Resolved I'm being ripped off on swappa

[andyp350]

Agree with others that are struggling to see why you put yourself through the hassle of selling a phone you didn't want.
If you didn't want a new phone wouldn't it have been better to just switch to a cheaper SIM only tariff with your provider and save money that way.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Paypal does not always side with the seller. Over 700 eBay sales using PayPal and they sided with me the two times there was a problem. I no longer use eBay as there are so many non-English speaking and non-paying people on eBay's site. These people do not know the rules and are impossible to communicate with.

I only sell on Craig's List where I walk away with the money.

 

[12vElectronics]

This whole "filming" business is useless. I did that with an expensive amplifier and PayPal didn't care one bit. Automatically gave the buyer a full refund.

 

[rsbacon]

I bought through Best Buy but did not activate it. Maybe that's the problem? Can the buyer take it to a Verizon store to activate it?

Yep, that is very likely your problem. The buyer probably activated it first using a Sprint SIM, and the phone is now locked to Sprint per the US Reseller Flex Policy:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VerizonUDP...ip77_purchased_through_best_buy_will_lock_to/

Your best bet is to hope the buyer returns it in good condition. Then relist on Swappa as a Sprint phone and sell it as a Sprint phone. Or find out if Sprint can unlock the phone (but you would have to rely on the buyer to do this)

 

[12vElectronics]

Yep, that is very likely your problem. The buyer probably activated it first using a Sprint SIM, and the phone is now locked to Sprint per the US Reseller Flex Policy:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VerizonUDP...ip77_purchased_through_best_buy_will_lock_to/

Your best bet is to hope the buyer returns it in good condition. Then relist on Swappa as a Sprint phone and sell it as a Sprint phone. Or find out if Sprint can unlock the phone (but you would have to rely on the buyer to do this)

Wow what a mess..

 

[chino-rican]

I'm still struggling to understand why the OP didn't just return it. It was the next day, so should've gotten back retail price plus taxes, etc. Right?? Unless that particular retailer charges restocking fees. I know Apple doesn't.

 

[andyp350]

Yep, that is very likely your problem. The buyer probably activated it first using a Sprint SIM, and the phone is now locked to Sprint per the US Reseller Flex Policy:

https://www.reddit.com/r/VerizonUDP...ip77_purchased_through_best_buy_will_lock_to/

Your best bet is to hope the buyer returns it in good condition. Then relist on Swappa as a Sprint phone and sell it as a Sprint phone. Or find out if Sprint can unlock the phone (but you would have to rely on the buyer to do this)

But why would the buyer active it with a Sprint SIM when he wanted and purchased a Verizon one?
[doublepost=1476287477][/doublepost]

I'm still struggling to understand why the OP didn't just return it. It was the next day, so should've gotten back retail price plus taxes, etc. Right?? Unless that particular retailer charges restocking fees. I know Apple doesn't.

I think it was his intention to take it to sell, why he would do this is still a bit of mystery however!

 

[Brookzy]

I'm still struggling to understand why the OP didn't just return it. It was the next day, so should've gotten back retail price plus taxes, etc. Right?? Unless that particular retailer charges restocking fees. I know Apple doesn't.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons. For example, I used to buy an iPhone from my carrier on pay monthly, sell it, and buy an iPhone outright from Apple. Why? Because when travelling it helps to have an unlocked phone, and I couldn't afford to pay outright. This way I got an unlocked device, on a pay monthly tariff, for just a small loss.

This is one of the many perfectly legitimate reasons the OP could have had for doing this.
[doublepost=1476287758][/doublepost]

But why would the buyer active it with a Sprint SIM when he wanted and purchased a Verizon one?

Because he's probably a fraudster who knew full well what he was doing.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

Lol, lock him up! He tried to sell his property! How dare he, commissar!

Perhaps we should run all transactions past your random moral standards test before they're approved. 🙄

OP - I feel for you. It's a shame the world is full of people so happy to totally rip others off. It's happened to me recently and is definitely becoming more prevalent. Like other posters have said, I try not to use eBay or PayPal for high value items anymore.

Technically, since it's not paid off, he sold Verizon's property.

Have you contacted @Swappa here?
[doublepost=1476288047][/doublepost]

I'm still struggling to understand why the OP didn't just return it. It was the next day, so should've gotten back retail price plus taxes, etc. Right?? Unless that particular retailer charges restocking fees. I know Apple doesn't.

Seems the OP was taking an interest free loan from the carrier. He wanted to sell the phone for a lump sum and then pay the carrier back monthly.

 

[chino-rican]

There are plenty of legitimate reasons. For example, I used to buy an iPhone from my carrier on pay monthly, sell it, and buy an iPhone outright from Apple. Why? Because when travelling it helps to have an unlocked phone, and I couldn't afford to pay outright. This way I got an unlocked device, on a pay monthly tariff, for just a small loss.

This is one of the many perfectly legitimate reasons the OP could have had for doing this.

This reason makes sense.
Any others? I'm honestly curious why someone would go through all the trouble and risk.

 

[Brookzy]

Technically, since it's not paid off, he sold Verizon's property.

Have you contacted @Swappa here?

Hahahahaha, I knew that was coming. It's not true though - it is his property unless and until he breaches his contract conditions with Verizon.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

Hahahahaha, I knew that was coming. It's not true though - it is his property unless and until he breaches his contract conditions with Verizon.

Can you explain that logic to me?

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Technically, since it's not paid off, he sold Verizon's property.

Have you contacted @Swappa here?
[doublepost=1476288047][/doublepost]

Seems the OP was taking an interest free loan from the carrier. He wanted to sell the phone for a lump sum and then pay the carrier back monthly.

Right. I thought you weren't supposed to sell phones with a payment plan/ lease. This is why I don't buy used phones anymore. To many variables out there. The original OP may have been morally right in selling his phone. But I for one wouldn't want to be his buyer because if he stops paying his bill the phone would get cut off no matter how long ago the sell was.

 

[Thor_1]

Not sure how you guys are rationalizing your hate. I am paying for that phone over the life of my contract. What I did is perfectly legal what he's doing is not. And I sold mine for less than retail plus taxes which was the lowest price on there.
[doublepost=1476285930][/doublepost]

Yes and yes but I have the sneaky suspicion he will send me back a different phone. Probably a beat up sprint phone and say it was what he received

he would have to have a beat up sprint Iphone 7. Also, it would not match the serial number on your receipt.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

It is true that as long as he makes his payments to Verizon they won't ever know or likely care. However, it is still selling an item that doesn't belong to him.

 

[Brookzy]

It is true that as long as he makes his payments to Verizon they won't ever know or likely care. However, it is still selling an item that doesn't belong to him.

Look at the bigger picture. If you want to falsely equate owing money with ownership, then no-one owns anything. You think Verizon paid upfront cash to Apple? Apple to their suppliers? The suppliers to their suppliers? How naive.

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, etc.

OP owns the phone until he has breached the conditions of his contract. That's how it works.

 

[Thor_1]

Question. I am NOT saying this will happen, but if the OP stopped paying the monthly payments, would the new owner have the phone locked?

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

Look at the bigger picture. If you want to falsely equate owing money with ownership, then no-one owns anything. You think Verizon paid upfront cash to Apple? Apple to their suppliers? The suppliers to their suppliers? How naive.

Possession is nine-tenths of the law, etc.

OP owns the phone until he has breached the conditions of his contract. That's how it works.

"That's how is works" doesn't prove anything haha.

You are correct about your first part though. My truck is financed, therefore, I do not own it. In fact, the bank even has the title until it is paid off. If I want to sell it I have to pay the balance of the loan to get the title to transfer to the new owner. The same is true with a home.

Like I said, Verizon will probably never know or care, that still doesn't mean the OP owns the items that was sold.
[doublepost=1476289338][/doublepost]

Question. I am NOT saying this will happen, but if the OP stopped paying the monthly payments, would the new owner have the phone locked?

It's possible, but Verizon will come after him for the money. The other option would be reporting it stolen. In my opinion that option is unethical, but each person will have their own view on that around here.

 

[nebo1ss]

I'm still struggling to understand why the OP didn't just return it. It was the next day, so should've gotten back retail price plus taxes, etc. Right?? Unless that particular retailer charges restocking fees. I know Apple doesn't.

Its pretty obvious maybe you did not read the whole thread. He bought it on finance paying for it over a couple of years he sells for cash and pockets the cash today. He might have a need for some immediate cash and considers this nothing more than a loan. See nothing wrong with that.

 

[Brookzy]

"That's how is works" doesn't prove anything haha.

You are correct about your first part though. My truck is financed, therefore, I do not own it. In fact, the bank even has the title until it is paid off. If I want to sell it I have to pay the balance of the loan to get the title to transfer to the new owner. The same is true with a home.

Like I said, Verizon will probably never know or care, that still doesn't mean the OP owns the items that was sold.
[doublepost=1476289338][/doublepost]

It's possible, but Verizon will come after him for the money. The other option would be reporting it stolen. In my opinion that option is unethical, but each person will have their own view on that around here.

This is not the same.

This is not a loan, it is a mobile phone contract.

They are fundamentally different. Carriers are not providers of financial services.

The ownership of the device transfers to you when you buy a phone on contract, and can only be returned to Verizon subject to legal action following a breach of contract.

This is not comparable to a car loan or a mortgage, and hence why bought-on-contract phones are routinely bought and sold without issue.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

This is not the same.

This is not a loan, it is a mobile phone contract.

They are fundamentally different. Carriers are not providers of financial services.

The ownership of the device transfers to you when you buy a phone on contract, and can only be returned to Verizon subject to legal action following a breach of contract.

This is not comparable to a car loan or a mortgage, and hence why bought-on-contract phones are routinely bought and sold without issue.

You have yet to provide any facts to back up your claims. Either way, it's not my job to change your mind. Have a good rest of the day! 🙂

 

[oneMadRssn]

Not only should you have the IMEI on whatever purchase paperwork from when you initially bought the phone, but Swappa also verifies the IMEI of each sale (or so I thought) and requires pretty decent photos.

So I think you should get the following in PDF format and highlight all the pertinent information for easy uploading or emailing:

• Original sale paperwork, showing the IMEI and your name.
• Swappa listing, showing the IMEI and your name.
• Photos of the phone on Swappa. (not the originals, PDF the listing showing photos)
• Shipping receipt, showing tracking number and zip code (or full address) of recipient.
• Tracking website showing tracking number as delivered.
• All back and forth communications between you and buyer.
• Photos of whatever is returned to you, showing IMEI number, and also in the same angle as those uploaded to the Swappa listing for easy comparison.

It might not be enough, but papering the hell out of this is your best chance of winning. Save everything as PDF and when the time comes to disputing it all, have it ready to send with highlights.

I have won PayPal disputes as a seller before. In my experience, being organized and clear goes a long way.

 

[Givmeabrek]

It was a violation of Swappa's policy to sell a phone that is still under a payment plan. They will not side with the seller:

https://swappa.com/faq/sell/listing_device_criteria


"Devices on equipment installment plans (EIP) are still owned by the carrier or company and could be blacklisted or blocked if the balance is not paid, therefore they are not eligible for sale on Swappa until paid in full. Examples include: T-Mobile's Jump, AT&T's Next, Verizon's Edge, and Rent-A-Center financing. This also applies to Apple's recent device financing."

 

[maflynn]

Wrong. I did not profit. I will be paying more for the price of the phone over the life of my contract than I sold it for

Why did you sell it then? Why not just return the phone?

 

[Brookzy]

It was a violation of Swappa's policy to sell a phone that is still under a payment plan. They will not side with the seller:

https://swappa.com/faq/sell/listing_device_criteria


"Devices on equipment installment plans (EIP) are still owned by the carrier or company and could be blacklisted or blocked if the balance is not paid, therefore they are not eligible for sale on Swappa until paid in full. Examples include: T-Mobile's Jump, AT&T's Next, Verizon's Edge, and Rent-A-Center financing. This also applies to Apple's recent device financing."

You cut off an important line at the bottom:

"Payment plans for devices are not necessarily the same as a carrier contract. Even if you are tied to a 2-year Verizon contract, for instance, you can usually sell your device. Just make sure the device itself is not leased via a payment plan."

I've assumed OP was on a contract and not a payment plan though that hasn't been clarified yet.
[doublepost=1476291503][/doublepost]

Why did you sell it then? Why not just return the phone?

What is this comment hoping to gain? OP is in this bad situation and hindsight isn't going to help anyone. It's also already been asked.

@nebo1ss and I have already suggested uncontroversial reasons for doing as OP did. For example wanting an unlocked phone, or treating it as an interest-free loan.

On a side note, rock/hard place springs to mind. If OP had mentioned somewhere he'd returned it, he'd no doubt have got a barrage of abuse for 'wasting' a phone, or being a bad customer, or pushing prices up for everyone else.