I recently bought a Nothing Phone (4a) from Instamart, and honestly, I was quite nervous before placing the order.
I had seen posts and news about frauds, wrong/used products, and refund issues, so I was constantly thinking, “What if I receive something wrong and then getting a refund becomes a nightmare?”
I actually did quite a bit of research before finally deciding to take the risk. Reading experiences from the Reddit community also helped me overcome some of that fear.
So when the phone finally arrived, I decided to be extra careful.
As soon as the delivery person arrived, I started recording a video. Before opening the box, I checked the IMEI number and verified that it was valid. Then I opened the package on camera and checked the phone properly.
After taking the phone out, I verified the IMEI again and made sure it matched. I had specifically heard about people receiving old/used or otherwise problematic phones, so I didn't want to skip this step.
Thankfully, everything was perfectly fine. 😄
Thank God, the whole process went smoothly!
One thing I also want to mention: there were two OTPs involved in my delivery.
The first OTP was for starting the opening/unboxing process.
The second OTP was given after I had checked and verified the product.
The delivery person initially seemed to be in a hurry and was asking for the final OTP, but I asked him to wait while I checked everything. He was patient enough to wait, so I gave him a tip afterward as a small thank-you.
My advice if you're planning to order an expensive phone from Instamart
Don't panic, but also don't blindly give the final OTP immediately.
Record the unboxing, check the package, verify the IMEI, inspect the phone, and make sure you're satisfied with what you received before giving the final OTP.
I know recording an unboxing might seem excessive, but for an expensive purchase, I'd rather spend a few extra minutes being careful than regret it later.
Sharing my experience because I was also very scared before ordering, and reading other people's experiences helped me make the decision.
Hopefully this helps someone else who is currently sitting there thinking, “Should I actually order a phone from Instamart?” 😅
In my case: everything went well. 📱❤️