Filipino Student Receives Three Stones Instead of Laptop from Online Seller - Tips On How To Avoid Being Scammed When Buying Gadgets Online - Android

An underprivileged Filipino student named Arthur Baylon, who happens to be the son of fisherfolk, bought a laptop from an online seller several days ago so he can have a reliable gadget companion for online learning in the new normal.

For Pinoy students and young professionals across the country who are currently thinking about buying any gadget online, allow me to share with you some tips on how you can avoid becoming prey to heartless scammers who are willing to do bad things to others just to earn a few bucks.

The safest way to buy a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any gadget online is to get them brand new from the company's official online store. This also guarantees at least a year of parts and service warranty or after-sales support. So if you can stretch your budget, just get your gadget new direct from the brand. I believe gadget brands like Asus, Acer, realme, Cherry Mobile, vivo, OPPO, Samsung, and others now have their online stores as well as official outlets in Lazada and Shopee.

I understand budget-conscious Pinoys who believe that they can get more value for their money if they just buy second-hand items. After all, you can sometimes get better specs on a used flagship gadget that costs as much a brand new entry-level device. Personally, my trusted website for buying pre-loved goods is Carousell because that site is already well-established and there, you can clearly see buyers' comments and ratings for every seller. I usually choose sellers with multiple glowing reviews and an average of at least 4.5 stars out of 5.

A legitimate seller who is keen on making a sale that will make both parties happy should have no issues or qualms with disclosing his or her real name, address, and mobile number. In my experience, some legit sellers even send photos of their IDs just to help give me peace of mind when making an expensive purchase.

I am not sure if it's human instinct but I think our gut always tells us if something is wrong. If a seller takes days to reply or is mean and offensive when you ask him or her questions, don't do it. If the price of the gadget is too good to be true, it's probably fake or laced with issues. Based on my experience in buying second-hand gadgets on Carousell, a good buy often feels great from start to finish; The seller is responsive, kind, and open.