Buying a sealed MBP off of Facebook Marketplace?

[Antique_Musician]

I found a deal on a sealed MacBook Pro M3 Max 40 core 48GB for $1,000 off retail on Facebook Marketplace.

Spoke with the seller for a bit and he's willing to meet me at an Apple Store to open the seal and run a diagnostics check on it at the Genius Bar. He's also willing to accept PayPal as a payment which gives me a little extra protection as the buyer.

Besides asking the Apple employee to check for MDM and iCloud accounts, are there any other things I should look out for? Have you had any success buying off of Facebook Marketplace? Does this sound too good to be true?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sounds too good to be true. If you decide to go to the store for tests, do not give the seller any money until Apple confirms all is ok and you have posession of the Mac. Also make sure his Paypal account is verified.

 

[ignatius345]

That's a remarkable deal. To me, the offer to check it at the Apple Store and allow for PayPal buyer protection would signal that it's on the up and up. If it all checks out, hard to see the downside here. It's probably a bit harder to sell an expensive high-end MacBook Pro like that so maybe that accounts for the discount?

The one thing I'd look out for is a "bait and switch" where the seller lays out this great, trustworthy-sounding offer and gets up your hopes -- but then at the last minute wants to meet somewhere else and forego the Genius Bar check. That would be a huge red flag.

 

[seggy]

If I'm not mistaken, an in-person meeting doesn't actually give you any extra Paypal protection since there's no receipt of delivery.
You have to have it sent to your verified address with the Paypal payment.

 

[Fishrrman]

Scam.
Setup (for robbery).
or
Stolen.

Hey... it's your money...

 

[Titus]

Sounds like he might have stolen it. What was his reason for acquiring it then turning it around unopened.

If I were to buy it, I would conduct the transaction at the genius bar and take possession right there. The item ID can be confirmed at the store. I would also check to make sure it wasn't opened and resealed.

 

[Antique_Musician]

Sounds like he might have stolen it. What was his reason for acquiring it then turning it around unopened.

If I were to buy it, I would conduct the transaction at the genius bar and take possession right there. The item ID can be confirmed at the store. I would also check to make sure it wasn't opened and resealed.

He told me his child was part of a scholarship program that gave them the laptop for free.

I think I’m going to hold off though. It may be worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind and wanting to own this machine for many years to come.

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[Papanate]

He told me his child was part of a scholarship program that gave them the laptop for free.

I don’t know about him - but if my Child was given this MacBook for free she would absolutely be using it - it would not get sold - me thinks it’s stolen and not got in the system yet for who knows what reason - I’ve call the Apple Store and discuss with them how somebody could do this - along with red flags to look out for.

I think I’m going to hold off though. It may be worth paying a little extra for the piece of mind and wanting to own this machine for many years to come.

If it checks out with the Apple store- and it’s not stolen - it would be a great deal!

 

[ignatius345]

He told me his child was part of a scholarship program that gave them the laptop for free.

This does sound hokey. A scholarship program would have to be quite mismanaged to hand to a child a laptop with those insane specs instead of a MacBook Air that costs like 1/4 as much.

If someone at a corporation was handed a vastly overspec'ed laptop I'd chalk it up to indifference or something, but generally speaking things like scholarships are trying to stretch their dollars.

 

[YoitsTmac]

Surprised no one has said it. His comfort to allow you to have it checked in the store for theft and iCloud shows the buyer is not worried. While the story is possible, it’s not very believable.

This was likely purchased with a stolen CC - so the computer itself is legitimate. Depending on your area, people forget how lazy people are. I’ve definitely seen people spend mad money on stuff and then never use it or even straight up forget their existence. But this feels like credit card fraud.

 

[Antique_Musician]

Surprised no one has said it. His comfort to allow you to have it checked in the store for theft and iCloud shows the buyer is not worried. While the story is possible, it’s not very believable.

This was likely purchased with a stolen CC - so the computer itself is legitimate. Depending on your area, people forget how lazy people are. I’ve definitely seen people spend mad money on stuff and then never use it or even straight up forget their existence. But this feels like credit card fraud.

That's a great point and honestly one I hadn't considered. I've decided to avoid any potential repercussions and just spend a little extra on an Apple authorized retailer. The whole thing seemed like a gamble to me, which for $3k would leave my mind uneasy. Thanks again, I appreciate the input!

 

[TechnoMonk]

I have bought of Craigslist in the past. Meet at Apple Store,check it out, walk out with AC+. I wouldn’t risk buying something from Craigslist or FB market place with out AC.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Do not use PayPal for in-person transactions unless you trust the recipient. Use cash. Have Apple check the serial number and inspect it before handing over the money.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Surprised no one has said it. His comfort to allow you to have it checked in the store for theft and iCloud shows the buyer is not worried. While the story is possible, it’s not very believable.

This was likely purchased with a stolen CC - so the computer itself is legitimate. Depending on your area, people forget how lazy people are. I’ve definitely seen people spend mad money on stuff and then never use it or even straight up forget their existence. But this feels like credit card fraud.

Guy who committed credit card fraud isn’t gonna meet at a public place like Apple Store with million cameras watching. Buyer probably got it as a gift, hand me down or something. Last time I bought off Craigslist was a from a graduating student who got new MBP as graduation gift. He already had the laptop used for school.

 

[TechnoMonk]

OP ask the seller to send you serial number. Check if it was registered with Apple, if you can get AC from Apple. It becomes apples problem if anything is wrong.

 

[Flight Plan]

Dear OP...I'm glad you didn't do this deal. There was only one way for it to go right for you, and a million ways for it to go wrong. Rest easy and save up your pennies to buy a real one.

 

[Surfsalot]

I found a deal on a sealed MacBook Pro M3 Max 40 core 48GB for $1,000 off retail on Facebook Marketplace.

Spoke with the seller for a bit and he's willing to meet me at an Apple Store to open the seal and run a diagnostics check on it at the Genius Bar. He's also willing to accept PayPal as a payment which gives me a little extra protection as the buyer.

Besides asking the Apple employee to check for MDM and iCloud accounts, are there any other things I should look out for? Have you had any success buying off of Facebook Marketplace? Does this sound too good to be true?

Bought my 15 pro max 512gb off market place in January was few weeks old and $1500AUD less than retail.
My wife has a 12 max was new and $500 off retail at the time.
Just got my daughter a new apple replacement 14 128gb for $750AUD, apple selling for $1300.
All off market place and no issues.
I have bought lots and sold via market place and gumtree, I do live in a 60,000 city only though might be better.

Just got to do the checks re serial no's, their FB profile, usually get them to come to my place and check in garage.
You can tell the scams by their profiles ie new 2024, different country etc.

 

[kb2755]

He told me his child was part of a scholarship program that gave them the laptop for free.

I think I’m going to hold off though. It may be worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind and wanting to own this machine for many years to come.

Thanks everyone for your input!

I've seen a few of these scams on my local FB marketplace. Unfortunately way darker, said they bought the MBP for their kid at school, who then passed away. "Just want to get rid of it for free" is what both of them said.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.