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Sold iPhone on eBay, buyer wants me to unlock it?

I used to constantly have "the Russia problem" on eBay. It used to piss me off before... when I would say "USA ONLY!" in big bold letters and they would still bid!

On my eBay auctions, I choose which countries I ship to...

But... also... to prevent Russia buyers (with USA addresses) from bidding, I have these settings set in my eBay Account Settings:

nqel47.jpg


I like all of the ones I have selected... but the real important one is:
"Block Buyers who has a primary shipping address in a location I don't ship to."

Ever since I set up these settings, I have not had any issue with Russian buyers being able to bid on my auctions.
 
mainevent3405 said:
This is eerie. I just sold my iPhone 5 on ebay to someone in Russia. I shipped it to him directly although he said if I couldn't I could ship it to Florida. Gave me his address in Russia. I charged him $85 for shipping. Like you it was paid into my paypal account thru ebay. Label was created on ebay and I shipped it.

About 3 weeks later when he received the phone, he had the nerve to email me and said he had received a box of soap! I emailed him back and told him he should check with his local police because I shipped a phone. I also contacted ebay to let them know of his accusation. He then emailed me back and said he had contacted his local police and said they had tracked it but he needed the IMEI# or any paperwork on the phone. I sent him the IMEI # and told him there's nothing else I can do for him. He said he is not saying I didn't send a phone and believes someone there stole it and asked if I could send him any paperwork on the phone at all. I told him no. Sorry. Can't help you anymore and wished him luck. I haven't heard from him in 3 days now.

If I ever sell any other phones on Ebay, this taught me that I will never ship anything again outside of the U.S.
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Sorry to tell you this but you are most likely going to be scammed. If you did not ship through ebay international shipping program, then there is a near zero chance you were able to ship with signature confirmation. If that is the case, you will 100% lose when this clown files a dispute.

The follow up requesting info and imei was so he could unlock it for free.
 
xTRIGGER092x said:
I sold my iPhone about a month ago and the guy who bought it is now wanting me to unlock it for him by filling out a form on AT&T's website. I'm a little leery to do it, considering I sold the phone for use on AT&T and not unlocked (so the guy is definitely wanting to save a few bucks), and then there's the fact that he's based in Russia (but has a location to ship to in the US), and despite the phone being a "gift", everything he's ever bought are phones, so I can't help but think he's a little shady.

If I do it, the form is asking me for a wireless # and name - obviously the phone isn't on my account anymore, so what am I supposed to put? the # and name of the line the phone was used on? Are there any security risks associated with this (will he somehow be able to see the info I submit?)?

What would you all do?
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Make him send you $100, then do it.
 
The last few phones I've sold on eBay I've had potential buyers ask me to unlock it for them prior to purchasing it. I simply tell them no that I don't want to go through the process of unlocking it and if I did, I would then be asking for more money for the phone (I typically sell via Buy it Now). Also, when I ship it I get insurance which also requires a signed delivery receipt. I'm not sure how much that protects me against getting scammed but at least it makes me feel better.
 
I've just had this exact same scenario. The buyer waited a month later, and then asked me to unlock the phone.
 
I might be ignorant, but I live in Denmark, if I had bought a phone from another carrier (there is 5 major ones in this little place) or bought from another country, and if the seller could unlock it legally (in EU when out of contract binding period you can get it unlock for free usually or at a small cost)

then I would ask the seller to do so.

I can't see how you can get scammed for taking the 2 minutes it takes to fill out the form.

the alternative is that he will get it unlocked in a small scammy shop in Moscow and the times when there is up dates he will have to avoid it etc.

I had the original iPhone when it was only available in the US, and it was a pain to have to jailbreak at every software upgrade.

just a thought and perhaps you can enlighten me to how this scam should work.
 
Why would you not do the guy a favour? You have the money, your not getting scammed.
 
Ok guys, while I am Russian I can explain everything. :)

1) He asks you to unlock it.
It is absolutely ok, cause the previous year unlock situation was really simple and everyone could do it for 1-5$. Now we know, that ATT shuts down all unlock servers and only account holder can unlock the phone, which is not under his contract anymore. We have high prices on iPhones here in Russia. That's why many people go to eBay and buy them, saving 200-300$. You can simply ask him 40-50$ and unlock the phone. It's not a problem for you but will help him a lot. He will have the working phone, you will have some extra for doing almost nothing.

2) Scam from Russia.
Believe me, the scammers are somewhere between you and buyer, may be it is our customs or postal workers. Yes, the situation is bad. We know it and it's a real shame of our country. But it's not buyer who tries to scam you. He doesn't lie about soap, stones and so on. Someone changes the content of package during the transit just to make the weight of package be almost the same as the package with iPhone, so buyer doesn't suspect anything.
This can be prevented by seller, but the problem is that many sellers don't listen to buyers advices how to pack and declare the phone, so it is safe.

I also buy iPhones from eBay and I always ask sellers to make photos of package, to measure the exact weight, to declare just as "Cellphone IMEI****", not as "new shiny iPhone" and to use very strong packaging. But many US sellers don't listen to me and don't do anything!
Why, guys?
Is it so big problem to do these little steps, which are useful for both of us?!
 
nkarpovskiy said:
Someone changes the content of package during the transit just to make the weight of package be almost the same as the package with iPhone, so buyer doesn't suspect anything.
This can be prevented by seller, but the problem is that many sellers don't listen to buyers advices how to pack and declare the phone, so it is safe.
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Care to tell us how we as prospective sellers can do this and how exactly it prevents shady customs from switching out the content of the package?
 
xTRIGGER092x said:
Okay, that clears a lot up. So should I enter the # that was previously associated with the phone?
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Why will you unlock it for him? You didn't sell an unlocked ATT phone otherwise it will be much higher. You sold a locked ATT iPhone, he bought it , you got paid, he got the phone, so everything is good- done. That's it. Close the book.
 
I think what everyone's trying to say is that it's not a (scam) like rip you off but it's just adding in a factor that has potential to cause confusion,anger and with the right buyer possible problems during and illegitimate return that would result in one feeling they were scammed.You can ASK and yes some people will be glad to help you not send emails saying (yea bud you gonna unlock this phone for me and then I'll leave feedback) to the right person that guards their feedback that makes them feel obligated to do something that they don't have to do.People like me put ONLY ships to USA,so you bought a phone from me when I stated it was an AT&T phone and I only ship to USA now you got the phone overseas practically demanding an unlock.These unlocks are valuable now right? And now you deserve one? News flash I don't even have an AT&T account!! Never have never will
 
I would do it for him. He probably wanted to get it unlocked by a third-party and now can't so is stuck with a locked phone. Not your fault and not totally his, but it would be a nice gesture to help him out.
 
If this request is outside of the original purchase terms, then simply offer to unlock it for him as an additional service.

A moderate fee to be paid for by the end user would suffice.
 
Meh, in the end I decided to just go ahead and do it for the sake of simplicity. I had no idea this feature existed, so I'll take advantage of it next year and sell my 5S as unlocked.
 
xTRIGGER092x said:
Meh, in the end I decided to just go ahead and do it for the sake of simplicity. I had no idea this feature existed, so I'll take advantage of it next year and sell my 5S as unlocked.
Click to expand...

on a side note, i try to sell all my devices as unlocked when i can. not only can it bring more of a premium for me, but it will be much easier to sell as it appeals to a larger group of potential buyers.

in the end, youre just doing the guy a favor, being the only one who can really help him do it anyways. there is no harm, no foul doing it and it takes up what, 5 minutes of your time to save the guy hundreds of dollars? he wasnt upset over the sale, threatening to submit a complaint over it or looking to scam. im glad you decided to just do it for him.
 
Globug said:
While what you all wrote is true, why should the seller go though the hassle of filling out forms and all that jazz for free when the buyer will turn around once unlocked and sell for a hefty profit. If this was all arranged before the sale, i would be the first person to say unlock it. Since its been sorted out and this is after the fact, not your issues.
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So many assumptions, really makes some people here look like butts :rolleyes:


edit: looks like OP did it, good on you OP!
 
As long as the iPhone is out of contract then you can get it unlocked. I called AT&T last week and told them I have an iPhone that is now out of contract. They checked whatever they had to check and it was out of contract so they unlocked it within 2 days. I wasn't the original buyer of the iPhone but since it was out of contract they had NO problem unlocking it for me.
 
1rottenapple said:
Yeah a mofo I'm Texas scammed me. Taught me to sell on craigslist for high priced items.
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Mind sharing what happened? I sold an iPhone recently and feel slightly uneasy by the buyer so I want to hear some other folks experience.
 
It was for a MacBook Pro back in 2009. I lost about $1400 dollars in the deal. He basically claimed it wasn't working after I sent it. Then ebay reversed paypal payment on my by charging my credit card. He was supposed to send me the MacBook back but all I got was an empty box. Harsh harsh lesson. Mind you I was a seller on eBay at that time since 2001. Never had issues with selling. So it was a small 1% chance that selling bit me on the ass, but it was a huge hit and I never sold anything on ebay, and I never sell anything more than $50 on amazon.

----------

The good thing about these products on craiglist is people want them. just be patient. Usually there's people who low ball you. But you will get sellers if the price is reasonable and not outrageous, and even then you will negotiate a price.

And ALWAY ALWAYS meet at a Starbucks. I always go to Starbucks cause plenty of people and dozens of locations in any city. Don't go to their house or to your house.
 
1rottenapple said:
It was for a MacBook Pro back in 2009. I lost about $1400 dollars in the deal. He basically claimed it wasn't working after I sent it. Then ebay reversed paypal payment on my by charging my credit card. He was supposed to send me the MacBook back but all I got was an empty box. Harsh harsh lesson. Mind you I was a seller on eBay at that time since 2001. Never had issues with selling. So it was a small 1% chance that selling bit me on the ass, but it was a huge hit and I never sold anything on ebay, and I never sell anything more than $50 on amazon.
Click to expand...

Was it paypal debit mastercard or are you saying they actually charged it to a credit card that you've linked to your account? I've heard of them taking money out of a bank account linked to it, but never a credit card?

You couldn't have disputed it with your CC company?

As an aside, I had a paypal account that had close to $10,000 lifetime spending before I was required to link a bank account to it in order to continue using it. Rather than add a bank account, I simply set up a new paypal account. I just don't trust them with a bank account.

Oh, by the way, people can and do get screwed through craigslist. Plenty of CL horror stories on here too.
 
Hello everyone! My name is Artem and I am from Russia.

First I want to apologize for my bad English. I use the electronic translator to write it.

Indeed, in Russia there is such a business. Some people (including me) are buying iPhones in the United States for resale in Russia. I myself regularly buy iPhones 15-25 per month.

All of these letters you get from Russian has only one cause. This guilty policy tightening ATT. Prior to the October 2013 I could do unlock ATT iPhones in unlimited quantities, and it cost me only $ 1 - $ 2 per phone.

Now, my colleagues and I suffered a real disaster. All services are done cheap unlock now do not work. And people who buy 25-50 ATT phones are now forced to send similar letters to all sellers. This is our last hope, or we have a huge loss.

I want to assure all of you that all that you ask for Russian buyers is perfectly legal. This all does not go beyond the rules of ATT. You yourself can make sure to read the rules. https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

I hate for my compatriots who are required to make them unlock for free! The more terrible when your buyer threatens you bad feedback. This is simply unacceptable and outrageous!

I wrote to my sellers that it is willing to pay $ 20 for each phone if they'll help me. And some sellers have responded to my requests. They got away from me for $ 20 and I got the unlocked phones and the ability to continue our business. Everyone was happy. And one guy we continue to work to this day.

So do not worry, no fraud here and there can not be! We just want you to help us and are willing to pay for it. (If someone does not want to pay, let them fail ;) ). The decision is yours, and in any case you would be right. But I think $ 20 is a good price for 5 minutes of your time.


Please do not say that all Russian swindlers and scoundrels. Criminals and liars have any nationality and Russian and Americans and Germans. Just as there are good and honest people.


Thank you very much for your attention! If you have any questions for me. Do not hesitate, I will reply as soon as I can!

Best regards, Artem.
 
Koren said:
Indeed, in Russia there is such a business. Some people (including me) are buying iPhones in the United States for resale in Russia. I myself regularly buy iPhones 15-25 per month.
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I'm surprised you're able to get that many iPhones from North America ebay. While I ebay internationally, I do exclude Russia (along with Africa, South America and Southeast Asia), but only because of their unreliable mailing service and shady customs. I'd have no problem shipping to Russia if it wasn't for that.

Otherwise, you're absolutely right that shipping only in the United States doesn't protect you from scammers.
 
I got swindled out of selling an iPhone 4 to Russia earlier this year. Took 8 months just to get the money back from USPS as I purchased insurance.

I'm never shipping to Russia again. If one thinks about it, google and do your homework. There are plenty of horror stories regarding iPhone shipments to Russia all over the internet.
 
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