I’m auctioning off out/away (? Non native speaker 😅) my old-ish gaming consoles and this person is asking about a unit’s serial number. Why? I mean, I put up more than ten images of the console from various angles and such… What’s the significance?
Sometimes consoles undergo version changes throughout their production runs, and it could be anything from older consoles using better hardware (or opposite, newer being better), or sometimes certain revisions of consoles may be able to be modded to run custom firmware or software, etc.
It’s probably not fishy, just people hunting for a specific revision of the console itself.
Ah. I see. Then I’m relieved! :D
With many vendors, you can look up serials to validate that it is a genuine item, as well as warranty status, manuals, etc.
It’s buyer protection and due diligence.
Did this recently with a Dell laptop I wanted to buy second hand. In addition to checking warranty info, it was my way of checking whether the laptop history matched the sellers story and not stolen (it was surprisingly cheap)
Sweet! Thanks!
If they’re looking to mod it to accept pirated games, when it was produced during that console’s run would tell them if it has certain firmware versions that are easy to exploit. Otherwise, I have no idea.
Serial numbers are also used by pawn shops for the prevention of buying stolen goods. Only works if you report an item stolen and know its serial number, of course, and this is usually done with bicycles since they’re expensive and the most commonly stolen item there is.
Ah, got it! Thanks! :)
For the nintendo switch for example, it makes it hackable or not.
For other consoles where it matters less, it can be to get information about hardware inside and such, as consoles can sometimes change internal components without changing the name of the console, and the serial number would be a way to determine it I guess.
Edit: what the other comment said better, basically
I had no idea. 😅 I wonder how hard/fun it is to mod consoles, as opposed to fiddle with single board computers.
Since your main question was answered, but not your other question, it’s generally “auctioning away”
EDIT: The best way to get a right answer on the internet is not to post a question, but to post the wrong answer!
This wasn’t intentional, lol
American English speaker here. While I would understand what “to auction away” means, I’m not aware of anyone here in California that would say it like that. Usually, I would say “to auction off”, which follows in a long series of other “X off” verbs, like “to bake off” or “to shake off”, all of which usually involve some sort of adversary or competition.
Note that we do use the verb “to give away” but that would mean a gift without compensation, which is definitely not an auction.
Agreed as a non-Californian American. Also just “auctioning”.
“I’m auctioning off my gmaing collection” (many items) OR
“I’m auctioning my gaming console” (single item)Oh, interesting! I haven’t heard “auctioning” on its own.
I would find that an odd phrasing.
I’ve always heard “auctioning off” or “putting up for auction” or just auctioning.
Oh wow!
Yeah, putting up for auction is more general and common. I guess I don’t “auction off” enough things to know what most people say.
I’ve heard “auction away” enough – maybe that’s what the nom-professionals say? Lol
I think it definitely makes sense and I’m not sure I’d notice if I read it. I might assume it is a localized English thing (“how are you going” in Australis, or “standing on line” in New York)
This made me smile. Thanks! 😁
