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

[yllus]

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?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Dur...

 

[Blackjack200]

Why don't you just open the box right there?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you need to ask stay off Craig's List and give someone else power of attorney to handle your finances.

 

[Jeeebus]

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]

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.

 

[QuantumPion]

If you need to ask stay off Craig's List and give someone else power of attorney to handle your finances.

He could find a lawyer to give his power of attorney to on craigslist at the same time. :hmm:

 

[GagHalfrunt]

He could find a lawyer to give his power of attorney to on craigslist at the same time. :hmm:

Good plan, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[Malak]

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]

Don't forget to browse the intimate encounters section while you are on there.

 

[The_Dude8]

Don't forget to browse the intimate encounters section while you are on there.

Mostly spammers or fakes.

 

[yllus]

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]

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]

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]

Just open it in front of them before you buy it. If they refuse, don't buy it.

Its not complicated.

 

[Bateluer]

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]

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]

Just open it in front of them before you buy it. If they refuse, don't buy it.

Its not complicated.

This.

 

[Locut0s]

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.

 

[SP33Demon]

Here's the funny thing, when you pick the item up.you.know.where.they.live.

 

[JasonCoder]

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.

 

[Bateluer]

Here's the funny thing, when you pick the item up.you.know.where.they.live.

Wut? I've always asked to meet a Starbucks or other public location if at all possible.

 

[yllus]

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.