Used Cell Phones

[Chicago]

Please help - have 2 teenage girls without cell phones.

My kids broke their phones. Borrowed old phones and broke those too. They just text too much. They are not up for new phones until July. There is no way I'm paying full price on a cell phone. They are Verizon phones. I can't figure out the Ebay thing. Most listings have to have a new contract. I have looked on Craigslist and haven't found too much. Is there another web site?

Please help! They keep taking my phone!

 

[a1tinkfans]

two sets of broken pones, time to learn about Earning them I guess.....
I know of no "real cheapie way actually...BUT cingular has go phones, pay as you go and minutes roll over, you can purchase refurbs much cheaper then new and they're a great service.
Good Luck, TEENS, what ya gonna do

 

[DVCBELLE]

I agree that at this point I would make them go without their phones until July. If they have broken two phones each it would be a good time for them to learn that they need to take better care of their phones.

But since that isn't what you asked - I have gotten phones off ebay before but to get a decent phone with texting capabilities you will still be in the 50-60 range. There are a lot of phones on ebay that dont need contracts - search for used phones - that should help.

 

[Artist]

Do you belong to a freecycle group? I freecycled DH and my old phones when I replaced them.
Of course, I then ended up in a pool with my new phone in my pocket and no old phone as a back up! (I now buy the insurance).
Anyway, my local freecycle groups very frequently have both wanted and offer posts for used phones. You can go to freecycle.org to find your local group. Might be worth a shot.
HTH!

 

[JB2K]

Please help - have 2 teenage girls without cell phones.

My kids broke their phones. Borrowed old phones and broke those too. They just text too much. They are not up for new phones until July. There is no way I'm paying full price on a cell phone. They are Verizon phones. I can't figure out the Ebay thing. Most listings have to have a new contract. I have looked on Craigslist and haven't found too much. Is there another web site?

Please help! They keep taking my phone!

Easy!

Go to any retailer (e.g., Walmart, Target) and buy a couple of Verizon pre-paid handsets (they start at around $20) -- do not activate these phones per the instructions in the package -- instead, call VZW Customer Care and tell the representative you would like to do an "ESN Swap" -- it's painless, contract-less, and takes about 5 minutes to do.

 

[pixiewings71]

You simply need to find someone who has old Verizon phones that they are ready to get rid of. My DD broke her phone and the ins. wouldn't cover it, apparently it got wet so they denied her claim, anyway I gave her my old Verizon phone and she simply activated it and used it until her contract was up. Check Freecycle, check eBay, check Craig's List, I'm sure you can find something. I do agree tho, they need to be more careful with their phones, there's no reason that texting should break a phone.....good luck!

 

[Darcy03231]

When my kids did this I bought used (and cheap & ugly) phones on ebay. They hated them, but had to use them until we could get the free ones. As I recall I paid about $30 for both phones with shipping. I still have them in reserve in case the lose/break the new phones.

 

[prncess674]

Check Craigslist. Here are several listings for cheap phones in the Chicagoland area.


Motorola Razr E815 Verizon - $30 (Nbrook
LG VX9800 - Verizon Wireless – “The V” - $50 (West Loop)
Samsung SCH-A870 for Verizon - $25 (Northwest Suburbs)
2 Verizon Working Used Cell Phones Motorola Razer - $50 (Algonquin / Bartlett / Buffalo Grove)

 

[Faith09]

I just updated my service from alltel to verizon and purchased two voyagers for my son and I. Our old phones are razors V3M. If verizon allow you to use them I'll send them to you FREE of charge if you pay for shipping if you live in the USA.


FAITH

 

[crazelion]

If got a flea market around your home go there. I have bought the newest update phones from the flea market.

 

[Chicago]

Easy!

Go to any retailer (e.g., Walmart, Target) and buy a couple of Verizon pre-paid handsets (they start at around $20) -- do not activate these phones per the instructions in the package -- instead, call VZW Customer Care and tell the representative you would like to do an "ESN Swap" -- it's painless, contract-less, and takes about 5 minutes to do.

I had a friend with AT&T service do that, but Verizon (2 different people) says that I cannot do that. They said that you have to have a prepaid phone for 6 months first. Although, now I'm wondering if they were just trying to get me not to do that Thanks for the information though.

 

[Chicago]

I just updated my service from alltel to verizon and purchased two voyagers for my son and I. Our old phones are razors V3M. If verizon allow you to use them I'll send them to you FREE of charge if you pay for shipping if you live in the USA.


FAITH

That is so kind of you! Do you want to PM me the serial number and I can check with Verizon to see if they will activate the phone? I promise that in 2 months to "pay it forward" and list it on Freecycle or give it to someone else. Yes, I will pay shipping. Oh, and thank you to the person who mentioned Freecycle - I had never heard of it before.

Yes, my kids are hard on their phones because they text a lot. They had their 1st phones repaired many times when it was under warranty. I would punish them without phones, but they are out and about and latch key kids. So, I feel safer that they have a phone on them. It would be more of a punishment to me if they didn't have them. Plus, they keep taking my phone and I drive the tollway. I would hate to break down without a phone on me.