I have a great condition Ipod classic 80 gig that I’m looking to upgrade from. I loved the thing, it works great and is in great condition. I just would like to move on to something more mobile connected.
The problem? (and its not a minor one, I’m pretty sure) I once had a laptop stolen from me so I’m a security freak. Something that cost me a few hundred bucks like that? I had it engraved with my name and phone number on the back at a jewelry store (its already well beyond its warranty, I’m pretty sure, I didn’t buy the replacement plan or any other plan besides what was assured by the store for 30 days and whatever apple offers… but that was about 14 months ago).
I have my name and phone number engraved on the back. At the time, great idea. Didn’t want to drop the thing and lose a few hundred bucks without a chance of someone getting it back to me. Now, though, ouch… I don’t know if I have any options.
I could go to the same jewelry store with my photo ID to show I’m the owner and have them cross it out (then again, anyone could, I guess, and it’d look stolen even if it had it crossed out over and over to the point of not being readable… though I don’t know if its even worth the cost to do that).
Is there any market for this that’s above 20 bucks at a pawn shop?
I mean, Its perfect condition and comes with a nice leather case… which is why its in great condition. I just don’t know if the engraving would put it down in the “might as well just keep it for the hell of it, not going to get anything for it anyway” range.
Any ideas would be welcome, but if there are none, please just let the thread die quickly rather than take up space rather than tell about how the same thing has happened to you. Thanks in advance.
I somehow feel that it’s different, though. Like writing your name and telephone number on a wall somewhere. It’s a very intensely personal thing which I wouldn’t advertise to the public at large on a whim.
Of course, it just might be my own hangups.
Now there’s an interesting thought. If you just wrote your name and phone number on a wall, with no salacious comment, how many people do you think would ring it? 1, 10, 100, 1000. Or no-one? I may give it a try. It would be no problem for me because I never pick up anonymous calls anyway.
Are you worried about having your number fall into the wrong hands? Or are you worried you won’t be able to sell it for a good price because it’s been engraved?
If it’s the former, it’s not like selling it to some random stranger would be any different than if you’d lost it. A guy buys it off eBay or a guy finds it at a bus stop when it falls out of your pocket - no real difference. And there’s always the option of trying to sell it within your social circle. Maybe a friend or a friend-of-a-friend is interested and then you know who’s got your info.
If you’re worried you won’t be able to get a decent price for it, I don’t know if it’s such a problem. There are probably enough people out there who’d like to get an iPod for cheaper than retail, even if it’s got engraving on it. If you don’t care where your name and number end up, try selling it on eBay or something, with a note saying it’s engraved. I’d be surprised if you didn’t get half-decent bids. Hell, I may even bid on it.
I think you should try selling it on eBay (or wherever you prefer). Just be upfront about the fact that it has your details engraved on it.
I personally think it will sell anyway, but if I was worried about it I would first get a rough price for X* lines/characters of newly engraved text (and also make sure that my ID and a quick explanation would be enough for them to engrave new ownership details). Then I’d put it up on eBay with a reserve price that covers the quoted engraving cost with a clear message saying that I had the details engraved for security and that upon the completion of the auction I will take the iPod to the engraver immediately and have whatever would make the winner happy engraved on there, to a limit of X (two lines, 50 characters, however it goes). Their name, address, ph. number, whatever - plus the words ‘Sold to…’ or something. Even the eBay auction number. Whatever they want, if anything.
If I had a job right now I would offer to buy it from you to replace my dead one. I have my own engraver and would happily make merry with it with over whatever you’ve got written there. Unfortunately, I’m still looking.
*X being whatever you think would be enough to cover it.
Go on Ebay.
Buy a (really, really) broken unit. Switch back panel cover with your unit.
Or buy a brand spanking new rear panel cover on the web. Should be about 15 bucks. Again, switch.
Thank you all for the advice… My main concern was that it’d be looked at like “Well, I know its yours, but people might think it was stolen when I have it on me, so yeah, you’re not going to get more than 20 bucks for it.” Looks like there’s still interest anyway.
I’m looking into the ipod touch but won’t be purchasing it for a few weeks anyway. I’ll look into comparable e-bay auctions for the rough price and I’ve already heard a few people interested (both online and off). Thank you all.
My current iPod is engraved with someone else’s name. I didn’t think twice about it. How often is it even out and visible for someone to see that it’s engraved?
