eBay Stores Selling *Cheap* iPhones as "Never Used" - Whats The Go?

Lshredden on 29/03/2019 - 13:56
Last edited 29/03/2019 - 15:57 by 1 other user

Hi there,

I'm looking to buy an iPhone 7 - been looking on FB marketplace and the like, but then came across these on eBay for about $385 with a code - it seems too good to be true. The seller claims "new never used" … I'd be happy to purchase one if it's been taken out of its box and returned or something, but I don't want something thats possibly been used for a year or two and then cheaply refurbished. Is there any way to tell what's happening here? Anyone had experience with this particular eBay store, or any of the (many) others with similar deals?

Thanks everyone

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  spackbace on 29/03/2019 - 14:00

  +2

  Never Used is not Brand New but a Factory Second.
  Never Used - is Not Brand New but a Factory Second but may rarely have minor mark

  It's like just a refurb

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    shredden on 29/03/2019 - 14:16

    It's a weird one - I'd hate to argue semantics with an eBay store but I would think that if a phone is "never used" it would not need to be refurbished??

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      scrimshaw on 29/03/2019 - 14:28

      You are just following ebay's definitions

      https://www.ebay.com.au/pages/help/sell/contextual/condition…

      "New: Never used" is often used for a lot of phones listed

      Their definition of New Never Used is:

      A new, unused item with absolutely no signs of wear. The item may be missing the original packaging, or in the original packaging but not sealed. The item may be a factory second or a new, unused item with defects. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections."

      Which I don't personally agree with, because when you're talking about phones / electronics in general, it's not possible to tell who fixed faulty device and if the repair shop is/was certified by the original manufacturer. All the sellers use that because it gives the impression that it was professionally refurbished.

      e.g an iPhone refurbished by Apple is regarded to have an better/ higher value than an iPhone refurbished by EB Games.

      I would assume that all refurbs that you see on eBay to have been refurbed by a 3rd party repair shop, not by Apple.

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        brandnew on 29/03/2019 - 19:47

        Oh wow. What would be classified under factory second? It’s so vague.

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  brandnew on 29/03/2019 - 19:49

  Based what others had posted, unfortunately this “condition” would be heavily abused by seller. I would stay away from it as you will have no idea what you’re gonna get.