I'm considering buying a Macintosh SE/30, the seller said it has some defects. Is it worth it?

[maceffects]

yeah, either way I choose, I'll have to dispute with the seller. You're right about the shipping, iMac G3's have a quite an unfit shape for shipping outside of original boxes, but I'm kind of willing to risk it. Either way again I'll have to message the seller to pack it carefully even with instructions if need be. That brings me to the question, do you have some packaging tips for packing up iMac G3 or a Compact Mac?

Yeah, I love the iMac G3 Indigo as we had one years ago.  They can survive shipping though I'll say at this point its 50/50.  If they are able to understand english maybe share a video of how to pack a CRT which is effectively the same though slightly less brittle:

 

[Shymon184]

Thanks for the video 

 

[Shymon184]

So, the seller responded to my complaint about the price:



but I'm not ready to give up the SE/30 yet,

can you give me reasons why it's not worth the price? Because I don't have enough knowledge to definitely say why it's not worth the price, the best I can tell the seller is that I've bought a working Mac Plus with all the original peripherals + a SCSI hard disk and a box of diskettes for 280€...

 

[davidg5678]

can you give me reasons why it's not worth the price?

The computer is nonfunctional, and in an unknown condition. It looks like it has had some work done to its motherboard, but the person performing the repair was unsuccessful. This means that there are lots of potential problems that you have no way of knowing about. Additionally, similar computers regularly sell for much less money. I think I have seen fully recapped and working SE/30s sell for $300 or less on eBay. This particular seller might not budge on the price, but I'm sure if you keep an eye out, a better deal will eventually come your way. In the end, a computer is worth as much as you are willing to pay. Personally, I would not pay close to that much money for that machine, though.

It took me almost two years of regularly browsing classified ads, but I purchased my SE/30 (with an Ethernet card) for only $30. The key is to find someone who cares more about getting rid of the computer than making lots of money off of it. There are always some listings to ignore -for example, someone locally is selling a 2007 MacBook that was cut in half with a saw. 

 

[Shymon184]

The computer is nonfunctional, and in an unknown condition. It looks like it has had some work done to its motherboard, but the person performing the repair was unsuccessful. This means that there are lots of potential problems that you have no way of knowing about. Additionally, similar computers regularly sell for much less money. I think I have seen fully recapped and working SE/30s sell for $300 or less on eBay. This particular seller might not budge on the price, but I'm sure if you keep an eye out, a better deal will eventually come your way. In the end, a computer is worth as much as you are willing to pay. Personally, I would not pay close to that much money for that machine, though.

It took me almost two years of regularly browsing classified ads, but I purchased my SE/30 (with an Ethernet card) for only $30. The key is to find someone who cares more about getting rid of the computer than making lots of money off of it. There are always some listings to ignore -for example, someone locally is selling a 2007 MacBook that was cut in half with a saw. 

Thanks for help

I’ll try to dispute with the seller but if he doesn’t change his mind, I’m not gonna buy it. But yes, you’re right about waiting, I too browsed eBay for a while until I found my Mac Plus.

 

[Pushpull76]

So, the seller responded to my complaint about the price:

View attachment 39058

but I'm not ready to give up the SE/30 yet,

can you give me reasons why it's not worth the price? Because I don't have enough knowledge to definitely say why it's not worth the price, the best I can tell the seller is that I've bought a working Mac Plus with all the original peripherals + a SCSI hard disk and a box of diskettes for 280€...

You always have to keep in mind that, for "normal people", a not working computer must go to a technician to be repaired.

I don't know how are the prices in your countries, here in Italy a pro can ask you just 50-100 euros just to do a repair quote.

My advice : just leave it, no one will buy it in that condition for that price. Have a look around on ebay or other marketplaces and you will find one in good shape and better price for sure.

 

[Shymon184]

You always have to keep in mind that, for "normal people", a not working computer must go to a technician to be repaired.

I don't know how are the prices in your countries, here in Italy a pro can ask you just 50-100 euros just to do a repair quote.

My advice : just leave it, no one will buy it in that condition for that price. Have a look around on ebay or other marketplaces and you will find one in good shape and better price for sure.

Yeah, you’re probably right, speaking of other marketplaces, can you recommend me some? European craigslist is quite unfruitful... I don’t know any other marketplaces. :/  

 

[Pushpull76]

Yeah, you’re probably right, speaking of other marketplaces, can you recommend me some? European craigslist is quite unfruitful... I don’t know any other marketplaces. :/  

I'm usually on ebay and Facebook marketplace; I also look on local italian marketplaces which are, for me, the best way to fond good things at good prices).

 

[Shymon184]

I'm usually on ebay and Facebook marketplace; I also look on local italian marketplaces which are, for me, the best way to fond good things at good prices).

oh yes, we have local marketplace application/website, there are sometimes vintage Macs but they don't have good enough quality for fulfilling what I'm in search of (that's also how I got one of my Mac CC's, which was actually decent). And facebook marketplace... I've heard about it, is it any good? I've never been familiar with it.

 

[maceffects]

I use Facebook marketplace but I am also in many Mac sell/trade pages which are fruitful.  Worth a shot. If you were in the US I’d just help you get a working one ready to go. 

 

[bibilit]

My two cents, time is the solution. 

I have been looking for some machines for years, seen two many ones been advertised for crazy money. 

And one day, the right one will just pop up for the correct amount. 

When i am looking for another unit, I just think twice about it, and remember how little it will be used, and how much dust it will collect. 

 

[JDW]

I asked the seller for some pics and he sent me some:

View attachment 39055

Compare the photo BELOW of my SE/30 motherboard to the one shown above and you will see something non-stock and odd about F3 & F2 (near the connectors).





So it has me curious if someone was trying to repair that board using blue MOV parts.

 

[Bolle]

Those fuses came stock on some logicboards. I have one or two with those as well somewhere in storage.

I have seen three types so far: SMD like yours, green looks-like-a-resistor barrel type ones and those big blue ones.

 

[maceffects]

I also have a couple with those blue guys on there.  Not as common as others but still extant. 

 

[JDW]

Thanks for confirming.  I honestly had never seen blue MOV's on an SE/30 logic board before.  Or maybe I did but just can't remember ponding them.  They look rather awful for something with an Apple logo on it, so I must assume that was an earlier revision board.

 

[aeberbach]

The other thing I notice about that board is that half the SIMM sockets look like mine, black in color, the other half are white plastic. Surely the factory didn't have a mixed bucket and randomly picked up two different ones? Maybe if you flipped that board over you would find some evidence of rework. Could be as innocent as fixing broken clips? It looks clean and recapping might bring it back to life. If it did work and it came with an AEK I'd probably pay $400 of my dollars for it but about half that if not working. Maybe $150 without the keyboard as you show it.

 

[bibilit]

I have one board with this same exact SIMM socket setup, half is white and the another black. 

So stock probably. 

 

[Shymon184]

Hi everyone,

I thank all of you for your help, the seller didn’t want to discuss the price so I didn’t buy it.

I shall look out for better SE/30 deals.  :-/

 

[Bolle]

Surely the factory didn't have a mixed bucket and randomly picked up two different ones?

I also have a board that came with a mix of four white and four black RAM sockets.

Not sure if it was intentional or if they just ran out of one type of sockets in the middle of a board but it was definitely not a rework job.

 

[cheesestraws]

I shall look out for better SE/30 deals.  :-/

SE/30s are less rare than people think they are.  They're just not quite as common as some of the other compact Macs.  Happy hunting!