Warning - RAM buyers on Ebay

**Mick** · 03-11-2014, 09:53 AM

If you buy RAM on ebay, beware of this auction - search "19.61lbs memory" and look for a picture of computer RAM. It should be the first one. It mislead me into thinking they are selling all RAM as there are eight pictures - all a little blurry but clearly has gold on one side of each piece. I sent them this message: Is this for 19.61 pounds of RAM with no IC chips? Are there any PCBs? The pictures appear to be RAM but the description and title mention PCB. This is the reply I got: This is the PCBs not Ram,please review the pictures more detail,thanks

I hope I know the difference between RAM and PCB.

**twmart** · 03-11-2014, 10:16 AM

Those look like bare boards to me.
PCB = printed circuit board

**Mick** · 03-11-2014, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by twmart

Those look like bare boards to me.
PCB = printed circuit board

Yes, I know "Printed Circuit Boards". But they are clearly RAM without IC chips (depopulated). Unless "IC-less" RAM sticks can be called PBCs. But I even looked up PCB in several references and nowhere does it include RAM. And how can they say "memory" in conjunction with PCBs?

**FLimits** · 03-11-2014, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mick

Yes, I know "Printed Circuit Boards". But they are clearly RAM without IC chips (depopulated). Unless "IC-less" RAM sticks can be called PBCs. But I even looked up PCB in several references and nowhere does it include RAM. And how can they say "memory" in conjunction with PCBs?

That's correct: "IC-less" RAM sticks would just be PCBs. It's one of those semantics problems: They're PCBs designed to hold RAM chips, so technically if they have no RAM chips on them, their just PCBs.

I hope I made sense there...

**Mick** · 03-11-2014, 12:38 PM

I still say it's deceptive. I'd pay a lot more for "IC-less" RAM than what I'd call PCBs. There is no way of knowing that what you see is what you're getting or that you'd get 19.61 LBs of "IC-less" RAM. My warning still stands.

**emeeks** · 03-11-2014, 06:41 PM

I haven't run into this specific incident on eBay, however there are a LOT of misleading auctions out there. Unfortunately our supply here is pretty limited on the Big Island and customers always ask me where they can buy X power cord or whatever.

I tell them Amazon, eBay, Newegg, whatever, but I ALWAYS give the warning when buying on eBay. Read it, read it again, look at the pictures, read it again. If it's too good to be true, it probably is!

But thanks for the heads up!

**KzScrapper** · 03-11-2014, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by emeeks

there are a LOT of misleading auctions out there.

And that would be why guys that have a conscience are paying the price when it comes to Ebay siding with Buyers most of the time.

**emeeks** · 03-12-2014, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by KzScrapper

And that would be why guys that have a conscience are paying the price when it comes to Ebay siding with Buyers most of the time.

Yes, it's very unfortunately for the genuine sellers. When I had large scale eBay business, I always always did what the buyer asked, because I knew the impact would have should I not follow through. 9 out of 10 it was a genuine concern, which could be addressed easily, but there's always that ONE person that's trying to get one over on you.

It is what it is, just be careful when buying/selling.

**gorven** · 03-12-2014, 07:47 AM

I have purchased this from this seller before. He is Asian and I have his phone number if anyone ever wants to talk to him. It is blank ram incased in its original form. I havent bought from him in awhile because he is not willing to negotiate on his price with me. He has access to a few hundred pounds of this every month atleast he used to.

**Mick** · 03-12-2014, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by gorven

I have purchased this from this seller before. He is Asian and I have his phone number if anyone ever wants to talk to him. It is blank ram incased in its original form. I havent bought from him in awhile because he is not willing to negotiate on his price with me. He has access to a few hundred pounds of this every month atleast he used to.

That's what I would call it - blank ram.

**erewen** · 03-12-2014, 08:50 AM

It looks like the title has been modified to specifically mention no chips

(if this is the same listing)

19 61lbs Computer Memory Blank PCB Boards No Chips for Scrap Gold Recovery | eBay

**Mick** · 03-12-2014, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by erewen

It looks like the title has been modified to specifically mention no chips

(if this is the same listing)

19 61lbs Computer Memory Blank PCB Boards No Chips for Scrap Gold Recovery | eBay

It's not. The listing I referenced was an auction that's ended. But the point I'm making is that the whole thing is misleading by saying he's selling "memory" and having pictures of "bare RAM", then selling PCB which might or might not be "bare RAM". PCB is NOT memory. Memory implies RAM. I (and I imagine others) would buy "bare RAM" to trim the gold to resell. If I paid $145 (which is what that listing went for) and got motherboards, AGP cards etc, I'd be pretty upset. BUT - I couldn't leave a "negative" as he'd use this same defense and have the negative removed. Which leads me to wonder how many times that has happened. Although he doesn't have any "negatives" related to this doesn't mean it hasn't happened; just that he MAY have been able to get them removed or not listed.

Warning - RAM buyers on Ebay

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