so yesterday, I had to visit a police station for d first time in my life as a result of my 1st computer village scam. did those guys scam me mehnn (and to think it was a popular store)… me wey think say I street

My experience with the Police officers…?

never have I felt more helpless in my entire life than when I was in that police station

if it was when popsy was still alive and I was still in the cantoment, na just soldiers I for resolve my issue

When I reported the issue to the police officers I met at the counter(2 females), the first thing they said was that before they can answer me at all, I would have to sort them with 30thousand naira that they are very busy people

in that very moment, I knew I already almost lost the case cause it would eventually become a game of numbers i.e d person who could sort the most

I knew I was not going to compete with one big Igbo man who owns abt 4 stores in computer village

for a moment though, I almost considered giving them the 30k because of the amount involved but then Sapa had me violently by the neck…


so about the scam…

earlier this month, I decided to switch from an android to an iOS device(Xs Max). Went to slot but they did not have the exact model I wanted. A friend of mine had just gotten an iOS device so I asked him where he got it and he referred me to BIGTECHDEVICES on Instagram. He also stated they deliver at home which was a plus for me.

I ordered and it got delivered to me

my brother uses an identical device and he’s also a phone engineer.

The next day after the purchase, I noticed something on the screen and showed it to by brother, he immediately said the phone was not a new one(now there was no way for him to vex the product before purchase because I bought it online). Tahh I rebuked him in Jesus name immediately. Phone dat I cut nylon myself

I continued flexing my phone like that

a week after using d phone, d battery health dropped from 100% to 93% and usually this should take up to a year before dropping to 93%. I still choose self denial over reasoning cause no way I spent that money and cut nylon myself only for me to get a substandard product.

What I discovered yesterday was the straw that broke the camels back and had me marching to computer village (I was going to take my junior brother along but he wasn’t around) after looking for their address online. I realized the phone was coupled in Nigeria.

I learnt a few things yesterday

not only is the police force grossly incompetent, they are wildly corrupt and lack human empathy.

Just because a celebrity is following a brand/store does not make them legit (donjazzy follows them so it gave them some form of credibility) - I am not by this faulting celebrities directly for promoting brands

If you’d have to order electronics online, make sure this from a very well know and credible store

The police is not your friend

Avoid trouble as best as you can

after so much deliberation, the officers accepted 10k. Escorted me to d store where I ordered d phone and picked up one of the sales boy. d boy explained 2 dem at d station that as he has already told me before, I’d have to drop d phone and come back after 2 weeks. This was unacceptable for me and for a moment it was for the officers too

they told the boy 2 invite his Oga, he said d oga was not around. Then they asked him to write a statement, he then immediately said the Oga was back.

The instance the oga walked into the station, it was as if the police officers we switched right b4 my eyes. They were licking his ass �

Right in my front, they were also asking him to sort cause they can see he is such a nice man. (Game of numbers)

for the small remaining part of this story…

guys dem get me proper mehnn like scam me proper left and mehnn but I no go too talk am make una no laugh me �

after the Oga sorted them, the police officers asked me to follow him back to his shop that he would sort my issue. I objected, insisted the man told us in the station what he was going to do when we get to his shop. The police officers said I should not worry at all, I should just follow him back that he seems like a nice person

He then told one of the female officers to escort us back to his shop to collect more cash. We got to his shop, he sorted her and she left the 2 of us immediately after arriving.

it was just me and the Goliath looking man in his office with his staff at the front side of the office. He tried apologizing in his own weird way stating that he won’t be able to refund my money but would get me a replacement. While I was seated waiting for d replacement, 2 different customers(1which seemed like a very impatient Lagos tout) came with very similar complaints of which he refunded their cash righ in my front.

For my replacement phone he said he did not have it in stock anymore and called one of his fellow traders to sell for him.

my replacement phone arrived packed and sealed just like the first one. He broke the seal, apologized one more time. He even showed me the transfer he made from his friend he got the phone from complaining he was actually running at a lost bcs he is having to buy if more than the cost I originally purchased it

Checked all I needed to check to ensure I don’t get scammed again. Everything was in place.

Left computer village feeling a little bit compensated and like a bad guy

Omoor only for me to get home and for my brother to confirm this morning that the new phone I was given again was actually a used phone too…

Omoor I just weak. Let me drop my pen here as I am still in perpetual confusion

Thank God you don't buy fufu

G stands for G-string

Baawaa:
G

Mr Speaker, please permit me to laugh hard first at these two quotes:

The next day after the purchase, I noticed something on the screen and showed it to by brother, he immediately said the phone was not a new one. Tahh I rebuked him in Jesus name immediately. Phone dat I cut nylon myself

Omoor only for me to get home and for my brother to confirm this morning that the new phone I was given again was actually a used phone too…

I couldn't stop laughing at this story. You don make my day finally. You are lucky dem no package fufu give you.


But it is still worthy to ask why your brother didn't follow you there. You know, it could have saved you the stress.

And I guess, the charisma of the man shut you out. You were carried away too by what your brain called “humility” by his apologies even when you knew the police couldn't help you.

Btw, ₦320k for Xmas? Sth I'll use to get first grade 11pro. How did your brother know it's used? Is Face ID and True Tone unavailable?

Anyways, I'll tell you for free: that alert of so and so was to his second shop account. Lol.


For a truth, most seemingly new phones in Computer Village are actually refurbished or secondhand value.

It depends on the level of refurbishment and secondhand tho. Grade One secondhand value iPhones are actually the ones used by the Whites for not so long...and repackaged in their cartons for resell. It does still look like new.

I think there's a number to recognise them kindof. I know about it and would update this post when I remember.

Many who buy “new iPhones” are actually buying those sorts at the same amount for a new one. That is how the sellers make their gains.

Of course, I do not mean that there aren't those who sell new ones. If you must get a new one, I strongly suggest you visit trusted outlets (celebs following their page doesn't mean they are trustworthy; celebs can do anything for paid ads).

The truth is that it oughts to depreciate in Nigeria...but you and I know that a lot of things of no value abroad comes in here and appreciate. Lol. A failed system here, yeah?


Let say they bought for ₦200k a phone of ₦350k, maybe via Ali Express (because they buy it in large quantities...maybe via partnership with other sellers), they will have to sell for ₦345k to make their gains too.

Why?

A lot of Nigerians cannot recognise new phones. A lot are also using refurbished phones or secondhand phones bought for the price of new phones.

You see these places — St Michaels for Aba, Computer Village for Ikeja, One market near Wurukum for Benue, Alaba for Lagos, one market like that for Biu, Borno ehh — you gat wise up or dem go bobo you. Lol.

When I came to Abia newly as per Lag boy, I enter St Michaels... lol, I carry Phone Casing go house. How dem swap am was too fast I didn't realise. Na phone wey I press check some things o. I return there with army, no bi the people dey there. It happens bro. You gats just know your onions well.

I am sorry for your predicament sha but honestly, you cracked me up real hard.


NB: To check if your phone is new:

Open the “Settings” app on the iPhone
Go to “General” and then go to “About”
Look for “Model” and then read the model identifier next to that text, it will look something like “MN572LL/A”, the first character will let you know if the device is new, refurbished, replacement, or personalized:
M – Brand new device, meaning the device was purchased new
F – Refurbished device, meaning the device has been through refurbishing process
N – Replacement device, meaning the originally bought device was replaced by this model likely due to a service request
P – Personalized device with engraving, meaning the device was customized with an engraving on purchase


Thanks to davillian.

BTW, I am still available for research writing services.

Why ur brother no follow you?

Omoh . Am just speechless

sirqeeboi:
Why ur brother no follow you?

Good questions

that ye brother b like online noise maker.

y e no follow u waka

LMAO.

Seriously I had to laff bro.

Just maintain your cool and thank your stars bro say dem give you used phone at least you still get phone to use. All the people in computer village are agbero by default. I will never buy anything for that place again for my life.

Lemme nor share my fufu story o

Lalasticlala, mynd44 seun Dominque food for front

U shd have just let ur brother buy your phones for you, he will obviously know where genuine ones are sold

He can direct u at least....

Dude wetin you dey find for sokoto dey here for nairaland inside your shokoto...

Lol

When I wanted to buy my phone, I went to computer village and these bastards by the roadside were dragging my cloth, tapping me, advertising bullshit to me. I had to warn them not to touch me again.

I was actually waiting on someone. Immediately he came, I went to SLOT to get my new phone. I don't give a fuvk if it's more expensive there. At least I will use my phone without any fear of being duped.

illicit:
U shd have just let ur brother buy your phones for you, he will obviously know where genuine ones are sold

He can direct u at least....

Exactly!

��� Omo people wey go make heaven for Computer Village no pass 3 and 2 don die, the remaining 1 don turn Pastor, but meanwhile na still inside d market e dey� congratulations bro “person wey go death house come back” e no easy at least dem no giv u fufu �

One thing I learnt a long time ago is to always go with at least one other person( preferably one who has idea about the stuff) whenever I'm going to the market to buy things be it anything as long as it involves purchases of 10k and above. Whatever you miss doing the inspection and bargaining the other person won't, it's always safe that way so stories like this don't come up... You are lucky you even got a replacement even if it's also a used one cos if na fufu dem package give you that's the end of your money.

Lol. This your story ehn..

Your brother is a phone repair guy.. He should have followed you to make your purchase.

Or buy from the Nairaland big guys. They will refund you if anything goes wrong

Op sorry about your experience.

I think it is a bad practice to buy phones and electronics online. Hopefully people will learn from your experience.

Psalmz people and this yeye scam format again.

Guys before buying phone, shine your eye ooo.
Some criminals are now packaging OLD phone as NEW one to unsuspecting people.

jeff2010:
Na so psalmz scam me oh...

lol, u have'nt resolve the issue?

sirqeeboi:
Why ur brother no follow you?

I wonder ooooooooooo.......

MufasaLion:
Lol

When I wanted to buy my phone, I went to computer village and these bastards by the roadside were dragging my cloth, tapping me, advertising bullshit to me. I had to warn them not to touch me again.

I was actually waiting on someone. Immediately he came, I went to SLOT to get my new phone. I don't give a fuvk if it's more expensive there. At least I will use my phone without any fear of being duped.

Those "you wan buy? You wan sell?" guys.
The moment you give them audience, just prepare to get scammed.

The day dey I fear CV Ikeja na when I go buy phone, bold 6, I reach house the phone turn to bold 4. I run go back to the shop, and the shop no dey exist for the place again. Omo na that day I respect that market. If I dey go there now, I dey fortify myself with anointing oil.

If its not slot I no dey buy o.

Baawaa:
Thank God you don't buy fufu

I swear bro

chatinent:
Mr Speaker, please permit me to laugh hard first at these two quotes:




I couldn't stop laughing at this story. You don make my day finally. You are lucky dem no package fufu give you.


But it is still worthy to ask why your brother didn't follow you there. You know, it could have saved you the stress.

And I guess, the charisma of the man shut you out. You were carried away too by what your brain called “humility” by his apologies even when you knew the police couldn't help you.

I tell you for free: that alert of so and so was to his second shop account. Lol.


For a truth, most seemingly new phones in Computer Village are actually refurbished or secondhand value.

It depends on the level of refurbishment and secondhand tho. Grade One secondhand value iPhones are actually the ones used by the Whites for not so long...and repackaged in their cartons for resell. It does still look like new.

I think there's a number to recognise them kindof. I know about it and would update this post when I remember.

Many who buy “new iPhones” are actually buying those sorts at the same amount for a new one. That is how the sellers make their gains.

Of course, I do not mean that there aren't those who sell new ones. If you must get a new one, I strongly suggest you visit trusted outlets (celebs following their page doesn't mean they are trustworthy; celebs can do anything for paid ads).

The truth is that it oughts to depreciate in Nigeria...but you and I know that a lot of things of no value abroad comes in here and appreciate. Lol. A failed system here, yeah?


Let say they bought for ₦200k a phone of ₦350k, maybe via Ali Express (because they buy it in large quantities...maybe via partnership with other sellers), they will have to sell for ₦345k to make their gains too.

Why?

A lot of Nigerians cannot recognise new phones. A lot are also using refurbished phones or secondhand phones bought for the price of new phones.

You see these places — St Michaels for Aba, Computer Village for Ikeja, One market near Wurukum for Benue, Alaba for Lagos, one market like that for Biu, Borno ehh, you gat wise up or dem go bobo you. Lol.

When I came to Abia newly as per Lag boy, I enter St Michaels... lol, I carry Phone Casing go house. How dem swap am was too fast I didn't realise. Na phone wey I press check some things o. I return there with army, no bi the people dey there. It happens bro. You gats just know your onions well.

I am sorry for your predicament sha but honestly, you cracked me up real hard.

That's why sometimes I decide to use my money buy Brand New Redmi or transsion Device
Those ones can give me peace of Mind pass wetin this op dey suffer from

Damn 320k for an xs max