Buying used cell phone from Ebay?

[4Seasons]

I want to replace my dinosaur of a cell phone but don't want to extend our Verizon contract (we have just over a year left), since it doesn't work well from our house (not a big problem for my husband and daughter as they are gone during the day, but I work from home and don't get a signal). I'm looking at the LG chocolate and I'm wondering if I get one can I just call Verizon (or take it in) and have my number switched to the new (used) phone? Will they charge me an activation fee? Anyone have a clue how this works?

I'm so confused, LOL.

 

[DebMcDonald]

Make sure you are buying a phone that is verizon ready or unlocked. When you get your new/used phone you can go on line and switch it over for free. If you call 611 on your cell phone they will charge you for switching it over. It's as simple as that.

I've bought used cell phones previously when I wanted to do the same thing with cingular and I didn't have any problems.

 

[Lorikr65]

I have Cingular and when my daughter's phone got wet we just put her SIM card into the old phone and it worked. I think as long as it's a Verizon phone you just have to put the SIM card in the new phone but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I have Cingular and when my daughter's phone got wet we just put her SIM card into the old phone and it worked. I think as long as it's a Verizon phone you just have to put the SIM card in the new phone but I'm not 100% sure.

Verizon doesn't have sim cards, you just take the ID number from the inside of your phone.

 

[brentalex]

I want to replace my dinosaur of a cell phone but don't want to extend our Verizon contract (we have just over a year left), since it doesn't work well from our house (not a big problem for my husband and daughter as they are gone during the day, but I work from home and don't get a signal). I'm looking at the LG chocolate and I'm wondering if I get one can I just call Verizon (or take it in) and have my number switched to the new (used) phone? Will they charge me an activation fee? Anyone have a clue how this works?

I'm so confused, LOL.

If you buy the LG chocolate, it will work on the verizon network. Once you get it, you can activate it online. You will need the numbers from the inside of the phone where the battery goes. You choose the number that you want to activate the new phone for, and enter the numbers from inside the phone. As long as it is a verizon compatible phone and it is location capable, it will work.

 

[Debbiebee68]

As long as the cell phone is a Verizon cell phone, it will be fine. You just call Verizon Wireless and give them the serial # of the phone and such. They hook it up right away. A colleague of mine gave me a Motorola Q because I was not sure I wanted a Blackberry-type thing and I wanted to try it before I invested in a new one. It was easy as pie. My only reservation about buying a used phone is that you have to make sure the phone is not stolen and that the battery life is ok. The more a battery is charged, (especially if it is not let Q, but the representative at the Verizon wireless store was able to track me down a battery from a store that had one on clearance. I am 99 percent that Verizon does not use sim cards at all.

Good luck. My friend has an LG Chocolate and raves about it!!

 

[disneymarie]

I had just upgraded my Verizon and signed the other years...but I had a LG 8300.
I had a second one I got from Ebay as a back up. The seller had the chargers, all paperwork and it was a Verizon phone. I never did have a problem with my original phone but I was natorious to run the over, wash and dry, drop etc. so that was why when I was so happy with that one I got the second. Now I just wait to see if son wants a plan, I can let him use that one.

The old seris of Chocolate had an internal problem, the newer version has corrected that. I would watch not to get the older version, not sure how to tell the difference.

The LG line is a good one, I know that I loved the 8300.
The upgrade this spring was to one with a QWERTY text pad inside, I learned to text It is a straight phone that flips open. I think on the plan it was $50.
Great reception. It has keys not a touch screen. I am so hard on phones I did not trust keeping that type safe.

Check them out at Verizon first. they have a test center to make calls from. I hate phones with a echo. Then look on Ebay to see if you can find that phone. and a reliable seller.

If you know that your staying with Verizon, as I finally figured out, I just got the new phone. It is finding the new phone you like. I tried the LG 8350 as it was the upgrade of my 8300, but hated trying to flip open the phone. I had a certain spot on the bottom or side and could not get use to it. They gave me the trial plan. I could not get use to opening it, and then got this Maroon color, slek, nice....it does tend to call people if I put it in my pocket even though it has a lock on it to press OK to unlock....

LG has been a great reloable phone, just like I said watch put for the older Chocolats.
di

But the reception was great except in the back of KMart.

 

[4Seasons]

If you buy the LG chocolate, it will work on the verizon network. Once you get it, you can activate it online. You will need the numbers from the inside of the phone where the battery goes. You choose the number that you want to activate the new phone for, and enter the numbers from inside the phone. As long as it is a verizon compatible phone and it is location capable, it will work.

Oh sweet! That's what I was hoping to hear! I'm thinking $85 or so for a *new* used phone is much more budget friendly in the long run than extending a phone contract I'm not totally happy with.

Thanks!

 

[4Seasons]

Ok, curve ball here, LOL.

Anyone have the RIM Blackbery 7250? I have been looking at them and love that they have so many cool features.

Any firsthand experience would be highly appreciated!

 

[shelly3girls]

I do not have the exact Blackberry you named but mine is very similar. It is a great phone if you want something for email. I can access limited web pages, enough to google for phone numbers, etc. It is bulky compared to other phones.

 

[Tisha_PA]

I bought a LG strawberry chocolate for DD from ebay after she broke her phone for the 3rd time (but this time it couldn't be easily repaired). I just took the phone up to Verizon and they switched it over -no problem. no activiation fee either.