Be careful buying used iPads

[Stayfly2407]

With apple using the same name with all these iPads on the box, and the boxes looking identical like the ipad2 and the new iPad. There's no way to distinguish the 2 from the new. Someone could say they have the new iPad for sale & put their old ipad2 in it. Be weary

 

[urkel]

Be weary

At least you're getting something. There's always Craigslist stories where the ripoff leads to a person losing both the money AND the product.

 

[deeddawg]

There's no way to distinguish the 2 from the new. Someone could say they have the new iPad for sale & put their old ipad2 in it. Be weary

You must have been weary when posting this, as (and I mean this with respect) you are incorrect about the boxes being the same if we can believe Apple's website. See below. Similar, yes. Same? No.

There's also the matter that anyone buying one in person who doesn't read the model # and config on the back of the box to ensure it's whats expected then match the serial number on the box against the serial number on the back of the ipad inside the box is just begging to be scammed. I'm not saying being stupid make it so you deserve to get scammed, but I find it difficult to be sympathetic if the most basic fact checking would have prevented it.

Craigslist robberies almost always seem to have "It didn't feel right" as part of the story. I've done lots of CL transactions, never a problem. Talk to the people. Meet indoors in daylight in a public place with no crowds and preferably limited exits. Coffee shop or small cafe. Parking lots and mall food courts are too easy for a crook to grab the money or item and run off into the crowd or waiting car. Get there sufficiently in advance that you can choose a seat facing and away from the door, plus nobody knows what you drove. Follow your instincts, if it doesn't feel right don't do it.

iPad2 box: http://images.apple.com/ipad/specs/images/ipad_2_box.png

new iPad box: http://images.apple.com/ipad/specs/images/new_ipad_box.png

 

[AttilaTheHun]

With apple using the same name with all these iPads on the box, and the boxes looking identical like the ipad2 and the new iPad. There's no way to distinguish the 2 from the new. Someone could say they have the new iPad for sale & put their old ipad2 in it. Be weary

there are always cruces so be carful

now if you buy the new iPad from a person not a store so u r paying extra for sure,
so only pickup personally no shipping,

 

[number84]

if you know what to look for, you can tell the difference. the box is slightly different: 1) background on the iPad is blue for the new iPad; 2) there's an iCloud sticker on one of the sides.

as for the iPad itself, turn it on and you can probably tell by the retina screen and check the model number. also, the rear camera is bigger, but that is probably more of a subtle difference unless you had an iPad 2 previously.

 

[fridgeymonster3]

if you know what to look for, you can tell the difference. the box is slightly different: 1) background on the iPad is blue for the new iPad; 2) there's an iCloud sticker on one of the sides.

That doesn't stop a scammer from taking the iPad out of the actual iPad box, adding something inside to offset the reduced weight, and then shrink wrapping it again. Although opening the box is an easy way to avoid buy 1.5 lbs of wood or rocks.

 

[phpmaven]

That doesn't stop a scammer from taking the iPad out of the actual iPad box, adding something inside to offset the reduced weight, and then shrink wrapping it again. Although opening the box is an easy way to avoid buy 1.5 lbs of wood or rocks.

Are you actually suggesting that someone would buy an iPad from a stranger and not even open the box to make sure it wasn't full of rocks?

 

[fridgeymonster3]

Are you actually suggesting that someone would buy an iPad from a stranger and not even open the box to make sure it wasn't full of rocks?

That is exactly what I am suggesting. Have you looked around lately at some of the people that are wandering around this planet? I'm sure I could find 10 people within a 5 block radius of where I am sitting right now that would buy an iPad that was wrapped and not open it.

 

[tekchic]

I've sold my iPhone 3 and original iPad via Craigslist and a meeting at Starbucks and had easy transactions. I'll sell iPad 2 this Saturday the same way.

Since I'm a petite girl, I've always brought along my husband just as a second person, and we all sit down at a table and the buyer gets to thoroughly inspect the original packaging and unit, and make sure it turns on, apps launch, etc.

I've heard Craigslist horror stories of people picking up the iPad and running out of the coffee shop, but so far I've met nice, normal people that wanted the transaction done as quickly as I did.

 

[Stayfly2407]

Yea, i always sell all my stuff on Craigs. Iphone 4, Iphone 4S, Ipad 1, and Ipad 2, all smooth transactions. But alot of people may not even notice the wallpapers on the box are different. And you can just google that same wallpaper and it shows up, easily making that your wallpaper on someones old ipad2. This is a post just to be weary buying from someone espically if this is your first ipad.

 

[mac jones]

On Ebay they will most likely adopt the "Early 2012" designation, like they do with the MacBooks. This eliminates any ambiguity.

 

[phpmaven]

That is exactly what I am suggesting. Have you looked around lately at some of the people that are wandering around this planet? I'm sure I could find 10 people within a 5 block radius of where I am sitting right now that would buy an iPad that was wrapped and not open it.

Anybody that stupid doesn't deserve to be wandering around this planet.

 

[tommot82]

On Ebay they will most likely adopt the "Early 2012" designation, like they do with the MacBooks. This eliminates any ambiguity.

When you place an order for a new ipad on apple website it actually lists it as New iPad (3rd Generation). just like the old ipods

 

[kurzz]

You also might want to thoroughly disinfect your used iPad to remove any fecal matter on it.

 

[phpmaven]

I've sold my iPhone 3 and original iPad via Craigslist and a meeting at Starbucks and had easy transactions. I'll sell iPad 2 this Saturday the same way.

Since I'm a petite girl, I've always brought along my husband just as a second person, and we all sit down at a table and the buyer gets to thoroughly inspect the original packaging and unit, and make sure it turns on, apps launch, etc.

I've heard Craigslist horror stories of people picking up the iPad and running out of the coffee shop, but so far I've met nice, normal people that wanted the transaction done as quickly as I did.

Things like that are very rare and make a splash in the media but are not realistically worth worrying about too much. I can't see somebody going through that much trouble to meet somebody and leave a paper trail behind of emails and or text messages just to snatch an iPad out of your hands and run.

If you wanted to do that, just waltz into any crowded public area and snatch somebody's iPad out of their hands and run. Much easier and safer if you're the thief.

Use common sense and you will be fine.

 

[0dev]

If you can't spot a fake, you don't deserve the original. It's not exactly hard to open up the box and look at what iPad it is anyway, they do have enough differences to be able to tell. Hell, the box itself is enough.

 

[aneftp]

I always verify serial numbers on Apple's website.

Cause some idiots claim "brand new" when I ask for serial number, they don't respond back.

Of course, they will find a sucker on craigslist.