Rxpert83
Dr. Feelgood
They went off of the manufacture date.
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Help ?! Buying used Note II dangerous? Ebay, Swappa, Amazon
- Thread starter narutoninjakid
- Start date
They went off of the manufacture date.
Yes but my fear is my scenario I provided and what the guy went through in that link to another person's topic. You can meet at the TMobile store and the IMEI number will be clean when ran. But say the original owner, it could be the seller or maybe the person who sold it to him. They want to report it stolen to claim the insurance and get another phone for next to nothing. And then the phone basically shuts down on you.
narutoninjakid
Android Enthusiast
yeah its just a risk i don't want to take.
Its funny this blocking system was developed to help people who's phones are stolen yet its now being used for scams. A method or system should be created so that people can be protected from this.
Rxpert83
Dr. Feelgood
If you do it in store, everything is on camera.
People who are looking to scam you won't do it in the store. They'll stop responding to you when you say you want to meet at the store.
If they report it stolen, you file a report and all the evidence you need is right there at the store.
Let's take it a step further, though and this may not be that common on this phone since it is relatively new but it's still very possible.
Seller A sells to Buyer B. But the IMEI number is still associated with Seller A. Buyer B for whatever reason wants to sell it. So he becomes Seller B. Sells it to Buyer C. That whole scenario you mentioned takes place in the store on camera and everything. Seller B is honest as can be and goes through all the steps to prove it's not a scam and the IMEI is legit and clean.
Now Seller A, who the IMEI number is still linked to, decides to report it stolen and they blacklist the IMEI. Phone shuts down all of a sudden on Buyer C. And only the original owner of the IMEI, Seller A, can have the phone turned back on. Not that guy who sold it to you in the store.
Which is kind of my deal. With the Sprint phones, which I used to have, you have to deactivate the ESN on your account before another person can activate that phone for their use on their account. There is no popping in a sim card and use. The seller has to deactivate the ESN from their account and the buyer then has to take that number and register it with customer service on Sprint. That right there makes the scenario I mentioned impossible. So if I check the ESN and it's still in use on an account, I know right then and there I don't want it. Or we can go to the Sprint store together and get it done.
Which is my whole point really. How can my scenario be prevented? How can the IMEI number be transferred to the seller? A clean IMEI is not secure enough. It could have possibly been stolen that day. And the person whom it was stolen from does not want to blacklist it yet as they want to wait a few days to maybe see if they can track it down.
Like the person who quoted me saying, yes this is way for people to shut their phones off when stolen. But like a lot of things, it can on the flip side be easily used for scammers to collect on insurance whenever they feel. You could be using your phone for months and months and they just decide to do it.
Rxpert83
Dr. Feelgood
I'm on sprint as well, so I guess I've never had that option be feasible.
Buying a used cellphone is like buying a used car. It's never 100% known what you're getting into, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of getting a "lemon".
Test drive it, buy from a (reputable) dealer, check the carfax
Buying a used cellphone is like buying a used car. It's never 100% known what you're getting into, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of getting a "lemon".
Test drive it, buy from a (reputable) dealer, check the carfax
Yeah with Sprint, it's impossible for that scenario to work. Once the ESN is deactivated and your register it with your account, that seller no longer has any access to it or can't claim it stolen months down the road.
This scenario is for the sim card carriers, which is basically the ones besides Sprint.
This scenario is for the sim card carriers, which is basically the ones besides Sprint.
ScandaLeX
Wasn't Me
I once purchased a Sprint phone thru eBay listed as "brand new unopened."
I couldn't activate it because this brand new unopened phone was already activated and there was little Sprint could do as it was tied to an acct.
Communicating with the seller was less than stellar and to make a long story short, PayPal froze the sellers acct, refunded my money & eBay said keep the phone. On top of that eBay threw in a VERY nice credit to be used for anything else I decided to buy due to being scammed.
Caveman419
Android Enthusiast
I have purchased three phones through Swappa, all used phones.
One was a 4G Thunderbolt that replaced a 3G Droid 2.
One was a Droid Incredible 4G that replaced a 3G OG Droid Incredible.
And the last was a Thinderbolt to replace a Thunderbolt (teeanger daughter keeps shattering screens)
All three phones I have taken to Verizon after purchase to have activated and each time I have asked what warrenty will be honored on the phones. I was told that I have one year on workmanship defects and then my insurance covers the rest of the time.
Swappa uses Paypal so all transactions are covered by Paypal. Swappa checks the ESN/IMEI numbers before a phone is able to be purchaed. I will not buy another phone from Verizon (or any other carrier) with Swappa around.
One was a 4G Thunderbolt that replaced a 3G Droid 2.
One was a Droid Incredible 4G that replaced a 3G OG Droid Incredible.
And the last was a Thinderbolt to replace a Thunderbolt (teeanger daughter keeps shattering screens)
All three phones I have taken to Verizon after purchase to have activated and each time I have asked what warrenty will be honored on the phones. I was told that I have one year on workmanship defects and then my insurance covers the rest of the time.
Swappa uses Paypal so all transactions are covered by Paypal. Swappa checks the ESN/IMEI numbers before a phone is able to be purchaed. I will not buy another phone from Verizon (or any other carrier) with Swappa around.
narutoninjakid
Android Enthusiast
Ok I keep getting conflicting answers I'm confused lol I saw one on swappa that's new and never activated yet could instill be scammed if I purchase a phone that was never activated. Swappa is sponsored by XDA son it should be legit and they check esn/imei before listing is approved should in just go ahead I have enough to purchase it.?
septembersrain
句_句 Smurfing Awesome
As long as they've got a guarantee of some sort in place to protect you, the buyer, then I'd say it's your call. I'd still suggest new but that's just me.
Used with Sprint, Verizon, and other CDMA carriers is more sound in terms of transfers. With GSM it's a little more tricky.
Good luck!
narutoninjakid
Android Enthusiast
This is what the seller said when I questioned him about imei
Seller : An IMEI is blocked for 2 reasons: the device is reported stolen or service is terminated and there is an unpaid installment balance. The device was never on an installment plan and it won't be reported stolen (IMEI has never been registered to an account as it is new and unused). Just a heads up, even if a device is purchased "no contract" the original owner can still report it stolen and block the IMEI. I have positive feedback on here for selling multiple devices, so rest assured, you will be happy with the phone.
So I guess I'm safe lol I don't want to spend 700 for the same phone and he said it was purchased recently.
Seller : An IMEI is blocked for 2 reasons: the device is reported stolen or service is terminated and there is an unpaid installment balance. The device was never on an installment plan and it won't be reported stolen (IMEI has never been registered to an account as it is new and unused). Just a heads up, even if a device is purchased "no contract" the original owner can still report it stolen and block the IMEI. I have positive feedback on here for selling multiple devices, so rest assured, you will be happy with the phone.
So I guess I'm safe lol I don't want to spend 700 for the same phone and he said it was purchased recently.
whatsitsname
Android Enthusiast
Who's the seller
Tell him to give you the IMEI number. There should be no reason he should not. Take that number, and call customer support for whomever the carrier is and have them check the number. If he's telling the truth, there should be no account activated with that number. If it is, huge red flag that he's lying. People do this all the time when they buy in person. Call the carrier and check the number.
Rxpert83
Dr. Feelgood
Some people are weary to give out imei/esn numbers, and for good reason.
Scammer wants to sell stolen phone, goes online find another clean one for sale, asks for the number, passes it on to whoever is asking about his and now the buyer has verified the stolen phone is "clean". Buys phone without going to carrier since it's "clean", isn't the correct esn
This is why I would probably never buy a used phone online. Because in person, if they are legit, they should have no problem meeting you at a carrier store or calling customer support about the IMEI number. I can't get that security online unless it is brand new.
Kaiser17
Android Enthusiast
Hey watch out for ebay and amazon, they sell fake Android clones. If you wanna buy it used, buy it from a place/person where you can try it out before the purchase.. spending more than half a grand you can never be to careful.
Try Craigslist too, its much better than ebay, amazom because you can try it out.
Try Craigslist too, its much better than ebay, amazom because you can try it out.
narutoninjakid
Android Enthusiast
Guys it came in. I love the size got it from swappa for $590 in new condition
So I guess some sites are trustworthy
So I guess some sites are trustworthy
Caveman419
Android Enthusiast
I have had no problems with Swappa in the past. But like any site, look at the seller and their reputation. If that is good, Swappa is the way to go. Congrats on the new phone..... everything else seems tiny after using it.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
Guys it came in. I love the size got it from swappa for $590 in new condition
So I guess some sites are trustworthy
That's a great price, since the phone is practically in brand new condition.
I found one on Craigslist last week for $525 brand new. Never been used and the box still sealed. The guy met me at a mall and we walked to the TMobile store together. Let me had them check the IMEI number and make sure it was not active on an account or ever been used before. It hasn't. Let me open the box and check the phone out. Even let me activate it on my new sim card and make sure it worked. Very pleased with the transaction and price.
This is about the only way I would buy a phone from an individual these days. If they meet me at the carrier's store and let it be checked out and tested.
This is about the only way I would buy a phone from an individual these days. If they meet me at the carrier's store and let it be checked out and tested.
narutoninjakid
Android Enthusiast
Yeah swappa is pretty good though 2 I'm to scared to do a craigslist transaction feel like it's too much work
Yeah swappa is pretty good though 2 I'm to scared to do a craigslist transaction feel like it's too much work
The good thing about it, you have nothing to lose. If you feel shaky about it or you don't like it, you don't get it and move on. I'd be much more nervous paying money and then waiting online for the product, not knowing what you are about to get.
Caveman419
Android Enthusiast
And on Swappa you have nothing to lose either, all transactions go through Paypal, so if you do not get what is advertised Paypal will get your money back.