A Very Fancy Brick

[CC_333]

Well, it's actually an iPhone 4s I just got on eBay, and it's activation locked, which means the cruddy thing's probably useless! I didn't realize the implications of this until it was too late, hence my frustration (this wouldn't have been a problem if I'd researched first).

There is a service that says it can undo this "damage" for $3.50, but I don't know if it'll work.

I also read conflicting reports that restoring it with an IPSW of some version of 7 (probably the latest) would fix it, but I am uncertain about that as well.

Oh, well... Maybe I could try a logic board swap? Trade it in? Use it as a very fancy paperweight?

c

 

[Brooklyn]

Contact seller immediately and return the phone. It's stolen property. If the seller ignored you file a dispute. eBay won't take kindly to a seller offering stolen items.

Not exactly sure but if the phones original owner is still checking find my iphone then they might be able to know the phone is at your location (not sure though)

 

[CC_333]

Contact seller immediately and return the phone.

Tried that. I aborted when I saw NO RETURNS.
The seller appears to have lots and lots of positive feedback. It's possible the seller is unknowingly selling stolen property?

Here's the auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/380774895932?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I haven't received the phone yet (just got it a few hours ago), but I will definitely bear this in mind.

I should at least contact the seller to ask where this came from. It's conceivable that the user who sold or gave this phone to the seller forgot to disable this security measure.

I've read reports of people rendering the phone useless, where no fowl play was involved at all (but rather an unfortunate mistake coupled with forgetting one's password or other information), so maybe this is one of those cases?

Unless I can prove with absolute certainty that this phone was stolen, I will try giving the seller the benefit of the doubt.

As a last resort, is it possible to take another phone of the same model and swap the logic board? It would be a TON of work, but if I can source a known working and UNENCUMBERED/ACTIVATABLE board for a reasonable price, I should be able to reuse its body.

Although, I should probably just face the fact that I wasted $80 on an iPaperweight 4s :-/ :-/ :-/

c

 

[Byrd]

It's clearly not stolen, the seller has sold what appears to be thousands of phones and must own a phone shop or something. Their description is a little vague, but better than most.

You bought it as is, no returns, it was clearly sold as faulty - I don't think you have a leg to stand on, to be honest.

 

[NJRoadfan]

ebay's buyer protection should come into play on this regardless. File a claim anyway.

 

[Bunsen]

It says "BROKEN" prominently in the headline. You took your chances, and you paid a not-horrible price for an i4. Cough up the $20 service fee and have it unlocked at your local dodgy phone repair booth.

 

[bigmessowires]

I dunno, it was clearly described as "For parts or not working: An item that does not function." If the item received matches what was described, then I think filing an eBay or PayPal claim would be dishonest. I've had people do that to me when I sold things on eBay, and it's very frustrating. If you can't make use of the phone, your best bet is probably to resell it to someone else who can salvage parts or get it working somehow. Or just pay to get it unlocked.

 

[CC_333]

It says "BROKEN" prominently in the headline. You took your chances, and you paid a not-horrible price for an i4. Cough up the $20 service fee and have it unlocked at your local dodgy phone repair booth.

Yeah, you're right. I should give that a try. Even if I spend upwards of $50 to get this activation lock fixed, I'm still spending a lot less than I would've for a new or functional used phone.

I dunno, it was clearly described as "For parts or not working: An item that does not function." If the item received matches what was described, then I think filing an eBay or PayPal claim would be dishonest.

You're right also.

If you can't make use of the phone, your best bet is probably to resell it to someone else who can salvage parts or get it working somehow. Or just pay to get it unlocked.

I'll try to fix it! I paid for it, and I'm going to get my money's worth!
It will arrive in a couple weeks, so I'll know more then.

I would've tried for a working one, but all the working ones, despite starting at like $0.01 for a one day auction, the prices shoot up like rockets within a few hours! The only reason this one was cheap, I suspect, is because of the activation lock.

Oh, well...

c

 

[Brooklyn]

Do research and see if the activation lock is actually removable. If it's not then the site is likely a scam.

 

[TheMacGuy]

The seller, AlltechWholesale, was the company that ran eBay's Instant Sale that shut down earlier this year (February I think). I was going to see how much they would give me for my iPad 2 when I was ready to sell it. One month, highest offer online, next month gone. Eventually popped the sucker on eBay and got enough for a mini.

I wonder how they're still receiving device to resell. Maybe their own website?

I don't think this seller would have purposely cheated you. I sold them 2 iPhones in the past and bought an iPod from them, no problem. It's just one of those things where you take a chance on an as-is item.