iPad mini Buying a stolen iPad?

[Breaking Good]

USED but still under warranty, decidedly more valuable than used and out of warranty. A refurb is "like new" in every respect. It wasn't necessarily broken in the first place, it could have been purchased new, opened and returned in the first couple of weeks in perfect condition. Even if it was broken, it's indistinguishable from new.

Either way, as AppleCruncher and poloponies both point out, a used iPad bought in a private sale will generally cost less than an Apple certified refurb.

Personally, I think that $500 is too much, I would offer $400 and see it s/he takes it.

There is generally a discount factor that should be considered when purchasing anything used in a private sale. If there is something wrong with the iPad, it is unlikely that you will have any recourse with the seller. This is the risk that you take in a private sale and the price you pay should reflect that risk. It has nothing to do with the age or condition of the product you are purchasing.

Again this doesn't just apply to Apple products, it should apply to anything you are considering purchasing used in a private sale.

 

[AppleCruncher]

Even if it was broken, it's indistinguishable from new.

Really? Then why does everyone bitch about their phone being replaced with a referb?

 

[princebig7]

Mini on Craigslist

Hey everyone I'm in a dilemma and need some input. So I've been texting this person from craigslist and they claim to have found an ipad mini 32gb wifi +4g at a train station. I have bought apple products from people on craigslist before so I asked him for the serial number and look it up on apples site. Everything even the extended apple + care is covered. This seems like a too good to be true deal the mini is flawless and comes with a belkin keyboard case all for the price of $350! Do i meet him at a starbucks and if the serial number matches one he gave me go through with it? If it was lost and reported lost will it lock up when trying to use it or access the cellular? I have never been in this situation so comments greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[bankrip123]

What about 128GB iPad for $450? Is that price too good to be true? He asked for $550 but I worked its way down to $450.

 

[joeshmo2010]

What about 128GB iPad for $450? Is that price too good to be true? He asked for $550 but I worked its way down to $450.

Need more details, what kind of ipad? How old? Condition? Wifi or cellular?

 

[617aircav]

And another example of why buying anything on craiglist is moronic. If you need security, or armed, to do a business deal, don't do the freakig deal.

Another example of someone making a blanket unintelligent one size fits all statement.

 

[JackieInCo]

Another example of someone making a blanket unintelligent one size fits all statement.

I'm a girl and have never felt unsafe about selling MacBooks, iPhones and even my last iPad on Craigslist. I have always met with the buyers at Starbucks.

 

[ZipZap]

Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying an ipad mini on Craigslist. The guy is selling a 64 gig ipad mini 3g model for 500. Seems very low. If it is stolen what would happen if I tried to activate it? By the way I am not activating it on a carrier just using it for wifi.

Can I test it if it's stolen using my laptop and connecting it to iTunes?

Which model?

I got a little over 500 for my Gen 1 iPad mini 4G with 64GB.

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Hey everyone I'm in a dilemma and need some input. So I've been texting this person from craigslist and they claim to have found an ipad mini 32gb wifi +4g at a train station. I have bought apple products from people on craigslist before so I asked him for the serial number and look it up on apples site. Everything even the extended apple + care is covered. This seems like a too good to be true deal the mini is flawless and comes with a belkin keyboard case all for the price of $350! Do i meet him at a starbucks and if the serial number matches one he gave me go through with it? If it was lost and reported lost will it lock up when trying to use it or access the cellular? I have never been in this situation so comments greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

So I am surprised the unit is not locked out. If mine was lost I would remote lock it. I would report it to the police and Apple. If it did not get returned I would cancel Applecare+ and get a refund.

The unit is registered to someone else so good luck getting service.

 

[patseguin]

Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying an ipad mini on Craigslist. The guy is selling a 64 gig ipad mini 3g model for 500. Seems very low. If it is stolen what would happen if I tried to activate it? By the way I am not activating it on a carrier just using it for wifi.

Can I test it if it's stolen using my laptop and connecting it to iTunes?

If it sounds to good to be trueness it probably is. That price is nearly $100 off the retail price which indicates that it is either stolen, purchased with a stolen credit card, or is open and has a display with defects. If they are advertising as unopened then it can be almost guaranteed to be stolen. If I'm not mistaken, it's illegal to purchase stolen goods whether you know if they are stolen or not.

 

[s2mikey]

And another example of why buying anything on craiglist is moronic. If you need security, or armed, to do a business deal, don't do the freakig deal.

I always found CL a tad fishy myself. I've used it a few times but avoid it for the most part. Just too shady, IMO.

 

[gnasher729]

no its not going to lockup apple doesnt keep a list of stolen items, just make sure you do the purchase in a public place with alot of cameras just in case something goes wrong, I always like meeting inside a bank everybody save and lots of cams everywhere

On the other hand, if it is stolen and you think it is stolen, as the OP says he does, then buying it makes you a criminal.

If I'm not mistaken, it's illegal to purchase stolen goods whether you know if they are stolen or not.

The stolen goods don't become your property, whether you knew it was stolen or not. It's illegal if you should have suspected it was stolen due to the circumstances. So if I just bought a new iPad and sell you my old one that is two years old, there is no reason to suspect that I stole it two years ago, and buying it would not be illegal. If I have a stash of ten brand new iPads with no explanation how I got them, even though you don't _know_ they are stolen, you'd have to suspect they are and buying them would be illegal.

Worse, in US law it seems to be a criminal "attempt to buy stolen goods" if you think these 10 iPads are stolen, you buy one thinking you are buying stolen goods at a cheap price, and I am actually the legitimate owner. (How that would be proved is a different matter).

 

[CivRules]

Too good to be true!

I suggest you check online for refurbished models from reputable retailers.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying an ipad mini on Craigslist. The guy is selling a 64 gig ipad mini 3g model for 500. Seems very low. If it is stolen what would happen if I tried to activate it? By the way I am not activating it on a carrier just using it for wifi.

Can I test it if it's stolen using my laptop and connecting it to iTunes?

Ask him why he is selling it so cheaply. Is it a retina model? Or is it the old model? Ive been known to sell my old Apple products for dirt cheap.

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Hey everyone I'm in a dilemma and need some input. So I've been texting this person from craigslist and they claim to have found an ipad mini 32gb wifi +4g at a train station. I have bought apple products from people on craigslist before so I asked him for the serial number and look it up on apples site. Everything even the extended apple + care is covered. This seems like a too good to be true deal the mini is flawless and comes with a belkin keyboard case all for the price of $350! Do i meet him at a starbucks and if the serial number matches one he gave me go through with it? If it was lost and reported lost will it lock up when trying to use it or access the cellular? I have never been in this situation so comments greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Are you really that stupid? Do you have a brain? Do you have any morals?

I seriously have to question the moral turpitude of anyone who has to ask if they should buy stolen or "found" property.

Dont buy stolen goods.

 

[bankrip123]

It is wifi only, brand new, unopened box, 128GB at $450.

Need more details, what kind of ipad? How old? Condition? Wifi or cellular?

 

[racer1441]

I always found CL a tad fishy myself. I've used it a few times but avoid it for the most part. Just too shady, IMO.

Agreed. Love the people who bash me for that opinion, but they'd be the first ones pissing their pants when their great deal goes south.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I'll probably either do the student deal or just buy refurbished from Apple. I didn't realize the price was so low on their site.

Student deal doesn't apply to iPad.

 

[charlituna]

Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying an ipad mini on Craigslist. The guy is selling a 64 gig ipad mini 3g model for 500. Seems very low. If it is stolen what would happen if I tried to activate it? By the way I am not activating it on a carrier just using it for wifi.

Can I test it if it's stolen using my laptop and connecting it to iTunes?

A possible test these days if it's on iOS 7 is to try to activate it (you'll need wifi for this). If it comes up to the activation unlock screen, make him enter the appropriate deets. If he can't, don't buy it cause you won't be able to ever unlock it. Doesn't prove it was stolen but it does prove you shouldn't buy it

 

[joeshmo2010]

It is wifi only, brand new, unopened box, 128GB at $450.

ipad air? if so, walk away. If he acquired it legitimately, why wouldn't he just return it? All launch day iPad Air's purchased through apple could be returned because of the holiday return policy through Jan 7, and most other retailers have holiday return periods as well. The retail price for that iPad is $799. $450 is not logical and way too good to be true. WALK AWAY.

 

[gatearray]

Really? Then why does everyone bitch about their phone being replaced with a referb?

Mostly because they're psychotic, haha.

 

[phpmaven]

Holy world of Batman what an uninformed comment. Op, comment above me beat me to it. oh well.

If you are arguing that the paranoid comments about CL above are valid, then I'm afraid that you are the one that is uninformed.

 

[terrywfoster]

I'd not buy that from anyone in New Orleans.

 

[SusanK]

I'll probably either do the student deal or just buy refurbished from Apple. I didn't realize the price was so low on their site.

Better idea

 

[bankrip123]

This is crazy! I did not see your post and did actually come and meet the seller. I was a little scared when the seller showed up with her friend (they are both African American, no offense to them at all). The lady was very nice and let me use her phone for Internet since I do not have it on my phone. The air is brand new, unopened box. I asked her if I could open the box and she was OK with it. I checked the serial number outside the box. The apple site showed that it was actually the ipad air. It did not show the air was 128GB and the site asked me to enter the purchasing date for more information. I was a little nervous but then I feel OK since it was a real ipad air, not a fake one.

Then I double checked the serial on the ipad and the one on the box, they were matched. 20 minutes has gone by and I was still checking. The friend of the seller felt impatient already and asked me if I really wanted to buy it or not.

I decided to buy it and so far it has been great. (finishing my writing assignment for the day, hope it is not too long)

ipad air? if so, walk away. If he acquired it legitimately, why wouldn't he just return it? All launch day iPad Air's purchased through apple could be returned because of the holiday return policy through Jan 7, and most other retailers have holiday return periods as well. The retail price for that iPad is $799. $450 is not logical and way too good to be true. WALK AWAY.

 

[joeshmo2010]

This is crazy! I did not see your post and did actually come and meet the seller. I was a little scared when the seller showed up with her friend (they are both African American, no offense to them at all). The lady was very nice and let me use her phone for Internet since I do not have it on my phone. The air is brand new, unopened box. I asked her if I could open the box and she was OK with it. I checked the serial number outside the box. The apple site showed that it was actually the ipad air. It did not show the air was 128GB and the site asked me to enter the purchasing date for more information. I was a little nervous but then I feel OK since it was a real ipad air, not a fake one.

Then I double checked the serial on the ipad and the one on the box, they were matched. 20 minutes has gone by and I was still checking. The friend of the seller felt impatient already and asked me if I really wanted to buy it or not.

I decided to buy it and so far it has been great. (finishing my writing assignment for the day, hope it is not too long)

Why is that even relevant?

Anyway, I'm still skeptical. Maybe I just have trust issues. But, many stolen apple devices are sold sealed box for well below retail. If it's stolen, you've still committed a crime. But I hope for your sake it is not. It's too bad you didn't ask where they got it from and why they didn't just return it instead. Good luck sir.

 

[bankrip123]

Why is that even relevant?

Anyway, I'm still skeptical. Maybe I just have trust issues. But, many stolen apple devices are sold sealed box for well below retail. If it's stolen, you've still committed a crime. But I hope for your sake it is not. It's too bad you didn't ask where they got it from and why they didn't just return it instead. Good luck sir.

Thank you. I understand your perspective and I know that it is a risk buying it. I did ask the lady, she said she won a raffle at her company on Christmas.