Gray "Do Not Remove" Sticker on my Macbook 13"

Question

Level 1

8 points

Gray "Do Not Remove" Sticker on my Macbook 13"

Hello,

I just purchased a brand new MacBook 13" off of Craigslist. It was in the original packaging, fully sealed. The seller said he received it as a gift but didn't want it. I removed it from the packaging with the seller present and turned it on, and it booted up fine with the first launch setup. I've been using it today and everything appears to be fine, all specs match the box, serial number matches the box sticker, etc. I checked the serial number and it is covered under warranty until October 2011.

So, everything was fine, until I realized there is a gray "Do Not Remove" sticker with a barcode on the bottom-left front panel. That didn't seem normal, so I decided to do a quick Google search and came across this post on this forum:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11995790

Which is the only mention I was able to find of what appears to be the exact same issue. I haven't removed my sticker, but I'm assuming if I did I would find the same "void" message. I see the original poster of that thread is in Washington, and so am I.

That post was never really resolved, and I couldn't reply to it because it's been archived, so I thought I'd post a new thread and see if anyone has any ideas. As I mentioned, the Mac is running great, but I am curious what's going on with this. Were these manufactured as floor models or something?

Lastly, is it possible to send a message to another user on the forum? I would like to try to get in touch with the original poster of the other thread to see if they have run into any issues.

Thanks!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 27, 2010 3:57 PM

Reply

Answer 1

GfulDedFan

Level 4

3,315 points

Oct 27, 2010 4:27 PM in response to spiderstave

Rest assured that sticker didn't come from Apple. Like the older post that you linked said, I would be very suspicious. I've seen stickers like that before on ms windows boxes but it makes no sense that Apple would apply such a sticker and at the same time publish user upgrade instructions in their manuals that include opening the machine.

If you click the name of the poster in the left column, you will goto their profile page where they may or may not enter an email address. In this case, he/she did not.

Reply

Answer 2

spiderstave Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2010 5:04 PM in response to spiderstave

Hmmm, it's a mystery. What strikes me as odd is it is not covering any screws or access to any components. I re-read the original post I linked to, and it appears the person isn't saying that "VOID" was printed on the MacBook, but was some sort of residue left behind by the sticker.

Assuming the seller wasn't being truthful and it was not a gift, I still don't see why it would have a sticker. If it was stolen, why would they place stickers on it? Nothing else seems amiss, it came with all components and install discs, a valid serial number that Apple recognizes. All the components inside the box were in original packaging, so if it was opened previously they went to great lengths to re-package it.

At this point I'm more curious than anything... although wouldn't mind getting rid of the sticker and not having it say "VOID" all over the front.

Reply

Answer 3

etresoft

Level 9

56,326 points

Oct 27, 2010 6:04 PM in response to spiderstave

spiderstave wrote:
If it was stolen, why would they place stickers on it?

It was the previous owner who put the sticker on it. Those "warranty void" stickers will leave a residue if you remove them. They never have bar codes on them. The only reason for a bar code is for inventory or other tracking purposes. I could think of a number of possible explanations, but there is no way to know for sure.

I can definitively say that no one receives Macbooks as gifts and then don't want them. Furthermore, people who give such unwelcome Macbooks never attach inventory stickers first. When someone attaches a sticker with a barcode and the words "Do not remove", it means they want to keep it and track it, not give it away. What you really should do is contact Apple to find out who really owns that machine, give them and the police the contact information of the person you bought it from. They may have already collected an insurance settlement on it so you may even get to keep it.

Reply

Answer 4

rp2000r

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2010 10:43 PM in response to spiderstave

Spider, I bought two off these of Craigslist, Both 13 Macbook's.
Sealed box, valid warranty/serial number till October 2011.
All looks new and the book powered on like any new mac computer.

I had the same sticker and removed it...Never really thought much about it....
Did you ever figure out if they are refurbs or what the stickers are?
Did you ever call Applecare and see what they said?

Let me know,
Thanks, Ryan

Reply

Answer 5

spiderstave Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 3, 2010 9:24 AM in response to rp2000r

Hey rp,

Good to hear from someone else with the same issue. I hadn't removed the sticker yet because of a previous post saying it left "VOID" marks. Did yours do that?

Mac has been running great, though. Registered it and confirmed the warranty through October 2011, as well. I'm confident it is a brand new model that had not been used. I haven't had a chance to call Applecare yet, but glad to hear you discovered it isn't a refurbish, as that was my only concern. My guess is these were part of some kind of bulk shipment or purchase and a few of them are being sold individually. If you check Craigslist in Seattle there are the same "New" MacBooks being sold for the same price every day, so whoever is selling these seems to have several. Did you buy yours from an Asian man named Todd driving a BMW? Just curious...

Reply

Answer 6

rp2000r

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2010 2:06 PM in response to spiderstave

Spider, email me at rp2000r at yahoo dot com

The sticker left some void marks but is easily removed if soaked in googone,alcohal would work to but be careful to not dull the finish.
Also make sure and turn the rag over frequently as the metal sticker will get caught in the fabric and can scratch the plastic.

Call Applecare and run your serial number and ask them if they can tell you if it's a refurb...Mine was purchased October 4, 2010 new..

Iam guessing these were part of a big purchase for a private business/school and are being sold as new...

And yes, Tod in a silver BMW

< Edited by Host >

Reply

Answer 7

rp2000r

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2010 2:09 PM in response to rp2000r

Refurbs are only sold online and have a different part number from my research..

Apple.com isn't selling refurbs with 4g of ram like ours had either...
Atleast not currently..

Whats your part number, KOJQXXXX

Reply

Answer 8

tallbald

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2010 2:56 PM in response to etresoft

Yep. I just met with this guy, looking to buy his machine. He let me open it, I saw the gray sticker and knew it was not legit. I'm sure the machine runs great (it should, it was meant for an enterprise-level user)...but it was not meant for joe-consumer.

Here's my take on what goes on.

The seller buys it from 'a guy'. The seller doesn't know where they come from and seemed like a nice enough dude. I explained that this machine was probably meant for Google, Facebook, Adobe, MS Mac Biz Unit or some other corporation with enough offices who standardize on Macs in Seattle to order a thousand or so macbooks. At which point someone inside thinks, 'who's going to miss 50'. That person sells it to this 'guy', who sells it to our seller here, who only makes $100 per machine. I let him know this was going to come crashing down on him and that I would be letting the authorities know about the machine.

I didn't want to be part of the demand curve for this type of thing, so didn't buy the machine - (I am however still looking for the 10-hour batter 13" with 4Gigs RAM if anyone knows of one for sale 😉.

Going to publish this thing and hope it gets found out.

If you bought a machine from him, I don't think you'll be in trouble - other than unknowningly being part of that demand - so you probably got a great machine at a great price...just be weary in the future.

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 19, 2010 3:57 PM in response to spiderstave

So just how much money are you guys saving on these?

I purchased my macbook new at bestbuy for were they had returned/repacked macbooks for $100 less they tried to sell me.

I did not feel it was worth saving $100 to walk out the door with a macbook someone else already had taken home and returned.

As for the ram you can always order the extra ram online and install it yourself. I just ordered 4gig of ram for my macbook at Crucial.com for $63.00, cheaper then getting it through apple.

Reply

Answer 10

tallbald

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2010 4:28 PM in response to ApplianceJunk

I my case, he was offering about 22% below retail. $880 for a machine that apple sells for $1099. At this point, I'm just going to buy from Amazon, who offers an all-the-time discount that ends up being about $100 at the end of the day.

Reply

Answer 11

First Magus

Level 7

21,299 points

Nov 19, 2010 6:29 PM in response to spiderstave

Welcome to the Forums,

Don't know if this applies, but this reminds me of something I ran into 30 years ago while working as a Deputy Sheriff. Local guy in town from the wrong side of the tracks driving nice Lincoln. No job but lots of money. We found out he was selling brand new in the box electronics and cameras. We brought in the Texas Rangers to buy some of his gear undercover. None of us could because he knew us all. Small department, small town.

To make a long story short he was buying the stuff from truck drivers and it was legal. They bought Nikon cameras and other stuff hundreds cheaper than from a store. The drivers were allowed so much damaged goods on a trip and once they found this out there was always damaged goods sold to the guys like from our town. They got a profit, he got a profit and people got new stuff cheap.

So a big shipment of computers would be allowed x amount of goods damaged , Even though they weren't, they now could be sold new and not reported stolen. Sounds unethical. and it is. Can't say about the state your in or the laws now but who knows. Just my 2 cents worth.

Caveat Emptor