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Original poster

Phone bought new on eBay is malfunctioning

33 replies

whataboutbob · 22/10/2019 22:18

I bought an iPhone 5 on eBay, it was billed as new. It soon started malfunctioning. For example it only takes photos in selfie mode, not camera mode. I can’t attach pics to WhatsApp’s. It has no security, you can open it by pressing the on button (tbh I don’t know if that is a feature of an iPhone 5).
I want a refund. I bought it on September 7th this year.
I have contacted the seller today but I see from a post on this board that I should have just gone straight to eBay. Can anyone advice the best way forward now?

OP posts:
Loaf90 · 22/10/2019 22:20

More fool you!

NeedAnExpert · 22/10/2019 22:24

I found the listing.

A brand new iPhone for £102? Pull the other one. Only item they have sold, ever. Alarm bells everywhere. You have few rights here.

NeedAnExpert · 22/10/2019 22:26

You need to turn screen lock security on. It’s not automatic.

Elieza · 22/10/2019 22:30

You get 30 day’s warranty or 45 days if you pay via pay pal. That must be up round about now, check if you paid by PayPal as you may just make it, could even be today?
Look up eBay resolution centre. They are good. I’ve had my money back before no questions. It’s easy to do online. Worth a try?

peachgreen · 22/10/2019 22:31

Most of those issues sound like software or a corrupt profile rather than hardware. You can't expect a 7 year old phone to function the same way as a new phone unfortunately - the software isn't designed to support such old hardware.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 22/10/2019 22:32

Go through PayPal.

19lottie82 · 23/10/2019 11:08

You get 30 day’s warranty or 45 days if you pay via pay pal

This is incorrect. Neither PayPal or eBay provide a warranty. You are covered for an item being misdescribed, ie arriving broken or not as advertised, but you do not get a “warranty”.

19lottie82 · 23/10/2019 11:09

And as peach has advised, the problems do sound like a software issue rather than the phone. The iPhone 5 is an old phone. Try doing a factory reset, that might help.

Original poster
whataboutbob · 23/10/2019 19:10

Thanks. I would say the item is not as described, in that several functions do not work. I have raised it with the vendor, we’ll see what happens.

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 23/10/2019 20:27

But they worked when you got the phone, eBay / PayPal only cover you for the item being not as described when the item arrives. Not if it’s fine for a while then stops working.

I appreciate this seems unfair but that’s the way it goes, unfortunately.

19lottie82 · 23/10/2019 20:27

Have you tried doing a factory reset, as suggested?

Elementalillusions · 23/10/2019 20:44

None of these issues sound like faults with the phone.

Most of them sound like you just don’t understand how to change the settings on the phone.

it only takes photos in selfie mode, not camera mode.

You can switch between the two cameras, it doesn’t do it automatically, these a button on the screen in the lower right hand corner to switch to the other camera.

I can’t attach pics to WhatsApp’s.

In the settings you need to authorise WhatsApp having access to your photos otherwise you can’t access your photos in WhatsApp to attach them to messages.
Also this would be an issue with WhatsApp not the phone.

It has no security, you can open it by pressing the on button

You have to set the security in the settings, if you don’t set up a passcode the phone will have no security and will just unlock.

Tojigornot · 23/10/2019 20:49

An IPhone 5 is no longer supported by Apple, ie the current version of IOS may not work fully.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 23/10/2019 20:58

I wouldn't expect an iPhone 5 to still be working now tbh. I can't think how you'll get a refund anyway. As long as the right item is delivered then eBay is all buyer beware.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 23/10/2019 21:01

An IPhone 5 is no longer supported by Apple, ie the current version of IOS may not work fully.

This.

userxx · 23/10/2019 21:01

I've bought a few iPhones from eBay and never had any issues. Contact eBay and see were you stand.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 23/10/2019 21:35

The iPhone 5 is no longer supported by apple? Brilliant. Am half way through dd’s contract. Robbing apple bastards. I’m not bloody buying another phone!

SarahLovesMarmite · 23/10/2019 21:48

An iPhone 5 still works (I'm on one now!) but you can't update it anymore, so functionality will be reduced, especially as app publishers update their apps to fit later versions of IOS.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 23/10/2019 21:50

Great. She’s going to spend the next year telling me her phone doesn’t work properly. Mines only a 7, how much longer have I got?

PancakeAndKeith · 23/10/2019 21:52

An IPhone 5 is no longer supported by Apple, ie the current version of IOS may not work fully

This and it’s not new, it was discontinued in 2013 so I very much doubt this is a new phone.

Tojigornot · 23/10/2019 21:52

Apple support their phones for longer than most android phones are supported.

PancakeAndKeith · 23/10/2019 21:53

The iPhone 5 is no longer supported by apple? Brilliant. Am half way through dd’s contract. Robbing apple bastards. I’m not bloody buying another phone!

It’s not going to suddenly stop working, but you will not be able to update it any more to new versions of the iOS.

PancakeAndKeith · 23/10/2019 21:57

It has no security, you can open it by pressing the on button (tbh I don’t know if that is a feature of an iPhone 5).

The 5 doesn’t have a fingerprint reader. You need to set up a passcode.

northernstars · 23/10/2019 21:59

I'm on a 5 and there's only been 2 apps so far that can't be updated. Mind I'm on an original iPad and that is definitely harder to update!

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 23/10/2019 22:14

It’s not going to suddenly stop working, but you will not be able to update it any more to new versions of the iOS.

You tell the teenager, will you? You make it sound so routine.