I went to Greenhills a few days ago to help my girlfriend sell one of her cellphones to the vendors in the “tiange” area in V-Mall. We walked around a bit, ignoring some of the guys who were persistently asking us to go to their area. Eventually we picked a vendor who had a nice, clean, and orderly workplace. The guy priced the phone we were selling at P3,000 and asked us if we wanted to sell at that rate. I said “no” and we walked around some more to canvass for more prices. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the assistant of the vendor trailing us and talking to some of the other vendors. I didn’t really pay too much attention to it. Little did I know that we were already like mice being trapped by the Greenhills Cellphone Mafia. Read my story after the break.
We went around the floor some more, talking to vendors and listening to how much they would pay. The highest rate we could find was around the P2500-P2700 range. One of the vendors even offered a measly P1000 for the unit. Eventually we decided to go back to the highest bidder.
Get this… a few seconds before we reached the vendor, I saw the guy who trailed us overtake Mich and myself and he talked to the vendor. When we arrived, the vendor offered us a price of P2500 for the phone, saying that the P3000 price was actually just an estimate. WTFOMGBBQ!? Enraged, I declined his offer and we decided to look for other potential buyers. One of the skinny men who lurked in the corners approached us and offered to by the cellphone at P2300. I told him I had a max buyer at P3000. He smirked and explained to me how things work in Greenhills.
Apparently it’s all for show. You go there looking for the highest buyer bust most of the vendors are in cahoots with one another. They’ll offer you a high price at first, then you’ll canvass, and eventually go back. The original vendor will give you a lower price and you’ll agree to it since you’re already tired from walking and talking to various buyers. The guy further explained that not all the vendors are like this, but most of them are.
Mich and I decided not to sell the unit at Greenhills anymore. Did some research and we saw that it was selling for P8500 on Ebay Philippines. Since we were kinda lazy to go through the entire online selling process, we just found a buyer for it at P6000 and sold it. 
If ever you have plans of disposing your old phones in Greenhills, think twice. Unless you want to be the next victim of the Greenhills Cellphone Mafia.
*Photo courtesy of Gregg
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Mistervader on July 16, 2009
I’ve had worse, like a phone being stolen and seeing it on display a few hours later. But this experience is rather frustrating.
Lyle Ham on July 16, 2009
I got a talk with one of these people since he’s my friend and we’re both Muslims. He told me, if you wanted to sell your phone at the actualy price you want it to be, it’s better not to go in those kind of places. Say for example, if an actual unit’s original selling price is around 20K php, 2nd hand units will usually range around 12K-13K the usual. BUT! As businessmen, hell they won’t get it at half the price. They’d even go lower than 10K if they can and that’s how they make money out of it. So it’s like they’ll almost 5K just on that unit alone. Sad, isn’t it? Not worth your time moving to shop after shop LOL.
hinatasou on July 16, 2009
my uncle told me a similar story only when buying a car in San Francisco. he went shopping around asking for quotes. he tried to bargain saying such and such dealership offered him a low price. the guy he phoned was all “You are lying!” and hung up. all the sales people were colluding and knew each other’s prices. he eventually came to LA to buy his car.
Hitsugaya Toushirou on July 16, 2009
Lesson learned, I bought a cellphone there (n80) last January and now it’s not working. Had it repaired twice. I wasted a good deal of money.
Aqpoctata on July 16, 2009
May Naruto at Bleach na wauks
Randell Tiongson on July 16, 2009
I guess it’s always best to cut the middle man. Thanks for this bro, really helpful. Requesting permission to link/forward.
~~~~~ on July 17, 2009
thanks for the heads up.
rei on July 17, 2009
I didn’t knew that but I always knew there was something fishy going on with those guys.
Lyle Ham on July 20, 2009
And oh, another piece of advise, whenever you ask them to change your cellphone casing, do not look elsewhere. Focus on what they are doing or they might do something stupid like change your original casing into a fake one, or leaving one or two screws slots open or even damaging your phone.
IC DeaDPiPoL on July 22, 2009
Was inquiring there years ago how to openline a Nokia 6680 phone. They said they can openline it but need to leave the phone for a month aside from the deposit. Wonder if anyone actually left their phone there to be openlined?
empress on December 5, 2009
you may try tipidcp. i got most of my phones there. i don’t buy brand new since i often change phone. you can dispose you used phone there as much as the second hand price in greenhills. it may even higher if the package is complete.
Sally on January 7, 2010
I’m planning to sell my phone Blackberry Curve 8990 at gh.
Medyo rush kasi. Is it safe kaya dun?
Used lang naman 1 week eh.
pls. help thanks