay and been
happy?
I keep getting
windows crashing intermitently despite having fast dsl broadband 2megs
per second
what can I do besides upgrading extra memory to improve pc performance.

I was told by Crucial USA that the average system ram to have in a
computer is 2 GB this seems like a massive amount was he just saying
this to increase sales of the Memory he was selling?

Regards

Sandra

 

[Malke]

I need to upgrade my Dell Pc 4550 Fsb 533mhz purchased Jan 2003 with
an extra 1 GB RAM (256Ram installed currently)

and my Packard Bell Laptop R 8750 12 months old by 1 GB RAM too
(512Ram installed currently)

Is buying from Ebay worth it could I wreck my Pc by installing
substand memory thats assuming I am sold Counterfeits or Fakes which I
am told have poor quality rating?

The seller on ebay has 100% feedback and is a powerseller.

I realise I will not have a 12 month gaurantee if I buy on ebay too.

(snip)

I would never purchase computer components from eBay, particularly RAM.
Trying to save money by purchasing bargain RAM is stupid, as is
purchasing RAM from any place where you don't have a replacement
guarantee. If you don't want to purchase from Crucial - who normally
have very good and competitive prices for memory - you can look around
locally or use another reputable online seller such as NewEgg or
someone based in your country. RAM is a component where you should
never skimp on quality.

Malke

 

[Dave Cohen]

(snip)

I would never purchase computer components from eBay, particularly RAM.
Trying to save money by purchasing bargain RAM is stupid, as is
purchasing RAM from any place where you don't have a replacement
guarantee. If you don't want to purchase from Crucial - who normally
have very good and competitive prices for memory - you can look around
locally or use another reputable online seller such as NewEgg or
someone based in your country. RAM is a component where you should
never skimp on quality.

Malke

I second that and would add use one of the vendors who specifically
lists your computer model. Crucial does this and will scan the system
for installed memory.
Dave Cohen

 

[Sandra28]

(snip)

I would never purchase computer components from eBay, particularly RAM.
Trying to save money by purchasing bargain RAM is stupid, as is
purchasing RAM from any place where you don't have a replacement
guarantee. If you don't want to purchase from Crucial - who normally
have very good and competitive prices for memory - you can look around
locally or use another reputable online seller such as NewEgg or
someone based in your country. RAM is a component where you should
never skimp on quality.

Malke
--

**************
The seller on ebay claims to have a refund and replace policy its just
as you say the long term quality I am worried about there is a sayings
if you buy cheap you buy twice

Regards

Sandra

 

[Malke]

The seller on ebay claims to have a refund and replace policy its just
as you say the long term quality I am worried about there is a sayings
if you buy cheap you buy twice

And that saying is particularly apt when it comes to computer
components, and especially RAM. You got your answer; it's up to you
whether you take the advice or not.

Malke

 

[Kerry Brown]

While I generally agree with the other replies you have received I have
purchased computer parts on eBay and been satisfied with the price and the
quality. There is a caveat though. I know the brand names and usually know
exactly what I am looking for. I also email the seller so I have a record of
their return and shipping policies in case of a bad transaction. If you
don't know exactly what you are looking for eBay is probably not the place
to shop for computer parts.

 

[John Keiser]

I've purchased RAM on eBay many times with no bad results. I do check the
seller's product number with the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
[Will your Dell handle 1.256 megs of RAM?]

 

[Sandra28]

I've purchased RAM on eBay many times with no bad results. I do check the
seller's product number with the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
[Will your Dell handle 1.256 megs of RAM?]

--

No I will need to remove the 256 Ram from one of the slots replace both
slots with 512MB
so that I get the 1 GB I require

Sandra

 

[Sandra28]

I've purchased RAM on eBay many times with no bad results. I do check the
seller's product number with the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
[Will your Dell handle 1.256 megs of RAM?]

-- Can you give me the ebay sellers Ids so I can check them out
Regards

Sandra

Remove -NOSPAM- to contact me.

 

[Sandra28]

I've purchased RAM on eBay many times with no bad results. I do check the
seller's product number with the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
[Will your Dell handle 1.256 megs of RAM?]

-- Can you give me the ebay sellers Ids so I can check them out
Regards

Sandra

Remove -NOSPAM- to contact me.

1. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=243441

2. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=210310

3.
http://duggmirror.com/hardware/How_To_Spot_and_Test_Fake_Memory_Cards/


Sandra

 

[sdlomi2]

While I generally agree with the other replies you have received I have
purchased computer parts on eBay and been satisfied with the price and the
quality. There is a caveat though. I know the brand names and usually know
exactly what I am looking for. >snip<

Kerry, I tend to agree. I've had highly satisfying deals on Ebay, 187
good and one bad deal.. The one bad was ram I bought from a seller with
good feedback--kinda like 7500 total, 1 or 2 neg., and maybe 5 or 6
neutrals. The item was to be an unopened pkg. of Kingston Hyper X, 512 mb,
PC3200, 400 mhz, DD-ram, with 184 pins and Cas 3 speed. Wanted 2, but he
had only 1. It came, in its blister pack, & looked just like a 2nd one I
had just bought used on Ebay. I opened and installed it--no signs of
tampering, and it looked new, both the pins and 'cooler-case'.
It failed to perform. I eased the cooler-case open and saw the newest
stick of unknown-brand PC2100 you've ever seen. I had to laugh, else I'd
have cried! I believe now 2 years later, that the seller was screwed just
like I was. How would he know, buying in bulk, yet odd pieces of 1 of
these, 2 of those? I had to complain to Ebay to get ANYTHING; had he been
guilty, I think he would've gladly bought it back to avoid obvious fraud. A
cool thiought behind the 'gig' was that the warranty from Kingston was void
IF the cooler had been opened!
Caveat Emptor!!! But still enjoying the shopping experience. s