Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Hello maemo community. I want to share my ebay purchase story with everybody to avoid making same mistake that i did. I purchased "NEW Nokia N900 3G 32GB WIFI GPS 5MP QWERTY SmartPhone MADE IN FINLAND " from cellphoneforever seller. This was my second N900, first one has broken USB connector. As i received the box i realized that this is not the same box that i got with my first N900. The box was with no any bar code. Surprise was inside. The phone come with no stylus, no video cable and no instruction. It was some chip printed booklet about different phone that everybody can print at home printer. Well, i guess no big deal. When i charged phone and turned it on i start to explore new purchase. Firmware was outdated, but this is OK, i can upgrade it later. Surprise was inside the conversation folder. It was a bunch of SMS messages between previous owner and other people. It was conversation in London area code. When I contacted seller about stylus and video cable he told me that i can buy it for additional price:). Finally i got email that i can return the phone with full refund include shipping cost, BUT i have to ship it with no tracking number. :):):) . Such a smart idea!!! Ok, here is the end. I contacted Paypal and the opened dispute case. A little bit hussle for my N900. But I really like that phone !!!
Hope somebody will learn my lesson and will avoid my mistake.
P.S. I contacted Nokia and gave them IMEI number, they told me that this phone more than 1 year old and not under nokia warranty and phone was purchased in Europe.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

MADE IN FINLAND should make you suspicious. All N900's were made in korea

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Take a look how seller is describe it


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Nokia-N9...item43aa277d08

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Looks like the seller is from Hong Kong. I recall there was a thread about someone enquiring about N900 sold from Hong Kong. That is just wrong that they charge you extra for stylus and A/V cables.

Unfortunately I have had a similar incident when I purchased my second N900 on my trip to Hong Kong (I visited Taiwan and China apart from Hong Kong and it seems like Hong Kong did stock N900). The seller did not provide me A/V cables, a non-genuine USB -> microUSB cable (which fails intermittently), and a useless wired headset (which doesn't work with N900). Not to mention that the N900 was used prior to my testing and purchase. I tried to dispute but they said that's what came with the device (which was utter nonsense) and said that if I wanted those `accessories' I will have to pay extra for it.

Anyhow I left the store disgruntled and decided to keep the used N900 along with whatever that was missing from the box.

Back to the topic, if you see the photo by the seller depicting the package contents, notice how the cables are sitting on top of a Nokia N95-1 box? not that it matters alot but its interesting to note that potentially the original box is probably missing for the said device. The headset provided in the photo is also a little weird with extra controls for music listening. That's not a genuine N900 included item as N900 is not capable of skipping music, etc by default (and there was a huge thread about it).

Also you should leave a negative feedback on the seller. I went through the seller's history and noticed there was one bad feedback (on the first page) for N900 sold to a person whom declared the accessories are not original.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Kinda sounds like it was a stolen device...

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Mine was made from Finland, bought it from Frys.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

That can't be possible. Nokia devices always have 2 years warranty.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

@HtheB
nope. that depends on your location. for example, we only have a year covered by the warranty here in the philippines.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

my phone when i open the keyboard and see behind the screen it is written "designed in finland" i am from india and bought second-hand (but it was purchased from india as i have its bill) if you are right then what does my phone is showing me by "designed in finland"?

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

The words `Made in Korea' can be found underneath the battery where you can see the sticker showing other information such as FCC ID, etc. Also I'm sure a similar sticker can be found as an image on firmware downloads page of N900.

Nothing special about it being designed at one place and made at another, like iphone which has its backcover engraved that iphone was designed in Cupertino.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Always google a bit before buying from an ebay seller.
http://ytscellphones.blogspot.com/20...r-name-is.html

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Please check the sticker under the battery and report back. Is it a pre-release device? (N-00) Those were made in finland if I remember correctly.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

It says mine n900 is designed in Finland, wuz problem?

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

all n900s where designed in finland cause nokia develops there; the phone itself is made in korea cause of the cheaper wages/lower taxes etc. ;)

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Weren't the "borrowed" pre-release models Fin made?

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

"Designed" and "made" are not synonyms.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Hello mishania. I purchased n900 on eBay with cellphoneforever seller too. I agree with you about accesories:eek:. But the phone, it's a real n900, i mean, a genuine Nokia N900? :confused:I haven't seen one physically. And I really interested to get one (genuine) with all accesories original (including the box). What happened with you dispute case? How can i contact Nokia for IMEI number?

And somebody could recommend me where to buy a new genuine one? Thanks for all your replies.:D

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Not all Ebay sellers are scams for N900. It should be safe to get one from Australia stock sellers like the one below. They even allow pickups from the Sydney CBD and everything. I personally would trust this 100%. (I live in Sydney also) But yeah, it's not as cheap as cellphoneforever. :p

e.g. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BRAND-NEW...#ht_6078wt_905

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

You can buy near mint n900 in France for 200 euros (azertykeyboard).


http://www.leboncoin.fr/annonces/off...1&q=nokia+n900

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

How hard it is to find replacement keyboards nowadays?

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Gnux, if the phone works, I assure you it's a real N900 unless it's obviously running Symbian or some knock-off OS, or obviously looks different from the pictures you've seen of N900s in other ways.

Just because the seller sells crap accessories with unknown condition phones doesn't mean the phones are fake - they might be, and early on when the N900 first came out there was at least one somewhat convincing-looking N900 immitation out there, but I don't think this guy's selling fake N900s. (Actually, I think this guy would if he had some, judging by his utter willingness to scam people - but I think it'd be harder to buy a fake N900 nowadays than a real one [because most people who bought them probably just threw them out or otherwise didn't bother reselling them.)

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Like i said before, this sound like it was stolen, not a knockoff but not legit either.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

I experienced the same problem from this seller. I received Nokia n900, even though phone looked new it was refurbished, many of the keys were not working, warranty check indicated it was out of warranty, battery was not charging. Be careful friends and don't buy from cellphoneforever ebay seller.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Does this guy sell other brands of mobiles?
Sounds to me like he has access to trade in devices (phones that people used prior to upgrading).
Or he's perched himself in the middle of the recycle chain. Normally, when you upgrade a phone, the dealer/supplier says they don't want the accessories, just the handset.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

This guy sells all type of phones and accessories. Unfortunately, most of them are refurbished. I researched the company that debited my Paypal account and the description of that company indicated "they are resellers of refurbished phones." Cellphoneforever, YTshopping2008, Mabili Intl. Company Ltd. are all one. Don't deal with them. Pay more and buy new from reputed sellers, which are hard to find to buy N900 these days.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

i always check the feedback and this seller's feedback would set alarm bells ringing, i wouldn't touch this seller with a barge pole. wonder how many times they've been reported?

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Oh, great. I wish I'd seen this post about a week ago. :(

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

OH BTW I was able to recuperate full refund from the seller, seller was prompt in refunding, seller also refunded my return shipping. This is what I did. 1) contacted the seller and told him the defect in the phone, 2) immediately opened the eBay resolution case, 3) waited for seller to assure me that he will fully refund, including return shipping cost, 4) left a negative feedback on eBay ("Beware Buyer of Nokia N900, Seller is Selling Refurbished Phone Claiming as New"), 5) waited for seller to provide me the instructions to return the phone, 6) returned the phone via USPS priority international, (7) communicated to seller the total refund amount, 8) once the item was accepted by the USPS Seller immediately refunded the full amount. Every communication was done through "eBay message center." Seller requested me to change the feedback to positive, I did change the feedback to positive and simply indicated that seller resolved all issues and refunded promptly. On second thought I think I should have left my feedback as it is to warn others. If you are in a similar situation, please keep receipts of everything, just in case you have to dispute with eBay.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Thanks...that makes me feel better. :) I plan to record the unboxing, just in case.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Well, I received the phone and it seemed OK at first, though the packaging was unusual like the OP's (no manual, no video cable, an unreadable CD).

But now it won't charge or turn on. I've tried various things from this forum and elsewhere to try to get it to work, but nothing helps. :( I hope I'll be able to get a refund.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Hello, i called Nokia and gave them IMEI number. (18886654228). Ask them if your phone on the warranty. I just got refund from Paypal. Seller never did refund. My main concern was that i got a lot of sms in conversation folder, so the phone was not a new one. Also check your firmware and if u can update your phone. U can contact me again if you have any more question.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Thanks, I'll call Nokia. I did already update the firmware before this started happening.

I didn't see any data from previous owners; the phone looks new, but I don't know.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

cellphoneforever did reply to my email right away, suggested some things that might help, and said that they would exchange the phone or battery, or issue a refund.

It looks like the charging problem is fixed -- it seems that it was the problem mentioned elsewhere in this forum about not recognizing when it's connected to USB after a firmware upgrade. At least I think it was after a firmware upgrade.

Anyway, putting the battery back in and holding down "u" while plugging the charger in worked. (I was trying a different charger, too -- that might have been a factor. Will test later.)

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Hi, the major point, that cellphoneforever sell refurbished phones! If i know that i am buying refurbished phone i will not say a word, the other thing, that they offer me to send back my phone without tracking number and the last thing is that they did not picked up the returned phone from post office, in that case you can't automatically to get refund from Paypal. I did another purchase from ebay for n900, after i payed i checked seller status and discovered that this person purchased n900 before from cellphoneforever. When i contacted him and ask if this is the same phone from cellphoneforever he sad yes, so i declined to accept this phone and he refunded my money.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

I'm just glad to have a working phone, so I'm going to leave it at that this time.

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

I got one from the same seller but thought these were good refurbs, since shipping to a friend in the US and then remailing took so long paypal protection was over.
The phone at first wouldnt take a flash and after serious crashing and non functional apps that wouldn't reinstall and I now have a $200 no booting, non-charging, unflashable brick when it finally took 43% of a fiasco flash.
see http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...ighlight=flash

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

take out the battery for 6 to 12 hrs.
the phone's memory will be lost & it will boot up (from whatever is in NAND & on /dev/rootfs) clean.

if it doesn't, it is defect, indeed

Re: Beware nokia n900 ebay seller scam
 

Hi, I have stated a Facebook page exposing this seller. If you would like to post your comments or feedback or just generally vent about your experience with them please follow this link.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cellp...502037?sk=info