Quick Ebay item Question

[VegetableStu]

[preview text: item in question is a CPU]

Yeah this item ends within 24 hours so I'm looking to get some advice as soon as I can before I commit:
It's a Xeon E5 2697 V4 proper, but a few issues:

- The seller mentions in the title that he hasn't tested it (not sure if he doesn't have the motherboard to or not)
- Also says it's a store return item
- I couldn't PM him because ebay says he's receiving too many questions (wanted to ask how's the underside like and what if it's DOA?)
- Well, the way it's scratched:

Following this auction very closely, because the price is currently below that of even a preproduction (read: ES) 10-core Xeon (barring the inevitable bidding war towards the end). Does this look sketchy to anyone?

 

[SeñorDonut]

Very sketchy, but eBay Buyer Protection is your friend.

 

[jeshikat]

Yup, PayPal almost always sides with the buyer.

But if the CPU has physical damage on the bottom I wouldn't install it unless you can afford to replace the motherboard in case things go horribly wrong.

 

[VegetableStu]

But if the CPU has physical damage on the bottom

Yeah, I'm looking to resolve for that detail, but ebay won't let me get to him (unless I send a PM under "this isn't about an item" which shows bad on my part ._.)

EDIT: still thinking of that scratched part though. why would someone scratch away the serial on the heatspreader and yet leave the one on the sticker on the box untouched?

 

[TheHig]

When someone buys a new CPU to replace a dead one of the same type, then returns the dead one minus the serial in the new box?

Or buffed out that hammer ding from the de lid?


Looks like a gamble to say the least.

 

[VegetableStu]

When someone buys a new CPU to replace a dead one of the same type, then returns the dead one minus the serial in the new box?

Yeah you got a point there. I'll drop it then :[