Demo DX buyers: BEWARE of this eBay seller

[DustyDisks]

When dealing with unknowns, due diligence is a must. Any thing less than due diligence with the understanding gained when dealing with any unknown. When you are burned, rack it up as a lesson in life learned, and a reminder to do your homework. So you do not repeat the same mistake again.

[JoHunt]

Originally Posted by fratermus

It is possible to catch deals as good as that when the seller mislists (typos, poor/incomplete/inaccurate title) or has an unlucky choice of end time, etc. Particularly if one is playing the long game with saved searches and sniping groups. But it is difficult to come out ahead without paying close attention.

Absolutely correct when sellers don't know what they're selling or have mislisted (I've benefited many times). This seller however knows exactly what he's selling and has made it clear - Kindle DXs for parts.

[geekmaster]

A while back, I sniped a DX with amazon leather cover for $80, and a DXG for $100. They were great. But now my DXG screen cracked in carry-on luggage (even in a cover and carried carefully). So I was interested in these $99 units from which to harvest a replacement screen. But it appears the screens may be damaged. The seller might not know they are damaged. Just visually inspecting one is not enough. You need to turn it on and change to another screen to see if it is broken. And the scuff marks sure look like a lot of his screens may be damaged by mishandling, even before shipping in an unsafe package. And they could also have gotten screen damage while prying off their glued-on mounts (depending on how much they were flexed).

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by norway1456

No need to waste alcohol like that. Vinegear can do the same job

Rubbing alcohol is very cheap. You get a bottle for 99 cents or less. Vinegar I would be very careful using it full strength. It's powerful stuff. I use it to clean lime and stuff off my sinks and shower head. It eats that stuff off. On the kindle being it's plastic it may be okay but rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly which is why I use it to soak my keys from my keyboard to clean them You don't have to worry about liquid damage.

Just never use vinegar to remove sticker residue on a paperback I think it would eat the finish and damage the cover.

[Iznogood]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Rubbing alcohol is very cheap. You get a bottle for 99 cents or less. Vinegar I would be very careful using it full strength. It's powerful stuff. I use it to clean lime and stuff off my sinks and shower head. It eats that stuff off. On the kindle being it's plastic it may be okay but rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly which is why I use it to soak my keys from my keyboard to clean them You don't have to worry about liquid damage.

Just never use vinegar to remove sticker residue on a paperback I think it would eat the finish and damage the cover.

I didn't know that. Maybe I'll start saving the alcohol and drinking vinegear instead

Edit: I wasn't talking about vinegear in its full concentration. I don't know about the US, but here in Norway there is a 7% and a 35% solution available for cooking. The 7% solution is mild enough for this sort of "stuff" (I would guess)

[SolRaven]

Originally Posted by Blossom

On the kindle being it's plastic it may be okay but rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly which is why I use it ...

Another trick that I learned from my brother, the mechanic is the use of brake parts cleaner. A bunch of bees had a hive near the garage; he disturbed it, and they started flying all over. He grabbed a can of Raid and started spraying them as they were flying around him. He ran out and quickly grabbed a can of brake parts cleaner. The bees were dying mid flight. I've never seen anything work so fast. It worked way better than that can of Raid. Then he told me that another benefit was that it doesn't leave an oily film and evaporates immediately, which is why it's perfect for your car's brakes.

Now I keep a can in the house, especially here in S. Florida, where the Palmetto bugs (giant tropical roaches) are super fast, and don't die easily. Brake parts cleaner is the only thing that kills them fast enough that they can't run away under something (before they're dead). Plus, if you spray a spider on the wall, there's no oily residue to mess up the paint. However, make sure there's fresh air. I was cleaning something with this stuff, inside, and found myself high as a kite about 30 min. later! LOL...

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by norway1456

I didn't know that. Maybe I'll start saving the alcohol and drinking vinegear instead

Apple Cider Vinegar is known as a old home remedy for many ailments. A tablespoon in 8oz of water. It cleans out toxins, helps with allergies, acid reflux and arthritis.

I prefer it to dip my french fries in it. YUM! Well I did back when I could eat like a normal person.

White Distilled is what I clean with though because the smell isn't as bad. The Vinegar I use is 5% and yes it's still too powerful to use neat on certain surfaces.

Note: You probably know this but never drink rubbing alcohol. It's not fit for human consumption and could kill you.

They do make cleaning wipes for electronics. You could always try that to clean off stuff.

I think my Kindle Fire back is done for. I've tried to remove the oil stains from holding it without much luck. The K4B has the same finish so I bet the PW will too.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by SolRaven

Another trick that I learned from my brother, the mechanic is the use of brake parts cleaner. A bunch of bees had a hive near the garage; he disturbed it, and they started flying all over. He grabbed a can of Raid and started spraying them as they were flying around him. He ran out and quickly grabbed a can of brake parts cleaner. The bees were dying mid flight. I've never seen anything work so fast. It worked way better than that can of Raid. Then he told me that another benefit was that it doesn't leave an oily film and evaporates immediately, which is why it's perfect for your car's brakes.

Now I keep a can in the house, especially here in S. Florida, where the Palmetto bugs (giant tropical roaches) are super fast, and don't die easily. Brake parts cleaner is the only thing that kills them fast enough that they can't run away under something (before they're dead). Plus, if you spray a spider on the wall, there's no oily residue to mess up the paint. However, make sure there's fresh air. I was cleaning something with this stuff, inside, and found myself high as a kite about 30 min. later! LOL...

Now you're reminding me of my childhood. (mechanic's daughter here)
I prefer to use non chemicals. I'm very sensitive to stuff. So I use white vinegar and other organic cleaners. I also have two cats so I am very careful what I use around them.

[DustyDisks]

I have had some luck cleaning some adhesives using wd-40 off plastics.

[pidgeon92]

I like Goo Gone. Great for removing adhesive residue from most surfaces. Particularly useful when it comes time to strip the city sticker off the car windshield every summer.

[craziskata]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

On top of that, you only get one go around with the eBay claims process. His listing says no returns so I don't think he's going to play nice which means you deal with eBay to make him. I'd go for getting my money back and learn a lesson. Don't buy stuff like that unless you're playing with money you're able & willing to lose!!!

Wait. So if he ships me back a replacement, I'll have no more recourse with ebay's buyer protection for a refund?

To others: I knew what I was getting into. I attempted due diligence beforehand. This was his response: "The kindle are all in different way some might havr a little scratches some are brand new seald." Demo mode, gotcha. I have a rootfs ready to go.

As to the theory of a broken screen BEFORE shipping: seems spot on. The display looked normal out of the package. Upon rebooting it went to hell.

[JoHunt]

Originally Posted by craziskata

Wait. So if he ships me back a replacement, I'll have no more recourse with ebay's buyer protection for a refund?

To others: I knew what I was getting into. I attempted due diligence beforehand. This was his response: "The kindle are all in different way some might havr a little scratches some are brand new seald." Demo mode, gotcha. I have a rootfs ready to go.

As to the theory of a broken screen BEFORE shipping: seems spot on. The display looked normal out of the package. Upon rebooting it went to hell.

It looks like you're still willing to gamble, so ask him to replace the broken unit he sent you with a "brand new seald" unit.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by craziskata

Wait. So if he ships me back a replacement, I'll have no more recourse with ebay's buyer protection for a refund?

To others: I knew what I was getting into. I attempted due diligence beforehand. This was his response: "The kindle are all in different way some might havr a little scratches some are brand new seald." Demo mode, gotcha. I have a rootfs ready to go.

As to the theory of a broken screen BEFORE shipping: seems spot on. The display looked normal out of the package. Upon rebooting it went to hell.

Yep! If you file a claim and he sends you a replacement. You're done. If it works, (doubtful!) great. If it's a paperweight - tough! You have to choose - refund or replacement. If the replacement is faulty you don't get another opportunity to file not as described. ONE chance only for eBay Buyer's Protection. You don't get an indefinite number of times to keep playing the replacement game.

It's extremely unlikely that these things are going to work but if you insist on gambling your money, don't complain when you lose. You made the choice to gamble your money and losing comes with the risk of gambling.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by norway1456

I didn't know that. Maybe I'll start saving the alcohol and drinking vinegear instead

If you drink RUBBING alcohol you're going to have bigger problems on your hand.

[Iznogood]

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

If you drink RUBBING alcohol you're going to have bigger problems on your hand.

Hah, just to clarify a bit: I don't drink rubbing alcohol and have never drunk rubbing alcohol. Nor am I desperate enough to try it either. No need to worry
I don't even drink vinegear