# Advice on buying a used PS3? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 4, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975 "2008-05-04T04:56:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/1 "2008-05-04T04:56:09Z")
So I think with summer approaching, my birthday coming up, and GTA 4 and Rock Band on the shelves, I’m going to take the jump and get a Playstation 3. I’ve decided that I want the 60GB model, which is the only one that actually has the PS2 chip for 100% compatibility. I have a pretty big library of PS2 games, and I don’t play that many games, so that’s pretty important to me. There are a few 60GB models on craigslist here in Austin, but I have to admit to being a little nervous about buying expensive electronics this way. I’ve been in touch with one buyer, stating that I was only interested if: [ul] [li]PS3 came in original box with UPC code intact[/li][li]Came with a receipt[/li][li]Owner is willing to connect PS3 to their TV, and demonstrate that it works 100% with a game and DVD[/li][/ul] I’m thinking this will eliminate the flakes who “liberated” a PS3 from someone else, plus it gives me the ability to use the warranty (Sony has a 1 year warranty on the console). Is there anything else I should ask the seller, or check on when I’m able to see the console in person? ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/2 "2008-05-04T14:21:29Z")
I’d say get one stock, from off the shelves, if you’re not looking at Craigslist for financial reasons. Mostly because you’ll probably won’t get a Rumble Sixaxis with the old Euphoria-enabled 60GB versions, but also because you’ll want that warranty guarantee to be safe. Particularly since the PS3 version of GTA IV has a penchant for freezing and locking up the 60GB SKUs. And if you have a PS2, anyway, it’s just as well to play on that one, no? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/3 "2008-05-04T15:20:39Z")
Yeah **Gukumatz** , it would definitely be better to get a stock one, except I don’t think you can - Sony discontinued the 60GB model (in the US at least). Unless I’m looking in the wrong places. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/4 "2008-05-04T16:13:09Z")
How about buying one used from somewhere like Gamestop? They give you a one week or one month warranty IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/5 "2008-05-05T14:39:35Z")
[QUOTE=Gukumatz] I’d say get one stock, from off the shelves, if you’re not looking at Craigslist for financial reasons. Mostly because you’ll probably won’t get a Rumble Sixaxis with the old Euphoria-enabled 60GB versions, but also because you’ll want that warranty guarantee to be safe. Particularly since the PS3 version of GTA IV has a penchant for freezing and locking up the 60GB SKUs. And if you have a PS2, anyway, it’s just as well to play on that one, no? [/QUOTE] Actually GTA4 does lock up on other models as well. I heard that if you log off from PSN before starting the game it works just fine, but then you of course won’t have multiplayer. A patch should be released to fix this shortly. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-a-used-ps3/447975/6 "2008-05-05T14:49:50Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] [ul] [li]PS3 came in original box with UPC code intact[/li][li]Came with a receipt[/li][li]Owner is willing to connect PS3 to their TV, and demonstrate that it works 100% with a game and DVD[/li][/ul] [/QUOTE] I’m just thinking of the two systems I have (Wii and 360) and I don’t have the original boxes and I ordered them both online and don’t have the receipts either. Both were bought last year by me, but I don’t really have proof of that. (Well, maybe through the places I bought them from might still have order history). I think only the third part of your list is really the only applicable one. By the way, most of the 60GB PS3s sold out back in August of 2007. That’s 9 months ago at the very least, leaving you a maximum of 3 months left on a warranty (that may not even cover the damages that may arise).