Getting iPad serial number after trade-in?

@LotusPilot, the email I received doesn’t contain an attachment with any paperwork. Rather, it has a link to Gazelle’s web site to print out the packing list to include with the iPad return. I don’t believe there was a serial number included. Relying from memory, I don’t remember Gazelle even asking for the serial number; they may have, but I just don’t remember. But if gave them the serial number up front, why would they be asking for it now? When I tap the link now that was in their original email, it no longer makes it possible for me to print that packing list, I suppose because they already received the iPad. Instead, it takes me to the status, which currently shows that they’re waiting for my acceptance or rejection of their offer.

Yes, their motives are a matter of debate. But too many bad coincidences are adding up here. They make false claims about the condition of the iPad, probably thinking that most people just accept it. They ask for a serial number, a question with a very small chance of being answered. They know the device is no longer in the list of my devices, so I can’t get the serial number that way. They know that the online status doesn’t have a serial number. They don’t make it possible for me to reprint the packing list, but the serial may or may not have been on there anyway. They didn’t send photos of these scratches that suddenly appeared, despite my request. What else could I deduce other than a possible rip-off? If I refuse their lowered offer, then they send the device back to me. Voila, they’ve saved even more money than they would have by lowering the offered amount. And if I get the iPad back and don’t find a single scratch, what would I do, go back to them and try to sell it again? They would just say again that it’s not in good condition. Going back to the question of why they need me to supply the serial number, let’s assume it’s to prove they’re looking at the correct iPad. So why does that have to be proven? I can think of only one reason: the packing list I put in the box with the device got separated from it on their end. This would then be their error, not mine. In such a case, they should definitely honor the original offer. They have all the cards, and it seems they’re playing them rather carefully. It reminds me of the insurance companies who have policies of denying claims immediately. Is this what Gazelle is doing? I can’t prove that, but it sure seems to be adding up that way.

@markwmsn, thank you for your comments. Yes, I should have recorded the serial number. But we know what they say about hindsight. The iPad was shipped with a packing list generated by Gazelle. I agree that the whole dispute may be the result of a mix-up with a different iPad. But that would be the fault of Gazelle, as the packing slip would have gotten separated from the iPad by them. In that case, they should just bite the bullet and admit to the possible mistake. I did check back in the email correspondence, and there is no serial number. I don’t remember if I reported it when I first went to Gazelle’s site for the estimate. I tried to reprint the packing list, but that can’t be done now. Gazelle didn’t email a packing list. Rather, they emailed a link to their site where a packing list could be printed. At this point, because they already received the iPad, there isn’t a way to reprint the packing list. The link in the email just opens a page showing the offer they made.

I bought the iPad from Amazon in December 2020. I looked back at that order and invoice. There is no serial number. Perhaps I’ll ask Apple if they have a record of me registering the iPad with them, or something like that. But I’m not optimistic.

I agree that Gazelle is probably swamped with used iPads sent to them. But I have to wonder just how many 8th generation 128gb iPads they have right now. I can’t imagine very many. Maybe it’s more than I imagine. Who knows.

@LotusPilot, thank you, but I should have mentioned I tried that, and for whatever reason, the iPad is not listed among the devices. I have no idea why. For what it’s worth, I replaced my iMac a few months ago, and only the new one is listed, not the recently replaced one. Same with my previous iPhone that I just replaced. How do these devices disappear from the list? Perhaps I’m deleting them and not remembering. I had to turn off “FindMy” before sending the device in, and sign out of my Apple account before sending Gazelle the iPad. Would that have removed it from the list of devices?

@LotusPilot, thanks for the additional info. So Gazelle is basically “challenging me” to come up with a serial number, knowing full well I can’t get it from my list of devices, by doing what they requested.

@LotusPilot, again, thanks for your comments. I agree with everything you said. No more Gazelle for me, or any other online used equipment buying service. I’m sure Apple is more reliable than them all. I have been ranting for a few years now that competency among businesses has been on a steady decrease, getting worse by the day. This includes customer service, and Gazelle seems to be no exception. It is inconvenient for me to get to even the closest Apple Store to me, but going there will at least give me more peace of mind than dealing with either suspicious or incompetent companies.

@MrHoffman, unfortunately, I never did a backup of the iPad to iTunes or the Mac. All backups have been done on iCloud. I have no records that would give me the serial number. Thanks for your comments.