Anybody want to buy a new Laptop/Notebook for $500?

I got this email about a new group-buying marketing paradigm (out of Russia no less) for buying laptop computers.

If I can put together 10 people, I can purchase 10 of these laptops for $500 each.

They offer Compaq, Toshiba, IBM Thinkpads, Sonys and Apple Powerbooks.

They seem put together very nicely. For example, the Compaq has

Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.0 GHz
512 MB DDR SDRAM
40 GB
8x DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
16" Display
Windows XP Professional
et al

There is a web link. If anyone is interested, send me an email through this board with LAPTOP in the subject area. I will send you to the website.

It seems legitimate. The site has a "review" by CNN online.

Also, if anyone can detect any faults with this offer I would appreciate being given the heads up.

In my review, I couldn't find any info about warranties. It is my understanding that these are new machines so I would expect a standard warranty.

 

This particular model has a 64MB shared video card too. Tell me about how bad that is!! You can check the website itself for more of the specs; I was just hitting on the highlights.

 

This is an offer for middlemen and dealers. They are recommending standard markups for the end purchasers.

 

Check your email. I sent you the link to their site. I'd appreciate your taking a peek if you have the time. I have to go now, maybe Mrs.JB could check Snopes for me....

 

I have noticed a couple of misspellings myself. I'm going to do a search on CNN's site and see if the article is genuine.

Anyone remember Clutch's ESBN home page on April Fools a couple of years ago?

I appreciate any help you all can offer in sniffing around this.

I think I got onto this through a pop-under ad. Most scams are just propogated through email communications in my estimation.

 

I'm ordering a custom package with the new Rocket logo--- if it ever comes out!

 

Here is the article from CNNarchive.us. This thing is smelling more and more legitimate.


Russian miracle
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Posted: 10:09 AM EST (1509 GMT)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story Tools

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- Russian company Quantum www.i-mobilesol.com has started an unique marketing experiment which can enrich business with new methods of trading.

Looks like Russia is about to surprise the world again. Yet recently businessmen of economically developed countries haven’t taken Russia as an equitable partner. But economy of Russia, weakened by decades of the Communist regime, the reconstruction and recent crisis, has been rapidly growing last few years. Endowed with tremendous natural resources, Russia has an enormous potential of development and all opportunities to become one of the world economic leaders. The main motor of this development are growing external investments the profitability of which is already obvious. For that purpose, the Russian side permanently optimizes its economic policy, making investment climate in the country favorable at a maximum.

One of Russian companies, possessing dealer’s rights from the leading world producers of notebook computers has recently announced an unexampled promotional action, the goal of which is to increase all the notebook brands sales level at least ten fold. The essence of the action is opening of several Internet stores and forming of an extensive distributor’s network all over the world. At that, notebooks are sold at the prices which are lower than those set by the producers, and specifically at a little more than $500. Head of the company, Jabrail Umarov thinks that this way he will be able to challenge all presently existing notebook trading companies. Company’s partners in several common investment projects are so well-known enterprises as Nokia, Motorola, Sony. The company is planning to occupy an extensive sector of the world market. To his mind, the action will allow to increase confidence to Russia as a trade partner, to intensify the investment afflux to dynamically developing Russian economy. This marketing technique, apparently simple, contains a number of complicated mergers being, according to Umarov, know-how of the company.

The action has started. Hundreds of customers all over the world have already purchased notebooks and have been satisfied with quick delivery of the merchandise. The action is time limited, therefore somebody can be late. Perhaps we’ll become witnesses of another Russian miracle. We’ll be able to see the results of this risky but considered action in the nearest future.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

I'm beggining to agree with you skeptics. Thanks for pointing that stuff out. I hadn't noticed that the methods of payment were restricted. Forget that.

I was just plain g-r-e-e-d-y !!!