The man who sold me an empty carton of iPhone 13s, and how I tracked him down

Two years ago, November 2023. I was still building my shop then, small space for Ariaria, but my name was already ringing for Onitsha.

A guy called Emeka Chukwudi came to me. Fine boy, clean shirt, spoke good English. He said he had a plug for iPhone 13, sealed cartons, direct from Lagos. Price was sweet. Too sweet. ₦380,000 per unit when market was doing ₦520,000.

I asked him why so cheap. He said the container was stuck at the port, he needed quick cash to clear it. My spirit told me no. But my pocket told me yes. I paid for four units. ₦1.52 million. Cash.

He brought the cartons himself. Sealed. Branded. I even weighed them, everything correct. But when I opened the first one for my customer... bricks. Just bricks wrapped in bubble wrap.

I called Emeka. Number switched off. I sat down for my shop that evening. My sister's school fees was inside that money. I no cry. I just sat there.

Three weeks later, I saw him at a wedding for Aba. Same fine shirt. I walked up to him, greeted him like we were friends, and told him I wanted to buy ten more units. He smiled. We exchanged new numbers. I took him to my shop, gave him water, made him comfortable. Then I locked the door and called my guys.

He refunded ₦1.1 million. The rest, he said he had spent. I let him go. Not because I forgave him. Because I had learned something more valuable than the ₦420,000 I lost.

Now, before I pay for any goods, I inspect. Not the carton. The content. Every single time. If the price is too sweet, I walk away.

That November taught me: in this business, trust is a currency. And some people will spend yours before you even know you gave it to them.