Be careful when buying used - Note 8 story

[sx4dude2013]

So I have been an android user in the past. My first droid was the Droid X back in the day. I loved that Phone. I also use to own a Note 5 and really enjoyed it. I got suckered into the IPhone 6 and was a user of the 6, 6s, and now 7 Plus. Once Apple launched the new phones a couple weeks back I was unimpressed.
I played with the Note 8 in BestBuy and fell in love. The screen was amazing.

I poked around on Swappa and was looking for a resale Note 8 for a good price. Found one and bought it.
It arrived yesterday and I swapped the sim from my IPhone to the new Note 8. It wouldn't activate. Called VZW and it has been reported stolen. AGHHH!

Now I wait to get my money back. The seller is working with me but its still a hassle and I'm out a decent chunk of change.

I guess this is a sign that I need to stick with IPhone.
I have purchased many "like new/resale" units over the years and have NEVER had an issue until this. Moral of the story is be careful. I'm confident I will get the funds back but I will be out some due to having to pay to mail the device back, ETC. All these accessories I bought are now useless.

 

[Broken Vet]

Yeah, you should definitely stick with Apple, nobody ever steals and resells them. Good luck, and hope you get it all sorted out.

 

[sx4dude2013]

Next time I will bite the bullet and buy new from Samsung, BestBuy, VZW, etc.
I might get another Note 8 new. Just hate to be out of all the promotions that happened.

 

[Carrie Greicar]

I think the moral of the story is buy new, not buy Apple. Do you know how many times I see people getting jacked because of a cloud locked Iphone....

 

[Ca_lvn]

Surprise it was reported stolen, swappa verifies IMEI numbers before allowing the sale, always use verified PayPal for your purchase on swappa and your insured.

 

[ol_jackburton]

I think the moral of the story is buy new, not buy Apple. Do you know how many times I see people getting jacked because of a cloud locked Iphone....

im going to guess three. three times you have seen that. am i close what do i win...

I am currently trying to sell my old S8+ on Ebay, have sold it twice and both times had to cancel the sales because the buyer was scamming me. In years past i have sold maybe 4 iPhones and also the gear 360 and the VR Gift (from the note 7 last year) and no Ebay issues.

Not sure why i am just having the issues now.

 

[Ca_lvn]

im going to guess three. three times you have seen that. am i close what do i win...

I am currently trying to sell my old S8+ on Ebay, have sold it twice and both times had to cancel the sales because the buyer was scamming me. In years past i have sold maybe 4 iPhones and also the gear 360 and the VR Gift (from the note 7 last year) and no Ebay issues.

Not sure why i am just having the issues now.

I would never sell a phone on eBay scared of getting scammed not going to have it

 

[STARGATE]

So I have been an android user in the past. My first droid was the Droid X back in the day. I loved that Phone. I also use to own a Note 5 and really enjoyed it. I got suckered into the IPhone 6 and was a user of the 6, 6s, and now 7 Plus. Once Apple launched the new phones a couple weeks back I was unimpressed.
I played with the Note 8 in BestBuy and fell in love. The screen was amazing.

I poked around on Swappa and was looking for a resale Note 8 for a good price. Found one and bought it.
It arrived yesterday and I swapped the sim from my IPhone to the new Note 8. It wouldn't activate. Called VZW and it has been reported stolen. AGHHH!

Now I wait to get my money back. The seller is working with me but its still a hassle and I'm out a decent chunk of change.

I guess this is a sign that I need to stick with IPhone.
I have purchased many "like new/resale" units over the years and have NEVER had an issue until this. Moral of the story is be careful. I'm confident I will get the funds back but I will be out some due to having to pay to mail the device back, ETC. All these accessories I bought are now useless.

Good luck getting your money back, really sucks when something like that happens.

I, however, would just get a new Note 8 from a reputable place and make use of all the accessories.

 

[mj0528]

I just tried to sell a phone on eBay and finally gave up after having to get the package intercepted which total shipping was around 30. After getting it back, I went through 3 more sales that also cancelled payment a few days after buying. I ended up selling for a little less locally but it is sold. I'll never sell on eBay again!! Too many scammers!!!

 

[Carrie Greicar]

LOL Sorry was just stating that it happens in all brands of phones. I am really sorry you got jacked though and hope you get it all back.

 

[sx4dude2013]

Yes. I used PayPal and a Chase CC via PayPal.
Chase is great. I'm a Sapphire Reserve card holder so I expect great results if need be.
While we wait for PayPal to respond Chase went ahead and sent out the dispute packet to start the ball rolling (if they need to intervene).

Fingers crossed it works out.
The seller is saying that it was his brothers phone and not his. He sold it for his brother and shipped it to me. And his brother bought it from a guy who bought it from originally bought it from Verizon.
The seller said his brother verified the IMEI and the IMEI was good when it was listed on Swappa.
So between the list date and me receiving it was reported as stolen by the original owner?
So supposedly I am the 4th owner at this point.....
Not too happy about that. lol

 

[dpham00]

Surprise it was reported stolen, swappa verifies IMEI numbers before allowing the sale, always use verified PayPal for your purchase on swappa and your insured.

It could have been good when it was verified,but later reported stolen. It's always a risk when buying used but at least buying online you have pp and cc protection. Buying locally, you're on your own.

The other thing to watch out for is financed phones. You aren't allowed to sell them in Swappa but people still do. I got one once despite asking the seller to verify it wasn't financed. Problem with financed is that if they stop paying then the phone will be blacklisted.

So long as it's activated on your account and not financed then you should be fine.

Btw, you can check to see if it is financed by trying to trade it into Verizon (assuming it is a Verizon phone). It will give you an error message saying it is financed and won't accept the phone for trade in

 

[Teamjones]

So that Note 8 had 4 owners(or atleast 2) and its only been out a month?

 

[Gray Area]

I just tried to sell a phone on eBay and finally gave up after having to get the package intercepted which total shipping was around 30. After getting it back, I went through 3 more sales that also cancelled payment a few days after buying. I ended up selling for a little less locally but it is sold. I'll never sell on eBay again!! Too many scammers!!!

I use to sell thing sale things on ebay alot, never had issues. How are they scamming sellers now? I didn't think they could cancel a sale after an item has shipped.

 

[sx4dude2013]

UPDATE:
I first want to say I'm not sure the seller scammed me on purpose. It's a very "unique" story and I don't really know what to believe.
I did receive communication from PayPal to ship the device back for a refund. I shipped it back today with tracking and it should arrive back to the seller by Saturday. I should receive my money back to my card within 30 days PayPal says. I'm sure it will be faster but it can take up to that.
I'm still out the $25 PayPal fee, $30 in accessories, and $13 for shipping oh well. It could have ended much worse I assume.
I'm confident it will work out in the end.
Fingers crossed. I took photos of everything before I sent it back showing its packaged correctly and everything. No damage/etc.

Advice - always be careful! Always use PayPal. And always use a CC through PayPal not a debit card or bank account!

 

[sx4dude2013]

So that Note 8 had 4 owners(or atleast 2) and its only been out a month?

Yes. That is true

 

[felloffthetruck]

UPDATE:
I first want to say I'm not sure the seller scammed me on purpose. It's a very "unique" story and I don't really know what to believe.
I did receive communication from PayPal to ship the device back for a refund. I shipped it back today with tracking and it should arrive back to the seller by Saturday. I should receive my money back to my card within 30 days PayPal says. I'm sure it will be faster but it can take up to that.
I'm still out the $25 PayPal fee, $30 in accessories, and $13 for shipping oh well. It could have ended much worse I assume.
I'm confident it will work out in the end.
Fingers crossed. I took photos of everything before I sent it back showing its packaged correctly and everything. No damage/etc.

Advice - always be careful! Always use PayPal. And always use a CC through PayPal not a debit card or bank account!

Bet the seller will not accept the delivery. What happens then?

Good luck, hope you get it all sorted out.

 

[RicKaysen]

I think living in Manhattan gives me an advantage when selling my used phones. There are tons of public places to meet and test the phone I'm selling by putting the buyers sim in. I can't imagine buying something like a pricey phone a doing the deal via PayPal and UPS.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Personally I won't buy used over the net, but it's fine to do it locally, just meet at a store and make sure the IMEI is clean.

Stolen phones are a pain, dealt with it weekly when I worked at Verizon. One time had a couple going through divorce and the account was in the husbands name, wife wasn't an authorized user. He reported her phone and each of their daughters phones as stolen, she was pissed.

Even the local pawn shop was filled with stolen devices.

 

[andrew_ackley]

So I have been an android user in the past. My first droid was the Droid X back in the day. I loved that Phone. I also use to own a Note 5 and really enjoyed it. I got suckered into the IPhone 6 and was a user of the 6, 6s, and now 7 Plus. Once Apple launched the new phones a couple weeks back I was unimpressed.
I played with the Note 8 in BestBuy and fell in love. The screen was amazing.

I poked around on Swappa and was looking for a resale Note 8 for a good price. Found one and bought it.
It arrived yesterday and I swapped the sim from my IPhone to the new Note 8. It wouldn't activate. Called VZW and it has been reported stolen. AGHHH!

Now I wait to get my money back. The seller is working with me but its still a hassle and I'm out a decent chunk of change.

I guess this is a sign that I need to stick with IPhone.
I have purchased many "like new/resale" units over the years and have NEVER had an issue until this. Moral of the story is be careful. I'm confident I will get the funds back but I will be out some due to having to pay to mail the device back, ETC. All these accessories I bought are now useless.

This exact thing happened to me with an s6. It's only happened once and I've easily been through 50 resale phone purchases. Don't let it get you down!