• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Help ?! Buying used Note II dangerous? Ebay, Swappa, Amazon

narutoninjakid

narutoninjakid

Android Enthusiast
I was recently looking to purchase a note 2 and saw XDA had a new store called swappa and see that they have some notes for Around $550 and was wondering what's you guys pinion on buying used. Also on ebay and amazon. or should I just stuck it up and buy new from T-Mobile for $650 online. Also do they add tax? Or is Thier no problem buying used? If something happened could I call Samsung for warranty? I'm just looking for thoughts and maybe past experiences. Thanks
 
There is no warranty on a phone you buy 2nd hand. If I were you, I'd spend the extra hundred and get a new one.
 
If you do buy second hand make sure it's clean. I have sprint and I would need to make sure the phone has a clean esn. eBay does have buyer protection.
 
Yes, it would be a good idea to make sure the ESN/IMEI of the phone are clean. If it's not clean, then you're wasting all that money.
 
Used is like 590 but new from T-Mobile $695 I guess it's just better to buy new so that you have peace of mind and don't have to worry about anything being blocked at a later time just have to save up some more cash . Thanks help a lot
 
That is a lot for a used phone, considering Newegg is currently offering the phone for $580 after rebate. Unlocked, international version. There is only a 90-day limited warranty, but you could buy a warranty from SquareTrade. Newegg does charge sales tax to NJ.
 
Fwiw, I priced out a Note from the TMobile website and bought two Galaxy Exhibits a while back- there is sales tax. The $650 Note came out to about 710 with free shipping to Chicago.
 
Veritas4420 said:
Yes you should still get the year warranty.
Click to expand...

I suggest you call Samsung and ask this question. I don't believe the warranty is transferable. I know Verizon won't honor it because I called about a phone I bought of eBay that the seller said was under warranty. Verizon said the warranty is only good if you buy it directly from them.
 
Corki2 said:
I suggest you call Samsung and ask this question. I don't believe the warranty is transferable. I know Verizon won't honor it because I called about a phone I bought of eBay that the seller said was under warranty. Verizon said the warranty is only good if you buy it directly from them.
Click to expand...

The phones are brand new unopened
 
It seems they do cover it As long as you dont damage it

Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.

You are now chatting with 'Bernice'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.

Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK56402739898X

Bernice: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?

Visitor: I was looking to purchase a galaxy note 2 from a third part. If the phone is brand new unopened and i pay the $700 price will it be covered by the 1 year limited parts warranty?

Visitor: like if something is wrong with motherboard or something doesn't work will i still have the 1 year warranty ?

Visitor: hello ?

Bernice: I would like to inform you that, Samsung provides 12 months warranty for all the device if the device does not have any physical or liquid damage on the device.

Visitor: Ok so as long as its not damaged by the user ill still have the 1 year warranty ?

Bernice: Yes, the device will cover under 1 year warranty.
Visitor: i really want this device but don't want to purchase if it doesn't have a 1 year warranty

Visitor: Ok, Also i must make sure it is the tmobile version to be covered in the U.S Correct ?

Bernice: No problem, you can purchase the device. Samsung provides 12 months of manufacture warranty for the device.
 
narutoninjakid said:
It seems they do cover it As long as you dont damage it

Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.

You are now chatting with 'Bernice'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.

Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK56402739898X

Bernice: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?

Visitor: I was looking to purchase a galaxy note 2 from a third part. If the phone is brand new unopened and i pay the $700 price will it be covered by the 1 year limited parts warranty?

Visitor: like if something is wrong with motherboard or something doesn't work will i still have the 1 year warranty ?

Visitor: hello ?

Bernice: I would like to inform you that, Samsung provides 12 months warranty for all the device if the device does not have any physical or liquid damage on the device.

Visitor: Ok so as long as its not damaged by the user ill still have the 1 year warranty ?

Bernice: Yes, the device will cover under 1 year warranty.
Visitor: i really want this device but don't want to purchase if it doesn't have a 1 year warranty

Visitor: Ok, Also i must make sure it is the tmobile version to be covered in the U.S Correct ?

Bernice: No problem, you can purchase the device. Samsung provides 12 months of manufacture warranty for the device.
Click to expand...

Since they won't know when you purchased it, they'll use the manufacturer date for the start of the 12 months
 
narutoninjakid said:
is that good or bad ?
Click to expand...

Bad in nearly every case. If the phone was manufactured over a year ago... there's effectively no warranty.

Someone purchased that phone from Samsung/an authorized seller. It doesn't matter if its still new unopened in the box. The 12 months begins when its first purchased. Without a proven date for that first purchase it falls back to manufacture date, which is even earlier.

What I'm trying to say is your 12 months doesn't start from when you purchased it unless you purchase it from Samsung/a carrier/authorized seller.


If you have the esn you can contact Samsung and ask if its still in warranty and for how long.
 
Was about to make a new topic but no need since this covers my topic.

My Note 2 was stolen last night. Horrible feeling. Ruined my whole weekend. I paid $700 for it and got it with a dealer line so I had no insurance on it.

and I have bought a used S3 for a friend and she has had no issues so far. Bought a used Evo a few years back and no issue.

My question now from research, is that a phone can be blacklisted at any time due to the original owner stop paying on the bill or reporting it lost/stolen? How do you transfer the IMEI number to your account and name?

The issue I see arising from them just doing it with no problem for you is the scenario of someone stealing a phone and then transferring the IMEI to theirs, acting like they bought it used and now they have full access to it. When really, it's stolen.

With Sprint, the original owner could deactivate the account and then the buyer could not use it until they registered. With T-Mobile, can a user deactivate the account the IMEI is attached to on their own before selling it? So when I go and register it to my sim and number, I now have full use of it and can't be blacklisted months down the line out of nowhere.

This makes me very weary of someone selling a phone, letting the user use it for a little and then reporting it lost or stolen. they collect the insurance of getting a replacement. So they made a lot of money off the sale and now get another phone. Pure profit and they never lost anything. And maybe even do the process a few more times.
 
Always buy a used phone from craigslist at whatever carrier youre on. That way they can confirm the esn is clean right there and can watch the payment happen. You can even have them make a note on the account that it was purchased right there in store.

If you buy from ebay, there's a little more proof you purchased it, but no guarantee they didn't sell a phone they stole.
 
It seems they start from date of purchase. so its better to buy New. because on ebay you never know when it was bought. Actually im just gonna save up right now i have about 550 so $150 more to go as im tired and paranoid of being scammed. Buying new will just give you piece of mind.


Lucas: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?

Visitor: I had a question about the galaxy note 2 but i didn't see the t889 on the previous page ?

Lucas: I apologize for inconvenience that might have caused to you.

Lucas: I will certainly help you with Galaxy Note 2 phone.

Lucas: Please go ahead with your question.

Visitor: How is the 1 year limited warranty determined ? is it determined from the date of manufacture or the date it was purchased ?

Lucas: The phone warranty will be valid up to 1 year form the date of purchase, it is for accessories that came along with the phone too. However, physical or liquid damage will voids the warranty.

Visitor: What if im Purchasing a Brand New Note 2 from eBay will that warranty be valid for 1 year after i activate it as its unused or will it be 1 year after the eBay buyer purchased them?

Lucas: I am sorry; the warranty will be valid from the date of purchase, not by the date of activation

Visitor: Ok so its better of to just buy it from tmobile ? So the phones coming from tmobile new are just manufactured ?

Visitor: so by buying from them its a brand new manufactured note 2 and i will get the 1 year warranty ?

Lucas: Yes, they will provide 1 year warranty from the date of purchase.

Visitor: ok so as the phone is sold Tmobile list the phone as purchased enabling me to get the warranty ?

Lucas: Yes, you are correct. T mobile will enable warranty form the date of purchase.

Visitor: Ok so i probably should get from them instead of eBay.



Anyway, I will get the phone be it this month or next month. lol :p:)
 
narutoninjakid said:
It seems they start from date of purchase. so its better to buy New. because on ebay you never know when it was bought. Actually im just gonna save up right now i have about 550 so $150 more to go as im tired and paranoid of being scammed. Buying new will just give you piece of mind.


Lucas: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?

Visitor: I had a question about the galaxy note 2 but i didn't see the t889 on the previous page ?

Lucas: I apologize for inconvenience that might have caused to you.

Lucas: I will certainly help you with Galaxy Note 2 phone.

Lucas: Please go ahead with your question.

Visitor: How is the 1 year limited warranty determined ? is it determined from the date of manufacture or the date it was purchased ?

Lucas: The phone warranty will be valid up to 1 year form the date of purchase, it is for accessories that came along with the phone too. However, physical or liquid damage will voids the warranty.

Visitor: What if im Purchasing a Brand New Note 2 from eBay will that warranty be valid for 1 year after i activate it as its unused or will it be 1 year after the eBay buyer purchased them?

Lucas: I am sorry; the warranty will be valid from the date of purchase, not by the date of activation

Visitor: Ok so its better of to just buy it from tmobile ? So the phones coming from tmobile new are just manufactured ?

Visitor: so by buying from them its a brand new manufactured note 2 and i will get the 1 year warranty ?

Lucas: Yes, they will provide 1 year warranty from the date of purchase.

Visitor: ok so as the phone is sold Tmobile list the phone as purchased enabling me to get the warranty ?

Lucas: Yes, you are correct. T mobile will enable warranty form the date of purchase.

Visitor: Ok so i probably should get from them instead of eBay.



Anyway, I will get the phone be it this month or next month. lol :p:)
Click to expand...

Keep your proof of purchase. I bought a used galaxy nexus from eBay and it was broken when it came. Seller wouldn't take it back. Samsung went by the date of manufacture since I wasn't the original owner.

There is sometimes a disconnect between what bottom level support tells you and what actually happens. Those people are reading/typing straight from a script of things they're allowed to say.

Buying from a carrier will cost the most, but you'll get your full 1 year warranty from when you buy it. Buying from a 3rd party will likely get you stuck with the manufacturer date like mine was.
 
I had purchased two Galaxy S2 Skyrockets off Craigslist, and both had the stupid camera failed problem. I registered both on Samsung's website and they exchanged them both with no problem. Did not have to provide proof of purchase but they were both under a year old.
 
Only time I think it's okay to buy used is if you're getting to play with it first. My best and favorite laptop came from someone on Craigslist. I'd still be using it if someone hadn't broken into my apartment and robbed me of it.

There is always good and bad in the used lot. So if you aren't buying it locally, it's definitely better to be safe than to be sorry. Buy it new if you can afford the extra, it's insurable, under warranty, and will definitely have some sort of return policy if it's instantly defective.

Just my $.02.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom