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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Verizon wireless > September 2005 > Buying a NEW (unused) phone on Ebay.
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| Author |
Buying a NEW (unused) phone on Ebay.
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| Sharon Pederson 2005-09-24, 5:48 pm |
| I read the discussion here about activating service (VZW) on the
website, found it...but it has two choices:
1. New phone (and asks for a location code, etc. from the receipt)
Which I assume it means they think you got the phone directly from an
authorized VZW phone seller)
2. Activating a previously used phone
My question is this (before I buy a phone): Can you activate a NEVER
BEFORE USED phone bought from Ebay on the VZW site?
I have a very old Startac that I want to replace with a new phone (I am
one of the few people who rarely uses the thing...) I have a terrific
REALLY LOW cost old VZW plan that I want to keep so I am looking for a
functional, low end phone that I can attach to my existing plan
seamlessly. I'm currently watching a Motorola V265 and an LG VX3200.
Nothing fancy.
| |
| Savvy 1 2005-09-24, 5:48 pm |
| "Sharon Pederson" <slpederson@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1127576012.952707.93930@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I read the discussion here about activating service (VZW) on the
> website, found it...but it has two choices:
>
> 1. New phone (and asks for a location code, etc. from the receipt)
> Which I assume it means they think you got the phone directly from an
> authorized VZW phone seller)
>
> 2. Activating a previously used phone
>
> My question is this (before I buy a phone): Can you activate a NEVER
> BEFORE USED phone bought from Ebay on the VZW site?
>
> I have a very old Startac that I want to replace with a new phone (I am
> one of the few people who rarely uses the thing...) I have a terrific
> REALLY LOW cost old VZW plan that I want to keep so I am looking for a
> functional, low end phone that I can attach to my existing plan
> seamlessly. I'm currently watching a Motorola V265 and an LG VX3200.
> Nothing fancy.
>
You can activate any unlocked and not-reported-stolen Verizon-compatible
CDMA phone yourself online as long as it's GPS/e911 enabled. Be careful- a
lot of the older phones aren't so be sure before you bid.
Safest bet is ask the seller for the ESN and check it with VZW before you
bid.
S1
| |
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| I have a similiar question too. I have a family plan, but one of the
phones recently went on the fritz. It still works, but is pretty
"static-y". Apparently my water detection dot has turned red somehow,
so VZW won't do anything for me.
I think I just need to get a new phone and pay the $15 to swap my old
one for the new one. right?
So, is Ebay the best place to get a new(er) phone - without a service
plan ?
At the verizon store the guy said his cheapest phone would be $179. I
have an older (non-GPS) phone, but I guess I can't use that anymore.
I poked around Amazon alittle bit, but their prices w/o service don't
look too great.
Thanks for any advice.
Matt
| |
|
| Well, I went to Best Buy and practically had to scream at the guys that
I DID NOT WANT NEW SERVICE..just a new phone. They looked at me like I
had worms coming out of my eyes, ears and nose...The best they could
for me was about $120.00 (bottom of the line phone) but they "would"
sell me one and activate it (for a fee).
I have been doing google searches - there are places to buy (besides
E-bay) "previously used" and some new cell phones without having to
also purchase a new contract. But, from the previous post, you must
make sure they are newer phones that are GPS enabled AND work with your
service provider. The problem with E-bay is it looks to me like mostly
"fly by" sellers are selling phones - that scares me - the ones with
little or no or, worse yet, private feedback..that scares me on Ebay -
too much nonsense on there lately.
I found a pretty good site for comparing phones and features -
http://www.mobiledia.com
Maybe that will help you choose a phone and then you can google it to
see if you can find a seller that doesn't require a service plan.
| |
| Reid Priedhorsky 2005-09-24, 5:48 pm |
| On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 09:44:28 -0700, matt wrote:
>
> I think I just need to get a new phone and pay the $15 to swap my old
> one for the new one. right?
You don't need to pay -- you can do it online for free.
> So, is Ebay the best place to get a new(er) phone - without a service
> plan ?
I've had some good experiences and some bad experiences. Buy from someone
who has excellent feedback, ask them a question to feel them out a little,
and read through the feedback to see what the negative/neutral people have
to say.
Reid
| |
|
| You can also buy some models of new phones directly from Motorola at
www.motorola.com
"Sharon Pederson" <slpederson@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1127576012.952707.93930@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I read the discussion here about activating service (VZW) on the
> website, found it...but it has two choices:
>
> 1. New phone (and asks for a location code, etc. from the receipt)
> Which I assume it means they think you got the phone directly from an
> authorized VZW phone seller)
>
> 2. Activating a previously used phone
>
> My question is this (before I buy a phone): Can you activate a NEVER
> BEFORE USED phone bought from Ebay on the VZW site?
>
> I have a very old Startac that I want to replace with a new phone (I am
> one of the few people who rarely uses the thing...) I have a terrific
> REALLY LOW cost old VZW plan that I want to keep so I am looking for a
> functional, low end phone that I can attach to my existing plan
> seamlessly. I'm currently watching a Motorola V265 and an LG VX3200.
> Nothing fancy.
>
| |
|
|
"Savvy 1" <nospam@nospam> wrote in message
news:qfmdnV2Zcq6G5aj
eRVn-vA@comcast.com...
> "Sharon Pederson" <slpederson@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1127576012.952707.93930@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>
> You can activate any unlocked and not-reported-stolen Verizon-compatible
> CDMA phone yourself online as long as it's GPS/e911 enabled. Be careful- a
> lot of the older phones aren't so be sure before you bid.
True! I tried to activate an older phone that didn't have GPS enabled and it
didn't work. In the past, it worked fine. Too bad I didn't have the phone I
really wanted activated prior to them making these changes permanent.
>
> Safest bet is ask the seller for the ESN and check it with VZW before you
> bid.
>
> S1
>
| |
|
| Another option that is often stated in this newsgroup is to ask at a VZW
store for a refurbished phone (the ones they replace yours with if yours
has problems under warranty). I think people have stated that they'll
sell them for around $50.
Steve
matt wrote:
> I have a similiar question too. I have a family plan, but one of the
> phones recently went on the fritz. It still works, but is pretty
> "static-y". Apparently my water detection dot has turned red somehow,
> so VZW won't do anything for me.
>
> I think I just need to get a new phone and pay the $15 to swap my old
> one for the new one. right?
>
> So, is Ebay the best place to get a new(er) phone - without a service
> plan ?
>
> At the verizon store the guy said his cheapest phone would be $179. I
> have an older (non-GPS) phone, but I guess I can't use that anymore.
>
> I poked around Amazon alittle bit, but their prices w/o service don't
> look too great.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Matt
>
| |
| dr news 2005-09-27, 2:48 am |
| Sharon, I agree with Savvy. * Most new/used CDMA phones can be activated on
VZW if aGPS. New or not doesn't matter.
* But the phones need to be on VZW's currently approved list, and best to
check with VZW CS with the proposed make, model, and esn to be sure. dr
--
dr.news Better Price? (not better than you deserve, just more than you are
used to)
If I can help: dr.news@better-price.biz.delete-the-obvious or thru this
notes forum.
home of the better priced phone and service:
http://free.better-price.biz
"Savvy 1" <nospam@nospam> wrote in message
news:qfmdnV2Zcq6G5aj
eRVn-vA@comcast.com...
> "Sharon Pederson" <slpederson@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1127576012.952707.93930@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
<snip>[color=darkred]
>
> You can activate any unlocked and not-reported-stolen Verizon-compatible
> CDMA phone yourself online as long as it's GPS/e911 enabled. Be careful- a
> lot of the older phones aren't so be sure before you bid.
>
> Safest bet is ask the seller for the ESN and check it with VZW before you
> bid.
>
> S1
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| dr news wrote:
[snip paraphrase of previous poster]
thanks for repeatedly spamming us with your sig.
-Quick
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