Suspiciously cheap iPhones listed locally

[knownastron]

I've been talking to seller on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craigslist) who has 5 iPhones listed.

All new condition and all suspiciously cheap. Link here (Canadian dollars):

http://www.kijiji.ca/o-posters-other-ads/1000680169

We've agreed to a brand new in box 256gb iPhone Plus for only $850 CAD. Which retails for $1309 CAD...

Normally I would stay far away from this. But he's willing to give me his home address to come pick up the phone. I will of course test the phone and check the IMEI if it's blacklisted. But assuming it passes those tests, is there any way this could come back to bite me?

How are these prices even possible if they're legit?

 

[Zenithal]

Likely stolen or they're an authorized reseller abusing their buy price. I'd skip it based on the huge price difference. It's going to be either a) a complete waste of your time in the end b) you'll be hurt by some cretin who lured you into buying a cheap phone.

 

[Relentless Power]

I've been talking to seller on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craigslist) who has 5 iPhones listed.

All new condition and all suspiciously cheap. Link here (Canadian dollars):

http://www.kijiji.ca/o-posters-other-ads/1000680169

We've agreed to a brand new in box 256gb iPhone Plus for only $850 CAD. Which retails for $1309 CAD...

Normally I would stay far away from this. But he's willing to give me his home address to come pick up the phone. I will of course test the phone and check the IMEI if it's blacklisted. But assuming it passes those tests, is there any way this could come back to bite me?

How are these prices even possible if they're legit?

You should meet at a local police department. I would not meet at his home address. Also, the seller could turn around and file the iPhone as stolen, which could lock the iPhone from being used. And then the seller collects insurance money by claiming it was stolen, and then now you're in possession of a stolen phone. I personally don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[DaveOP]

Likely stolen or they're an authorized reseller abusing their buy price. I'd skip it based on the huge price difference. It's going to be either a) a complete waste of your time in the end b) you'll be hurt by some cretin who lured you into buying a cheap phone.

Agree with this.

Do you have an Apple Store local? If he is willing to meet there, you might be ok. They can look up to see any notes on that Serial/IMEI.

 

[bufffilm]

Every once in a while, a similar thread like this pops up.

There's a chance the phones are legit. And there's plenty of chance you'll regret it.

Keep us posted...I'm tired of all these rumor threads. Maybe you'll be lucky.

Just remember, bad news travels faster than good.

 

[willmtaylor]

Ask IMEI/ESN now, not later. Don't meet at his home. Instead, meet at an Apple Store or the cellular provider that the phones are from, so that they can check the status of the devices.

 

[Jnesbitt82]

Wrong info, sorry.

 

[noobinator]

And just remember because everything appears legit in the beginning, it could be blacklisted in he future.

 

[chrfr]

We've agreed to a brand new in box 256gb iPhone Plus for only $850 CAD. Which retails for $1309 CAD...

You're willing to show up at a stranger's house, with $850 in cash in your pocket, to complete a deal that seems too good to be true. Doesn't this set off any alarms for you?

 

[James.K.Polk]

Not identical, but see: https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comm...m_medium=hot&utm_source=reddit&utm_name=apple

I'd stay far away.

 

[knownastron]

Thanks for the reply everyone.

Interestingly enough, I found another seller willing to do $800 for a new (not sealed) 256GB iPhone 7 Plus.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cell-phone/s...p_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ios_social

This guy doesn't have 5 listed like the other guy.

The thing about this is I did a similar deal with the iPhone 5 back in the day. It was a brand new sealed iPhone 5 for a unusually good deal (not quite as good as this deal). He also was selling multiple iPhones at once. That worked out alright.

 

[blaine07]

Old adage goes... if it's too good to be true it usually is. Walk... run away lol

 

[bufffilm]

There are deals out there though.

Is this one of them?...probably not, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Caveat Emptor

 

[foxconn]

Thanks for the reply everyone.

Interestingly enough, I found another seller willing to do $800 for a new (not sealed) 256GB iPhone 7 Plus.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cell-phone/s...p_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ios_social

This guy doesn't have 5 listed like the other guy.

The thing about this is I did a similar deal with the iPhone 5 back in the day. It was a brand new sealed iPhone 5 for a unusually good deal (not quite as good as this deal). He also was selling multiple iPhones at once. That worked out alright.

The blacklist didn't exist back then, it exists now.

 

[BasicGreatGuy]

I agree with those saying to stay away. The price difference is a huge red flag, in my opinion.

 

[cynics]

Listings seem weird. Selling "my" iPhone....on so many listings. "Sealed" and then "works perfectly", how do you know its not DOA? 24 hour returns?

Why isn't he listing them on swappa or something?

Let us know how it goes. If we don't hear back from you we'll assume the worse.