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Seems like the guy is outside the return period and needs the money. I brought a 13" MBP that was just over a month old for $700 because the guy lost his job and needed rent money. $1900 does not seem too low. Looking on eBay they sell around $2200 - 10% EBay fees = ~$2000.
 
Seems like the guy is outside the return period and needs the money. I brought a 13" MBP that was just over a month old for $700 because the guy lost his job and needed rent money. $1900 does not seem too low. Looking on eBay they sell around $2200 - 10% EBay fees = ~$2000.

The receipt was from 3 or 4 days before the sale - well within the return period.
 
I also say stolen credit card - or perhaps stolen gift cards. Have Apple Store check the serial to see if there's been any funny business. Also, what Apple ID was used when the machine was purchased (If one was used).

Another good one - if a credit card was reflected on the receipt, ask him to show the credit card used and verify the last 3 digits and that the card matches his ID.
 
It's not only a matter of getting in trouble. If it is determined to be stolen, the OP could end up losing the MBP, and their money would be gone.

I've had a guy at my Apple store come for a refund outside the 14-day period because he lost his job and needed money urgently. It was beyond our control and we couldn't refund him, but I offered him my help selling it online.

He ended up selling it for a good 30% off. You never know dude. If I were you, I'd buy it. If it was stolen, you wouldn't lose it, or in the worst case, your money would not be gone!

It's not only a matter of getting in trouble. If it is determined to be stolen, the OP could end up losing the MBP, and their money would be gone.

GGJ studios, in what country does THAT law apply? If it is deemed stolen, and you had no intention of buying stolen goods, you would either get to keep the MBP or get a full refund for the purchase price!
 
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I've had a guy at my Apple store come for a refund outside the 14-day period because he lost his job and needed money urgently. It was beyond our control and we couldn't refund him, but I offered him my help selling it online.
First, this seller had bought the MBP in question just a few days ago, still within the 14 day return period. Second, the seller had bought 4 Macs, not just one. If you can't see that it's obviously a stolen credit card, your powers of deduction need a little work.
GGJ studios, in what country does THAT law apply? If it is deemed stolen, and you had no intention of buying stolen goods, you would either get to keep the MBP or get a full refund for the purchase price!
No, the police would confiscate the stolen property and return it to the rightful owner. You wouldn't get a refund if you gave your money to a thief, as thieves don't have a return policy. You have no legal rights to keep stolen property, even if you paid someone for it. That's the law in the U.S. and in most, if not all countries.
 
First, this seller had bought the MBP in question just a few days ago, still within the 14 day return period. Second, the seller had bought 4 Macs, not just one. If you can't see that it's obviously a stolen credit card, your powers of deduction need a little work.

No, the police would confiscate the stolen property and return it to the rightful owner. You wouldn't get a refund if you gave your money to a thief, as thieves don't have a return policy. You have no legal rights to keep stolen property, even if you paid someone for it. That's the law in the U.S. and in most, if not all countries.

You say it's a stolen CC? Prove it with evidence, not deduction. Police ain't going to take crap without evidence. :confused:
 
You say it's a stolen CC? Prove it with evidence, not deduction. Police ain't going to take crap without evidence. :confused:

Well surely if the card holder reports a stolen card and then the purchases get investigated.

The apple purchase would have been easy to flag up with the S/N. Apple just need to red flag the MBP and wait for the OP to get some support etc.

It would be hard to track him down otherwise.
 
You say it's a stolen CC? Prove it with evidence, not deduction. Police ain't going to take crap without evidence. :confused:

The burden of proving it was stolen is a job for the prosecutor. Given the situation here, can you think of a single reasonable possibility that doesn't include shadiness? And, if it turns out this serial is linked to a stolen machine, the police CAN take it.
 
I think the OP case smells fishy.

But who knows what's really going on with the seller.

I got my sealed 17" about a week after launch for 2000. The guy's job had some sort of benefit that gives him a notebook for free (with proof of purchase of course). So he bought it (the most expensive model apple store had), printed out a receipt (he had his receipt emailed to him) and sold it for cash.

And happy me saving almost 500 in process. :D
 
You can reply to multiple posts using the + button at the bottom. That way you won't be submitting too many posts and won't get yelled at by the mods.
 
You say it's a stolen CC? Prove it with evidence, not deduction. Police ain't going to take crap without evidence. :confused:
As already stated, it's not my responsibility to prove anything. That's a job for the legal system. But since you're having a hard time understanding the situation, I'll spell it out for you.
  • A person buys 4 Mac notebooks from an Apple store with a credit card.
  • 3 days later, that person elects to sell one of those notebooks for $800 less than they paid for it, rather than simply returning it to the store for a full refund to their credit card account.
  • No one in their right mind would forfeit $800 by selling to a 3rd party, unless the credit card wasn't theirs.
  • If the card is stolen, that means the transaction will be voided, as the credit card company will reverse the charges.
  • Apple doesn't have payment for the Macs, so the Macs still legally belong to Apple.
  • Since the Macs are considered stolen by fraud, they will be identified by serial numbers and confiscated by police and returned to Apple.
  • The buyer loses the Mac and they lose the money they gave the thief, unless the police can recover the cash to return to the buyer.
  • The buyer cannot provide any proof that they legally own the MBP. Even if the seller gives the buyer a receipt, the seller didn't have legal right to sell the property in the first place.
Do you honestly think I can steal a car and sell it to you for $500, giving you a receipt, and when the car is found, you'll be able to legally keep the car because you paid for it? Surely you're not that naive!
 
Although a stolen credit card could be likely, I want to know how someone could have purchased 4 computers over $2000 each with no matching ID.

Were all of these charges on the same receipt? I have a feeling that a CC company would call to verify before approving $10,000 worth of transactions at ONE store.
 
As already stated, it's not my responsibility to prove anything. That's a job for the legal system. But since you're having a hard time understanding the situation, I'll spell it out for you.
  • A person buys 4 Mac notebooks from an Apple store with a credit card.
  • 3 days later, that person elects to sell one of those notebooks for $800 less than they paid for it, rather than simply returning it to the store for a full refund to their credit card account.
  • No one in their right mind would forfeit $800 by selling to a 3rd party, unless the credit card wasn't theirs.
  • If the card is stolen, that means the transaction will be voided, as the credit card company will reverse the charges.
  • Apple doesn't have payment for the Macs, so the Macs still legally belong to Apple.
  • Since the Macs are considered stolen by fraud, they will be identified by serial numbers and confiscated by police and returned to Apple.
  • The buyer loses the Mac and they lose the money they gave the thief, unless the police can recover the cash to return to the buyer.
  • The buyer cannot provide any proof that they legally own the MBP. Even if the seller gives the buyer a receipt, the seller didn't have legal right to sell the property in the first place.
Do you honestly think I can steal a car and sell it to you for $500, giving you a receipt, and when the car is found, you'll be able to legally keep the car because you paid for it? Surely you're not that naive!

Remember this story?
 
Yes, but what does that have to do with this thread? In that story, the computers weren't stolen and there was never a question about the ownership.

It shows the measures Apple has taken to get their property back.
 
It shows the measures Apple has taken to get their property back.


In that case it's a stolen prototype. If the credit card is stolen, it becomes an issue between law enforcement, the merchant, and the credit card company. While it's likely the merchant will be liable for a piece of the loss, that's not a given; depending on the steps the merchant followed to authenticate the card, the financial responsibility could fall on the creditor.

That said, if the OP wanted to, I think if you call Apple, or stop by a store they can tell you if the S# is flagged in any way. However, it's also possible the person that contacts Apple could be the suspect in their eyes; not the victim. They may find themselves in a situation where they had to prove they didn't commit the act and weren't calling Apple to see if it was safe to sell.
 
[*]If the card is stolen, that means the transaction will be voided, as the credit card company will reverse the charges.

Actually depends on how it was charged. If it was a card present sale, ie: the mag strip was swiped and got an authorization code the vendor isn't required to refund.

A card not present sale, ie: online with a number and CVV without a physical swipe can be charged back. Different rules apply for the transactions.

So it's feasible that the CC company will eat the charge and the OP gets a cheap laptop. Granted i'd always feel tainted were it mine, but just saying. From Wikipedia:

"The liability for the fraud is determined by the details of the transaction. If the merchant retrieved all the necessary pieces of information and followed all of the rules and regulations the financial institution would bear the liability for the fraud. If the merchant did not get all of the necessary information they would be required to return the funds to the financial institution. This is all determined through the credit card processory."


I'll agree however with your analogy GGJStudios. Too sketchy for my blood.
 
In that case it's a stolen prototype. If the credit card is stolen, it becomes an issue between law enforcement, the merchant, and the credit card company. While it's likely the merchant will be liable for a piece of the loss, that's not a given; depending on the steps the merchant followed to authenticate the card, the financial responsibility could fall on the creditor.

I posted the story for its humor value in this situation more than anything else - I don't really think the OP has to worry about the police at this point.

As for your other point, I'm pretty sure the loss will fall on Apple in the event of a chargeback. The CC owner will get his money back, and the CC company will simply never pay Apple (unless there's some other contract in play).
 
GGJ studios, in what country does THAT law apply? If it is deemed stolen, and you had no intention of buying stolen goods, you would either get to keep the MBP or get a full refund for the purchase price!

Generally you will not get charged with any crime if a reasonable person would not have suspected the goods were stolen. Prosecutors rarely go after people with "receipt of stolen goods" unless they actively participated in some capacity.

However, the goods are stolen and if recovered are released to the owner. The person who paid for the stolen goods needs to recover the funds from the fence; very, very rare.

If the OP registers that notebook, or brings it in for Apple Care, then the serial number will be a giveaway if it was reported stolen.
 
Please be careful I fell for this a few weeks ago here in Baltimore Maryland, I was robbed at gunpoint. The seller said he had brand new macbook pros 15'' and 17'' models with serial numbers and invoice everything. The guy happen to be stupid so he was caught in a few days. But I could of been shot ect.. just be very very careful.
Good luck.
 
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