Where can I buy a used cell phone....or should I?

[LisaR]

My DD's cell phone died. We have AT&T (less than a year into our 2 year contract). Her sim card works because I tried it in my phone. Can I just buy any phone that takes a cell phone and put her old card in? Where does one buy a phone like this? If I go to an actual store, won't I need a new contract? Is it safe to buy something like this on Ebay or Craigslist? Can you tell I don't have a clue what I am doing?

 

[southern_redhead]

Oh, don't bother with a used one. Go to Walmart or a Radio Shack and buy her any gophone then use her SIM in it. It'll work fine and be new. You can even order them off their website and get some of the current regular phones that they refurbed and put out as a gophone. I dropped my phone in water this year, don't have an upgrade until 5/11, and this is what I'm doing

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have purchased used cell phones on eBay. It is safe if you are careful. Find a seller with at least a 99% positive feedback rating who has sold many cell phones and read their feedback. Make sure you buy a phone which will work with AT&T. This is a lot cheaper than buying a new phone at full price.

If you do buy a new phone at full price from AT&T, you don't sign a new contract.

 

[momof5boys]

I agree with the poster that said walmart! I have replaced quite a few water damaged phones that way and they are cheap, $20-$60, just put the SIM card in and you're good to go! No waiting, wondering or shipping fees!

 

[karriemouse]

Definitly buy new at Walmart! Buy any gophone and put the sim in it and she will be good to go. Any issues and you have a receipt and a store to go back to unlike the problems you could have on ebay.

DH and I have done this when his old UK phone with a US sim stopped working. For $40 we bought a great phone from Walmart. DD17 'needed' a US phone too, so we went back to Walmart, bought a $15 phone with $10 credit and used the sim in her UK phone. No problems either time.

 

[torinsmom]

I've bought a few used phones on ebay. Make sure it is unlocked and and AT&T phone. You should be able to just stick in the sim card and go, but it would be good to go to the AT&T website and switch your info to the new phone.

 

[momto2inKC]

Oh, don't bother with a used one. Go to Walmart or a Radio Shack and buy her any gophone then use her SIM in it. It'll work fine and be new. You can even order them off their website and get some of the current regular phones that they refurbed and put out as a gophone. I dropped my phone in water this year, don't have an upgrade until 5/11, and this is what I'm doing

My daughters phone broke and this is what we did. I found a Pantech Link refurb go phone and ordered her it for $30. She loves the phone, I must admit, it's quite nice! Her upgrade isn't until next July.

 

[crazelion]

I would check Att wireless store on line because they is having some killer deals on go-phones lately. You buy a nokia for 5.00 brand new phone. They also have the pantech link for 29.99.

You can buy phones from amazon to. That is where I bought my LG Prime and love it. I have apps and all kinds of games. I have books on my phone too.

Yes can can go unlocked gsm phone too.

Easy way just go Wal-mart and Att go-phone ans switch out the sim cards.

I have back up phones me and mom break phones easily. They is coming with must better options go-phones.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I have purchased off of craigslist but you need to call your carrier to verify that the phone is ok to use while you are still with the seller. You carrier will transfer the phone over to your account, then you pay the seller.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks so much! I didn't know a go-phone would work. I happen to have one of those in a drawer somewhere!

 

[crazelion]

Thanks so much! I didn't know a go-phone would work. I happen to have one of those in a drawer somewhere!

Great save. I know keep one as back-up since they is so cheap

 

[tar heel]

Will a gophone work with any carrier? My teen's phone's screen has gone dead. We have Verizon. I bought one on Craig's list when his older brother's died, but I'm not seeing much there at the moment.

 

[crazelion]

Will a gophone work with any carrier? My teen's phone's screen has gone dead. We have Verizon. I bought one on Craig's list when his older brother's died, but I'm not seeing much there at the moment.

I am not sure what do about Verizon. Maybe the verizon experts can help in that area.

I have ATT because I can switch sim cards easily when I break my phone. Verizon is CDMA not sure what they how they replace there phones.

May this forum will help you:
http://www.howardforums.com/content.php

 

[savage1]

Are you saying that the phone is less than a year old? Most phones under AT&T have a one year warranty - you can probably get it replaced for free. Worth a call.

 

[binab]

I would also double check with AT&T that activating a different phone does not reset your upgrade eligibility date. We had something similar happen with Sprint, activated a different phone only temporarily - thinking we could upgrade when our next eligibility date came up. Nope. They said it was based on how long the phone was active, not how long since the last "free" upgrade. Not saying AT&T operates that way, but would be worth knowing if they do...

 

[RangerPooh]

We have replaced numerous phone by purchasing an ATT go phone at Walmart. It's much cheaper than adding a new line or paying for the new phone at ATT prices. We've purchased phones off of ebay in the past but wouldn't do it again. Doing that's hit or miss, and we've had both good and not so good experiences.

 

[crazelion]

We have replaced numerous phone by purchasing an ATT go phone at Walmart. It's much cheaper than adding a new line or paying for the new phone at ATT prices. We've purchased phones off of ebay in the past but wouldn't do it again. Doing that's hit or miss, and we've had both good and not so good experiences.

I am leery of ebay buying phones. ATT has some good option now for go phones. I don't think ever buy a use phone again.

 

[JB2K]

I am not sure what do about Verizon. Maybe the verizon experts can help in that area.

I have ATT because I can switch sim cards easily when I break my phone. Verizon is CDMA not sure what they how they replace there phones.

May this forum will help you:
http://www.howardforums.com/content.php

Here's the quick story:

AT&T "Go Phones" are locked to AT&T only (meaning while you can use any AT&T SIM Card, you cannot use the SIM card of another carrier, such as T-Mobile).

As for Verizon, there was a time you could buy any Verizon prepaid handset at Walmart or Target and do what was known as a "ESN Transfer" to swap from the broken/damaged phone to a newer handset without entering into a new contract. Verizon has since caught on to this and no longer allows it (so they can lock you into another 2-year contract).

Hope this clears things up.

 

[LisaR]

Here's the quick story:

AT&T "Go Phones" are locked to AT&T only (meaning while you can use any AT&T SIM Card, you cannot use the SIM card of another carrier, such as T-Mobile).

As for Verizon, there was a time you could buy any Verizon prepaid handset at Walmart or Target and do what was known as a "ESN Transfer" to swap from the broken/damaged phone to a newer handset without entering into a new contract. Verizon has since caught on to this and no longer allows it (so they can lock you into another 2-year contract).

Hope this clears things up.

Thanks for the info! Do you know if you can use an AT&T sim card in other carrier's phones (like T Mobile)?

 

[princessmom29]

Thanks for the info! Do you know if you can use an AT&T sim card in other carrier's phones (like T Mobile)?

no, you cannot. They are on different frequencies. There is a backdoor way to unlock them, and that info is often sold on ebay.