Buying cell phones off craigslist

[michael_w]

Anyone had luck or bad experiences buying phones off craigslist? I myself haven't had much luck with craigslist (2 of 4 deals gone bad), but are cell phones especially sketchy? I understand that someone can call in with the imei and claim it as stolen, then the provider will basically remotely brick the phone or some type of sim card blacklist.

I'm looking to buy a NIB HTC Excalibur / S621 and have been keeping an eye on craigslist. They tend to go for around 400 - 450, with the occasional one dipping to 375. I can either do a hardware upgrade through Rogers and pay nearly 350 for the phone AND renew my contract for another three years, or take the risk and get an unlocked one off Craigslist. It's tempting to pay extra for the piece of mind and go the HUP route, but it just seems like a waste when I can get it off craigslist.

Anything I should watch out for when buying a phone from craigslist?



FWIW I plan to wait until the TyTn comes to rogers in the next month so hopefully the S621 comes down in price. I want the s621 in particular because it has wi-fi so I can sync with the exchange server at work without a data plan. I could get a nokia e62 for half the price, but no wi-fi and no camera would kill a lot of the features I need / want.



Thanks.

[BaggedLancer]

Don't forget they come with free ear wax.......

that's definately a product i'd buy new.

[bobman1235]

Don't forget they come with free ear wax.......


Someone may have to educate you on the correct way to handle a phone.... ;)

I would tend to agree, though, that you should buy them new. If you want to go craigslist / eBay, at least make sure they're NIB, and the seller has a decent rating and is willing to refund if it's "blocked" (ie stolen).

[Airplay355]

http://www.mobilebee.com/Phones-HTC-Qtek.html

Try there...all the phones are unlocked, but they are new lol. I bought a Razr v3i about a year ago and a few months ago my sister bought an SlVR L7.

Haven't had any problems at all and it's great to be able to just pop in a sim card and switch to that carrier. Plus you don't have all the bullshit carrier software preloaded onto your phone.

[BaggedLancer]

Someone may have to educate you on the correct way to handle a phone.... ;)



Thats ok, when I sell my used phones they come with free saliva....I tend to lick the microphone.

[sucks2beme]

I tried a couple off Craig's list. I found them to be like Folger's coffee.
Good to the last drop!
I wouldn't go that route again. A lot of "new in the box" are reconditions.
Used ones are just as bad. My 2 cents.

[michael_w]

Alright thanks guys. I think I'll stick to either rogers or a site like expansys.ca (won't be ordering from sites based in the USA due to border fees but thanks for the link).

I've noticed that too. Lots of sellers claim a NIB phone when it's really a refurb or a return from their store that they're selling on the side to pocket that extra profit without the burden of having to provide a warranty. With imported items it always seems to be shady and I'm not sure that's something I want to deal with when I'm dropping five bills.