Reputable Used Cell Phone Dealer

[ssawka]

Anyone know of a reputable used cell phone dealer? DW would like to upgrade her phone, but we have Verizon and I do not want to give up our unlimited data. Our only option is to buy a phone outright without a contract. A bran new phone from Verizon will cost at least $500. So I am looking for a used phone, but don't know who to trust. I am not looking for a different carrier or a prepaid phone plan. I just want a new phone.

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly, I would simply search Crisglist (use common sense, always meet in a very public place, don't bring cash with you, leave it with another member of your party whom you can call if you decide to buy and never go alone, at least you and one more person (preferably two). But with Craigslist you will be able to inspect the phone before purchasing, I think this is the most reliable way. Look for Water damage as well, by using a light to look in the head phone jack to look for signs of corrosion, as well as in any usb connectors, etc.

Look for a red/pink dot on a sticker under the battery, if it is removable, if there is one, say no thank you and walk away.

Make sure it turns off and on, can connect to a cell tower, call Verizon and check that the IMEI number has not been reported as stolen (the last two items can be verified best if you go to a Verizon store to meet at, they can also help inspect for water damage, but some reps may not be willing to since you aren't buying from them).

 

[ibob52]

Gazelle.com ... they sell on Ebay ... I prefer to buy from them ...

They have a 30 day return policy. They are a used cell phone buyer.

I got a iphone Listed **very good condition*** without a scratch on it.

Older Generation phones are cheapr than this year or last year models.

Always make sure to read sellers discription of item.

Extra warranty can be purchased through Squaretrade - Safeware - etc

I would deff buy from them again.

 

[Lisa0620]

I bought a used iphone from beigephone.com. The purchase portion was great. The phone came in a box and looked brand new and works perfectly. (Porting my old number through them was a nightmare, though. Service wasn't their strong suit.)

 

[cornflake]

Have you tried asking at a Verizon store?

Some sell phones (I once got a phone when I was looking for something cheap when the store worker said they had some returns in the back that they sell for cheap but don't put out on the floor), sometimes people who work there know of phones. I was looking around, the guy asked if he could help me, I said, 'well, I really wanted...' he said he knew someone with one, come back tomorrow with $.

He showed me the phone worked, opened everything so I could inspect it then swapped all my stuff over, voila.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Cowboom is probably OK. We got iPads from there and they have been great, no complaints at all.

 

[Mickey527]

Check out what they have available at Best buy. they have a contract with Verizon so they can get you a phone that is compatible with their service for either free or very cheap. Much cheaper than what you would pay at the Verizon store and much more reliable than buying used.
I have AT&T and got an android Motorola HTC for free. I did have to sign on to another 2 years but I have been with them since 2001 and am happy and did plan on staying anyhow.
My son just bought an Iphone 4S for $49.99 although he did buy the 2 year contract for another $250. good thing, his phone was stolen 2 days after he bought it but they sent him another new one.

 

[ssawka]

Gazelle.com ... they sell on Ebay ... I prefer to buy from them ...

They have a 30 day return policy. They are a used cell phone buyer.

I got a iphone Listed **very good condition*** without a scratch on it.

Older Generation phones are cheapr than this year or last year models.

Always make sure to read sellers discription of item.

Extra warranty can be purchased through Squaretrade - Safeware - etc

I would deff buy from them again.

Thank you for the suggestion. I will take a look at Gazelle.com. The problem with much older phones is that we definitely want a 4G phone as we live in a metro area that has widespread 4G coverage. DW has a 4G phone now, but it is a Thunderbolt (the first 4G phone on Verizon) so it is heavy and the battery life is horrible.

Have you tried asking at a Verizon store?

Some sell phones (I once got a phone when I was looking for something cheap when the store worker said they had some returns in the back that they sell for cheap but don't put out on the floor), sometimes people who work there know of phones. I was looking around, the guy asked if he could help me, I said, 'well, I really wanted...' he said he knew someone with one, come back tomorrow with $.

He showed me the phone worked, opened everything so I could inspect it then swapped all my stuff over, voila.

I thought about heading over to the Verizon store to check with the salespeople. Online, Verizon does not give much of a deal for their Certified Pre-Owned. About $50 or so.

Check out what they have available at Best buy. they have a contract with Verizon so they can get you a phone that is compatible with their service for either free or very cheap. Much cheaper than what you would pay at the Verizon store and much more reliable than buying used.
I have AT&T and got an android Motorola HTC for free. I did have to sign on to another 2 years but I have been with them since 2001 and am happy and did plan on staying anyhow.
My son just bought an Iphone 4S for $49.99 although he did buy the 2 year contract for another $250. good thing, his phone was stolen 2 days after he bought it but they sent him another new one.

Thank you for the suggestion, but I do not want to change carriers since Verizon has the best coverage and both phones are grandfathered into the unlimited data plan. The whole point of buying used is that I want to keep unlimited data. The only carrier that still offers unlimited is Sprint and I don't want to switch. Besides I still have a year and a half left on the contract on the other phone.

 

[pjlla]

If you opt for a certified pre-owned, check around for history on the particular model of phone you want. DD wanted a particular phone that was ONLY available as a CPO.... and now 11 months later she is on her FOURTH of these phones. All replaced by Verizon, but SO MUCH HASSLE! And not ONE of them has worked right at any point.... but sometimes she has been able to "limp along" for a few weeks with them. I am FED UP and will be DEMANDING that they replace it next time with a different model.... I understand it will still be a CPO, but I am done with this particular model.

I too will be looking into buying used phones in the future, as it is getting impossible to buy a new phone that doesn't require a data package. I refuse to pay for a data package for my two teens and my 3+ year old phone has a $10/month data package that I was grandfathered into when the plan prices changed. When I change phones, I will lose that $10/month package.......P

 

[Swimalie]

I accidentally got my phone wet and didn't want to upgrade with Verizon in order to get a new phone. I just bought a phone from this store on ebay http://www.ebay.com/sch/wirelessbliss/m.html?item=221114093709&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 The new phone came yesterday in great shape, easy set-up and it was great.

 

[robinb]

Cowboom is probably OK. We got iPads from there and they have been great, no complaints at all.

I was going to suggest Cowboom too. I am considering buying my DD a Galaxy S and I've been watching them for a while.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

I used Cowboom to buy my most recent phone. They offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

I had a terrible (almost new) phone from Sprint and had just signed up for another 2 years to get it. It malfunctioned all the time, the best Sprint could do was charge me $100 and send me a refurb of the same exact model. No thanks!

I did lots of research and ended up picking a phone on Cowboom. Looked brand new and has worked perfectly. I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again. They seem to mark most of their average phones at grade 5, I jumped on the first grade 6 I found. I wouldn't buy anything marked 4 or lower.

 

[westjones]

I haven't bought an iPhone, but we just bought a phone to use (on Verizon) from Amazon.com

We don't want to pay for the data and they do not have many good options for non data phones (we want a full keyboard), so we just got a used Alias (they had some new ones but the used was cheaper and only $28 so we took a chance).

It is working well so far. It has been a month now. There are lots of phones on Amazon. Honestly if one of our phones break I will get another one from Amazon.

 

[ssawka]

Thank you to everyone that replied. I think I have another plan that will let me keep our unlimited data plan and upgrade DW's phone.