Buying a new phone on ebay?

I'm interesting in hearing the pro's and cons about buying a new Sprint cell phone on ebay and then switching my existing account to it.

Thanks,

Mike

"Michael Raphael" <mikeraphael@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:59mdnTuZTZBf_TTenZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..

I'm interesting in hearing the pro's and cons about buying a new Sprint cell
phone on ebay and then switching my existing account to it.

Thanks,

Mike
----------------------------------------

Still posting in HTML, are you?

Why would you buy a brand spanking new phone (not previously registered with
the system) from someone on eBay? Someone you don't know and who is across
the country somewhere. Is there a big difference in cost between what a
local vendor might be selling the same phone model for?

Bob

Ok, tried to change to text format.

Basically, if and when I change phones I do not want to be required to sign
up for a new contract. I don't mind extending the time another one or two
years, but the monthly rate I pay now is less than Sprint's minimum, and
plus I have the PCS to PCS fee waived. Presently I'm on the month to month
plan.

I thought that at some point I may decide to modernize and get a new phone.
I see the same phone on ebay for 25% of what the Sprint website prices it
at. The verbage on ebay 'says' it is sealed and never opened.

So, I'm just asking.


"Bob Smith" <usirsclt_No_Spamola_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:9Gdqf.9065$Dd2.3780@newsread3.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
"Michael Raphael" <mikeraphael@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:59mdnTuZTZBf_TTenZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@comcast.com. ..

I'm interesting in hearing the pro's and cons about buying a new Sprint cell
phone on ebay and then switching my existing account to it.

Thanks,

Mike
----------------------------------------

Still posting in HTML, are you?

Why would you buy a brand spanking new phone (not previously registered with
the system) from someone on eBay? Someone you don't know and who is across
the country somewhere. Is there a big difference in cost between what a
local vendor might be selling the same phone model for?

Bob

"Michael Raphael" <mikeraphael@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Z8WdnS-gMuEu7jTenZ2dnUVZ_tqdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Ok, tried to change to text format.
>
> Basically, if and when I change phones I do not want to be required to
> sign up for a new contract. I don't mind extending the time another one
> or two years, but the monthly rate I pay now is less than Sprint's
> minimum, and plus I have the PCS to PCS fee waived. Presently I'm on the
> month to month plan.
>
> I thought that at some point I may decide to modernize and get a new
> phone. I see the same phone on ebay for 25% of what the Sprint website
> prices it at. The verbage on ebay 'says' it is sealed and never opened.
>
> So, I'm just asking.

Well, that is a tidy savings, but are you sure that you won't be required to
sign up for service when buying these models? If you aren't, then you need
to be getting more information from the vendors on eBay, like the specific
ESNs on those models you might be interested in. Some of those models might
have been stolen from a store or a shipment, and those ESNs will not be
allowed to register on SPCS's system.

Once you get the ESNs, you can call up SPCS, tell them what you are trying
to do, and provide the ESNs to see whether they are OK to register on the
system, whether they have been activated on the system in the past, and the
status of the 1 yr. warranty.

Personally, considering that you are only talking about a $30 to $50
difference for a lower end model without many, if any, whisles & bells,
before shipping expenses are applied, which will reduce whatever savings you
expect to see, I'd just rather buy a phone from a local vendor. I know that
I won't have any registration problems with a phone I buy at a Best Buy,
Office Depot or from a local SPCS store. These local vendors have sales on
particular models as well on occasion. Plus, I know that there will be no
problem with the 1 yr. warranty on the phone.

Bob