Has anybody bought an Iphone from adverts.ie

FueledByAisling

Hi guys,

Sorry if this is in the wrong section but I was wondering if any has (or knows of) anybody buying an Iphone off of adverts.ie ? I'm looking for a 4 or a 4s. There's a woman selling a 16gb 10 minute drive from me for a pretty good deal but is it a risk? If the phone actually is faulty where do I stand?

Dades

Have a read of this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056831582

There's some ideas about things to do once you have then phone to make sure someone doesn't block it after you bought it.

Don't be put off though - usually someone with good feedback on Adverts is probably as safe as you'll get on the Internet (if you're in Ireland).

FueledByAisling

Dades wrote: »

Have a read of this thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056831582

There's some ideas about things to do once you have then phone to make sure someone doesn't block it after you bought it.

Don't be put off though - usually someone with good feedback on Adverts is probably as safe as you'll get on the Internet (if you're in Ireland).

If they do block it, what can I do? Isn't the phone finished then?

sweetie

four times, twice fine, but twice i've been conned. First time I got my money back second time most recently is still ongoing. Be careful and insist on good feedback. If a price is too good its probably for a reason.

flutered

i bought two older ones, the first worked for a month then gave up, the second i had it six weeks, i connected to itunes, then i got a blast of the 1013, this made the fone rather expensive

Ducina

Here are some useful tips posted by Adverts.ie on their blog:
http://blog.adverts.ie/index.php/2012/10/16/safety-tips-when-buying-an-iphone-or-smart-phone-on-adverts-ie/

Dades

FueledByAisling wrote: »

If they do block it, what can I do? Isn't the phone finished then?

Pretty much. But there'd only block it after if they were scamming you and an insurance company. Have a read of that thread.

jamesd

Only buy off a seller with a good load of positive feedback , I have sold about 10 iPhones on adverts with no issues from the buyers and always ask them to leave feedback.
Before anyone starts I have none for sale at the moment.
Fairly safe to but off someone with good feedback.

Dr. Jonathan Crane

I've sold 2, a 4 and a 4S. I wouldn't buy one used, I'd rather hold out and get the cash for a new one, but if you have to then don't deal with anyone who doesn't have less than 100% positive feedback as a seller (check this, some people might be great buyers, but this could be their first sale). Ask for the IMEI, a receipt if possible, etc. Other than that you just have to go with your gut.

david75

OP I wouldn't. Got a new 4s 16g for €325 yesterday with a trade in for an old 3G up in a shop on clanbrassil st. Guy gave me a guarantee and everything. Better get it from a shop. Somewhere you can go back to.

Piliger

jamesd wrote: »

Only buy off a seller with a good load of positive feedback , I have sold about 10 iPhones on adverts with no issues from the buyers and always ask them to leave feedback.
Before anyone starts I have none for sale at the moment.
Fairly safe to but off someone with good feedback.

What about real, legit, people who really only have reason to sell once, because they are not dealers and just ordinary folk with an iPhone they want to get rid of ?

jarvis

david75 wrote: »

OP I wouldn't. Got a new 4s 16g for €325 yesterday with a trade in for an old 3G up in a shop on clanbrassil st. Guy gave me a guarantee and everything. Better get it from a shop. Somewhere you can go back to.

Didn't know there was an apple store on Clanbrassil St.

I think it's just as risky buying from those type shops as it is from a 100% positive seller on adverts. I've sold 4 or so for myself and friends and i wouldn't dream of screwing anyone. I've bought 2 on adverts also and had no issues. Read the feedback and collect from their house.

mcw92

Ive bought a 3GS, a 4, and two 4's. ALl were perfect apart from one the 4's which i believed was blacklisted due to problems with it, but the seller refunded me the next day thankfully.

Ive sold the same 3GS and 4 on it also, and had no problems.

miralize

I never bought one, but I did sell one a few weeks ago. Not all of us are cashn'dash folk!

snappieT

Have bought 4 over the years, all worked out fine. There was one occasion that seemed a bit dodgy so I bailed on it, otherwise good.

If you insist on a receipt, even if it's a phone well out of guarantee, or even a box (check the IMEI matches!), then you're fairly safe that it's not stolen/dodgy, and is a legitimate sale.

tigershould

I've sold 2 previous iPhones on adverts.

mikemac1

I bought an iPhone 4 last month on adverts

Seller was genuine and I'm very happy with it

Look for good feedback

Michael123a

david75 wrote: »

OP I wouldn't. Got a new 4s 16g for €325 yesterday with a trade in for an old 3G up in a shop on clanbrassil st. Guy gave me a guarantee and everything. Better get it from a shop. Somewhere you can go back to.

That what I agree. if you still want to buy online,you can go to amazon or bestbuy etc. that would be more safe. Actually iPhone 4S price are almost the same in one country. so becarful some cheap iPhone 4S

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

sweetie

I followed the checklist shown above and checked the warranty etc and even brought into a meteor store to try a sim in it and checked for water damage and when it stopped working after a month they said the warranty was void because it had already been opened and had non genuine apple parts in it. The seller says he bought it like that unknown to him so I have to bite the bullet and pay for a fix adter making every effort to get as new a phone as possible. In retrospect the low feedback (4 i think) and age of the seller should have made me pull out. Paypal is also a good tool to use.

Dades

I just remembered - I sold my iPhone 4 on Adverts in October. So there's one more honest seller!

I even spoke with the buyer a week later when he rang me. (Hadn't waited long enough for Meteor to activate a SIM...)

OREGATO

Bought an iPhone off someone on Adverts with very good feedback. Was really happy with the price and the seller.

After reading some of the horror stories about people buying a phone and then having it blocked due to insurance scams etc, it would make me think a bit more carefully next time.

As above, make sure the person you are dealing with has good feedback and if the price is too good to be true..

biko

Bought and sold a few iphones/ipods over the years, was fine.
Check out seller's feedback and take usual precautions.

Batesy

I've sold a 3G and an iPhone 4 on adverts over the past couple of years with no issues at all. I tend to keep my phone in a case from day one and look after it because I know when I upgrade I can be confident I'm giving someone else a great deal. I'd hate nothing more than having to deal with an angry buyer so I make sure everything is spot on.

I've got very good feedback though so that definitely helps. I wouldn't buy such an expensive item from someone with no feedback. Generally there are loads of iPhones on adverts at any given time so you can shop around a bit anyway.

Another thing I have done in the past is actually sell on fairly cheap as I usually only look to cover the cost of my upgrade which is usually heavily discounted from o2 which is something I might be wary of in the future as the chap I sold my iPhone 4 to was very nervous about buying at the price. It was like he thought there must be something up with it. Anyway, all was fine so I didn't need to worry.

I'm actually thinking of moving on my iPhone 5 and getting a 4s. I just prefer the size of the 4s. Am I mad or what?

guil

I sold a 3GS and 4 through adverts and both were priced on te bottom end of the scale

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I bought a 3GS and a 4 off Adverts and had no problem. I also sold my 3GS on Adverts without a problem.
However, you really need to keep your wits about you and no matter how many checks you do and how safe you are, there is still that slight chance that it will all go wrong (getting blacklisted etc.)

murfbrowne

Hi there
I am looking to buy a phone from adverts or donedeal. I have a PayPal account. How does this form of payment protect me as I am prepared to deal without seeing the actual phone. Ie getting it posted to cork.
Thanks
Kate

makoten

If you're using PayPal, it's a really secure form of payment and if you have any problems, PayPal can usually sort things out within 1 month if the seller doesn't respond. I have been scammed before on eBay, bought a phone from a seller but it was never shipped and never arrived. In general, PayPal's buyer's protection is top notch so there really is nothing to worry about.

mcw92

I wouldn't buy from Donedeal via post, as you might not be buying what you are seeing.
At least with Adverts, you have a bit of safety if the way they have feedback, and profiles to track them via.

I would only ever buy from Donedeal if i was meeting the person though.

brophs

As a general rule, if at all possible, have the seller call the network the iPhone is locked to while you're there with them and explain to them the change of ownership. That might at least stop them calling their network/insurance company telling a sob story about the phone being stolen.

CathalDublin

I've sold some 4's 4S's on Adverts, all them fully legitimate phones, I always advertise at the bottom end of the scale for quick easy sales.
ie iphone4 €180, iphone 4S €220

makoten

I'm thinking of selling a 4S on Adverts. Do you meet up with buyers or post them out? What's the usual procedure - do you show them the phone first, they inspect it, then exchange cash for goods or how does it go?

biko

I've bought and sold iphones and other stuff on adverts without issue.
It's preferred to meet in person but lacking that, go with someone with cred (good feedback, long time member on adverts and boards). Check old ads they have.

The usual scenario is to meet in a cafe or whatnot, inspect phone (they might insert own sim to check and even bring a laptop to check phone on itunes) and cash is handed over.
Bring a friend (that can hang back a bit) if you feel unsure.
I've written receipts too.

Meeting in person is best as you get a feel for the other person and both are present during inspection.
If posting only regged will do, take a few snaps as you put it in box in case the buyer claims it was broken or whatnot.

CathalDublin

One thing just to note to anyone buying a phone. Since ios7, if someone has an iCloud account attached to the phone, ie. Find my iPhone, even after a reset they need to detach the account before you can activate the phone.

So my advise would be hit settings-iCloud and turn off findmyiphone, the seller will need to enter their iTunes password, if they don't know it walk away, if they do then select settings-reset-erase phone and make sure you can activate the phone using your own SIM card before handing over any money!

120_Minutes

CathalDublin wrote: »

One thing just to note to anyone buying a phone. Since ios7, if someone has an iCloud account attached to the phone, ie. Find my iPhone, even after a reset they need to detach the account before you can activate the phone.

So my advise would be hit settings-iCloud and turn off findmyiphone, the seller will need to enter their iTunes password, if they don't know it walk away, if they do then select settings-reset-erase phone and make sure you can activate the phone using your own SIM card before handing over any money!

This, along with letting the sellers network know there's a change of ownership (he'll have to call whilst in your presence) if they disagree - walk away

If you're buying it tell them you're gonna call your network to get the imei put on your account. if they disagree - walk away.

Point to note: sometimes you'll have an iphone replaced under insurance. in that case the imei of the phone will not match the imei on the box. if you notice this and the seller has not mentioned insurance up to that point, be wary.

I usually sell on phones on adverts/donedeal once i've upgraded. I've sold many over the years, priced fairly, with no problems. Check out some of my old ads for what a legit ad should look like (same username as here)

gaybeer

Hi Guys,

I am getting a brand new iPhone 4s and am considering selling it and putting amount towards a 5s. How much could I expect to get.

Thanks

CathalDublin

brand new/unlocked sealed in box are 399 from apple.ie

jakdublin

I've sold two iPads on adverts, no problems. Going to put up an unlocked iPhone 4S over the coming days once I dig out the box for it. I've very little feedback but neither of the buyers seemed bothered about that. I'd be concerned myself if I was buying from somebody with so little feedback.