Buying a PS3

[TankyTime]

I could use some advice here...

I am planning on buying a PS3 for my only gaming console. I went on craigslist today and found a brand new PS3 never out of the box for $450.
I've never bought anything in my life off of ebay or craigslist. I'm usually the buy it new kind of guy. This is supposedly new, but do I have anythign to worry about buying a PS3 without a reciept coming with it?
I was thinking, what if something happened to the PS3, it was defected, or didn't work, or broke... would the fact I bought it from some guy that I don't know, without a reciept mean anything bad to me?
I doubt very seriously I get any kid of warranty if I buy a PS3 from gamestop or best buy do I?
Is this worth saving the $200 (after tax) to do this?
For some reason I'm skeptical, but maybe I'm a worry wart.

[Rodster]

You should buy from a retailer because if anything happens to your PS3 you will have problems getting Sony to repair it for you. I don't think they'll honor the warranty if you bought it from ebay or on craigslist.

[[Icy]]

At least in Europe (don't know about USA laws), no receipt = no warranty so for an expensive toy like the PS3, i would pay the extra for a brand new one instead of buying a second hand PS3. But have on mind also that we have 2 years full warranty in Spain for any electric device, i think you have less in USA.

[thelwig14]

I am debating craigslist as well. There is a 60 gb for $400 and the receipt is included, but I just can't decide on pulling the trigger. Since there really are no exclusives, I can't decide if the bluray is worth it.

[quietcool72]

Quote: Originally Posted by TankyTime

I could use some advice here... I am planning on buying a PS3 for my only gaming console. I went on craigslist today and found a brand new PS3 never out of the box for $450. I've never bought anything in my life off of ebay or craigslist. I'm usually the buy it new kind of guy. This is supposedly new, but do I have anythign to worry about buying a PS3 without a reciept coming with it? I was thinking, what if something happened to the PS3, it was defected, or didn't work, or broke... would the fact I bought it from some guy that I don't know, without a reciept mean anything bad to me? I doubt very seriously I get any kid of warranty if I buy a PS3 from gamestop or best buy do I? Is this worth saving the $200 (after tax) to do this? For some reason I'm skeptical, but maybe I'm a worry wart.

Honestly, I always buy an Extended Service Agreement from Gamespot/EB when I buy a system. Especially from Sony. I'm on my 3rd or 4th PS2 since 2001, and each time, the ESA agreement saved my bacon. (You can also get them from CompUSA and BestBuy too..) I usually choose Gamespot/EB though because those guys know me.

But if your system ever acts squirrely, you can return it and swap it out during the length of the ESA, getting you a whole new system- and often giving you the latest hardware rev. (Something that became important in 2004 when games like NCAA 05 and others weren't liking the older rev of XBOX DVD drives.. and similar things happened on older PS2 hardware too.)

So it tends to be a safety net that usually pays for itself rather quickly.

Just my opinion though. They now let you renew ESA agreements annually too.

[TankyTime]

Quote: Originally Posted by quietcool72

Honestly, I always buy an Extended Service Agreement from Gamespot/EB when I buy a system. Especially from Sony. I'm on my 3rd or 4th PS2 since 2001, and each time, the ESA agreement saved my bacon. (You can also get them from CompUSA and BestBuy too..) I usually choose Gamespot/EB though because those guys know me. But if your system ever acts squirrely, you can return it and swap it out during the length of the ESA, getting you a whole new system- and often giving you the latest hardware rev. (Something that became important in 2004 when games like NCAA 05 and others weren't liking the older rev of XBOX DVD drives.. and similar things happened on older PS2 hardware too.) So it tends to be a safety net that usually pays for itself rather quickly. Just my opinion though. They now let you renew ESA agreements annually too.

How much is the ESA with gamestop for the PS3? What is the coverage? For how long?

Man, this could end up being a near $800 investment.

[RoyalBoyle78]

Quote: Originally Posted by TankyTime

I could use some advice here... I am planning on buying a PS3 for my only gaming console. I went on craigslist today and found a brand new PS3 never out of the box for $450. I've never bought anything in my life off of ebay or craigslist. I'm usually the buy it new kind of guy. This is supposedly new, but do I have anythign to worry about buying a PS3 without a reciept coming with it? I was thinking, what if something happened to the PS3, it was defected, or didn't work, or broke... would the fact I bought it from some guy that I don't know, without a reciept mean anything bad to me? I doubt very seriously I get any kid of warranty if I buy a PS3 from gamestop or best buy do I? Is this worth saving the $200 (after tax) to do this? For some reason I'm skeptical, but maybe I'm a worry wart.

just make sure you get the origanal receipt, then your will be still coverd with sony.

[Jimplication]

Quote: Originally Posted by TankyTime

Man, this could end up being a near $800 investment.

It will easily be more than an $800 investment, especially over time. If I calculated how much I spent on a PS2 over the course of its life I'm certain the expenses would be well over $2000.

As a result of not buying a next gen platform, I've certainly saved a lot of money; but that's common sense.

As for warranty cost... I'm not sure. I'd recommend getting one, as if it breaks and you don't have one, it will be even more of an investment than it was initially.

I'd recommend buying a new console from an established retailer. Buying online might save you some money, but even if the owner has a receipt, they still might have tinkered with the system or done something that ultimately voids the warranty anyway. If you are going to commit to investing $800-1000 into a new console, I'd recommend doing it intelligently and safely. A receipt means very little if the hardware has been tinkered with, and the warranty ultimately voided by the initial owner.