Just got cheated out of an iPod

[Djent]

So, I was cruising through Craigslist last night when I came across this:

IPod Classic 160 GB - $125 (lower ne )


2010 IPod Classic, 160 GB. I paid $239 for it last year. My wife bought me an IPod Touch for christmas.

(http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/2774670495.html)

After a little email conversation, I agree to buy it for $100, and to meet him at a downtown train station today (just an hour ago). I meet him, pay him, check the iPod to see if it worked, then left. Upon looking at the back:


Yep. It was an 80GB.
Not only did the ad say 160GB, but he said that he bought it in 2010. Back then, the only iPod classic model sold was the 160GB.

I've already texted him twice, and left him a voicemail stating that he has one of three options:
1. PayPal me half of the money that I gave him, and I will keep the 80GB.
2. Give me the 160GB, and I will give him the 80GB.
3. Do nothing, and I will report him to the Philadelphia Police.

Any other tips? I have his name, his cell #, his email, and the general location of which he lives.

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by Djent

Any other tips?

Check merchandise carefully.

Honestly, I don't think the police are going to do too much. They'll make a report, but at the end of the day, you failed to check the back of the device.

I also don't see how you should be walking away with a $50 80GB iPod. Those are going for around $80+ on eBay (at least the 7th gen models), some for even more.

[AySay]

First of all, you should have checked it before giving him money.
Second, the police aren't going to do much, and he isn't going to do one of the other two options, and really shouldn't have to.

Take it as a learning experience to be more thorough next, and enjoy your ipod for now I guess.



EDIT:

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

The police probably won't do much because there isn't anything they can do. Trust me, most of them want to do something, and if they can they will jump on the opportunity and overreact a little, but they probably won't be able to.

At least you didn't really get ripped off, $100 for an 80GB iPod isn't that bad.

[FireInside]

Originally Posted by MaxOfMetal

Check merchandise carefully.

Honestly, I don't think the police are going to do too much. They'll make a report, but at the end of the day, you failed to check the back of the device.

I also don't see how you should be walking away with a $50 80GB iPod. Those are going for around $80+ on eBay (at least the 7th gen models), some for even more.

Max is right. At least in CA, Law Enforcement wouldn't do shit. This is what we call a "Civil Matter" meaning you and the seller have entered in a civil agreement that can only be determined in civil court (law suit) since there is no blatant criminal statute that was broken. Sounds ....ed up but that's how it is. I suggest you just get a refund if the seller ever contacts you. Chalk it all up to a learning experience.

[Nimgoble]

Craigslist: Caveat emptor, sir.

Sorry about your bad luck.

[Necris]

There's really nothing you can do in a situation like this beyond learn from it. It's more than likely this guy was out to scam you or anyone else who replied and he achieved his goal.

A tip for the future though, if you are going to buy anything in person again, especially electronics that are still in the box or even ones that aren't after checking the item to make sure it is as it's described never let it leave your sight even for a second. Swapping what you think you're getting with something useless is pretty easy if the item is still in a box, and with items like iPods it's not much more difficult even without a box since most of them look exactly the same.

[Scar Symmetry]

First world problems eh bro? Don't sweat it, you should have far bigger fish to fry.

[Eric Christian]

Originally Posted by Djent

So, I was cruising through Craigslist last night when I came across this:

IPod Classic 160 GB - $125 (lower ne )


2010 IPod Classic, 160 GB. I paid $239 for it last year. My wife bought me an IPod Touch for christmas.

(IPod Classic 160 GB)

After a little email conversation, I agree to buy it for $100, and to meet him at a downtown train station today (just an hour ago). I meet him, pay him, check the iPod to see if it worked, then left. Upon looking at the back:


Yep. It was an 80GB.
Not only did the ad say 160GB, but he said that he bought it in 2010. Back then, the only iPod classic model sold was the 160GB.

I've already texted him twice, and left him a voicemail stating that he has one of three options:
1. PayPal me half of the money that I gave him, and I will keep the 80GB.
2. Give me the 160GB, and I will give him the 80GB.
3. Do nothing, and I will report him to the Philadelphia Police.

Any other tips? I have his name, his cell #, his email, and the general location of which he lives.

First off. Cool down. Then wait a few weeks. Buy a prepaid phone and activate it. Have one of your female friends use it to call him up and say "hey remember me, this is such and such and we met a few months ago at that club and I just found your number blah blah blah?" Once dude thinks he smells pussy you can set up a meeting where you show up instead and the rest is up to you... be creative...

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by Eric Christian

First off. Cool down. Then wait a few weeks. Buy a prepaid phone and activate it. Have one of your female friends use it to call him up and say "hey remember me we met at that club this is such and such and I just found your number blah blah blah?" Once dude thinks he smells pussy you can set up a meeting where you show up instead and the rest is up to you... be creative...

Quite possibly the worst idea I've ever heard.

[Eric Christian]

Originally Posted by MaxOfMetal

Quite possibly the worst idea I've ever heard.

lol... how so? Lets hear your idea then...

[Chickenhawk]

Originally Posted by Eric Christian

lol... how so? Lets hear your idea then...

Contact the seller?

Keep it and enjoy the fact he still got a good deal?

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by Eric Christian

lol... how so? Lets hear your idea then...

So he should buy a prepaid phone and be out another $20, then arrange to meet an adult who apparently has no problem potentially scamming people to do.....what?

Get into a physical altercation? Best case scenario, he strikes first and only enough to cause superficial injuries and then you get him arrested. Worst case, he really hurts you, or you hit first and he gets you charged with assault. Which given the situation and you luring him there he'd get you locked up in a second.

Have a cop with you to arrest him for fraud? No cop on earth would go along with this. As already pointed out, this was a tort, as in not something that people get arrested for.

Play a prank? You think he cares if you point and laugh at him? If your prank includes anything remotely construed as assault, battery, or property damage, guess what? You'll be off way worse than him.

Call him out? Obviously he doesn't give a shit. He'll be 100% in his rights just to walk, and stopping him could get you in serious trouble.

There is nothing positive to come out of tricking him into a meet up. Nothing.

Here's what I would do: move on. As easy as it is to blame this guy, it's not hit fault the OP didn't take the three seconds to flip the device over and check the capacity. Since this guy wasn't a store, he's not held to the same level of advertising standards in this country. At the end of the day, the OP is out $50 (which, considering $50 is still a pretty good deal for an 80GB model, it's not like he was totally screwed) or 40GB. That's not something you put yourself in harms way for. Heck, filing the paper work to sue this guy, and then hounding him to go to court is going to cost way more time and money than this is worth.

[MJS]

This is clearly Apple's fault. They should put a big "80GB" on the back of these things, so people can't get ripped off like this. Oh, wait...

[Eric Christian]

Originally Posted by MaxOfMetal

There is nothing positive to come out of tricking him into a meet up. Nothing.

George Costanza would disagree...

[Necris]

Originally Posted by Eric Christian

George Costanza would disagree...

Good to see reasonable discussion is out.

[MikeH]

You ....ed up, move on. He may be a scammer, but you fell for the scam. Look at the merchandise more thoroughly next time.

[Genome]

Unfortunately, you don't really have a leg to stand on. You met up, gave him the cash and accepted the goods without checking. Even if you managed to press charges you'd probably be laughed out of court. Sorry bud.

[Djent]

Long story short: I kept it. I'll just sell my 5G 30GB for $75 to make up for some of the money.

[Explorer]

Although someone already posted the bad things which could happen through confrontation, if such an ad came up again, I'd probably get a friend to respond, and to see if this person turns up with the 160 or the 80. If the 80, then he's running an definite scam, and I'd get his license plate number and let Craigslist know about it at minimum.

If not, once your buddy has his hands on the 160, he shouldn't let it go for any reason, and hand over the money immediately.

Given the solution you're talking about, with you upgrading from 30G to 80G for $25 bucks... really? That seems like a bargain!

[brutalwizard]

i am all for the prepaid phone tricking him into homsexual acts idea already suggested.

but seriously its like buying a guitar with EMG'z, playing it and paying for it, and they second you get home you realize it says EMG-HZ