Buying a second hand iPhone

Mack_Attack

Hi,

I am considering purchasing an Iphone off gumtree but I have one concern. If I were to purchase the phone could the seller later report his phone lost/stolen then be sent a replacement phone through his insurance? Which would block the handset I had just purchased.

Can anyone clear up this matter?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

whiterebel

Yes thye could, just like any other phone. Gumtree seems to have a particularly bad reputation for dodgy s/h iPhones.

Fresh Pots

There is loads for sale over on adverts.ie. Just check the users feedback before buying.

biko

I'd suggest meeting the seller and inspecting the phone (and seller) in person before committing to a purchase. You can ask about reason for sale etc.
If they seem genuine they hopefully are.

skimpydoo

Make sure you get the box and all that came with the iphone. If you can't get these don't buy it.

dancingqueen

I have just recently purchased a second hand 3GS on www.adverts.ie.

I use the site regularly to buy/sell and with feedback scores, you are usually fairly in the know about the person you are dealing with! If they sell iphones all the time, then you may worry.. are they robbing them etc.?

I have purchased and sold phones on here myself, (not excessively, just for a change or when upgrading) and have had no problems so far.

As said above, make sure you check out who you are buying from and you have a bit of comfort seeing that a person has good feedback. If they have upgraded to an iphone 4 or 4s then they will be likely to sell on their old phone.

A box is important (for IMEI reasons)

cgarrad

Just buy a new one ;-)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44933088/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/fecal-matter-lurks-mobile-phones/#.TqVlFN5T-0N

Mack_Attack

Thanks all!

whiterebel

cgarrad wrote: »

Just buy a new one ;-)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44933088/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/fecal-matter-lurks-mobile-phones/#.TqVlFN5T-0N

What a load of sh*te.......:D

120_Minutes

Tips:

make sure you can verify the imei, its printed on the sim tray, and on the box (if you have access to it) and in settings so make sure the owner has not set it to restore mode (some would do this before selling to wipe the phone) so if you're meeting to view, ask that the phone be activated. if the imei's dont match thats an instant red flag..... so ask why.

if you do buy it, get onto your network and associate the imei with your account. it will make any attempt to blacklist by the previous owner harder (or even impossible) ...and if it does happen you can prove that you own the phone by the fact that you're already associated it. plus if you ever lose it, you can blacklist it yourself.

make sure its not a fake! you know what to look for, yeah?

- removable battery
- 2 sims
- crappy resolution screen
- bad attempt at ios
- built in tv tuner

any or all of the above: fake, walk away.