Possible Scam? Need help with Ipad on Craigslist

I'm looking to buy a new "New" Ipad and have been offered a deal by a guy I found on craigslist.

His ad is below:

http://charleston.craigslist.org/ele/3484876972.html

I text the guy and he responded back a couple of times in a period with an identical generic text asking me to call him.

I spoke with him on the phone he had a story about buying a bunch of ipads for his company with accessories and using a giftcard to pay for them. Allegedly he got stuck with one of them or was gifted one and didn't want it so now he wants to trade me for my old DSLR and some cash. I would be coming out about $200 ahead on the deal.

He claims to have the receipt for the ipad from Best Buy and says he would be willing to return it and give me the gift card in exchange.

I'm trying to figure out his angle. Why would anyone lose money on a deal? My concern is that he could buy a much better camera with the gift card rather than trading with me. If I meet him at Best Buy and verify the amount on the card, do I have anything to lose by taking the deal?



TL/DR: Craigslist guy offers to trade me my old dslr + cash for his brand new ipad or best buy giftcard that puts me ahead by $200. I'm wondering if this is somehow a scam or if I take the gift card and spend it I'm in the clear?

Why would you waste your time on an ad without a price. It's clearly a scammer or shady business. Buy a refurbished or use iPad from a reputable business.
I just picked up an iPad 2 16g from apple.com for 319 refurb.

You are just hoping someone justifies this shady deal so you don't feel guilty about it

I'm pretty sure it's a scam. The deal is actually being conducted by my brother, but I figured it would be easier to just post in first person to see if anyone else agreed. I keep getting texts over and over that sound really fishy, I should have just waited for him to give himself up with the obvious troll texts.

The reason a refurb ipad isn't an option is because the gift card is what he is really looking for. He has an item he wants at best buy so this would give him a discount on a gift card option.

I don't think its a scam.

Maybe the guy just forgot to post a price.

Just meet in person, inspect the iPad before purchase and you're good.

i would not answer this guy based on this alone.. CALL NOW TO RECEIVE AND UNBEATABLE PRICE ON THE NEWEST APPLE TECHNOLOGY OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

but i am also a bit shallow when it comes to these things. i would personally just go get the mini from the apple store for what $329... brand new, no weird people. 5 min ordeal.

the way the sentence structure and the general flow of the ad screams scam or its a commercial ad.

S-c-a-m

the point isnt scam or no scam. it is that this ad is so ****ing shitty that i want to blow my head off even reading one line of it. Would not give this person a penny i found walking on the ground on the way into best buy. would prob not even say hi to this person if they said hey how are you in public.

Originally Posted by golf_234

the point isnt scam or no scam. it is that this ad is so ****ing shitty that i want to blow my head off even reading one line of it. Would not give this person a penny i found walking on the ground on the way into best buy. would prob not even say hi to this person if they said hey how are you in public.

How can the guy scam you if you meet in a public place for hte transaction? Go meet at the local mall and make the deal. If he stands you up, then you know its a scam.

Tell him to send you a picture with the iPad on his head and his shoe in his hand.

My brother talked with the guy again. While he still believes the guy is legit, it appears that he may be an idiot who is unable to close a deal because he kept going in circles trying come to an agreement. The guy would agree to the price (DSLR + cash in exchange for giftcard of returned ipad) and then suddenly act like the deal was for the ipad rather than the gift card.

I still think it is a scam and will close the thread believing that it will eventually turn into a fake ipad mail scam.