used phones from ebay?

hello. I have a kyocera 2035 phone and it still works quite well for me. I
was thinking about getting a backup phone in case i ever bust this one.

i see another 2035 on ebay for very cheap. Is it ok to buy used phones on
ebay? is there a set of numbers I need to make sure I get with it? Or is
there any other particular models i should look for? I just want something
thats cheap and works.

thanks

---

› See More: used phones from ebay?

"Spork" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Kfa1c.105246$4o.121699@attbi_s52>...
> hello. I have a kyocera 2035 phone and it still works quite well for me. I
> was thinking about getting a backup phone in case i ever bust this one.
>
> i see another 2035 on ebay for very cheap. Is it ok to buy used phones on
> ebay? is there a set of numbers I need to make sure I get with it? Or is
> there any other particular models i should look for? I just want something
> thats cheap and works.
>
> thanks

Before you bid, ask for the ESN (electronic serial number) of the
phone, then call Sprint to make sure that the phone isn't reported as
lost or stolen, or has a balance on it.

Also, see if they can verify what model phone that serial number is
for.

If they tell you a model different than what you thought it was, then
the person sent you the wrong serial number (there is no way for you
to verify that the ESN he gives you is the one for the phone he'll
send you).

Also, if you do buy the phone, when you get it take it to a store to
make sure the ESN isn't lost, stolen or has a balance on it (yes, this
is a little redundant, but it covers your rear). Leave feedback for
the seller, too, good or bad, after you receive the phone, make sure
it works, and the ESN is clear.

Excellent advice, and it's much less complicated than it might seem.
I've been doing this for years and have NEVER had a problem with an
ebay sale.

On 3 Mar 2004 04:37:23 -0800, [email protected] (TechGeek) wrote:

>"Spork" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Kfa1c.105246$4o.121699@attbi_s52>...
>> hello. I have a kyocera 2035 phone and it still works quite well for me. I
>> was thinking about getting a backup phone in case i ever bust this one.
>>
>> i see another 2035 on ebay for very cheap. Is it ok to buy used phones on
>> ebay? is there a set of numbers I need to make sure I get with it? Or is
>> there any other particular models i should look for? I just want something
>> thats cheap and works.
>>
>> thanks
>
>Before you bid, ask for the ESN (electronic serial number) of the
>phone, then call Sprint to make sure that the phone isn't reported as
>lost or stolen, or has a balance on it.
>
>Also, see if they can verify what model phone that serial number is
>for.
>
>If they tell you a model different than what you thought it was, then
>the person sent you the wrong serial number (there is no way for you
>to verify that the ESN he gives you is the one for the phone he'll
>send you).
>
>Also, if you do buy the phone, when you get it take it to a store to
>make sure the ESN isn't lost, stolen or has a balance on it (yes, this
>is a little redundant, but it covers your rear). Leave feedback for
>the seller, too, good or bad, after you receive the phone, make sure
>it works, and the ESN is clear.




----------------------------
To email me, remove the zz.

If you do buy a phone from eBay, or anywhere else for that matter, be aware
that activating it on your SPCS number "restarts the clock" for how SPCS
counts when you last had a new phone when it comes to rebates on a new phone
in the future.

Sprint will usually give you a rebate on a new phone when you sign a new
contract, if the existing phone on the number is at least 18 months old.
Activating a different ESN on the account restarts that clock, and it
doesn't matter whether the phone is really new or is used or where you got
it. Even going back to the original ESN will reset the clock again, I
imagine.

Definitely follow the advice about checking the ESN with Sprint before
buying a used phone, but it can be safe and a very good deal. I've bought
quite a few SPCS phones on eBay and never had a problem. In fact, all four
phones my family has in use right now came from eBay. But they stopped me
from getting any rebates when I changed plans a few months ago.

Dukie

"RexYBlue" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Excellent advice, and it's much less complicated than it might seem.
> I've been doing this for years and have NEVER had a problem with an
> ebay sale.
>
> On 3 Mar 2004 04:37:23 -0800, [email protected] (TechGeek) wrote:
>
> >"Spork" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<Kfa1c.105246$4o.121699@attbi_s52>...
> >> hello. I have a kyocera 2035 phone and it still works quite well for
me. I
> >> was thinking about getting a backup phone in case i ever bust this one.
> >>
> >> i see another 2035 on ebay for very cheap. Is it ok to buy used phones
on
> >> ebay? is there a set of numbers I need to make sure I get with it? Or
is
> >> there any other particular models i should look for? I just want
something
> >> thats cheap and works.
> >>
> >> thanks
> >
> >Before you bid, ask for the ESN (electronic serial number) of the
> >phone, then call Sprint to make sure that the phone isn't reported as
> >lost or stolen, or has a balance on it.
> >
> >Also, see if they can verify what model phone that serial number is
> >for.
> >
> >If they tell you a model different than what you thought it was, then
> >the person sent you the wrong serial number (there is no way for you
> >to verify that the ESN he gives you is the one for the phone he'll
> >send you).
> >
> >Also, if you do buy the phone, when you get it take it to a store to
> >make sure the ESN isn't lost, stolen or has a balance on it (yes, this
> >is a little redundant, but it covers your rear). Leave feedback for
> >the seller, too, good or bad, after you receive the phone, make sure
> >it works, and the ESN is clear.
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------
> To email me, remove the zz.

[email protected] (TechGeek) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Spork" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Kfa1c.105246$4o.121699@attbi_s52>...
> > hello. I have a kyocera 2035 phone and it still works quite well for me. I
> > was thinking about getting a backup phone in case i ever bust this one.
> >
> > i see another 2035 on ebay for very cheap. Is it ok to buy used phones on
> > ebay? is there a set of numbers I need to make sure I get with it? Or is
> > there any other particular models i should look for? I just want something
> > thats cheap and works.
> >
> > thanks
>
> Before you bid, ask for the ESN (electronic serial number) of the
> phone, then call Sprint to make sure that the phone isn't reported as
> lost or stolen, or has a balance on it.
>
> Also, see if they can verify what model phone that serial number is
> for.
>
> If they tell you a model different than what you thought it was, then
> the person sent you the wrong serial number (there is no way for you
> to verify that the ESN he gives you is the one for the phone he'll
> send you).
>
> Also, if you do buy the phone, when you get it take it to a store to
> make sure the ESN isn't lost, stolen or has a balance on it (yes, this
> is a little redundant, but it covers your rear). Leave feedback for
> the seller, too, good or bad, after you receive the phone, make sure
> it works, and the ESN is clear.

This echo's what I have found--worst problem I have had is
over-representation of phone condition; have bought dozens over years,
actually have had pretty good luck, but ebay has gotten so big, there
is always that "criminal" element trying to screw someone---I like to
see the comment " good emails" in the feedback which means they are
easy to get in touch with.

In article <[email protected]>,=20
[email protected] says...
> If you do buy a phone from eBay, or anywhere else for that matter, be awa=
re
> that activating it on your SPCS number "restarts the clock" for how SPCS
> counts when you last had a new phone when it comes to rebates on a new ph=
one
> in the future.
>=20

No, actually, it doesn't. That phone purchased from a third party,=20
used, does not reset the clock. A new, never-activated phone *would*=20
reset that proverbial clock, though.
--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

O/Siris wrote:

> No, actually, it doesn't. That phone purchased from a third party,
> used, does not reset the clock. A new, never-activated phone *would*
> reset that proverbial clock, though.

A helpful, thorough, and knowledgeable rep in the SPCS SF-Van Ness store
last month gave me the same explanation as O/Siris.

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A620

Well, thanks for the information, but now I'm confused about what Sprint
told me when I did the plan change/new contract last December.

They TOLD me that none of the four phones on my plan had been in service for
as long as 18 months and therefore I was not eligible for any rebates. They
quoted the exact months that they were showing for each phone for the
service credit, and those dates matched exactly when I had put used phones
bought from a 3rd party in service. They TOLD me that's what the policy
was. Except for the used phones put in service, none of the phones had been
updated since the original phones had been bought from Sprint when I first
established service in 1998.

Sounds like either I got jobbed by Customer Service or there's more than one
policy at work here.

O/Siris, how can I find out what the truth is and what I SHOULD have been
eligible for? Obviously, calling Customer Services isn't likely to lead
anywhere.

Dukie


"Frank Harris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> O/Siris wrote:
>
> > No, actually, it doesn't. That phone purchased from a third party,
> > used, does not reset the clock. A new, never-activated phone *would*
> > reset that proverbial clock, though.
>
> A helpful, thorough, and knowledgeable rep in the SPCS SF-Van Ness store
> last month gave me the same explanation as O/Siris.
>
> --
> Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A620

Well, let me elaborate, Dukie. I asked the store rep about the new vs
old question, and how it applied to me. I just replaced two old Samsung
3500 handsets (my lines #3 and #4) with two new Sanyo 8100's bought at
Radio Shack. The line #4 handset had been in continuous use for 3 years
since new. The line #3 handset had been replaced twice with used 3500's
(once when lost, once when broken).

She spent 5-10 minutes (or so it seemed) clicking away on her computer
and said she could trace my account's complete handset history, and
after all her research said that both replacements would qualify for the
18-month-rule rebate because only the new-handset start date counts.

I asked if the people in the rebate center do as thorough research as
she did, and she said they did. She also said she'd put a note on my
account that line #3 would qualify for the rebate. I await the rebate
check in the weeks to come.

A quick look at just the in-service date of the most recent handset
wouldn't have produced the same answer. And someone who believed the
policy to be different wouldn't have looked any deeper.

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A620

O/Siris wrote:
>>If you do buy a phone from eBay, or anywhere else for that matter, be aware
>>that activating it on your SPCS number "restarts the clock" for how SPCS
>>counts when you last had a new phone when it comes to rebates on a new phone
>>in the future.
>>
>
>
> No, actually, it doesn't. That phone purchased from a third party,
> used, does not reset the clock. A new, never-activated phone *would*
> reset that proverbial clock, though.

Would that also apply to an add a phone?
I added my sister a little over 1yr ago and when I checked that update
page it said the phone is less than 18mos old. It's really about 2 1/2
it's my old kyocera 2255, works great save for the display is gone most
of the time. Hmmmmmm could be cause her little one spilled soda on it a
few monts back.

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]=20
says...
> Would that also apply to an add a phone?
> I added my sister a little over 1yr ago and when I checked that update=20
> page it said the phone is less than 18mos old. It's really about 2 1/2=20
> it's my old kyocera 2255, works great save for the display is gone most=
=20
> of the time. Hmmmmmm could be cause her little one spilled soda on it a=
=20
> few monts back.
>=20

Well, the subscription itself needs to be 18 months old, first.

In your case, there's no "clock" at all. So we'll base eligibility=20
on the age of the subscription.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them