Rooting of a Android Phone

[johnporter29]

Quick question, does anyone know if it's possible to tell when a Android device was rooted? I know you can check if it has been rooted, just wondered if you could find out when.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

not that I know of; i don't think it leaves any kind of timestamp anywhere; that would have to be programmed specifically into the rooting tool.

[johnporter29]

Thanks Brendon.

 

Was a long shot. Sold a mobile on eBay, 2 month old and has never been rooted, Buyer has come back saying it's not as described wanting a refund claiming the device has been rooted.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

1 hour ago, johnporter29 said:

Thanks Brendon.

 

Was a long shot. Sold a mobile on eBay, 2 month old and has never been rooted, Buyer has come back saying it's not as described wanting a refund claiming the device has been rooted.

nah he's trying to scam you; even if it WAS rooted when he got it he could do a factory reset and the root would be gone.

 

what person DOESN'T perform a factory reset of a bought USED device anyway  never know what could be left over from the previous owner, even if claimed wiped.

[johnporter29]

Yes I am aware of this, but he's played a blinder and won I'm afraid.

 

I factory reset the phone before placing it sale as I always do. He's made a claim through PayPal claiming the phone isn't as described due to it been rooted. I replied denying it and asked for proof. He sent a picture which to me just looked like a disclaimer saying the app developer is not liable if you run this on a rooted device. I asked him to run a app to check the phone has been rooted and send over another screenshot of the output from the app. 

 

He's sent over a picture, not of what I have asked for but another app saying it's not safe to run on a rooted device, he's now escalated the claim to PayPal, and they have decided that he's in the right and is fully entitled to a refund.

 

I believe he's bought the phone in error or changed his mind, and has rooted it and then claimed the item is not as described ... and the worst part is I cannot prove that it wasn't rooted before sale.

 

Anyway, I am now awaiting for the phone to arrive back.

 

Thanks for your help Brandon, much appreciated.

 

 

[Brandon H Supervisor]

26 minutes ago, johnporter29 said:

Yes I am aware of this, but he's played a blinder and won I'm afraid.

 

I factory reset the phone before placing it sale as I always do. He's made a claim through PayPal claiming the phone isn't as described due to it been rooted. I replied denying it and asked for proof. He sent a picture which to me just looked like a disclaimer saying the app developer is not liable if you run this on a rooted device. I asked him to run a app to check the phone has been rooted and send over another screenshot of the output from the app. 

 

He's sent over a picture, not of what I have asked for but another app saying it's not safe to run on a rooted device, he's now escalated the claim to PayPal, and they have decided that he's in the right and is fully entitled to a refund.

 

I believe he's bought the phone in error or changed his mind, and has rooted it and then claimed the item is not as described ... and the worst part is I cannot prove that it wasn't rooted before sale.

 

Anyway, I am now awaiting for the phone to arrive back.

 

Thanks for your help Brandon, much appreciated.

 

 

at least the device is getting returned to you so you're not just out that money

 

tis the risk you take with ebay and the like anymore unfortunately; most people are pretty good but you do occasionally run into that unhonest person

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

5 minutes ago, Brandon H said:

at least the device is getting returned to you so you're not just out that money

 

tis the risk you take with ebay and the like anymore unfortunately; most people are pretty good but you do occasionally run into that unhonest person

I was going to say the same thing, hopefully things like the eBay fees are returned to you and the item itself. It's a shame, because eBay and PayPal will usually back the buyer in these circumstances. My wife has been getting rid of a few things and she's come across people like this and it ruins the great experience she's had up until now.

[techbeck]

Sounds like the user had buyers remorse or was just stupid in picking what he wanted.

[johnporter29]

1 hour ago, dipsylalapo said:

I was going to say the same thing, hopefully things like the eBay fees are returned to you and the item itself. It's a shame, because eBay and PayPal will usually back the buyer in these circumstances. My wife has been getting rid of a few things and she's come across people like this and it ruins the great experience she's had up until now.

They have backed the buyer in this instance.  But as Brandon has said, at least I'm getting the phone back.

 

And yes your right, it does ruin the experience, have 100% feedback and have sold a number of mobiles without any hitch in past.

 

Anyay guys, I got the answer I was looking and would like to thank you for all your help and comments, think this has run it's course now,

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

If and when the phone comes back, be sure to do a full wipe and re-flash of the firmware using the manufacturer's diagnostic tools, just in case it is returned with unwanted software on it.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

[johnporter29]

Right, well things are getting a little interesting now. I have the phone back in my possession. Cosmetically the phone is as I sold it, in good condition, however it would appear that the buyer has indeed installed a custom rom the phone.

 

I purchased the phone sim free from a well known UK high street retailer, and that's how the phone was sold and obviously it wasn't rooted. Now when I switched the phone on, I noticed that the apps that are pre-installed on a phone purchased from Virgin Mobile was present on the phone, no problems I thought, I'll do a factory reset and these should be removed. Wrong! They are still present even after a factory reset and there is no option to remove them either. 

 

I've now gone back to PayPal and advised them that the item returned is significantly different to one I sold. I have been told that they'll review the case and if they need more evidence they will contact me for it.

 

Now, I'm getting emails through eBay from the buyer asking me to process the refund now he's returned the item, his second email is hinting at negative feedback if I don't process the refund shortly.

 

Now if I could ask for some advise, this is the first dispute I've had to encounter so I am a little unsure.

 

I don't want to get into an unnecessary war of words with the buyer, do I respond to the buyer and inform that PayPal are again reviewing the case or do I ignore the buyer and await the outcome of PayPal's review?

 

I don't expect to win and all this maybe futile, but I feel that I ought to try and do something rather than just rolling over and giving in, if buyer has done this to me, they could have done it to others too and may be will do again in the future.

 

[adrynalyne]

On 11/29/2018 at 7:39 AM, Brandon H said:

nah he's trying to scam you; even if it WAS rooted when he got it he could do a factory reset and the root would be gone.

 

what person DOESN'T perform a factory reset of a bought USED device anyway  never know what could be left over from the previous owner, even if claimed wiped.

Unless things have changed since I was in the game, rooting doesn’t go away with a factory reset. 

[adrynalyne]

7 hours ago, johnporter29 said:

Right, well things are getting a little interesting now. I have the phone back in my possession. Cosmetically the phone is as I sold it, in good condition, however it would appear that the buyer has indeed installed a custom rom the phone.

 

I purchased the phone sim free from a well known UK high street retailer, and that's how the phone was sold and obviously it wasn't rooted. Now when I switched the phone on, I noticed that the apps that are pre-installed on a phone purchased from Virgin Mobile was present on the phone, no problems I thought, I'll do a factory reset and these should be removed. Wrong! They are still present even after a factory reset and there is no option to remove them either. 

 

I've now gone back to PayPal and advised them that the item returned is significantly different to one I sold. I have been told that they'll review the case and if they need more evidence they will contact me for it.

 

Now, I'm getting emails through eBay from the buyer asking me to process the refund now he's returned the item, his second email is hinting at negative feedback if I don't process the refund shortly.

 

Now if I could ask for some advise, this is the first dispute I've had to encounter so I am a little unsure.

 

I don't want to get into an unnecessary war of words with the buyer, do I respond to the buyer and inform that PayPal are again reviewing the case or do I ignore the buyer and await the outcome of PayPal's review?

 

I don't expect to win and all this maybe futile, but I feel that I ought to try and do something rather than just rolling over and giving in, if buyer has done this to me, they could have done it to others too and may be will do again in the future.

 

Did you take screenshots on the about phone screen showing the android and kernel version prior to selling it?

[johnporter29]

Nope, because honestly, I have never needed to in the past, but I will be if and whenever I sell another mobile on eBay.

[johnporter29]

Just to bring this thread to closure, PayPal has decided to rule in favor of the buyer despite me telling them that the device I received back was either a different phone or the original phone that had been tampered with and that I had more evidence to submit to the case. After been told that I would be given the opportunity to submit this evidence, it appears PayPal has decided it was irrelevant anyway.

 

It is my believe that the buyer knew exactly how to play the system and has done this before. I know it pointless but feeling very frustrated with PayPal right now.

 

All I have for me efforts to make a stand against this behavior is negative feedback on eBay from a scammer!.

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

Thanks for the update, It's a shame that it didn't end favourably for you. 

 

At least you got your phone back! 

[johnporter29]

I deeply suspect the phone I got back isn't the one I sold to the buyer or if it is, he's tampered with it.

 

The one I sold was sim free and didn't have pre-loaded apps from the network carrier, the phone that the buyer has sent me has pre-loaded apps from Virgin Mobile installed.  I can't re-sell this to anyone and I don't feel safe in using it or passing it down to another family member because I have no idea what else has been done to it.

 

For the first time I didn't make note of the phone's IMEI number before dispatch and I've been caught out, but looking at how the buyer has played this, don't think it would have mattered anyway.

 

Think a hammer will be getting some action later today ....

 

Thanks to everyone who replied and your help.

 

[Sir Topham Hatt]

A long shot but it might be worth seeing if the shop where you bought it has a record of the IEMI.

Then just report the phone stolen.

Have you disclosed to the buyer you don't have the IEMI?

You could always try an "letter before action" letter, suggesting you'll be taking the seller to a small claims court as the IEMI of the phone is different.

 

It might be a case that the buyer bought a phone that was locked to Virgin, but wanted a sim free version.

 

Always take a note of the IEMI number before sending.