Buying Used iPhone 7 - Precautions

efunc

Hi all, I'm somewhat in the dark about these matters but concerned about falling foul to problems later down the line. I'm after an iPhone 7 128GB and have been looking on eBay and Gumtree, etc. Not ever having had a phone contract before I don't know how they work but there seem to be a lot of phones for sale out there that are new, or nearly new, but not in the box. Some insurance replacements, or unwanted upgrades, whatever that means. Some are locked and some unlocked. One that I have found is a couple of months old, unlocked and unboxed. The IMEI comes up with the following:

IPHONE 7 128GB BLACK
IMEI ********
Serial number *******
Activated Yes
Refurbished by Apple No
Telephone Technical Support Active
Repairs and Service Coverage Active
Warranty Start Date 21.04.2017
Warranty End Date 20.04.2018
Find My iPhone OFF
Estimated Purchase Date 20.04.2017
First Activation Date 21.04.2017

The iCloud/FMP activation is off, which is good, but I'm concerned that the phone IMEI could be blocked by the network after a few months if for non-payment if it's deemed in contract. Or that it could be reported lost/stolen and blocked. The seller says he has proof of purchase. And that it was "an upgrade in general, my phone ran out of contact, I then kept the sim a bought this one online". Which doesn't mean anything to me since I don't know how these contracts work. Apart from paying with a credit card is there anything else I can determine in advance to check if something like this is a safe bet? Thanks

Jon_01

Doesn't matter what checks you do today, the owner can report it stolen tomorrow and then it'll be black listed and blocked.

Also, if the owner stops paying the contract the network will black list it for none payment after a couple of months.

There really is nothing you can do, none of the network offer any kind of transfer of ownership.

Personally I'd never buy from Gumtree, a large number of phones on there 'appear' to be iffy!!!!

efunc

I see, but is there a way I can verify if it's still in contract or not? This particular phone was new in April so it's difficult to image why it would not be still in contract, but like I say, I don't know how those contracts work - it sounds like people get sent new phones by the operator, but continue to use their existing ones.

Anyway, there's a thriving market on eBay, and intact my current iPhone 4S was bought used and I've had it for 5 years, and my partner too, so I'm just trying to figure out if there's a correct sequence of events I should observe to avoid falling prey to any subsequent scam.

I guess if the phone is supplied to me unlocked from any network that doesn't help does it? Or does it? Would an operator still block the IMEI even if they've released it for use on any network? Is there a way of finding out if the phone is paid off, and how would I do that?

Browntoa

I can sell you a phone today and the claim on my insurance as lost or stolen months down the line and it gets blacklisted

Then again if it's a high feedback seller with good recent history the chances of getting scammed reduce greatly

AndyPK

When I buy um off ebay, I purchase ~ 1 year old models (6S) or Apple reconditioned ones. You can kind of understand the reason for sale then.

Ebay feedback is important. You will see alot of people with 0 feedback! Avoid!

I'm very happy with the network I use, so more recently I have purchase locked ones, to save money or to increase purchase/winning chances.

efunc

Yes, that's very true browntoa. I've asked for more info about this phone and it appears that it was bought from a large company called second-handphones.com who also trade on eBay as ‘lime tropic’. They have good reviews around the internet and prove 12 months warranty. However the buyer bought it off them in April and is now selling it to me two months after in June. I checked their website to see if I would be covered in case of problems and it states the following:

After a period of 28 days, it is fairly assumed that there has been a period of network activity on your behalf, which transfers the ownership of the handset and associated liabilities.

I'm guessing I wouldn't really be covered by them even if ownership was transferred because the seller I'm buying it off might make some claim on it in 6 months time, and second-handphones.com couldn't exactly be responsible for that since it's not something they would have control over.

efunc

This seller has feedback of 1 sadly! But he himself has provided accurate info so far. At the end of the day it's just a gamble. I think my AmEx card would cover me for up to 6 months (will have to check) but even then, it would be a huge amount of hassle if anything went wrong with it and i was left phone-less

[Deleted User]

Dont do it!
I had a 7 and didn't like it. No headphone jack being the main reason.
I would go for a refurbished 6 or 6s or brand new SE.
I'm using a 5s which I prefer to the 7 inspite of its awful battery life.

efunc

Interesting perspective, and useful insight, thanks. What else apart from the headphone jack? I've had an iPhone 3GS and then 4S for about 6 or 7 years, and in the time I've never once plugged in earphones of any description, so it's a non-issue for me, but interested in any other criticisms. I looked at the 6S and thought it was pretty much the same, but less powerful, so the 7S makes sense since I might have it for the next 4-5 years! I might as well stay ahead while I can, even though there might be an 8 in the autumn.

Anyway, I just had an exchange with the seller on eBay: He bought the 7S from second-handphones.com on eBay on the 12th June 2017 for £479.95. He then received it and said he preferred his 6S, so listed the 7S on eBay straight away for £430 / £650 Buy Now. Got no bites, so he reduced the price and eventually it sold to me. second-handphones.com however have a no-quibble 14 day money back policy, so I asked him why he didn't just get a refund. He claims he thought he'd get more by reselling it, but miscalculated. Bear in mind though that the IMEI Estimated Purchase Date quoted earlier is 20.04.2017. I guess that would have been the original owner before second-handphones.com. 3 owners in 2 months! Sound legit??

Jon_01

The comment above (post #6) 'After a period of 28 days, it is fairly assumed that there has been a period of network activity on your behalf, which transfers the ownership of the handset and associated liabilities.'
Is utter rubbish. None of the network offers this.
The implications of that would mean if I could use any phone for 28 days it would become mine!

AndyPK

Yeah the 5S are nice phones and nice size.