Buying a Sealed DJI Drone from Marketplace

Hi Guys,
I see a DJI Mavic 3 sealed in FB Marketplace which a seller is willing to sell for about $600 less than whatever promotions are going on (~$2800 in the current discounted period). He himself seemed to have bought it from someone else sealed.

Btw with the Black Friday next week - I am not sure the drone will be part of it and the lowest it has gone so far is about $400 from the current promotion (about $2400)

He has provided the invoice of the first buyer and the invoice seems genuine enough (From VideoPro. Though the serial number is not in the invoice). He has also provided the Serial number of the drone which I confirmed from DJI support is not yet activated but is a genuine serial number.

Do you think if were able to activate it on the spot and do a quick fly and then pay him off in case (he does not accept PayPal) - it would be good or is there a possibility of a scam here?

The name/number of the original invoice is not reachable from the phone provided to check if he did in fact sold it.

Reasons provided by him is that he needs the cash for buying a ticket home overseas.

Comments

  • +1

    I would be worried about spending this amount of money on a tech item on FB / Gumtree.

    If you want to proceed, I would ask him to meet you somewhere where you can test it out.

    • Thanks. Yeah part of the agreement is that i can activate the drone on my account and do a quick test - still i m not sure if somehow this could be a "stolen" one. The serial number is shown to be a genuine from DJI Support (They dont have any way to track stolen according to the support personal)

  • +4

    There's always the chance of a scam, always. Looking at it from their side though, if I was the seller, there's no way I'd agree to allowing you to activate it before paying. How do I know you're not going to refuse to pay? For that matter it's currently sealed, you want to open it. Again, that drops the value and you may then say, no thanks, just wanted to take a look and walk off. you wouldn't have either of these options if you were buying in a store. You're going to have to come up with some way of satisfying both of you.

    • +2

      Looking at it from their side though, if I was the seller, there's no way I'd agree

      yoooo this totally.

    • Thanks mate this is where it's bit tricky. I could do some cash before and after and assume works with no issues
      However I am still not sure if he or she goes and calls it lost and somehow deactivate it from dji

  • Give him half the cash, activate the drone, check it's all good, hand over the rest of the cash?

    • Thanks mate that is on the cards for sure

  • Its a posibility that its genuine and unwanted gift and he is trying to get some money back etc. unless you get the original invoice you loose the warranty.

    • Thanks mate he does seem to have an invoice just not in his name

  • -1

    Write down how you'd like the transaction to go. Ask him to sign and date it. Worse case scenario you can take him to civil court and sue him for the damages of you having to take him to court.

    • Thanks yeah I can probably ask him for a invoice

  • +4

    It's a no from me. Wait for a discount from a store.

    Also, if I were the seller, I wouldn't allow you to open it before paying.

    • +1

      Imagine buying a sealed iPhone and not even testing if it can turn on.

      It's reasonable for the seller to allow for a dead on arrival check. For phones at least.

      • +2

        Imagine buying a sealed iPhone and not even testing if it can turn on.

        Like you do when buying them new from a shop?

        • +3

          When you buy new from a shop, if it doesn't work you can take it back for a refund or replacement. Can't do that with a private seller.

          • +1

            @Quantumcat: Exactly. Also from a (genuine) shop there's no concern about fake seals, etc.

      • +1

        My perspective is different as a seller and a buyer. As a buyer, I'd want to check it. As a seller, I wouldn't allow it. This is why I wouldn't buy expensive electronics second hand.

    • Thanks seeing all replies here I am leaning towards this..so tempting however lol especially since dji usually don't have regular discounts

  • +3

    He himself seemed to have bought it from someone else sealed.

    This sounds so dodgy.

    • Probably an Ozbargainer. Buy now, work out if you actually need/want it later.

  • +3

    Sounds stolen tbh. Two people in a row buy it sheink wrapped?

    • Have a similar feeling

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