[totencough]

I'm looking to buy a Motorola PEBL on eBay and I was wondering about what I should look for so I don't get royally screwed over.

.:A few questions:.
: What does unlocked mean? I know I should be looking for it, but what exactly does it entail?
: I should look into the seller's background and feedback to see if they are trustworthy.
: Anything else I should know?

Thank you in advance!

---

› See More: looking to buy cell phone from ebay...

[n1ckel5]

I'll help ya out real quick:

1. Unlocked....Considering you're new to this, look at it in this way. Unlocked phones generally pertain to GSM phones. In case you didn't know, the main GSM phones are Cingular and T-Mobile. An unlocked GSM phone will allow you to insert your current SIM card and your phone will work. No unnecessary trip to the provider to have the phone activated.

In your case, the PEBL is a T-Mo phone, so if you want to use it on Cingular, it needs to be unlocked. If you're using it on T-Mobile, it would be alright to have it locked to T-Mo. However, I suggest getting an unlocked one. They're more valuable for resale, and if you travel, you always have the option of using local prepaid SIM cards.

2. Feedback.....Are you familiar with eBay? If you are new, take some time and browse around the site. Read up on the FAQs, and look at sellers who are deemed reliable.

3. Additionally.....Use common sense when completing the transaction and paying. I've heard too many horror stories of buyers who sent cash, checks, money orders and received nothing from the seller. If you use your head, you'll be fine.

Feel free to come to me if you have any questions!

[Shrocat]

I buy occaisionally from ebay, and when I do I take some simple common sense precautions. First of all, set certain requirements. I live in the U.S. so I set Ebay to only show things from the U.S. Next, after doing the search for the specific item I am looking for, I look at the item and make sure that it is really what I am looking for. Sometimes people will sell only the box. Read the ad carefully so that you are certain that it is what you want. Then look at the seller's info. I never buy anything from anyone who has not made at least 100 transactions. If under that they may not be experienced at doing so, or they may have stolen the item and are dumping it on ebay.
And then look at the ratings. If the rating is under 98 to 99 back away. And look at the negs. Often times they buyer screws up and blames it on the seller. Ergo, not reading the ad, or not giving the correct address, or things like that. finally, insure the item.
I buy with a fair amount of confidence from ebay, and the only time I have not gotten what I wanted was because I misread the ad and bought the wrong thing. I ordered the wrong memory for my pc, the ad proclaimed boldly what the memory was, and I ordered it anyway.
But the seller took it back and sent me the correct memory anyway.

[pcmoseley]

Just don't buy from Nigeria.

[Ace587]

just to add to that, see if the negative reviews were responded by the seller, you can tell, just always read the full description of the item, and the how much he charges for shipping, people often look over that

[totencough]

Thank you very much for all y'all's help! I will be sure to follow the advice.

[braindead803]

usually look for an unlocked phone or just look for a phone that is specified for your service provider.

[supes]

becareful when buying...some(a lot) of sellers list phones as new when they are refurbs....be careful

[totencough]

Are there any specific problems if the phone is refurb instead of new, or is it just the fact that it isn't new?

[Ace587]

usually refurbs are very bad, a lot are returned faulty handsets.

[Gibralter]

Like everyone else has said be sure to check up on the seller's feedback, check the percentage of good sales, the number of transactions, read some of the negative feedback. If you feel at all uncomfortable with the transactions, product, or anything, walk away. Just a friendly tip from a guy who didn't listen to his gut and got screwed.

[secrecyguy]

I'll help ya out real quick:

1. Unlocked....Considering you're new to this, look at it in this way. Unlocked phones generally pertain to GSM phones. In case you didn't know, the main GSM phones are Cingular and T-Mobile. An unlocked GSM phone will allow you to insert your current SIM card and your phone will work. No unnecessary trip to the provider to have the phone activated.

In your case, the PEBL is a T-Mo phone, so if you want to use it on Cingular, it needs to be unlocked. If you're using it on T-Mobile, it would be alright to have it locked to T-Mo. However, I suggest getting an unlocked one. They're more valuable for resale, and if you travel, you always have the option of using local prepaid SIM cards.

That's what people said but when I was shopping around for a cell phone for myself on Ebay, I have seen locked phones going for more than unlocked phones.

In most cases it is true but sometimes it is not.

2. Feedback.....Are you familiar with eBay? If you are new, take some time and browse around the site. Read up on the FAQs, and look at sellers who are deemed reliable.

3. Additionally.....Use common sense when completing the transaction and paying. I've heard too many horror stories of buyers who sent cash, checks, money orders and received nothing from the seller. If you use your head, you'll be fine.

That's true. I recommend using Paypal. Now since Ebay owns Paypal, it's safer just to use it.

Feel free to come to me if you have any questions!

[secrecyguy]

I buy occaisionally from ebay, and when I do I take some simple common sense precautions. First of all, set certain requirements. I live in the U.S. so I set Ebay to only show things from the U.S. Next, after doing the search for the specific item I am looking for, I look at the item and make sure that it is really what I am looking for. Sometimes people will sell only the box. Read the ad carefully so that you are certain that it is what you want. Then look at the seller's info. I never buy anything from anyone who has not made at least 100 transactions. If under that they may not be experienced at doing so, or they may have stolen the item and are dumping it on ebay.

Speaking about stolen, don't buy any cell phones that does not come with anything. Most likely, the cell phone is stolen or was found lost.

And then look at the ratings. If the rating is under 98 to 99 back away. And look at the negs. Often times they buyer screws up and blames it on the seller. Ergo, not reading the ad, or not giving the correct address, or things like that. finally, insure the item.
I buy with a fair amount of confidence from ebay, and the only time I have not gotten what I wanted was because I misread the ad and bought the wrong thing. I ordered the wrong memory for my pc, the ad proclaimed boldly what the memory was, and I ordered it anyway.
But the seller took it back and sent me the correct memory anyway.

Always READ IT CAREFULLY! I bought a phone last year and it said the headset does not work. I thought he meant the headset that attach to the phone. It turns out he was talking about the earpiece on the phone itself.

Well, it's no big deal, I just attach a headset to the phone and use it that way. Besides people said it's more healthy and better if you use a headset on the phone.