Buying a JB Plus of Craigslist- What should I be worried about?

[lax28]

Use your gut, but I sold a Jet Black iPhone 7 for $1025, which was only 100 more than I had paid. Had I gotten to day 14, I would have returned to Apple. To be honest it didn't sell easy, and plenty of people wanted to buy it for less than its selling price.

I wasn't willing to go past my 14 days, wanted to make a little extra but was surprised it took days to sell.

I did state in my add that is was new and sealed, but upon sale I was going to open it and remove the prepprovisioned ATT sim and make sure it did work with the buyers sim.

Good thing I did, as all phone ordered through apple.com with a phone number and pre-provisioned SIM card must be first activated with the sim the phone shipped with. This is not the case for sold in store for Verizon as they can sell without assigning a number to the phone, but not if purchased online.

Bottom line, if your serious and so is the buyer, show him the cash and then ask to make sure it works without issues.

 

[Applefan4515]

Friend of mine just got an iPhone 7 on Verizon from the Apple Store. They set it up on Verizon's payment plan

 

[Jessemtz25]

Just wait like the rest of us, no use in getting taken for 1k. Patience pays off.

 

[Applefan4515]

My opinion I wouldn't do it. He's not a making a dime on it. Something is up with it. I would even go as far as reporting the post to Craigslist.

 

[deeddawg]

 

[lax28]

My opinion I wouldn't do it. He's not a making a dime on it. Something is up with it. I would even go as far as reporting the post to Craigslist.

Not everyone on CL is trying to take others for a ride by charging hundreds more for the phone. I didn't, which is why I posted what I sold a Jet Black 7 for on CL

As always use good common sense and ones gut.

The only issue I have is that because someone's not trying to over charge another person for whatever reason, you would report a post without any legitimate reasons. Now that's d**k of you.

 

[Applefan4515]

Not everyone on CL is trying to take others for a ride by charging hundreds more for the phone. I didn't, which is why I posted what I sold a Jet Black 7 for on CL

As always use good common sense and ones gut.

The only issue I have is that because someone's not trying to over charge another person for whatever reason, you would report a post without any legitimate reasons. Now that's d**k of you.

Damn right dick of me. Because who in their right mind is going to have a sealed jet black plus for that right now, especially if their going to lose money on it? Does that sound right to you?

 

[lax28]

OP never said he was buying it below cost...that would be odd yes. But to sell something for only 50-100 more than what someone paid is still making some money. The person might be happy with cash vs a credit back to a credit card too...not everyone is greedy and out to take advantage of others during times of short supply.

But whatever... I guess the best advice would be to avoid CL if your worried that everyone is a scammer and afraid you will not be able to tell the difference before handing over any cash.

I keep by plus and sold my regular 7 both cost practically the same around 910-925 with taxes...as long as I made 100 extra I was happy myself and even at that price 1025 for a new in box jet black iPhone 7 it took me almost a week to sell it. Maybe it would have sold quicker if I asked 1500 for it, at least following the logic in their thread....it's too cheap must be a scam avoid it.

Either way I think everyone agrees that with all listings on Craigslist both buying and selling you must be cautions and use good judgment upon meeting.

 

[gadgetfreaky]

OP never said he was buying it below cost...that would be odd yes. But to sell something for only 50-100 more than what someone paid is still making some money. The person might be happy with cash vs a credit back to a credit card too...not everyone is greedy and out to take advantage of others during times of short supply.

But whatever... I guess the best advice would be to avoid CL if your worried that everyone is a scammer and afraid you will not be able to tell the difference before handing over any cash.

I keep by plus and sold my regular 7 both cost practically the same around 910-925 with taxes...as long as I made 100 extra I was happy myself and even at that price 1025 for a new in box jet black iPhone 7 it took me almost a week to sell it. Maybe it would have sold quicker if I asked 1500 for it, at least following the logic in their thread....it's too cheap must be a scam avoid it.

Either way I think everyone agrees that with all listings on Craigslist both buying and selling you must be cautions and use good judgment upon meeting.

So I read everyone's advice - some of it quite awesome like make sure the device activates

But after reading this i emailed the buyer asking why he was selling so low - I just was honest and said it seemed to good to be true
I figured be honest and he would be too
He stopped communicating after that

No reply

 

[irod87]

I would say its not worth the risk. Showing up to meet a stranger who knows you have a 1000 dollars of cash on you could quickly turn ugly.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I would say its not worth the risk. Showing up to meet a stranger who knows you have a 1000 dollars of cash on you could quickly turn ugly.

To mitigate risk they could meet at OP's bank and OP can withdraw the cash from a teller once it all checks out. Personally I'd wait to buy from Apple but if it's a sealed legitimate box I doubt there'd be a problem.

 

[lax28]

I always meet at mall, where there is every single cell carrier store and an Apple Store, that way if there are any needs to get a new SIM or any issues they can be resolved. Plus public place would be the logical place to meet when dealing in cash for items as expensive and an iPhone.

Sold my 6s plus with new in box Zagg glass hd and tech21 case this way the other day all for $525. My phone was used but not a single cosmetic scratch or mark and in original box with all accessories (all new never used never taken out of the box when I got the phone)

I always price my stuff fairly and to sell quick. I sell my and sometimes my wife's phone yearly when we upgrade.

Personally dislike selling on CL, because the slow response back and forth and delays with their relay email system and 2/3 of the buyers aren't serious and are just wasting people's time. But the fees on eBay have gotten so out of control to walk away with the same money you have to sell item for a higher price. But for the once a year thing I suck it up and deal with it.



Edit was to fix stupid grammatical error.

 

[rijc99]

So I read everyone's advice - some of it quite awesome like make sure the device activates

But after reading this i emailed the buyer asking why he was selling so low - I just was honest and said it seemed to good to be true
I figured be honest and he would be too
He stopped communicating after that

No reply

Well there you go. You got your answer. Now you get to buy your phone from Apple and save a few bucks at the same time.

There are a lot of scammers on CL. None of us are saying that ALL CL users are scum. But enough are that it might not be worth it. I'm not sure why some take so much offense to our advice regarding red flags.

 

[Steve686]

Correct on the absence of shrink wrap.

If you have ever bought a new MacBook Pro, that is also an example of the type of peel off wrapping that the box is packaged with.

OP.

Meeting at a bank. Sure.

Is there a reason you can't meet at the Verizon Store that he is associated with? Or that you are for that matter?

 

[Phone Junky]

Is there a reason you can't meet at the Verizon Store that he is associated with? Or that you are for that matter?

Probably because the seller stopped communicating...

But after reading this i emailed the buyer asking why he was selling so low - I just was honest and said it seemed to good to be true
I figured be honest and he would be too
He stopped communicating after that

No reply

 

[deeddawg]

I always meet at mall, where there is every single cell carrier store and an Apple Store, that way if there are any needs to get a new SIM or any issues they can be resolved.

My problem with meeting at a mall (and I've done a lot of CL transactions over the years) is that it's far too easy for the other guy to grab the device or cash and run into a crowd and hand-off to an accomplice. If you do actually catch up with the guy you risk getting stabbed or shot.

I much prefer the lobby of the local precinct, or as has been mentioned a cell carrier's store to check that there's not a financing plan on the device. Nowadays though that's a bit less easy to validate since Apple has their own as well.

 

[Steve686]

Probably because the seller stopped communicating...

I don't care about the seller or if the seller had already stopped responding as he said. I'm asking the OP if he has a problem with meeting at a Verizon store. This seems a better place to deter fraud than a bank which has nothing to do with with a Verizon cell phone.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

1- he has a receipt- shows full price paid on Verizon (Im on att so want to make sure it's unlocked)
2. 1k cash meeting in a bank
3. box is unopened in original packaging

that's only a 50 buck premium so frankly im worried its a scam or I can get screwed somehow

what am I missing??

1. If the receipt shows it was purchased in store, check if it was activated. It will say "no activation" if there was none. You want that.

2. If this is for you, I would ask him to sit with you until after you can activate the phone and get to the home screen. Just to make sure there is no activation lock.

3. Activation Lock comes on ALL preorders through Apple.com, even if purchased at full price. So if it is a preorder (not a store receipt, but a web order invoice slip), make sure you get past activation lock.

4. $50 over incoice isn't too terribly indicative of a scam. He may have used a subsidy to get the phone, and would be profiting not only the $50, but the $500 or so. HOWEVER, if it is a subsidy, you MUST make sure you get past activation lock.

5. "box unopened" doesn't mean much anymore since Apple changed the packaging, and it is easy to open, and reseal the device.

***as long as you can get past activation lock, you should be ok. The only other thing I would worry about is if the phone is on a payment plan. Make sure it is NOT and is fully paid up front.

 

[ZipZap]

The plastic film surrounding the box on my iphone7 ordered from AT&T and delivered to my door sure looked and felt and acted like shrinkwrap. Fairly substantial, but shrinkwrap. Not at all what you described.

I got one from att at full price and it was wrapped in the same way the phone itself is wrapped. It was not shrunk wrapped. If yours was then ATT did that not Apple.

 

[TurboPGT!]

The minute he opened it tho it devalues
Isn't that a bit much? If i have the recipet and the box is unopened And the recipept shows full price is paid??

A bit much? It is probably stolen.

You get what you deserve dealing with crackheads on CL.

 

[BeeGood]

It's craigs list and the guy is within his 14 day return period so if he's not making money why is HE going through the hassles and risk of getting robbed instead of returning it?

Exactly. A $50 premium over retail means that he's breaking even when you factor in taxes.

This deal makes zero sense for the seller. Hopefully the OP doesn't buy a box full or stones.

EDIT: Looks like we have an answer. Seller vanishes when the OP starts asking questions. Not surprised.

MR - 1
Crooks - 0

 

[deeddawg]

I got one from att at full price and it was wrapped in the same way the phone itself is wrapped. It was not shrunk wrapped. If yours was then ATT did that not Apple.

It's also possible I just didn't notice. Or AT&T wrapped it. Who knows. I'd already emptied my home office trash can, so it'll remain a mystery.

In any event, that they're not normally shrinkwrapped seems that it'd make it even easier for someone to mess with the contents and seal it back up. On balance it also makes it easier for a buyer to open and check.

 

[veedubshafer]

Just wait it out. Save a few bucks in the process and know there's nothing fishy.

 

[tekchic]

Glad OP didn't go through w/it. I smelled CL scammer.

The shrink wrap on the iPhone box indeed had a tab this time, at least direct order from Apple.com / shipped by UPS did. I picked mine up from a UPS Store this past Monday and brought scissors to open the box. I needed scissors to open the cardboard box tape seal, but when I got to the iPhone box, it had an "easy rip" type tab so I didn't have to take scissors to the shrink wrap to dig in.