iPhone 16 pro max scam?

[zaxelliott]

Hi, I have wasted weeks trying to buy an iPhone 16 pro max with prices ranging from £600 to £1000. I buy it now with PayPal. I am given a tracking number and an eta. All Royal Mail 24 Special delivery. I then get a notification saying that the item has been dropped off at a Royal Mail Mail centre. Then it never moves!

if you try to contact RM they say your post code is not recognised. After a lot of tooing and froing I get a refund. Who makes a profit unless it is a scam? This has happened 5 times to me.

[tressygirl]

5 times!  Hopefully you are £5,000 down !

Check your delivery address is correct in the link below.  An easy mistake to make is entering a 0 instead of an O , or and I  instead of an L when using lower case both are similar , are the spaces there in the correct place?  If this has happened 5 times, seems your address with eBay is entered incorrectly.

https://accountsettings.ebay.co.uk/uas/addresses

One day after your item's last estimated date for delivery always proceed this way for a full refund.

If the seller is not being helpful,  go right of the item purchased,  and from More Actions select....  I Have Not Received My Item.

If you are not fully refunded within 3 days,  you must escalate the case on day 4 or within 30 days from opening the case,  and eBay will step in and force the refund.

Do not close the case early for any excuse or promise the seller may give,  and do not forget to escalate.

@zaxelliott 

[tommystrezures]

Why don't you buy such a piece direct from Apple? They deliver next day for free usually. I wouldn't be risking the sort of money you mention for a phone to be locked, or to have finance on it that Apple wont unlock. Buying and selling items like this on ebay is to coin another Mentors phrase a jungle!! And one I personally wouldn't do.

[red_magpie]

I've looked at the two feedbacks you have left recently (neg and neutral) for iphones that didn't arrive. Both were from private sellers with almost no feedback. 

All I can say is that if you don't learn from experience andcontinue to buy top-end iphones from private sellers you will be beyond help from this forum or anywhere else.

The risks involved are huge. Do you realise that eBay's own money back guarantee only lasts for 30 days? It can take longer than that to learn that the phone was stolen, which has happened to many buyers. eBay will not be interested.

As for five, separate items sent by Royal Mail special delivery not having been delivered, I don't know what to say. The odds against this happening must be enormous. 

Buying oneBay is not like the shops. If you don't understand the risks or learn from experience, both of which seem apparent from your question, I would very strongly advise you to buy your iphone from an established and known reputable retail or online seller. eBay is (as I have even been quoted as saying!) a jungle.

[*vyolla*]

You honestly need to do your research before you buy a top dollar iPhone. Market prices show that the average sales price for a premium condition one isn't less than £950.

You must buy from a reputable seller - as pointed out, you have only 30 days buyer protection with eBay or PayPal and 120 days if you paid with a debit or credit card. On day 121 you're effectively on your own.