I was browsing Facebook marketplace and noticed various listings for brand-new Airpods Pro and iPhones at discounted (32-30% cheaper) prices. Most of the listings also claim they have proof of purchase.
I am wondering if those are legitimate products or fakes, or is there some other scam involved. Have you bought anything from those listings? How was your experience? Cheers
I don't do Fakebook or crapple so I don't think about it at all.
HTH
crapple
lol how to spot an unoriginal sheep.
Dolly?
She's a real sheep, you take that back!
lol how to spot an unoriginal sheep
How to spot a sheep that doesn't know they are a sheep locked in a blissful walled garden ;)
Yeah what a dang sheep I am, what with my current phone being the second iPhone I've ever owned. Wow TOTAL SHEEEEEEP.
Or maybe it's those that obsess over other's Apple purchases are the sheep….
If you can't afford brand new then there are numerous companies selling used Apple products with at least some sort of warranty.
I'd be extremely hesitant to buy used "new" Apple items off GumTree.
I've bought 3 pairs of sealed BNIB AirPods 2nd Gen off Gumtree, 2 I've sold and 1 I've used as a daily driver for the past 2 and a half years. 99.9% sure they're real, verified the serial numbers and it came up as real (I am aware that they can be faked). I do have a pair of fake AirPods I bought off AliExpress to compare to, and build/sound quality difference is massive.
wasnt there that 1 poster a few months back that got scammed $700+ on a fake apple product? iirc they said it looked all legit but somewhere in the manual there was a obvious typo…
some of the reps produced these days are getting pretty convincing from the outside (but then obviously they haven't been able to fake H1 chip features yet for instance…)
Stolen or scam
I've bought several Apple products (never airpods) off facebook but it basically comes down to you knowing how to spot the fakes. The good and cheap products usually get sold very quickly. I typically try to go 1 or 2 generations back for the devices as the used price at times for the newer ones is not low enough to warrant the risk of buying on FB.
Steps I take:
1) Check the seller's profile and if they seem legitimate. Indicators are their location (must be local), name, etc.
2) Ask how long they have owned it and where they purchased it from. Usually they would be able to give info.
3) Verify serial number and do a complete check of the device's functionality, google your item and find out what common problems are and what you need to check. (i.e. iPhone 12 Pro Max Face ID not working if the screen has been replaced).
4) If the item has been listed 'over a week ago' it is too expensive or an outright scam.
If you are not sure, don't buy from facebook. A lot of the times you can get better deals from eBay or using discounted giftcards.
Just don't do it. I got scammed after buying "genuine" AirPod Pro's from marketplace. They had serial number and everything that I could check, but when I started having issues with them not doing what they were supposed to, I took them to the Apple Genius bar for warranty support, and they came back and said… sorry these aren't genuine apple products. They look identical, and the serial number (that I even checked) was not genuine, but had been used on multiple Apple airpiods. So my advice is stay clear of apparent Apple "bargains" on Marketplace as they are most likely scams :(
Bingo.
Why would someone sell something brand new for 30% cheaper than retail unless:
It's just not possible they got it for 50% cheaper in order to make profit of it.
Buy one and let us know if they are real of fake.
They will either be:
Same as all the PS5s that are listed at retail price or below with extra controller/games.
There's no situation where you're getting brand new unopened Apple products for 30-50% off from Facebook :laugh:
discounted (32-30% cheaper) prices
it you don't receive it or doesn't work, you'll be 100% more.
Thanks all for the input, we all seem to agree that its not worth the risk and I'd better wait for a deal from an authorized dealer instead.
Over the years I've bought a few brand new things from gumtree, which turned out to be genuine and sellers had got those as unwanted gifts hence willing to sell below market price. However the number of such ads these days is suspicious and it can't be that many unwanted gifts, that's why I wanted to know others' experiences. Cheers
"Over the years I've bought a few brand new things from gumtree, which turned out to be genuine and sellers had got those as unwanted gifts hence willing to sell below market price."
It's nothing like that anymore. I had an elderly relative who didn't know any better list a used item for an astronomical price which I think they did by mistake.
They were flooded with messages who "were VERY interested" even though it was an unrealistic price for a used item, and asking for unconventional personal information and payment methods.
They had already begun interacting with a few of these "individuals" when I found out. Told them to remove the listing and close their account so they don't get scammed when I am not around.
Yeah the "unwanted gift" just screams of desperation for cash (for drugs, debts who knows?).
However, flip side Im the guy who sells off the family iphone/ipads as they get replaced by newer models on FBM/GT. I don't supply receipts in case they try some identify theft on me (or try to retrieve credit card details etc from the shop).
in my experience, gumtree sellers are less dodgy than facebook sellers.
if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. there's no way people are selling apple products for 30 % less than purchase price unless there has been a massive sale at a decent retailer, which is unlikely with an apple product.
probably refurbished phones, or they don't even have the device and will just disappear after you pay them in advance (never do that)
I would say the opposite. Gumtree sellers are more dodgy.
So let's meet in the middle and agree they are both equally dodgy as hell.
NO for IPHONES.
Once they received your cash (even cash on hand), they will call their insurance straightaway and claim "missing phone"
They will receive new phone, old phone will be blocked (your purchased phone), and they have your money.