best used phone to get

I've got an ancient Motorola Startac which I'm perfectly happy with except that it's falling apart. Therefore I'm planning to find a used phone on ebay with the goal of spending $20 or less.

So the question is what models do you think are good or which ones I should specifically avoid? I prefer flip phones so the buttons aren't pressed accidentally. I could get another Startac for cheap but I figure I may as well "upgrade."

My priorities would be voice quality, signal strength, battery length, & total size/weight. Anything else I don't really care about.

Thanks.

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well you can basically upgrade your service and get a samsung flip phone for about 30 dollars, and u can also get a samsung vga 1000 best picture fone from sprint fo bout 60 dollars when u go to radioshack, pretty good deals.

But don't you have to change your service (enter a new contract) to buy a new phone at those prices? Otherwise new phones seem to cost an arm and a leg.

well you do have to go into an agreement, they want a 2yr agreement, but i mean if you like the service, and like their products, there is no reason why you should regret signing another contract, i mean if you want to get a new phone, and you like the service, another 1 or 2 yr agreement should be like no problem. i mean you can even get a 5300 for bout 4 dollars, its got good picture quality and other stuff jus as well as 8100. yes it is refurbished, but its the same thing as a new one, i wouldnt worry, i have a refurbished 5300 myself, hell nothing is better than having a cameraphone for bout 4 dollars.

oh and with the new phones, if you subscribe to vision...not only you get a good cameraphone for less, you also get high speed 3g wireless webservice, you can connect it to your pc with a usb cable also available at radioshack and surf web wirelessely anytime anywhere. i bought an extra cable for myself and an extra copy of the software, and i have kept it in my car, so if i go to someones house who dont have highspeed, i just hit it up on my phone, 230kbps...lot better than dial up...i mean ofcourse it dun go at 230...but i've hit speeds for downloading bout 55kbps, where on dialup i'd only get about 3-4 max, and another time i did download a 18mb file in bout 8 mins, pretty fast for a wireless free internet

I was in your same spot. I won't EVER sign a contract! Plus, my existing contract is much better than being offered.

I just bought two a620/vga1000 phones on eBay for about $80 and $110. They are used, but, whatever...

Brand new are closer to $170 on eBay.

I fired them both up last night and very happy so far. We had an LG1100 and older Samsung flip phone.

The phone books are SO much more advanced.

It took about 2 minutes to transfer both services to the new phones via calling 611 on the old phone.

That's my problem -- they're not offering plans better than (or even equal to) what I have.

I was surprised that used phones cost so much. I just bought a TP5250 on ebay for $45 but it hasn't arrived yet.

I made choice of what to go for based on the info at reviews.cnet.com (& price).

yea but check it out...you dont have to change your plan to get new phone...you can keep the same plan everything the same but just sign another 2 year contract...and get the new fone at cheaper price...yea a contract...but on the bright side...you have a new phone...with same old plan that you like...not only that...you dont even have to pay activation fee for it...i mean ppl r buying the used fone for bout 100 dollars when you can get same fone in the store for bout 40 or so...depending on the model...but still NEW vs. Used ... i mean its like you are gettin a hella dea...on and one more thing...if you've been a gud customer 2 sprint...and you've paid all your bills on times and everything...they might even give you extra 50 or 100 mins on the same exact plan you have right now....itz awesome...i get hella deals fo mah peepz...

Yeah, I was surprised by how expensive phones are on ebay. I guess I should have called them and asked about what kind of deal I could get. Still, all things being equal, I'd rather not commit to a two-year contract.

I just got my new phone. It looks pretty cool and very modern (compared to my old Startac ) Now how do I go about transferring service? Do I have to take it to a store or can I do it online or over the phone?

Thanks.

well...u can call them up...jus da 800 number...and then them u want 2 do an esn swap...and it takes like 5 mins...and they will walk you thru how 2 program your fone...this way u get ur phone programmed...and you learn how the programming works...pretty kool...simple 2.

you're right. that's what i did and that's what happened. and now i'm styling with a new phone! thanks.