Bought a "new" mobile, but appears used. Help please!

ultracheapskate

Hi

I recently bought a "new" Nokia 8800 sirocco off ebay. The item was advertised as "new" and in "mint condition". I even messaged the seller to ensure it wasn't used, and he said it was from carphone warehouse, and he was selling it as boxed and brand new. I therefore bid on the item and won it - i got a rather good deal as it only sold for £210...which is significantly lower than other completed listings.

Anyways after a little trouble initially with the purchase, the mobile arrived on Wednesday. Everything seemed fine (except for fingerprints etc, which are probably common on such a phone), but there was one problem. The battery cover (ie removable backing on the phone) had scratchings on the inside surface. These are not visible when using the phone (since its on inside not outer visible surface) but can be clearly seen when removing the battery/changing the sim.

I am not sure how to progress. I am happy with the price I paid for the handset, but clearly the advertising was false, as he has used the phone. What should I do? Is it worth saying anythng or better to keep quiet? Do I have a right to be annoyed? I need to sort out the problem soon as I don't want to leave it too late - I received the phone of WEDNESDAY. My plan was to resell the phone (since I should get > £215), but not sure if these marks will make any difference.

Thanks in advance...

jarrod1

If it was sold as new and never used then i would contact the seller and tell them that you are not happy as you didnt receive what was listed.

If your plan was to resell the phone for £5 profit then you would have been better getting this phone below as the resell price is much higher on ebay.

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4-/3299981/Nokia-N800-Internet-Tablet/Product.html

James240

As its on the inside of the battery cover i personally wouldnt be bothered, i mean who continually takes off there cover to change simcards all the time?

(okies i know theres peeps out there that do but to compared to the vast majority i would in my opinion say its a small number but i could be wrong :doh: )

Even so if you do change the sim frequently the sratches on the inside cover will be seen for a fraction of a second not enough to warrent getting annoyed over in my opinion

ultracheapskate

jarrod1 wrote: »

If it was sold as new and never used then i would contact the seller and tell them that you are not happy as you didnt receive what was listed.

If your plan was to resell the phone for £5 profit then you would have been better getting this phone below as the resell price is much higher on ebay.

http://www.play.com/Mobiles/Mobile/4-/3299981/Nokia-N800-Internet-Tablet/Product.html

thanks for the reply. sorry i should have been clearer - also have a nokia luna, so was going to keep one and sell the other. It so happens that I prefer the luna, so no point keeping both. Also it seems that the sirocco sells for £280+ on ebay (when new and boxed), so it would represent a signficant profit. However I am reluctant to list it as "new" (like this seller) due to these minor scratches...but If I say it is used this will drastically reduce the price at which it can sell for, I would assume.

If I do contact the seller to say I'm not happy (since scratched), what can they do? Would they offer a reduction in the price or simply ask me to return it back?

ultracheapskate

James240 wrote: »

As its on the inside of the battery cover i personally wouldnt be bothered, i mean who continually takes off there cover to change simcards all the time?

Even so if you do change the sim frequently the sratches on the inside cover will be seen for a fraction of a second not enough to warrent getting annoyed over in my opinion

Thanks for the quick reply. Personally I'm not too bothered by it either, since I hardly even notice it. Plus it will prob get scratched anyways after continuous use. However it might make it difficult if I want to resell the phone for a profit (since it sells for £280+ on ebay, when listed as new). Any advice on how I can advertise the phone? I don't want to come across as deceiving potential buyers either by listing it as new...

smartie1976

Possibly the seller bought a phone from (whereever) but it wa a reconditioned one.
So he's suggesting new, but it was actually used.

James240

is it not possible to buy a new battery cover :think:

CHR15

If you advertise it as new, and expect over £200, people are surely going to look at your feedback and see that it has only just been purchased.

If I saw that I would assume that not only was it far from new, but also defective as you are trying to offload it (not to mention the fact they can see how much you paid for it).

justpaper

You bought a Nokia 8800 sirocco for £210!

I'm guessing it is boxed and unlocked ?? if so, then that is very cheap,

If it is boxed, then please for mankind, leave the seller + Feedback,

It's the inside battery cover, its so easy to scratch it,.. its made out of metal not plastic,

if you open the up the phone and theirs 2 marks on the pcb of the phone, would you expect more money off ?

you already got it cheap, the inside battery cover should'nt even come in to play.

I think if you ask for a refund the guy would jump at it, them phones sell for 260 easy, even more off Feebay

ultracheapskate

CHR15 - he hasn't left feedback yet, and nor have I. So there is no way of seeing I got the item from ebay (or indeed for £210). The reason I am selling is because I am happier with my luna (better screen, less fingerprinting...)

Justpaper - it was indeed cheap and I got a very good deal. However I don't think that should influence whether or not the seller gets +ve feedback...should be judged on the accuracy of listing description, service etc. I won the item at auction and he wasn't responsible for the low price - I simply got lucky. FWIW I think I won't mention anything to him, because like you said, he would just offer a refund and the price is probably too good to complain. It's just that when a seller lies about one thing, it automatically makes you wary

justpaper

I can't believe you even posted this,

And what is more unbelievable some people above are advising you what to do...

this is so insane, ...

imagine if you where a gangsta with your mindset,

picture this.....

you login to your ebay account ...you request sellers details...

you leave your pc on because you got a auction ending in 30mins and you setup a snipe bid..because thats how you roll..

you pick up your 9mm.

you pull up outside the house, its 9:15pm its dark, you ring the bell, a young cheerful woman comes to the door, you notice shes pregnant about 5mts, you ask if "Tim" is in, she replys "yea hes in the back, are you a friend?"

you think for a second "yea.. im a new starter" the young woman looks confused and replys "oh...?... im his wife... argh!!!", at this point ....

....you shoot his pregnant wife in the knee caps, draging her from her hair back into the house, a man comes running to his wife aid, but he sees you got a gun and holds his's wifes bleeding legs, .....at that point you say ".......why did you lie?!?!?... huh WHY!!!( Tim looks confused he cant beleive whats happening...but you carryon) "....this is mint fully boxed unlocked nokia 8800 worth 280quid easy! but punk you forgot to say the INSIDE! of the battery cover has scratches on it!!!!!!, huh you thought that was funny!?!?!... you made me find your a$$ !!!!!! and shoot your !!!!!!" and then you leave.

lol this is so funny its insane,. some producer should turn that into a sketch,