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iPad Pro Is this a good deal?

hotr32

hotr32

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 2, 2009
186
131
PA
Ok, so here is my situation, I currently have a 10.5 Pro, it hasn’t skipped a beat, it it’s battery life is slowly getting worse (expected), I was considering getting the 2020 11” Pro, but decided since my 10.5 is great, I would just wait maybe for the 2021 11” Pro.

So fast forward to a few days ago, I find this guy locally selling his 11” Pro, he’s had this for a year, he states he really ever used it, from the pictures it’s immaculate, has the original box and charger. It’s cellular and WiFi, 64gb, he stated he owes $550 left in payments, he was looking to sell it for the payoff balance, or even transfer the line from his account to mine.
He said he’s just looking to get rid of it and not pay for it anymore.
Any opinions out there? Is this a good enough deal? Should I get it? Should I not? I’ll take all pros and cons.
Thanks everyone!
 
It’s a great device and a good price. Does it also have Applecare+? If not, you won’t be able to get it going forward. Will you have the chance to turn it on and try it out, checking different display settings, etc.? Is it locked to his carrier? Will he confirm payoff?
 
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hotr32 said:
Ok, so here is my situation, I currently have a 10.5 Pro, it hasn’t skipped a beat, it it’s battery life is slowly getting worse (expected), I was considering getting the 2020 11” Pro, but decided since my 10.5 is great, I would just wait maybe for the 2021 11” Pro.

So fast forward to a few days ago, I find this guy locally selling his 11” Pro, he’s had this for a year, he states he really ever used it, from the pictures it’s immaculate, has the original box and charger. It’s cellular and WiFi, 64gb, he stated he owes $550 left in payments, he was looking to sell it for the payoff balance, or even transfer the line from his account to mine.
He said he’s just looking to get rid of it and not pay for it anymore.
Any opinions out there? Is this a good enough deal? Should I get it? Should I not? I’ll take all pros and cons.
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
Do you know the seller well? Is it locked to the carrier? What if he doesn’t pay it off? The carrier could blacklist the device. You would need to make sure, in his presence, that you are able to set it up as your own. Some people have bought these things and then the seller reports them stolen. A lot of people buy things like this and end up with a paperweight because they are locked. Apple won’t do anything because you are not the original owner with a purchase receipt. Proceed with caution.
 
I just asked, no AppleCare, but I would be adding to my existing family insurance through my carrier.
We would meet up locally somewhere, have to figure out a place so I can test it before I accept the respond of the iPad.
[automerge]1596465829[/automerge]
 
I’m familiar with blacklists, he currently owes $550 balance to his carrier, I would be assured payments form his carrier to mine, they are transferring the service line and payments from his account to mine, so I don’t have to worry about it getting blacklisted.
As far as the seller, don’t know him, according to our carrier, this is a very common thing, people taking over payments and phone numbers from one account to another.
 
hotr32 said:
I’m familiar with blacklists, he currently owes $550 balance to his carrier, I would be assured payments form his carrier to mine, they are transferring the service line and payments from his account to mine, so I don’t have to worry about it getting blacklisted.
As far as the seller, don’t know him, according to our carrier, this is a very common thing, people taking over payments and phone numbers from one account to another.
Click to expand...
Assuming you have the same carrier, then yeah, you can do a transfer of responsibility.
 
Oh, and it is unlocked from the carrier, they stated that their is no lock on the ipad.
I saw that Apple, I would be saving $130 buying it from him than Apple......oh decisions, decisions.
 
This could work out well for you, but $550 is still a lot of money and there is an element of risk. I never buy anything less than an Apple refurb (i.e., no used equipment) because I want the option for Applecare and a great return policy. I’m willing to pay extra for that.
 
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hotr32 said:
Oh, and it is unlocked from the carrier, they stated that their is no lock on the ipad.
I saw that Apple, I would be saving $130 buying it from him than Apple......oh decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...
I don't know about Sprint or T-Mobile. Verizon and AT&T, though, they say there's no lock on the iPad but that's not strictly true (in the spirit of things).

AT&T, there are carrier visibility rules preventing you from signing up for a plan from other carriers directly on the iPad (via Settings -> Cellular).

Nano SIM slot is unlocked on Verizon but you can't use the eSIM for any other carrier (rejects manual QR code input). Plus carrier visibility rules also apply to the Nano SIM, I believe. I recall trying to sign up for T-Mobile $10/5GB/5 month but it won't let me.

However, both carriers do allow popping in a pre-activated Nano SIM with existing plan (including the aforementioned T-Mobile one but you need to use a fully unlocked, SIM-free iPad for activation/renewal).
 
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CheesePuff said:
I would double check that - there usually is a lock until the balance is paid off.
Click to expand...
Only for iPhones. The Nano SIM slot is technically always unlocked but as I've previously mentioned, carrier visibility/reveal rules apply.
 
We both have Verizon, I know they don’t lock their iPads, I’ve sold a few Verizon cellular iPads to people on other carriers and they worked without an issue.
 
I know this isn’t the greatest deal ever, but still a pretty good deal, knowing I can take it over without any blacklist issues, and adding it to my current carrier insurance plan. I’m really on the fence with this one.
 
hotr32 said:
We both have Verizon, I know they don’t lock their iPads, I’ve sold a few Verizon cellular iPads to people on other carriers and they worked without an issue.
Click to expand...
They're not technically locked but they're not the same as unlocked SIM-free, either.

It's not an issue that crops up when using postpaid or pre-activated Nano-SIMs. It's definitely an issue for someone who's trying to sign up for other carrier's plans directly on the device (e.g. international data plan via eSIM).

One reason I don't trust Unlocked iPad listings on ebay or Swappa. Some sellers tell you it's unlocked when it's actually carrier-branded.

That said, since you're both on Verizon postpaid, this wouldn't be an issue for you.


Add a New Plan: Verizon-branded
Verizon-branded.png



Add a New Plan: SIM-free, unlocked
SIM-free Unlocked.png
 
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hotr32 said:
Ok, so here is my situation, I currently have a 10.5 Pro, it hasn’t skipped a beat, it it’s battery life is slowly getting worse (expected), I was considering getting the 2020 11” Pro, but decided since my 10.5 is great, I would just wait maybe for the 2021 11” Pro.

So fast forward to a few days ago, I find this guy locally selling his 11” Pro, he’s had this for a year, he states he really ever used it, from the pictures it’s immaculate, has the original box and charger. It’s cellular and WiFi, 64gb, he stated he owes $550 left in payments, he was looking to sell it for the payoff balance, or even transfer the line from his account to mine.
He said he’s just looking to get rid of it and not pay for it anymore.
Any opinions out there? Is this a good enough deal? Should I get it? Should I not? I’ll take all pros and cons.
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

You said your current iPad does everything you want without skipping a beat, so I'd definitely recommend waiting.
 
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motulist said:
You said your current iPad does everything you want without skipping a beat, so I'd definitely recommend waiting.
Click to expand...
True, everything but the battery, $100 at Apple for a replacement, just trying
to see if I should invest that $100 plus more for this iPad.
 
hotr32 said:
Ok, so here is my situation, I currently have a 10.5 Pro, it hasn’t skipped a beat, it it’s battery life is slowly getting worse (expected), I was considering getting the 2020 11” Pro, but decided since my 10.5 is great, I would just wait maybe for the 2021 11” Pro.

So fast forward to a few days ago, I find this guy locally selling his 11” Pro, he’s had this for a year, he states he really ever used it, from the pictures it’s immaculate, has the original box and charger. It’s cellular and WiFi, 64gb, he stated he owes $550 left in payments, he was looking to sell it for the payoff balance, or even transfer the line from his account to mine.
He said he’s just looking to get rid of it and not pay for it anymore.
Any opinions out there? Is this a good enough deal? Should I get it? Should I not? I’ll take all pros and cons.
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

Is it the 2018 version?
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
I would not purchase that iPad. Too much can go wrong with the transaction.
Click to expand...
As far as something going wrong with the iPad, my carriers insurance would cover any damage, it also comes with the extended warranty protection, I was trying to make sure I had everything covered if something does go wrong with the device.
[automerge]1596500534[/automerge]
zehcnassurfero said:
Is it the 2018 version?
Click to expand...
It is the 2018 version.
 
If you decide to do this, I hope you will post back to let us know how it went.
 
hotr32 said:
True, everything but the battery, $100 at Apple for a replacement, just trying
to see if I should invest that $100 plus more for this iPad.
Click to expand...

Just get a boost battery for like 20 bucks. It'll keep your current iPad chugging along fine for at least another couple of years.
 
I recommend you simply don't do it. To many ifs and's and buts for my liking. Wait, or get your one repaired by Apple who knows you may get more for it come sale time with the receipt for the new Apple battery installed. Good Luck
 
Ok, I want to start by saying thank you to everyone that read my story, and also to everyone that commented.

This particular situation was a tough one, I used to buy and sell iPhones and iPads back in the day on Craigslist, it was like my 2nd job. I try to carefully look over everything just to make sure I don’t screwed over.

And thank you to all the ones who were reluctant, I appreciate the input, as I stated, I didn’t want to get screwed over.

With that being said, here is the conclusion........so I met this individual in a parking lot of a business, I was handed over the iPad, I carefully inspected the screen and metal body, all of which are in pristine condition, I turned on the iPad, activated it, signed into iCloud, checked the buttons, speakers and charging port, which all were fully functional. I had asked the seller for the serial # prior to this so I could check on Apple’s website if it was still under warranty, (which it’s not, currently the device 14 months old).

I called our carrier (Verizon) and explained that I wanted to take over the monthly service and device payments over, I asked what the details were, they stated this “the monthly payments for this device is $35 a month, there are 10 more months in the payment term. So everyone can do the quick math.......I am now the happy owner of a 2018 11” iPad Pro, 64gb WiFi and cellular, and only having to pay $350!!!! (Financed over the next 10 months, I can also pay off the remaining balance at any time.)

So this was a definite win in my book!

P.S. Now I don’t know if I should get the Magic Keyboard or not! 😀
 
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