buying iphone from gumtree

macleanal

has anyone or would anyone ever do this? need a new phone and i like the iphone but not got enough ££ to buy one brand new. Im on a sim only contract and my blackberry is beyond repair. Vodafone will not let me cancel my sim only to go onto a new contract where i get a free phone so only option really is to buy another handset.

If i do go for it, anything specific i should check before i buy it?

Also can you unlock an iphone from one network to another i.e. o2 to Vodafone?

Jon_01

I'd be very careful (In fact I'd advice against it).

I get calls every week from people that have bought phones on Gumtree or Ebay only to find weeks/months later that the owner has reported it lost/stolen and it's been blacklisted. Others have been obtained fraudulently and also get blacklisted.

On a lost/stolen you might get it unblocked in time, but you'll have to wait (and it won't be unblocked until the networks run an investigation).
If the phones been obtained via fraud it'll never be unblocked for any reason...

I'm sure there must be some genuine sellers, but I have no idea how you tell them from the scammers. . .

DUTR

macleanal wrote: »

has anyone or would anyone ever do this? need a new phone and i like the iphone but not got enough ££ to buy one brand new. Im on a sim only contract and my blackberry is beyond repair. Vodafone will not let me cancel my sim only to go onto a new contract where i get a free phone so only option really is to buy another handset.

If i do go for it, anything specific i should check before i buy it?

Also can you unlock an iphone from one network to another i.e. o2 to Vodafone?

]
Surprised they won't let you go onto a contract, don't know how you get a free phone out of it though, as the monthly will magically go up to cover the cost of the handset.
As the responder in post #2 suggests , be wary and apply common sense, don't be buying off some dude that wants to meet you somewhere to complete the deal, preferably go for one that is boxed and with reciept, however even on gumtree it may not be cheap, as there is always some other idiot that wants to pay over the odds

mcjordi

can only echo what jon says.. ive warned a few people about the scam but wouldnt listen and they bought one off the sell/swap type pages on facebook and low and behold 24 hours later they were reported lost/stolen...

macleanal

thanks for your advice. might leave the iphone.


thanks

Wintermute

Jon_01 wrote: »

I'd be very careful (In fact I'd advice against it).

I get calls every week from people that have bought phones on Gumtree or Ebay only to find weeks/months later that the owner has reported it lost/stolen and it's been blacklisted. Others have been obtained fraudulently and also get blacklisted.

On a lost/stolen you might get it unblocked in time, but you'll have to wait (and it won't be unblocked until the networks run an investigation).
If the phones been obtained via fraud it'll never be unblocked for any reason...

I'm sure there must be some genuine sellers, but I have no idea how you tell them from the scammers. . .

Pretty much, if you decide to go against advise I'd do the most you can to cover yourself, meet at their house, get proof of purchase from them and try and get them to sign it too so you might have a chance of taking them to the small claims court if they're dodgy, but at the end of the day you're unlikely to make a substantial saving on a legit new iPhone and if you can't afford one outright then you can't afford to be conned.

shifty27

macleanal wrote: »

thanks for your advice. might leave the iphone.


thanks

Ebay gives you much more protection against blocked/lost/stolen phones as you can easily get your money back from paypal for upto £500.

Definitely use ebay over gumtree as there are a lot more genuine sellers and it's just safer to use IMO.

Hope this helps. Iphone 4's can be picked up on voda for probs £300-£400.

Hope this helps.

gjchester

shifty27 wrote: »

Definitely use ebay over gumtree as there are a lot more genuine sellers and it's just safer to use IMO.

Odd thing is Ebay own Gumtree... You'd have thought they'd be as safe as each other (and thats not saying much!)

Nostromo

It happens on ebay too tho the seller just waits for the 45 day paypal claim to expire then reports it stolen.
This happened to me after buying an iphone which i was told was bought from an O2 store when in fact the seller had bought it from ebay.

JJ_Egan

I know its not an IPhone but Samsung Galaxy S is £250-£300 .

jje

alexdrans

JJ_Egan wrote: »

I know its not an IPhone but Samsung Galaxy S is £250-£300 .

jje

Quoted for a great phone, especially if you get custom software on it!

OP - Ask to see the box, and the receipt for the phone if that's possible. You might also want to meet this person to see what kind of person they are. I know it seems quite prejudice, but if they're the type of person that seems like they might have stolen this phone, then you can politely walk away. Take a friend/big strong guy if you're going to meet them!