buying a iphone 4 privately

massy086

hi all im looking to buy an iphone 4 its brand new sealed in box from a adverts user. he does,nt seem to have feedback or much of a history he has been a member since 08 how could i protect myself when buying this so he cant just go and report it stolen 2 days later and then claim a new one from his insurance

Danbo!

Tbh adverts isnt ebay and most users dont have massive amounts of feedback. Member since 08 is a good start, if it was a scam it'd probably be member since 2011.

Is it locked to a network? You could ask for the IMEI off the box and call the network to see if its registered or been reported stolen.

massy086

ye its o2 locked i was thinking will o2 seeing as im o2 aswell let me register it in my name

ironclaw

massy086 wrote: »

ye its o2 locked i was thinking will o2 seeing as im o2 aswell let me register it in my name

Apparently you can register it to your account but I don't think your covered by them any further than that. As regards unlocking etc, the same rules apply when you register it to your account.

With regards to buying an iPhone:

1) Check the box is genuine and sealed.

2) Open the box! Seems stupid but some people buy things without opening them. Insist on it. No matter how good the deal, walk away if you can't open it.

3) All Apple products come with a film stuck to them. Check its there.

4) Turn the phone on. You should get a iTunes symbol and a USB cable. This is probably the only real check as to how genuine the phone is. A fake iPhone won't do this.

dodzy

Danbo! wrote: »

......You could ask for the IMEI off the box and call the network to see if its registered or been reported stolen.

This is without doubt the best piece of advice for anyone buying any phone, be it iphone or other. Ring Voda, O2 or meteor, tell them you just checking the phone history prior to purchase, and they will tell you if it is blacklisted. If it is, steer clear


That said, the seller could report it lost / stolen after the sale and you would be powerless to get the bar lifted. This happened to me eons ago with a N958GB purchase. But I got reimbursed somewhat in the end by the network.

Dublinstiofán

General rule i follow is if the deal is too good to be true it generally is. And if you smell a rat run a mile.

• If you want peace of mind ask for the receipt. If the buyer bought the phone themselves they will have either billpay upgrade documentation that they can show you or an O2 receipt for prepay. That way if it is reported as stolen you have the receipt to prove that its your property and that you paid for it.
  
• Check the serial number online on the Apple website to check its never been registered before if its being sold as new. Call O2 to make sure its not blacklisted.
  
• If your really worried write up/type a receipt to show that x amount of money changed hands for the iPhone 4 S/N XXXXXX and the date and ask the seller to sign it. Any seller who is genuine wont mind. That way if its reported stolen afterwards O2 and the insurance company can then choose to rubbish the insurance claim and the seller is left with the bill and not the buyer.
  
• I have bought many iPhones on Adverts and thankfully was only once presented with a fake model. The majority of sellers here are ok. Fact is sellers of imitation iPhones tend to steer clear from selling them on Adverts as too much information is required to register. You even now need to enter your mobile number to post an add at all. Also the community on adverts are highly educated in regards to Apple products and will know a fake from a mile away. Then if an iPhone was posted as 'As new" and "Official Apple product' it only takes one prospective buyer to see it to be fake before he/she will probably warn the community about it.

TOP TIP:

If the seller is genuine they will have no problem with you collecting the item from their home address.

That way you have somewhere to go back to if something goes wrong. I would strongly advise against meeting people 'halfway' or 'in town' for a transaction that could leave you out of pocket for €500 or more.

Just my two cents, and i've been around Adverts for a long time.

ironclaw

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

If the seller is genuine they will have no problem with you collecting the item from their home address.

Love the list. Really good and couldn't have said it better myself.

However, I never invite anyone to my house. In this day and age its too risky. If your selling an iPhone 4 you have money and thats what every person who buys it will think. I would not recommend bringing anyone to your house no matter what their reputation. If not them, their friends could conveniently come back for second look when your not there.

dodzy

ironclaw wrote: »

Love the list. Really good and couldn't have said it better myself.

If your selling an iPhone 4 you have money and thats what every person who buys it will think....

Thats utter crap.

jamesd

I wouldnt let someone into my house either to buy an iphone and I have sold about 5 iphone 4's, I meet them in workplace normally or nearby and allow them to open and examine the phone.

ironclaw

dodzy wrote: »

Thats utter crap.

Well, your hardly going to be on the breadline now are you? I'm not being prejudice but if someone who "looked" like they couldn't afford an iPhone 4 tried to sell me one, I'd take a much closer look at it. Likewise if they were too eager to sell.

When I said money I did't mean millionaire etc but someone with an iPhone 4 probably has a disposable income capable of supporting one and is more likely a techie-gadget type of person.

When you bring someone to your house you just give away too much information and you don't know who they are. Anyone with half a brain can glean a huge amount of information from being in a house and from conversation. The keys on the front hall table, TV in the front room, most bedroom's upstairs, works in an office so most likely out 9 to 5. I was in a house once buying a PC and the alarm code was a Post-It under the panel :eek:

Would you invite a stranger off the street into your home for tea? I wouldn't even if they were paying cash for the privilege.

On topic however, will O2 / Vodafone tell you the blacklist status of an IMEI?

dodzy

I deal mainly with adverts so obviously good feedback from an established user goes a long way to aleviate suspicion but I take your point;)

And yes, o2 will give you that information

Jimbo325ci

I am interested in buying an iphone 4 and want to follow the advice listed here. Where on the apple site can i check if the serial number has been registered or not?

In the event of the IMEI being blocked, what are my chances of getting it released if i do have a reciept (both original and the one signed by the previous owner? )

Cheers