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Sold iPhone, buyer saying it's activation locked...am I being scammed?
- Thread starter gdjsnyder
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That's pretty much what I do too. 0 problems so far after 4 transactions. Where on the other hand selling my old rmbp on eBay took 5 attempts until a serious non scamming buyer came up. eBay sucks.
I sold an iPhone 5S on eBay and lost my money and phone because I got scammed, since then I have sold 4 phones to envirofone.com and about 6 to CEX lol, sure you get a bit less but at least I walk away with cash in hand or a bank transfer.
It is ebay's policy and recommendation that products must be returned prior to the seller refunding the money. Also, it is up to the seller to determine who pays return shipping. I assume you set it as buyer pays return shipping. I would politely say this to the buyer, and link them to this page:
http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinforma...ex.html#tab=return-shipping-labels&faq=faq-14
If the buyer continues to remand a refund first, ask them what ebay policy or terms and conditions section forms the basis of their request?
If they continue to refuse, I would take the pro-active approach and start an ebay seller protection dispute and provide documentation for everything.
Is the seller nuts? He wants a refund first. Sounds like a thief.
But that's the entire point of having your ducks in a row.... if you do, have proof you shipped the exact item how can they scam you?
Well with me it's a detailed video showing proof that the phone sold was the phone shipped.
I'll break it down for you.
You have the phone on, showing all the info r/t the phone. The camera never leaves the phone and the phone is boxed. camera never leaves the box and it's placed in the shipping bin so there is no doubt the phone bought on ebay is the phone that was boxed and shipped. I also always prove it works by making sure it makes sounds to show the speaker works by playing a short video on the phone that was filmed by the phone. Yeah they get a phone with a short video on it but it it's proof. So there is a clearly non edited video that never leaves the phone/shipping box as proof. Have sold many phones on ebay.... I always make it very clear that I will be doing such a video in the ebay listing for their and my protection. I've NEVER had an issue selling a phone on ebay.
Still that does not prove that's the exact item you mailed. I have never had an issue either apart from someone deciding he didn't want an iPhone and claimed it was not as described and returned it. Just go and read the eBay forums and you will read horror stories from sellers on how they lost money to a dishonest buyer. When a buyer does a credit card chargeback down the road there is nothing you can do about it as PayPal will refund the buyer.
Not everyone has the ability to video the entire process.
And frankly, if that's what it takes to safeguard yourself, then eBay is probably not the place to sell your iPhone/iPad. Like I said earlier. look elsewhere.
iPhone/iPad are not hard sells.
LoL... how does it NOT prove it was the exact item I shipped? It will be a hoot to hear the answer....PLUS you don't keep money in your PP account.... so there would be no money to take out.
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Not every one has a friend or family member with a phone/camera? Damn must be a sad life if that's true.
Is there ever a best place to sell? I get more money even after fees than you can get on any other site...... sounds like a pretty good place to sell to me when I can get more cash in my pocket. Now a face to face meeting sounds ideal but how many people were robbed or killed in face to face meetings set up via CL? Not a ton but one time of being killed or raped is too many in my eyes.
I would also cancel PayPal so that they can't pull any money from your bank account or credit cards after they refunded the scammer.
PayPal is a bank, not a law court! So it's their personal decision whom to refund, but not necessarily a legal decision.
To avoid running after your money you need to stop them from legally touching your bank account/credit card. This also helps that a real person will look over the case and not just the automatic system.
They only wake up when it's about their own money. At the moment it's just about yours.
PayPal is a bank, not a law court! So it's their personal decision whom to refund, but not necessarily a legal decision.
To avoid running after your money you need to stop them from legally touching your bank account/credit card. This also helps that a real person will look over the case and not just the automatic system.
They only wake up when it's about their own money. At the moment it's just about yours.
I had an issue like this as well, but buyer ended up sending it back for me to unlock it. By the time I had received it, it was already unlocked. It seems like it might not be instant. I sent it back to him as is and it was fine from then on out.
Also, try removing the device from all these areas. It's amazing all the spots where it shows up:
Also, try removing the device from all these areas. It's amazing all the spots where it shows up:
- iCloud.com Settings
- AppleID.apple.com Trusted Devices
- iCloud Find My iPhone Listing
I'd meet in a precinct. If they don't like it, I will sell to another.
iPhones are not hard sells...after deducting fees, etc the net (on eBay) isn't that much more I think.
Not worth the headache or the potential scammer/dishonest buyer/potential PITA.
Starbucks for me.
I've been watching this thread and it's hard not to get pissed, I feel for the OP and hope he takes some of the advice here on not directly dealing with the buyer and letting eBay handle it.
Yeah that's nuts.
If I have to create videos of the device on and settings, me packaging and sealing the box and me handing it in to the post office clerk it's not really worth the frustration and bs.
That's just me.
Way better options out there besides eBay.
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Correct.
My local police dept has a special area inside the police building for Internet transactions.
You don't want to meet and do the exchange there then I won't do the swap with you.
That's great from your local police. It amazes me how someone would meet a buyer in the park or somewhere secluded but people do it. As a seller I pick where to meet and don't change it for anyone. Always a place with cameras and people.
Sure it's a headache, so what? At least it'll be something you'll learn from in the future, but under no circumstances let the scammer win!
Let him know that if the phone he returns doesn't match your IMEI and SN, you will take legal action - make it clear you know what he's doing. You know his name and address already anyway. Don't give up.
Yes, it's a great idea.
Many people were getting guns and knives pulled on them and robbed for their money or valuables via CL transactions.
Meeting random people in various random locations is unsafe.
Cuts down on crime in the city if people conduct such transactions within a safe location full of cameras and police presence.
I had something similar, almost identical to this happen via Swappa. The buyer returned a jacked up iPhone 5s, with a different IMEI.
Paypal made me sign an affidavit, etc. They initially denied my claim, so I call them up. I was cordial, but new I had proof. They gave me back the full purchase price the buyer paid, plus %10, without saying why they gave me the extra money.
I had a buyer recently try and scam me for a Gear s2 I sold. First he stated he never received the device, but I had his signature as proof. Then he tried to claim the device wasn't unlocked. I got proof from T-Mobile that it was. The buyer eventually gave up, and kept the watch.
A buyer has never successfully scammed me. You just need to cover your basis, be reasonable, and even volunteer to have an affidavit notarized. A seller trying to scam a buyer usually won't have proof and be willing to be legally held accountable.
Paypal made me sign an affidavit, etc. They initially denied my claim, so I call them up. I was cordial, but new I had proof. They gave me back the full purchase price the buyer paid, plus %10, without saying why they gave me the extra money.
I had a buyer recently try and scam me for a Gear s2 I sold. First he stated he never received the device, but I had his signature as proof. Then he tried to claim the device wasn't unlocked. I got proof from T-Mobile that it was. The buyer eventually gave up, and kept the watch.
A buyer has never successfully scammed me. You just need to cover your basis, be reasonable, and even volunteer to have an affidavit notarized. A seller trying to scam a buyer usually won't have proof and be willing to be legally held accountable.
The transaction takes place in lobby of local police station. No one robbed, raped, or killed there yet making CL transaction.
Wow... This made me take my 6 Plus off the eBay market.
You saved yourself from getting scammed and lots of headaches and aggravation.
This is exactly why I only sell (or buy) my gadgets to my family, friends or Co workers. Selling on online is a headache. Too many scammers out there. Especially on eBay.