When buying electronics on Gumtree, it’s important to know what you’re looking for, how it should work, and what’s a fair price. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will make buying a cell phone, laptop or tablet a positive experience.

Do research on the item: 

• Get to know what the product should look like, and what its operating system looks like. Unboxing videos are a great resource for this.

• Learn what replicas look like, and how to spot the real thing.

• Research the price of the item.

Look at the Ad Carefully

• Read the description of the item thoroughly. If there aren’t many details, ask the seller some questions about its condition, age, and why they’re selling.

• Fraudsters will often post once-in-a-lifetime deals. If it’s far below market price, in perfect condition, and has all the bells and whistles, be cautious.

• Once you’ve found the item you want, take a screenshot of the Gumtree ad to use as a reference. Having a copy of the ad can be helpful in many situations.

 
Buy with Confidence

• We always advise users to do cash transactions. Meeting face-to-face with the seller allows you to inspect the item before handing over the payment. Meeting the seller in person allows you an opportunity to inspect the item closely. If anything is not as described in the ad, this could be the time to negotiate a lower price.

• Inspect the item thoroughly. Check the screen, camera and keyboard. Double-check that the operating system works as it should.

• Check that all the parts and accessories that were specified in the ad are there. 

• Ask for a receipt if the user still has it or if it was stipulated in the ad. 

• Once you’ve paid for the item, reset it to factory settings. If there were any malware or viruses on the device, this should get rid of them.

 
Tips for iPhone Purchases

• Check for water damage. All iPhones contain Liquid Contact Indicators that will activate when they're exposed to a liquid that contains water. To see where exactly to look, click here.

• Make sure you are able to unlock the phone and use all the functionalities. 

• Ensure that the owner has logged out of their apple account on the phone. If they forget to log out, you may have trouble using the phone later on.

• Request the serial number of the item and contact your local iStore to check if the item is stolen/still under warranty.

Tips for Android Device Purchases

• Check the IMEI number, before you buy, by checking Settings > System > About phone > IMEI information.

• If the seller doesn’t have a SIM card, bring your own so that you can inspect all the features of the phone before you buy.