Selling iPhone on Craig's list?

[LarryJoe33]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

 

[fischersd]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

Yep, don't do PayPal. Cash only. Buyers can turn around and tell PayPal they never received the item (and PayPal almost always sides with the buyers in any dispute). Cash only, public place. If they're not comfortable doing cash, tell them that you'll meet with them at their bank...they can take out the cash, you do the exchange right there in front of the teller (find me a more secure location for everyone?)

I know lots of people like doing the exchange at the Apple store as well (you can walk over and have them check to see if the phone can be activated)

 

[Mjsavage]

Yea those are scams. Cash in person only. If it sounds to good to be true it is. They aren’t going to give you $100 more just to mail to them.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Thank you, this is what I thought. I didn't think of the Paypal never received it scam. I may just take it down from CL. The spam and scam emails are annoying.

 

[Eggtastic]

Thank you, this is what I thought. I didn't think of the Paypal never received it scam. I may just take it down from CL. The spam and scam emails are annoying.

CL is tough because you either get those scams or low ball offers. If you hold out long enough, someone will come near your price. I've sold a few iPhones and 2 macbooks via CL. I usually bold and star: ***Cash only and public local meet up only*** (starbucks, mall, etc) for safety reasons.

If they decline either, then no deal. It takes time. Try other sites like Let go also.

 

[Renho]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

Yes, I do craigslist every year and don’t even respond to people that want it shipped. Only meet in person and only in the police station parking lot.

 

[rensi]

My townships police station has a special place in their parking lot for people to exchange online goods, great location and very safe! Check with your local police, they may have a similar setup.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Scam. Scam. Scam. Your instincts were dead on.

 

[AL18]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

SCAM 100%
DON'T even think about selling using paypal they will open dispute and claim any reason to charge back .

 

[bigjnyc]

ugh one of the things I hate most about selling on CL, its a barrage of scam offers... I've become pretty good about detecting them at this point. Nobody is going to offer you 100 over asking price that's an obvious, grammar, the sob story about their relative being away at the moment and them needing it shipped, blah blah blah... its very obvious once you see a few of them.

 

[Kahsheh]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

Yes, this is a scam.

 

[DevinNj]

I use swappa.com for buying/selling and haven't had any issues as of yet. Not saying it's foolproof, but it's a little safer than CL.

 

[bopajuice]

Thank you, this is what I thought. I didn't think of the Paypal never received it scam. I may just take it down from CL. The spam and scam emails are annoying.

Scams are everywhere. I have had to re-list computers on eBay several times, after people would use the buy it now, and then try to get me to use PayPal and send the item to an unverified address in some small country in Europe. Even after stating I don't do international shipping.

Same with Craigslist. Craigslist has local listings all across the USA. I often wonder why someone in Pennsylvania wants me to ship them a phone on the other side of the country. Not like they don't have local listings offering the same items in their own area. Not to mention if they are willing to pay more than your asking price, they aren't looking for the best deal. Just the best scam.

When it comes to Craigslist I am always careful to meet in a public place. Cant tell you how many times I was going back and forth with someone negotiating the price, deciding on a location, and then silence. They just disappear.

 

[3rdiguy]

Use Swappa

 

[QuarterSwede]

Scams are everywhere. I have had to re-list computers on eBay several times, after people would use the buy it now, and then try to get me to use PayPal and send the item to an unverified address in some small country in Europe. Even after stating I don't do international shipping.

Same with Craigslist. Craigslist has local listings all across the USA. I often wonder why someone in Pennsylvania wants me to ship them a phone on the other side of the country. Not like they don't have local listings offering the same items in their own area. Not to mention if they are willing to pay more than your asking price, they aren't looking for the best deal. Just the best scam.

When it comes to Craigslist I am always careful to meet in a public place. Cant tell you how many times I was going back and forth with someone negotiating the price, deciding on a location, and then silence. They just disappear.

Absolutely agree! The last two phones I sold I did so in a busy Starbucks and then at&t store and it was for cash only. Didn’t have to worry about a scam and both were busy enough to make the buyer and seller feel comfortable. You can even do so at a police station from what I understand. Talk about feeling secure.

 

[BrettDS]

I use CL a lot for selling phones and such and one thing I will say is that the scams are usually pretty easy to identify... most of the time just by the first message. It will be something like “Do you still have iPhone 7 Plus 128G Space Grey for sale?” If they cut and paste the title directly from your ad then it’s almost certainly a scam... most people would say “Do you still have the phone for sale?”, but the scammers use some sort of a tool that just scans CL for the ads and automatically sends out the messages taking the titles directly from the ad. When I get a message like that I don’t even bother to reply. When I posted my watch for sale a few weeks ago I even got a few texts that simply said “Do you still have your electronic item for sale?”

The other red flag for me is when the ask what the condition of the item is when the condition is clearly stated in the ad. Obviously they didn’t even read the ad if that’s what they are asking. Again, those messages simply get ignored.

The last thing is to look for people texting from an area code that’s not from your area. This isn’t a dead giveaway that it’s a scam as a lot of people (myself included) have moved from another state and kept their old number. I will still answer messages from other area codes if it otherwise looks legit, but I tend to be a bit more concerned when I see that.

And like the others said, it’s always cash only and in person.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Thanks everyone. I have the phone for sale on Swappa, eBay and CL at the moment. Although I have had nothing but problems selling phones on ebay of recent, I will give it a shot. A legitimate international buyer is will to pay more and eBay helps with the shipping and logistics. iPhones cost a crapload more in the UK/Europe. Craig's list is appealing because of the lack of fees and hopefully a nice cash meetup. I have bought phones on CL for my kids to take overseas to study abroad, so I figured why not give it a shot selling.

Personally, I am hoping Swappa works out.I have turned down legitimate offers of $525 and $540.

 

[bopajuice]

I use CL a lot for selling phones and such and one thing I will say is that the scams are usually pretty easy to identify... most of the time just by the first message. It will be something like “Do you still have iPhone 7 Plus 128G Space Grey for sale?” If they cut and paste the title directly from your ad then it’s almost certainly a scam... most people would say “Do you still have the phone for sale?”, but the scammers use some sort of a tool that just scans CL for the ads and automatically sends out the messages taking the titles directly from the ad. When I get a message like that I don’t even bother to reply. When I posted my watch for sale a few weeks ago I even got a few texts that simply said “Do you still have your electronic item for sale?”

The other red flag for me is when the ask what the condition of the item is when the condition is clearly stated in the ad. Obviously they didn’t even read the ad if that’s what they are asking. Again, those messages simply get ignored.

I met a guy one time who was selling a motorcycle in "Great condition", "Title in Hand". Met him at a grocery store parking lot, sitting on a motorcycle that looked like it was on it's last legs. Beat up, and dented. When I sat on it the shocks actually "bounced" up and down like they had nothing left in them. The kicker was when he then said he was actually selling the motorcycle for a family member and I would have to go to his house if I wanted the bike. So much for title in hand.

 

[BrettDS]

I met a guy one time who was selling a motorcycle in "Great condition", "Title in Hand". Met him at a grocery store parking lot, sitting on a motorcycle that looked like it was on it's last legs. Beat up, and dented. When I sat on it the shocks actually "bounced" up and down like they had nothing left in them. The kicker was when he then said he was actually selling the motorcycle for a family member and I would have to go to his house if I wanted the bike. So much for title in hand.

Yeah, unfortunately things are not always what people say they are. I drove for an hour to meet someone selling an automatic cat litter box a few years ago and it wound up being a completely different (and older) model than what he had advertised. But I’ve also had a number of good buys and sales as well.

 

[Renho]

I use swappa.com for buying/selling and haven't had any issues as of yet. Not saying it's foolproof, but it's a little safer than CL.

How much did you get for yours? Was thinking if my IP7+ on there or Craigslist

 

[KingslayerG5]

Scam.

I've got many of those and someone from South Africa wanted my HTC One M7 back in late-2014. The guy who worked in the shipping office warned me it was a scam.

Just do cash and public place, only. I usually prefer Cerritos Library since it's a beautiful library and there is a sheriff's office next door. They would find it hard to just run away. Never do it in some parking lot either while they sit in their car.

Just ignore those. Always something about wanting to get it for a relative like their child and they will offer you extra for shipping costs. Cash and local only.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

Dont you dare selling it that way I always sell it on craiglist go with the buyer to the Apple store get an helper to switch your iPhone to the buyer and cash only

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have gotten two offers for my 7 that are $100 over asking ($650) with the people asking me for my paypal info and to ship it to them because they can't meetup. I told the first person meetup and cash only.

Seems like a scam? Any words of caution/advice?

I have received many offers like this. They say they are out of the country or on holiday but do not believe them.

It is a scam for sure.

Always meet and take cash only!

 

[eyeseeyou]

If they’re not willing to meet at a public place, say the police station to see how they react, and Pay in cash then ignore them completely.

I’ve gone as far as cashing a check from a person like this only to have my bank call me a few minutes later to confirm the sender was a scammer.

 

[Zorn]

Definitely a scam, and I'm convinced that they have automated bots just going through and sending out the same scam emails to all listings in certain categories. I was once selling an old sectional sofa and got a couple of the similar scam emails, offering more than asked and requesting to "arrange a pickup with my courier". I can only imagine all the random **** they have coming in to wherever they operate from.