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Buying 2 Week old 14" MBPr what could go wrong?

D

Dealmans

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Original poster
Mar 12, 2022
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Looking at a 14" MacBook pro someone was gifted a bit over 2 weeks ago for sale, have checked serial no and is all good.
Obviously will check its not setup with their Apple ID when I pick it up.
They don't like Apple Mac is reason for selling, buying a windows laptop, it's cheap like half new price.

So with those checks done what could go wrong? will put AC on it.

Edit: Am more thinking along the lines if was stolen, but then they wouldn't of been able to set it up which it has been and used for a few weeks.
 
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Arctic Moose said:
Can the seller provide an original receipt?

I would in any case apply AC prior to handing over cash for the purchase just to ensure there are no hiccups there.
Click to expand...
No receipt was a gift, I checked the serial and you could do the AC.
 
Even a gifted two week new laptop should have a receipt, right? Say my wife gave it to me, surely she would keep the receipt, which I as the seller would happily provide?

I'm wary of these "deals". It could possibly be a stolen computer, or a company laptop, which if sold by the user is theft too.

It's just to strange that they sell it after two weeks at half price, when we all know that the seller can easily get way more, even just selling it to a refurbish store. It smells...
 
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There's lots of reasons people will sell brand new or nearly new Macs, but I'd still be suspicious of one at half price unless you know the person selling it?

Like others have said, a gift of this sort of value is presumably from a family member, so should be some way of providing proof of purchase which you can tie to his identity.
 
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Dealmans said:
Looking at a 14" MacBook pro someone was gifted a bit over 2 weeks ago for sale, have checked serial no and is all good.
Obviously will check its not setup with their Apple ID when I pick it up.
They don't like Apple Mac is reason for selling, buying a windows laptop, it's cheap like half new price.

So with those checks done what could go wrong? will put AC on it.

Edit: Am more thinking along the lines if was stolen, but then they wouldn't of been able to set it up which it has been and used for a few weeks.
Click to expand...
old saying … if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
that said, i have on-sold unwanted gifts before.
please ensure that the person you are buying from has indeed de-registered the MBPro from their account.
then you should be good to go :)
 
Dealmans said:
No receipt was a gift, I checked the serial and you could do the AC.
Click to expand...
If the person cannot procure the receipt I would say that’s a red flag. Even if it is a gift the receipt is often required for warranty purposes, so it isn’t an unreasonable thing to ask of the person giving the gift.
 
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Arctic Moose said:
If the person cannot procure the receipt I would say that’s a red flag. Even if it is a gift the receipt is often required for warranty purposes, so it isn’t an unreasonable thing to ask of the person giving the gift.
Click to expand...
Apple doesn’t require a receipt for warranty
 
Half price is a huge red flag.

Just buy one from the Apple refurbished store since it is basically brand new.
 
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If it was a gift you cannot expect the current owner to go to the person who gifted it and ask for the receipt - especially considering we do not know who it was gifted by.
If I give someone a gift and they asked for the receipt I'd be a little offended, wouldn't you?

"Oh by the way, the expensive brand new laptop you gifted to me 2 weeks ago. Well, thanks for the gift but I don't want it so Im going to sell it and pocket the cash instead. So can I have the receipt for it please?"

On the other hand, selling a brand new machine so soon does raise a red flag.
I would contact Apple and bounce the serial number off of them just to be on the safe side - don't just check it online, call them also.
Then, as long as it has no account tied to it, I reckon you'd be fine......

This is all considering you will be collecting and inspecting the item prior to purchase of course, and have the sellers full name and address details etc.
If not, then stay away.
 
If someone gifts me a $2000+ computer, I know that person very well.

I think that applies to most of us, people are just not handing out high end laptops to anybody. I would have no problem at all telling a close friend or relative; "Thank you for the gift, but I don't need it. Since it is an expensive thing, I would like to return it or sell it on so I can use the gift more wisely, do you have the receipt so I can exchange or sell it?".

Or is it just here in piss poor Sweden we don't hand out laptops at every occasion to random people? :)
 
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Have to make sure FindMyMac Activation Lock isn't on. May be why they are "selling" it at "half price". Which means stolen and Apple bricks it from use until the original owner's password is typed in.
 
Half price? I guess it's not inconceivable that someone is so well-off that they can afford to get rid at such a loss, especially if they didn't buy it to start with, but it's certainly one heck of a red flag IMO.
 
Wow. You and your friend- the seller- meet at an Apple store, explain what is happening to a "genius" and ask the genius to check the MBpro so that this transaction can occur without "theft"/lock out surprises.

If stolen or perhaps questionable (on behalf of seller- maybe they purchased it for 25% of new?), seller should back out of the transaction. If legit, it seems likely that an Apple person will be able to further check the serial and be sure that there are no surprises awaiting the OP (buyer). OP note that if it is really hot- as seems plausible if only a few weeks old- perhaps it has not yet been reported stolen?

Like others, I'm suspicious... but there are PLENTY of stories of people selling stuff in garage sales that turns out to be worth far more than their guess at a valuation. Since it was a gift, this person may simply not know the value of the device and selling price may more so reflect how much they need to buy the PC they desire.

It's easy enough to take it into an Apple store and ask for a check to be sure it's not a stolen machine, buyer will not be "locked out", etc. If it seems clear, begin the transaction right there and perhaps get help wiping the MBpro and re-installing macOS as if it is new. Complete the transaction and maybe enjoy a "new" MBpro at a bargain price.
 
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Probably stolen.

If you know what's good for you, I'd "politely decline".

Buy one that you KNOW to be "legitimate"...
 
Dealmans said:
Looking at a 14" MacBook pro someone was gifted a bit over 2 weeks ago for sale, have checked serial no and is all good.
Obviously will check its not setup with their Apple ID when I pick it up.
They don't like Apple Mac is reason for selling, buying a windows laptop, it's cheap like half new price.

So with those checks done what could go wrong? will put AC on it.

Edit: Am more thinking along the lines if was stolen, but then they wouldn't of been able to set it up which it has been and used for a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Bought an iPad Pro last year with a similar deal. 2 weeks old, $250 off new price. When I tried to put AppleCare on it, it didn't go through. When I called Apple they told me that the serial number is one from a stolen set...
They let me continue using the iPad. But I can't get any warranty service or AppleCare on it. Guess what I was asked when I tried to take it up with Apple Customer Service superiors? "Where's the receipt? Go get it from whoever you bought it from."
 
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Dealmans said:
Looking at a 14" MacBook pro someone was gifted a bit over 2 weeks ago for sale, have checked serial no and is all good.
Obviously will check its not setup with their Apple ID when I pick it up.
They don't like Apple Mac is reason for selling, buying a windows laptop, it's cheap like half new price.

So with those checks done what could go wrong? will put AC on it.

Edit: Am more thinking along the lines if was stolen, but then they wouldn't of been able to set it up which it has been and used for a few weeks.
Click to expand...

It could’ve been stolen from someone who never signed into iCloud.
I’d call Apple with the serial number in hand to verify it’s a clean device.

Seems odd to take a 50% loss on a highly desirable item, especially if they’re buying a new machine to replace it.
 
The thing I dont understand is, even without a receipt they should be able to basically return it themselves if it's only 2 weeks? oh wait I think I just answered my own question, because then the credit would just go back to the person who bought it for them.

I'd buy a refurb from apple but I'm paranoid AF.
 
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