Refurbished Windows 11 computers

[bo659258]

I have noticed quite a few adverts with Refurbished Windows 11 computers for sale. I also noticed that a lot of these computers are getting on for 10 years old. And when I checked if that those models were supported by Microsoft for upgrading to Windows 11, I discovered that the majority of models that I looked at were not.

Typically they had Intel cores which were seventh generation and below, which Microsoft does not support. But yet they were being sold as Windows 11 installed computers. I suspect that these computers will not be supported by Microsoft, and they probably won't get the correct security updates. Does eBay not vet any of these ads? 

[*vyolla*]

No, eBay is just a selling platform, sellers using it are responsible for their listings and the items they sell.

eBay offer a 30 day Money Back Guarantee/Buyer Protection against an item not arriving, or not being as described if it does, so it's pretty difficult for a buyer to lose out here.

Paypal offer a 30 day Buyer Protection programme.

If the buyer funds their payment with a debit or credit card they have 120 days to issue a not as described chargeback. 

[john1297576]

Of course ebay does not vet the millions of ads. In any case how would anyone who has no technical knowledge know that they are unlikely to work as advertised?

That is what money back gusrantee is for.

[tobiasd4]

Ebay never sees the item, so has no way of knowing if details are correct.

All listings say "Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing."

So if there is an issue when item arrives, you open item not as described case & return for full refund.

[bo659258]

Many thanks for your feedback.

Is this chargeback process that you refer to, something that you arrange
privately with your bank? or is it something that eBay will carry out on
your behalf?

[bo659258]

Many thanks for your feedback.

I would imagine that the purchaser would realize something is wrong when
their Microsoft updates don't work correctly. Or their Windows 11 system
malfunctions in some way.

At which time they might contact Microsoft for an explanation? Which I
assume Microsoft would tell them that their computer is not suitable for a
Windows 11 installation.

Although I imagine, in many cases that would take much longer than eBay's
30 days grace period, or the 120 day chargeback option.

[*vyolla*]

---

@bo659258 wrote:
Many thanks for your feedback.

Is this chargeback process that you refer to, something that you arrange
privately with your bank? or is it something that eBay will carry out on
your behalf?

---

If you're outside of eBay or PayPal's Buyer Protection, but still within 120 days of your payment date, you would contact your card provider. 

[bo659258]

So all the purchasers that aren't IT savvy will all have a piece of junk.

Seems like a high price for not being particularly intelligent. 

Blimey. 

[*vyolla*]

Not sure what you're expecting anyone to say here, buying second hand from any online site is a bit of a case of buyer beware. If anyone is out of their comfort zone they'd be better buying from a reputable high street or online retailer.  They can get some good advice in store as to what they might require to best suit their needs, and can then purchase it from the store, it's online equivalent or any online market place, including eBay.

Personally, because I use Apple products I buy direct from an online retail store and pay via credit card, giving me additional Section 75 protection. 

[bo659258]

A lot of people don't have the financial luxury of buying new, which is why
they go to eBay.

How about, for anyone that buys a refurbished windows 11 laptop on eBay.
EBay sends them an email with specific instructions on how to install and
run PC health check, and to seek an immediate refund if it does not pass
that PC health check.

Just a thought.

[*vyolla*]

---

@bo659258 wrote:
A lot of people don't have the financial luxury of buying new, which is why
they go to eBay.

How about, for anyone that buys a refurbished windows 11 laptop on eBay.
EBay sends them an email with specific instructions on how to install and
run PC health check, and to seek an immediate refund if it does not pass
that PC health check.

Just a thought.

---

eBay is an online selling platform, not Google. 😁

[tobiasd4]

Your suggestion may be helpful, but it is the seller who should be doing it,

Ebay has no input to buyers description. 

[bo659258]

The problem is that there are a minority of unscrupulous Sellers out there,
that shoe horn Windows 11 onto a device that Microsoft dosn't support
running it on.

Whilst purchasing my laptop on eBay I came across at least seven such
devices.

When I was just about to purchase one of the above, I had the last minute
thought to look up the spec on Google and see if I could discover if it
actually passes the PC health check. Which is how I came to realise that
none of them should actually have had Windows 11 on them.

I suspect many other purchasers won't be so lucky.

[tobiasd4]

My laptop is old.

I get a warning  when trying  to update it that it is not Windows 11 compatible

This is easy to check and should be automatic. 

As long as buyers do this within 30 days, they can return for refund as not as described. 

[bo659258]

Many thanks Tobias,

I am reading into your comment, that the message you refer to happens when
you attempt to upgrade a non-windows 11 device, to Windows 11.

This is not the situation I am concerned about.

I am concerned when the device has had Windows 11 installed on it, but it
is not a device on which Microsoft supports that action.

There are a number of ways that Windows 11 can be installed (all by
unscrupulous people) on to a device that it shouldn't be on. None that I
want to go into, but they are readily viewable on the internet.

To be ready for a Windows 11 install the following criteria must be matched
:

✅
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a
compatible 64-bit processor.

✅
RAM: 4 gigabytes (GB) or greater.

✅
Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device.

✅
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.

✅
System Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot enabled.

✅
Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver.

✅
Display: A high-definition (720p) display that is 9" or larger diagonally.

[*vyolla*]

If buying from a UK business seller look for eBay's 'refurbished' logo (this will be located top right of the listing), items listed with this come with a one year guarantee: