Google Play credit with a Nexus 7: How does it work?

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
I'm interested in buying an opened but supposedly new Google Nexus 7 tablet from a seller on Craigslist and I was wondering how the $25 credit worked so I would know if I can still claim it.

The guy claims that it was a gift he opened but never used. Supposedly, he prefers his wife's Kindle Fire due to the tighter integration with Amazon and his primary use of the tablet as an e-reader, but I am suspicious because I see that he is also selling a Kindle Fire on Craigslist. The "gift" story may be so that he can explain not having proof of purchase.

Anyway, let's say that I do unknowingly/unintentionally buy stolen merchandise on Craigslist. No doubt, this happens all the time. I'm guessing that the Google Play store $25 credit requires proof of purchase or something, right? Was there something like a gift card in the box that he might have taken out when opening it? Any info would be appreciated.

I'm doing my due diligence. He's local but I'm going to insist on PayPal and shipping so that I have a charge-back recourse and document trail if there's anything wrong with it. I'm also going to ask to see his driver's license to confirm that his birthday was sometime between the July launch and his Craigslist listing. It's funny because I was first interested in buying one as a birthday gift for my sister back when they first announced it but her B-day was July 3rd and it didn't launch until later in the month (still considered a preorder).
 
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Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
My credit showed up after my initial setup with my Google account.
 

RockinZ28

Platinum Member
Mar 5, 2008
2,171
49
101
I just bought one yesterday. The instant you log on to the Google Playstore, or maybe even gmail when you first setup the tablet, you get an email stating you have $25 credit.

I kinda scared myself cause I forgot about the credit, and when I initially setup the tablet I skipped signing into my google account and proceeded to turn on usb debugging, unlock bootloader, root, custom recovery and then flashed a CM10 ROM.

Thankfully when I logged on to the Playstore, it still recognized it was a new N7 tablet and gave me the credit.

So if you want to go buy it, just log in to Playstore and see if you get the credit right away, if not it has probably been redeemed already.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Sounds like how Amazon enabled free Amazon Prime for Kindle Fire customers. That's what I needed to know. Thanks guys.