Advice on buying new iPhone off Gumtree

GerryConnolly

Hi All

I'm new to this forum and hope everyone is well. 

I going to look at a new sealed iPhone from a seller on Gumtree today for my wife. See advert below between the dotted lines.
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Apple iPhone 11 White 64GB, Brand New & Unlocked!
Phone is still in the box so it comes with the usual accessories such as charger and earplugs. Will also include a clear case and screen protector. Unwanted upgrade as I'm happy with my current phone.
No offers as it is brand new and unopened.
Buyer to collect and pay by cash or bank transfer.
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Any recommendations on which websites to use to double check the phone is genuine, not stolen, is unlocked, not blacklisted so I don't get scammed? They have proof of the upgrade

Are there any pitfalls to be aware of?

Does the Apple Warranty work the same?

Appreciate your help with this 

Thanks Gerry

Jon_01

The original owner can always reported it lost/stolen at any point. So the fact it's not blacklisted now doesn't mean it won't be in a months time.
Also, if he/she stops paying the bills the network will blacklist it.
There is nothing you can do, the networks don't do transfer of ownership so they won't even talk to you if anything goes wrong.

GerryConnolly

Thank you for your quick feedback.

He claims this upgrade is from 02 and the upgrade was on the 18th May. HE will show me the paperwork to prove it and the IMEI number.  

Why would he want to blacklist it further down the line?

Am I running a big risk here?

So I will not be able to register for the apple warranty in my name?

Farway

A search on this forum will soon turn up the pitfalls, and the answer to the blacklist question is just plain old theft & fraud

Jon_01

GerryConnolly said:

Thank you for your quick feedback.

He claims this upgrade is from 02 and the upgrade was on the 18th May. HE will show me the paperwork to prove it and the IMEI number.  

Why would he want to blacklist it further down the line?

Am I running a big risk here?

So I will not be able to register for the apple warranty in my name?

The usual reason is, sell the upgrade, claim it stolen, get another one, sell that and don't ever pay the bills. Then both phone's are blacklisted...
Any phone on Gumtree is a risk, as the reply from Farway above, there are many, many posts on  here about people buying on there and then weeks/months down the line the phone stops working.
There must be a few genuine sales on Gumtree, but we never see them.

Frozen_up_north

The term "Unwanted upgrade" says it all. If the seller didn't want to pay for a new phone, why would they do an "upgrade"? the obvious answer is they would go SIM only and save money... I and many others are suspicious.

You often come across someone selling an older phone when they upgrade, but selling the new one doesn't make sense.

liggerz87

As others have said stay well clear and its o2 so if they didn't pay bill o2 would block the phone for nkne payment and others have said nothing stopping them reporting lost or stolen later down the road

cymruchris

Gumtree and iphones don’t mix well. 

SaveMeDo

I used to use Gumtree, and other places to buy stuff, Secondhand of faulty spares or repair etc.

Nowadays, I wouldn't buy a phone from anywhere but a proper retailer, like a supermarket or big chain.

I bought a brand new Vodafone mini 7 from a guy, when I booted it up it was all in Italian!!!!!!!!!

I fixed it with a hammer.

Stay away from dodgy sources with phones.

gingerbreadmen

Unfortunately there are a few people on sites like that that all they want to do is rip you off. But there are loads and loads of people on gumtree that are genuine.  Thousand of sale go through. But off course you only hear about the bad one's. It may be better to ask him to put it on Ebay. Then you are You're covered by the. eBay Money Back Guarantee. Also go and collect if possible from there address, so you know where they live.  If its a sealed iphone you are properly looking a quite a few hundred pounds. So I would ask when you collect to see some  id to prove that where you collected from is there address and take a note of there full name, If they agree to all this the chances are there are genuine. If they so no then beware. 

stragglebod

Mobile companies don't just send people upgrade phones without being asked. Run far far away.