cell phones

[foreverducky]

Okay, so my phone that I've had for a while has some major cosmetic damage and I would like to buy another phone without adding to our contract. (Due to being grad student and moving around my parents and I decided to get a family plan to make sure that we can stay in contact, no matter where I'm at).

Anyways, I was told that maybe I could get a phone off of ebay. I've personally never shopped at ebay. We are with Verizon. If I bought one from there and it said it was a Verizon phone, what would I have to do to make the new phone work????

Also, has anyone done this or have a better idea...maybe a real store, instead of ebay.

[Keith]

hmmmmmm shudder

I don't know about in the states but over here in the UK, buying phones from ebay is a huge problem.

Over here you get phones that dont work, phones that have been stolen, phones that only work on other networks and so on.

Of course, you buy in good faith and then a week later the phone stops working and when you phone up you're told the networks have blacklisted it's IMEI number because it's been reported stolen.

I should add, I sell my old phones on ebay but as to whether I'd BUY one or not hmmm a whole different ballgame

[foreverducky]

Good one Keith.

So are there any 'real' stores out there to buy phones. That people trust.

[Keith]

Good one Keith.

So are there any 'real' stores out there to buy phones. That people trust.

Well you can buy them all over, bestbuy and any number of places in the mall etc.

The thing is, they're cheaper to buy with a contract than they are "off contract" because the cell provider discounts them in return for you promising to pay $x a month. So most people find it much more economic getting them with a contract than without (especially the newer nicer phones)

[foreverducky]

Oh I know that they are definitely cheaper, but I don't want to add to our contract. So I'm on my own. Hmmm, I will have to check out best buy.

I found one on ebay that I really like, but like I said, I don't know anything about ebay. This cellular place is considered a power seller and has a 99.1 positive thing. They have been selling on ebay for 6 years. Also, they said that the phone is new and with new packaging.

[Keith]

Oh I know that they are definitely cheaper, but I don't want to add to our contract. So I'm on my own. Hmmm, I will have to check out best buy.

I found one on ebay that I really like, but like I said, I don't know anything about ebay. This cellular place is considered a power seller and has a 99.1 positive thing. They have been selling on ebay for 6 years. Also, they said that the phone is new and with new packaging.

Well I must admit, that's a pretty good rating! Perhaps it's worth a shot?

[foreverducky]

Hmm, I still hear the question in your voice. And frankly I'm worried too. It's a lot of money to be scammed you know.

Okay, so I'm browsing Walmart and Best Buy. Lets say I purchase one of these phones, what do I need to do to get it to work as "my" phone and not just a piece of equipment?

[foreverducky]

I'd post the ebay link, but I'm not sure I'm allowed.

[Keith]

I'd post the ebay link, but I'm not sure I'm allowed.

sure you are, dont worry about that remember things with phones are different in the UK, my info may have zero importance in the states and I'm sure someone else will tell us!

In terms of buying a phone from walmart, you'd need to make sure the phone would work with your network, thats the crucial thing. Some phones are what we call "sim free" or "unlocked" or "off network" which means they'll work with any network. Other phones will be tied to your network but that's ok as long as it's the network youre on

You can usually unlock phones that are locked, sometimes free, sometimes with a fee but it's not 100% guaranteed so better to buy the right one from the start

[foreverducky]

Here's the link to the phone/site of the ebay seller. I think this seems like a good deal.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-LG-VX8500-Ch...3A1%7C294%3A50

I guess the unlocked phones don't work with Verizon or Sprint, read that somewhere. On Walmart I can search for Verizon phones only, which is what I have.