Buying 14 Pro Max less than half price, what to look out for?

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TeaLeaf

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#305892 11-Jun-2023 21:34

Fb and TM have so many sellers of the 14 pro max for $600-800.

I asked one person why they are selling and they said they bought an android.

Clearly these prices are well below new prices, but the phones usually look as new and are not locked to a network. The sceptic in me tells me to be wary.

What should I do to make sure its not a scam and does apple still do 5 years support?

I am tempted to wait until 15 but it also seems like a cheap way to get back into apple?

also the next iteration will take another year to drop to these prices, in which case I can ugrade then.

anyone else buy used?

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#3088709 11-Jun-2023 21:46

Honestly, that price seems way too good to be true. But then again, I’d never buy a secondhand iPhone off TM. Did it once from EBay many moons ago, and was fine, but I’ve heard horror stories. If you don’t have the cash to buy one, and really need it, then best bet is to tick it up with a telco - you end of getting a 24 month warranty too.

Oblivian

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#3088710 11-Jun-2023 21:46

I'm no expert, but You can probably almost hedge on them being Repo'd/IEMI disabled from on-term contract breaching for 'free' device they are hocking off before they stop paying the contract/cancel. Or the device asking you for the old owners account as soon as it hits the network.

Loismustdye

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#3088716 11-Jun-2023 22:04

Sounds dodgy as. Those phones should still be getting good $$ second hand, almost certainly scams or some other shifty goings on.

TeaLeaf

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#3088726 11-Jun-2023 22:54

yeah I thought bit sus too, some of the thirteens are similar price.

But Ive done some due diligence on some and they check out.

I have seen some up a little higher. It seems people want out before the next release as prices tank closer to release. Then there are those that just dont use the phone and want the cash. Reasons seem to very.

Even though I ask if they are locked first, is there some kind of imei number checker I can use to validate they are not locked?

Very wary all the same, so thanks all.

freitasm

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#3088733 12-Jun-2023 00:38

Check out how? As mentioned before someone might want to sell now, stop paying it and you end up with a blocked phone.

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Bung

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#3088743 12-Jun-2023 07:10

TeaLeaf:
Fb and TM have so many sellers of the 14 pro max for $600-800.

I asked one person why they are selling and they said they bought an android.

On TM I see some 14 pro Max with reserves around $800 and some where the auction bidding has already reached $1600. Why sell for $800 if you want another phone when several places are offering more as trade ins? I saw 1 auction with 4 or 5 questions about original receipt and no straight answer.

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johno1234

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#3088745 12-Jun-2023 07:25

Is it officially confirmed the network operators do block phones for reasons other than stolen?

Because if so can you ever be risk free buying a newish second hand phone at any price?

At least with cars you can check if any money is owing.

trig42

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#3088760 12-Jun-2023 08:27

If it sounds too good to be true...

Iphones do not lose that much value. I'd expect a Pro Max to be at the $800 mark if it was about 2 or 3 model iterations old, not the current model.

If these people are 'moving to Android' it doesn't mean they're willing to take a $600-$800 bath on their current phone.

TeaLeaf

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#3088936 12-Jun-2023 11:45

Thanks guys, I thought half price seemed too unrealistic, especially in NZ. My first thought was, are these cheap knock offs imported etc.

Yes I agree, does seem too good, NZ seems to sell everything near new prices for used items.

I guess its impossible to find out if a phone is locked to a network etc given it could be on any of the networks....

xpd

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#3088943 12-Jun-2023 11:52

If the seller is in same town, then get them to meet you with the device at a telco store, and ask the store to check the IMEI for you.

The seller will either agree happily, or drop all communication with you :)

XPD / Gavin

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#3088945 12-Jun-2023 12:00

As others have said, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just because an IMEI is clear today does not mean the Telco won’t bar it in the future when the original interest free plan it was “purchased” on stops being paid.

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TeaLeaf

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#3088946 12-Jun-2023 12:02

xpd:

If the seller is in same town, then get them to meet you with the device at a telco store, and ask the store to check the IMEI for you.

The seller will either agree happily, or drop all communication with you :)

That is a plan. Good idea. Thanks :-)

Andib:

As others have said, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just because an IMEI is clear today does not mean the Telco won’t bar it in the future when the original interest free plan it was “purchased” on stops being paid.

yep, that was fairly obvious, was more looking for ways to prove it is functional and not locked to a carrier. I no longer work in Telco's but the above idea is one way to check it out. Whether its 60% new price or 90% new price, it shouldn't make any difference buying a used phone, the only difference if you buy a used phone on "good will", you could be paying another 30% for a dud.

The two things that come to mind are, is it a fake and secondly is it locked to a carrier. It seems the only way to know for sure is to buy used phones in person and have the imei checked out in person.

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#3088957 12-Jun-2023 12:26

xpd:

If the seller is in same town, then get them to meet you with the device at a telco store, and ask the store to check the IMEI for you.

The seller will either agree happily, or drop all communication with you :)

but if phone is under a plan and monthly repayments ...

xpd

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#3089032 12-Jun-2023 13:35

Theres an echo in this thread..... :D

Yes true. But at least its a step in the right direction......... could ask the seller which telco it was provisioned on and go to that providers location to get it checked. THat'd prob scare most dodgy types pulling that scam away...

XPD / Gavin

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TeaLeaf

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#3089035 12-Jun-2023 13:47

xpd:

could ask the seller which telco it was provisioned on and go to that providers location to get it checked. THat'd prob scare most dodgy types pulling that scam away...

you would hope... these days though people seem more brazen.

So when you say go to that providers location, do you mean go to their retail store? I think thats the only way to be confident buying any phone used. But it seems people think paying more means its not too good, so it must be true haha.

Its been a very long time since Ive done mobile tech support or looked up an imei, has anything changed with smart phones in what info an imei lookup gives? There are some online imei checks, but are they reliable?

I appreciate the thoughts on buying used from everybody, TY !

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