Buying stuff from Craigslist: Never buy anything in sealed boxes, right?

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Just a quick sanity check: Buying an item like a "brand new in box BlackBerry PlayBook" is just asking to get home and open the box to find a big rock in it, right? Inspecting the item, including taking it out and turning it on before handing over cash, is a requirement for the transaction?
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,996
126
If you need to ask stay off Craig's List and give someone else power of attorney to handle your finances.
 

Jeeebus

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
9,179
897
126
depends on what is being sold.

If it's a "Dick in a Box" your best bet is to leave the box sealed and just walk away.
 

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,642
3,512
136
It's like those guys who were going around selling "plasmas" and "LCDs" for a few hundred bucks out of the back of a truck. When in fact they were just the boxes stuffed with plywood or something and taped up. People would actually take these home and THEN open them. lol.
 

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
14,696
2
0
Instead of going to a legit place of goods to purchase a brand new high value electronic device, you checked an internet yard sale.

Sounds safe to me.
 

Bl0cks

Golden Member
Oct 9, 2008
1,336
0
0
Don't forget to browse the intimate encounters section while you are on there.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Instead of going to a legit place of goods to purchase a brand new high value electronic device, you checked an internet yard sale.

Sounds safe to me.

$400 on Craigslist versus $500 at Best Buy. There are a lot of dissatisfied PlayBook owners out there. The guy I've struck a deal with has is "like new in box", so I'll be able to open it, turn it on, check for all of the accessories, etc. Others offer "brand new in box" and I'll be staying away from those.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
just have the money ready and tell em you want him to open it up so you can see.
if it's not what it is just tell him to piss off
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
just have the money ready and tell em you want him to open it up so you can see.
if it's not what it is just tell him to piss off

make sure you tell him you'd like to do this in advance. you don't want him to panic and stab you
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Just open it in front of them before you buy it. If they refuse, don't buy it.

Its not complicated.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Just open it in front of them before you buy it. If they refuse, don't buy it.

Its not complicated.

This. I've been looking at picking up a copy of MS Office 2010 Pro, prices range from 40 bucks to 300 bucks. Legality is a big concern.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
This. I've been looking at picking up a copy of MS Office 2010 Pro, prices range from 40 bucks to 300 bucks. Legality is a big concern.

I bought a Roomba on Craigslist recently that retailed for $300. I paid $90. I was suspicious so I opened it and everything was fine. The sellers were a newlywed couple that got about 10 Roombas as gifts.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
I bought a Roomba on Craigslist recently that retailed for $300. I paid $90. I was suspicious so I opened it and everything was fine. The sellers were a newlywed couple that got about 10 Roombas as gifts.

LOL would love to have seen that. Fail.
 

JasonCoder

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2005
1,893
1
81
I bought a Roomba on Craigslist recently that retailed for $300. I paid $90. I was suspicious so I opened it and everything was fine. The sellers were a newlywed couple that got about 10 Roombas as gifts.

Yep. I got an awesome deal on my truck, but it seems to be the rarity. Sooo many scams.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Here's the funny thing, when you pick the item up.you.know.where.they.live.

I won't - we're meeting at midnight in an abandoned rock quarry. It was his idea, being equidistant between where he says he lives and where I live.

Seriously though, we're meeting at a subway station right beside the collector's booth. It'll be fine - I've made Craigslist transactions (both buying and selling) of much larger sums than this one and have a good nose for a scam. I was just curious how other people treat "brand new in sealed box" offers.