Buying a cell phone off eBay??? UPDATE post 19

[maggiew]

We got new cell phones and a new 2 year plan a month or so ago. My DD had her phone stolen . I was able to get her old phone connected back to her number. But this phone isn't going to last (its already 2 years old) and she really needs a QWERTY keyboard now that she texts so much (old phone is just regular number pad). It seems all the phones on the verizon site are if you get a new 2 year contract. Has anyone purchased a phone off eBay to connect to an existing plan?? I found some phones that would suit and it says you don't need a new contract to connect this phone to your number. But I'm just not sure.

Any advice?

Maggie

 

[renateb]

I've bought 3 phones off e-bay to replace old phones and kept my old plan. Just make sure the phones are "unlocked". Then just drop your sim card into the new phone and off you go.

 

[scotdog]

I bought a phone off a e-bay and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. As the previous poster stated, make sure it is unlocked.

 

[uva185]

Yeah, you can do that but I would be hesitant of really good deals. What do you think happens to those stolen phones like your daughters? Yup, eBay. Now I am sure you reported the theft to Verizon right? Well now her stolen phone is just as useful as a paperweight because they will have deactivated the ESN number. (Just like all the other stolen phones on eBay.)

Find someone that looks trusted that doesn't sell a lot of cell phone items. Make sure you are busying a Verizon phone to operate on the CDMA network. renateb is wrong. Not only does Verizon not use SIM cards but they are not obligated to activate a phone that is unlocked.

Just buy a legitimate looking phone that is intended for use on the Verizon CDMA network and you'll be fine. You can switch to the new phone directly from your online account.

I would offer to sell you an excess Blackberry I have but I doubt it is what you are looking for and it has no camera so I KNOW its not what your daughter is looking for!

 

[tasha99]

I have purchased 3 phones on ebay--2 older used phones and one new one. All worked perfectly with Verizon. One of the older phones was from a private individual, but the other two were from cell phone power sellers. The older phones were around $20 each, but the new one was still $100 (w/no contract).

 

[IDoDis]

I will never buy another used phone on ebay. After my DD dropped her phone in a glass of Dr. Pepper, I ddn't want to pay full price for another phone since we were up for renewal and new phones in a few months. The first phone I bought worked for 2 days and then screen went white. The water damage sticker was partially red, so I think the phone had gotten wet at one time. I sent it back and they sent another one. That phone would just randomly power down and then wouldn't come back on until it was ready, even though the battery was fully charged. I sent that one back and received a 3rd phone. This one had a bad ESN number so Verizon wouldn't activate it (the seller claimed it was a good ESN number). I just got refund from that seller and then bought one from a different ebay seller. That phone arrived and I noticed the battery cover was a different color from the rest of the phone. I took it off and noticed the water damage dot was completely red. Since the seller only offered a 3 day warranty, I sent it back even though it worked. My trust level had gotten really low.

I read here on The Dis that if you buy a Verizon pay-as-you-go phone at Wal-mart, you can use it for a while and then have Verizon activate it on your calling plan. That way you can get a much nicer phone for around $40.00 vs paying $300 at Verizon.

 

[MyBuddyBaloo]

My son has twice purchased phones on e-bay. I was a little leary, but he had no problems. I think both times he bought from high volume dealers with high ratings.

We are on Alltel. You can call customer service on the phone and they will talk you though changing service to the new phone. Make sure you use your land line or another cell phone to make the call. They will ask you for numbers located inside battery compartments of the new and old phone.

 

[pamjb]

I have bought phones 3 times from Ebay. One of the managers at our local Verizon store recommended this to me when my oldest (then 15) forget his phone was in his pants pocket until after they came out of the dryer.
I was able to activate the phone online thru verizonwireless.com. Never had a problem. Twice it thru a private seller and the other was thru a Powerseller. I have also purchased cell phone batteries this way ($3 each).

 

[Darcy03231]

I've bought several phones on eBay and never had any issues.

 

[missliberty]

I have purchased 4 phones on Ebay with really good results. The 2 most important things to do are to read the reviews and feedback of the seller and to check the status of the ESN number they provide. I never purchase from a seller with less than 99.7% good feedback and I have yet to be burned. You can check the status of the ESN by calling your local Verizon dealer. They can check it for you. Also, make sure the phone is still compatible with Verizon when you check the status of the ESN. Sometimes older phone no longer work with the carrier. Good luck! You can save a lot of money this way but I might suggest the insurance plan in the future.

 

[luvmy3]

If you buy from ebay you need to make sure it works on Verizon's network. Verizon phones do not take SIM cards.
I have been burned on a phone from ebay. I purchased one and when I went to activate it, Verizon could not because it had not been scanned at the store where it was purchased. It was clear to me that it was their way of saying it was stolen. The seller had excellent feedback but turned out thay they bought the phone from another ebayer to make a profit and never bothered to check it before listing it themself.
Anyway I learned that you need to ask for the ESIN number from the phone and call Verizon to verify it can be activated before you agree to purchase. If the seller refuses to give it to you beforehand-run away and find another phone/seller.

 

[sueh]

I bought my blackberry from Ebay. I also have the verizon network.
I didn't have any problems at all when I switched to the new phone.

Good Luck.

 

[JB2K]

My advice, if you are buying a used phone from eBay, etc., you need to:

• Make sure the ESN is clear (you can normally do that by calling the handset carrier's customer service -- for example, if the handset has "Verizon" stamped on it, call VZW customer service).
• Make sure the phone's technology is compatible with your specific carrier (Verizon and Sprint use CDMA phones while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM).
• If you are buying a phone that was assigned to a carrier other than your own, make sure the phone is unlocked.

I read here on The Dis that if you buy a Verizon pay-as-you-go phone at Wal-mart, you can use it for a while and then have Verizon activate it on your calling plan. That way you can get a much nicer phone for around $40.00 vs paying $300 at Verizon.

An easier (and legal) way to swap phones is (for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers only) to buy one of the prepaid handsets at a major retailer and once you get it home, perform either an "ESN Swap" (Verizon), or switch-out the SIM Card (AT&T/T-Mobile) from old handset to new.

 

[AristocatFan]

We have purchased our last 4 cell phones on eBay. That's the only way we'll go from now on with teenagers who are so hard on phones! Only once did we receive a phone with a bad ESN number, I contacted the seller, they paid for shipment back and gave me a full refund. I only deal with cell phone powersellers with feedback ratings of 99% or higher. It is sooo worth it if you are cautious.

 

[luvmy3]

My advice, if you are buying a used phone from eBay, etc., you need to:

• Make sure the ESN is clear (you can normally do that by calling the handset carrier's customer service -- for example, if the handset has "Verizon" stamped on it, call VZW customer service).
• Make sure the phone's technology is compatible with your specific carrier (Verizon and Sprint use CDMA phones while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM).
• If you are buying a phone that was assigned to a carrier other than your own, make sure the phone is unlocked.

An easier (and legal) way to swap phones is (for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers only) to buy one of the prepaid handsets at a major retailer and once you get it home, perform either an "ESN Swap" (Verizon), or switch-out the SIM Card (AT&T/T-Mobile) from old handset to new.

What the pp described is legal. If you are a verizon customer you cannot just buy a pre-pay phone and then swap ESN's. You need to be a pre-paid customer for a certain amount of time before Verizon will allow that.

 

[southernbelle5672]

I wouldn't do it because I think it is a total luck of the draw on whether or not it will work when you get it. My sister bought one off of there (it was supposed to be an iphone) but it was a cheap imitation in which the touch screen did not work at all. She paid $70 for it and has no way of getting her money back.

A friend of mine also bought a razor phone off of there for around $80 and the screen was so scratched up that you couldn't see anything on it. He, again, had no way to get his money back.

I would say it's a risk.

 

[JB2K]

What the pp described is legal. If you are a verizon customer you cannot just buy a pre-pay phone and then swap ESN's. You need to be a pre-paid customer for a certain amount of time before Verizon will allow that.

Incorrect...

I have been a VZW customer for many years, now -- and on a few occassions I have purchased prepaid handsets (from Walmart, Target, etc.) and performed an "ESN Swap" over the phone with VZW customer service.

 

[bootleg89]

If you buy off ebay just make sure they are coming from US not over seas. My brother bought one from overseas and had nothing but trouble with it. He learned a caluable lesson.

 

[maggiew]

UPDATE!!!

I called Verizon today to ask about buying a phone off eBay and if it would work, etc. The customer service agent said she could give me a "deal" on a new phone with warranty - she gave me the 1 year contract price but without the 1 year contract. It only extends our current contract from June 2011 to today's date in 2011. It will cost me $69 after rebate. I was looking at buying one off a Power seller on ebay and the completed auctions for those ran from $55 to $70. And this was an older style phone. So I went ahead and took the Verizon new phone so I wouldn't have to deal with eBay.

And I got insurance for her phone this time ...

Thanks for all the tips!!

Maggie

 

[luvmy3]

Incorrect...

I have been a VZW customer for many years, now -- and on a few occassions I have purchased prepaid handsets (from Walmart, Target, etc.) and performed an "ESN Swap" over the phone with VZW customer service.

I stand corrected.