Buying a Phone off eBay/Question About Buying at Sam's

[CalDisneyMomof2]

In October of 2015 my phone was stolen at a college football game (had it just 6 months). I reported it stolen and based off many positive reviews here, purchased a used phone through a reputable eBay seller. I paid about $375 for a $700 phone (however, much less because this was when eBay churning/eBay Bucks was hot).

Anyway, fast forward a year and a half later and my phone went through a system update last night. I go to try and send a text message this morning and it says my phone is suspended. So I call and inquire and am told that my phone has been reported lost or stolen. I ask to verify that he means the one I CURRENTLY have rather than the one I reported and we verify the phone's information and am told yes, the phone I have been using is a stolen phone. 18 months later. After a system update.

It's all really strange to me - I'm not even sure if there's anything I can do about the matter with eBay or the eBay seller or Paypal etc. But I did want to put out a word of warning to others that may think about purchasing their phone on eBay. When I asked the Verizon rep why it would take this long for the phone to come up Lost/Stolen he said it's common for this to happen during system updates. So while you may have purchased your phone 6,9,12 months ago, you may still not be in the clear.

So my question about Sam's is pretty simple. My mom has a membership and I go shop with her every so often. No big deal. I'm not interested in the Galaxy S8, I'll be fine with the 7. I know when a new phone comes out they drop the price of the old model. Anyone know if I go with her to the phone kiosk if they'll give me a hard time about not having a membership? Or once I'm in, I'm in? Thanks!

 

[MrPTato]

In October of 2015 my phone was stolen at a college football game (had it just 6 months). I reported it stolen and based off many positive reviews here, purchased a used phone through a reputable eBay seller. I paid about $375 for a $700 phone (however, much less because this was when eBay churning/eBay Bucks was hot).

Anyway, fast forward a year and a half later and my phone went through a system update last night. I go to try and send a text message this morning and it says my phone is suspended. So I call and inquire and am told that my phone has been reported lost or stolen. I ask to verify that he means the one I CURRENTLY have rather than the one I reported and we verify the phone's information and am told yes, the phone I have been using is a stolen phone. 18 months later. After a system update.

It's all really strange to me - I'm not even sure if there's anything I can do about the matter with eBay or the eBay seller or Paypal etc. But I did want to put out a word of warning to others that may think about purchasing their phone on eBay. When I asked the Verizon rep why it would take this long for the phone to come up Lost/Stolen he said it's common for this to happen during system updates. So while you may have purchased your phone 6,9,12 months ago, you may still not be in the clear.

So my question about Sam's is pretty simple. My mom has a membership and I go shop with her every so often. No big deal. I'm not interested in the Galaxy S8, I'll be fine with the 7. I know when a new phone comes out they drop the price of the old model. Anyone know if I go with her to the phone kiosk if they'll give me a hard time about not having a membership? Or once I'm in, I'm in? Thanks!

Shouldn't be an issue!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Shouldn't be an issue!

Thank you! I will give it a try.

 

[MrPTato]

Thank you! I will give it a try.

Forgot to mention...that stinks that it took that long to report it stolen...I would have thought it would just disable once it was reported.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

You will have no problem at Sam's Club.

Thanks for the warning about eBay. This past summer we just upgraded all of our phones (4 of them) and decided to buy new because of horror stories like this. We'd been looking on eBay and found some pretty good deals, but were scared off by the fact that they could be reported stolen long after the purchase and long after any buyer protection is gone. Sorry you had to go through this. Dishonest people suck!

 

[wendow]

Oh my, I am sorry to hear that. I also have an iphone I bought off ebay last Oct (using ebucks). Now I am worried!!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Forgot to mention...that stinks that it took that long to report it stolen...I would have thought it would just disable once it was reported.

It's all very strange to be honest. There's a little more to the story. Before I hung up with him he said that the phone has been reactivated but that once I start using it, it will be suspended again. So here I have been texting my husband and a couple others and it's still working... wouldn't they just suspend it all together rather than reactivating it?

I'm like wondering if they reactivated it on purpose and the FBI is going to come pounding on my door at any minute

Edit:
Oh, one more thing about the incident. When I originally did a chat online, the lady said that people's account having been suspended was a known issue after this most recent update. I'm wondering if everything is just a big 'ol mistake? I'm hesitant to spend a couple hundred dollars on a phone if it's not necessary but I also don't want to be stuck without one. All of our old phones are no longer usable so that's out of the question.

 

[Albort]

for 2nd hand phones, there is a risk. you can always try calling the provider and see if its paid off and off the account to help ease your mind.

As for Sams Club, my mom and I just keep switching membership. Even though the membership is not in my name, they dont seem to care. If you worry, add yourself as the 2nd household holder.

 

[robinb]

In October of 2015 my phone was stolen at a college football game (had it just 6 months). I reported it stolen and based off many positive reviews here, purchased a used phone through a reputable eBay seller. I paid about $375 for a $700 phone (however, much less because this was when eBay churning/eBay Bucks was hot).

Anyway, fast forward a year and a half later and my phone went through a system update last night. I go to try and send a text message this morning and it says my phone is suspended. So I call and inquire and am told that my phone has been reported lost or stolen. I ask to verify that he means the one I CURRENTLY have rather than the one I reported and we verify the phone's information and am told yes, the phone I have been using is a stolen phone. 18 months later. After a system update.

That stinks! Can you check the IMEI here: https://www.imeidetective.com/ or http://www.imeipro.info/ . Does it show up as stolen?

I would still reach out to the eBay seller if only to let them know that they sold a stolen phone. They might surprise you.

ETA: If your phone is now working I would just go along like you have been. No one is going to arrest you.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

That stinks! Can you check the IMEI here: https://www.imeidetective.com/ or http://www.imeipro.info/ . Does it show up as stolen?

I would still reach out to the eBay seller if only to let them know that they sold a stolen phone. They might surprise you.

ETA: If your phone is now working I would just go along like you have been. No one is going to arrest you.

Wow! I have never seen those sites. The phone comes up as clean!!!

Edit: Just looked at the details; it says Samsung but it isn't the correct model listed. This is just all too weird! LoL

And I was just half kidding about the FBI coming to my house

 

[Albort]

That stinks! Can you check the IMEI here: https://www.imeidetective.com/ or http://www.imeipro.info/ . Does it show up as stolen?

I would still reach out to the eBay seller if only to let them know that they sold a stolen phone. They might surprise you.

ETA: If your phone is now working I would just go along like you have been. No one is going to arrest you.

the problem isn't that if the seller is selling a stolen phone. it's the fact that it comes clean, then 6 months later, the phone is reported stolen and ur out of ur buyers protection period. the best way to do it is to buy in person and taking it into the store to transfer and check everything.

nevermind: ur talking about a certain case.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Just wanted to update: my phone is still working. I have a feeling the CSR was wrong and was referring to the phone that I lost a year and a half ago.

 

[robinb]

Just wanted to update: my phone is still working. I have a feeling the CSR was wrong and was referring to the phone that I lost a year and a half ago.

I think they were confused too and were trying to cover their butts by telling you that it would be suspended again.