Smart phones are EXACTLY like a new car!

[Satires]

Soon as you drive your new smartphone off the lot? You've done lost half the value (Screams)!

I sold my first generation droid for a wealthy 250 bucks easily about 15 months ago!

Now? The market is FLOODED with all kinds of used android devices...

It's a good thing if you like to buy em used, I don't ever buy that type of equipment used...

Anyways, I bet if I sold a three week old rezound, I would only get 200 to 300 hundred bucks for it! Doesn't matter that I paid 650.00 bucks for it!

Be very careful on your new smartphone purchase, choose something that will be powerful for a couple of years in a growing market.

Why?

Because it has little re-sale value...

Plan on handing it down to a friend or family member!

I refuse to sell my droid x to a bunch of vultures wanting only to hand me 50 bucks and a crooked smile...

Just sayin...

 

[mikedt]

Soon as you drive your new smartphone off the lot? You've done lost half the value (Screams)!

I sold my first generation droid for a wealthy 250 bucks easily about 15 months ago!

Now? The market is FLOODED with all kinds of used android devices...

It's a good thing if you like to buy em used, I don't ever buy that type of equipment used...

Do you always buy new cars as well, never used ones?

Location: Detroit ...maybe support your local industry?

 

[zuben el genub]

Since I'm GSM, I can give phone to kid in Europe. I will buy used from a repair type shop. Especially if the phone does what I want. I keep at least 2 older models on hand. If one phone fails, at least the older model will make a phone call or text by swapping SIM until the failed phone can be replaced. Gives me the luxury of time.

 

[Hrethgir]

Yes, smartphones are just like a new car. You buy them to do a task, and over time they get outdated and lose value. Good thing people aren't buying either one for investment reasons (or shouldn't be, at least, unless it's a limited edition, like the R2-D2 Droid 2 or a Ferrari Enzo). Were you actually expecting to sell your used phone for what you bought it for? I don't understand this rant.

 

[B2L]

It all depends on the device you buy. I sold my year old Nexus S for $300 just a few days ago. It sold quick, and i easily got what i wanted for it, because it's running the latest software. That's why importing, or buying Nexus devices is always the best option.

 

[Doit2it]

It's definitely a buyers market when it comes to used cell phones.
Thinking about getting the RAZR Maxx on Craigslist till the quad cores come out. Should start seeing them in a week or so. Craigslist is flooded with Droid RAZR and GSM Nexus right now.

At least cars bring out the new models only once a year and not every 3 to 5 months driving us early adopters crazy.

 

[bittamer]

Be very careful on your new smartphone purchase, choose something that will be powerful for a couple of years in a growing market.

Why?

Because it has little re-sale value...

Do you buy smartphones just to sell them again? Or do you buy them to use them?
Used things are always going to get cheaper mate

 

[zuben el genub]

The way I use it, my Clie isn't outdated. I just can't get it fixed.

I might get a new phone for a certain convenience, like brighter screen or handling - not because it's new and the rage. If I want a certain app badly enough and it needs newer tech I might upgrade then. It's the app - not the phone.

 

[OfTheDamned]

It doesn't matter what you are looking at though, a used product is still a used product. TVs, DVRs, computers, blue ray players, clothes, blenders, microwaves, carpet, bicycles, books etc. all decrease in value the moment they are used. I couldn't sell my used Dyson vacuum for the same amount that I paid for it last year. There are always exceptions, but if you want to buy something as an investment then look at fine watches, stamps or coins, if you want to buy something you can use for a period of time and enjoy it while you have it then get a smartphone. Personally I never worry as I keep all the phones I buy.

 

[A.Nonymous]

It doesn't matter what you are looking at though, a used product is still a used product. TVs, DVRs, computers, blue ray players, clothes, blenders, microwaves, carpet, bicycles, books etc. all decrease in value the moment they are used. I couldn't sell my used Dyson vacuum for the same amount that I paid for it last year. There are always exceptions, but if you want to buy something as an investment then look at fine watches, stamps or coins, if you want to buy something you can use for a period of time and enjoy it while you have it then get a smartphone. Personally I never worry as I keep all the phones I buy.

The thing is that those things you mentioned that go up in value you have to really know what you're doing. I used to collect action figures. You keep them in the package and some of them go up in value so fast it's crazy. A year later and you can sell them for four times what you bought them for. Others plummet and you can't pay people to take them. I've listed some on ebay for $1 and got no bids. If you know what you're doing though you can make a mint. I sold one for $500-600. That figure originally sold for $100. It was 2-3 years ago I sold it. I had it a year and the price went from $100 to $600 where it has stayed. If you paid $600 for it expecting the price to up up even more you'd have lost. You really do have to know what you're doing.

Personally, I've taken to the philosophy of buying smartphones the same way I buy cars. Buy them used. With cars, you save yourself the butt kicking of depreciation. With phones you save yourself the hassle of a contract IMO. I'm not one who has to be an early adopter or has to be on the cutting edge of tech though. I wait, see what all the issues are with a particular handset (and every handset has them), then make my decision.

 

[Bob Maxey]

There are always exceptions, but if you want to buy something as an investment then look at fine watches, stamps or coins, if you want to buy something you can use for a period of time and enjoy it while you have it then get a smartphone. Personally I never worry as I keep all the phones I buy.

Will trade for Phone:

Kenmore Stamps - stamps, stamp collecting, stamp collector, us stamps, foreign stamps, free catalog, postage stamps, postal stamps, philatelic, catalog, online ordering

 

[A.Nonymous]

Will trade for Phone:

Kenmore Stamps - stamps, stamp collecting, stamp collector, us stamps, foreign stamps, free catalog, postage stamps, postal stamps, philatelic, catalog, online ordering

This is where I know nothing about collectibles. If I found that stamp, I'd put it on a letter and send it somewhere.

 

[zuben el genub]

Never owned a new car. Usually get what I want and drive it till it's impractical to fix.

I've had my Tacoma (bought used) for over 11 years. With used vehicles in so much demand here, I could get a decent price if I wanted to.

We just junked a 1975 Opel Manta. It ran, we couldn't get parts.

My voice only user won't get rid of the Nokia 6085 until it dies.

 

[Bob Maxey]

This is where I know nothing about collectibles. If I found that stamp, I'd put it on a letter and send it somewhere.

I have a friend that deals in high end philatelic items and he recounts the story about a woman that found an old stamp in some of her father's things. She described the item and my friend was excited because he thought he was almost certain he knew what this woman had. Worth tens of thousand of dollars if it is what he thought it could be: a very rare Pony Express cover.

He told her to bring the item in for a closer look.

She did just that. Unfortunately, what was of particular value was the entire cover: the markings stamp and envelope. The woman had carefully removed the stamp by steaming it and she tossed the envelope.

Chances are, if you see stamps like I have posted here, you might not actually use them on an envelope. Some costly issues (Costly=My God, you are kidding) look just like the images of other stamps. And there are recognized variations of some issues that can mean thousands of dollars. I really hate people that show me stamps they have and looked up on the web. they think they have something of value when they actually have "worthless" issues.

In this post, this blue one is what is known as a Z-Grill and it is unique. Only one man on the planet has it and if you do not, you will never be able to assemble a complete US collection. Aren't you sad about that? Smiley.

The red stamp is worth millions and you might be tempted to toss it because to you, it does not look like a stamp. No offence. Please do not do that, Smiley.

I am still looking for some Record Stamps from Bhutan. Actual tiny little records you play on a record player.

 

[argedion]

I buy it to use it. I don't collect much. I have some very nice porcelain eagles. I used to do coins but was robbed and pretty much lost my appetite for collecting. I have the eagles and that's it. But I haven't added to the collection in over ten years

 

[A.Nonymous]

I have a friend that deals in high end philatelic items and he recounts the story about a woman that found an old stamp in some of her father's things. She described the item and my friend was excited because he thought he was almost certain he knew what this woman had. Worth tens of thousand of dollars if it is what he thought it could be: a very rare Pony Express cover.

He told her to bring the item in for a closer look.

She did just that. Unfortunately, what was of particular value was the entire cover: the markings stamp and envelope. The woman had carefully removed the stamp by steaming it and she tossed the envelope.

Chances are, if you see stamps like I have posted here, you might not actually use them on an envelope. Some costly issues (Costly=My God, you are kidding) look just like the images of other stamps. And there are recognized variations of some issues that can mean thousands of dollars. I really hate people that show me stamps they have and looked up on the web. they think they have something of value when they actually have "worthless" issues.

In this post, this blue one is what is known as a Z-Grill and it is unique. Only one man on the planet has it and if you do not, you will never be able to assemble a complete US collection. Aren't you sad about that? Smiley.

The red stamp is worth millions and you might be tempted to toss it because to you, it does not look like a stamp. No offence. Please do not do that, Smiley.

I am still looking for some Record Stamps from Bhutan. Actual tiny little records you play on a record player.

That's the way I used to be with action figures back when I collected them. One guy really, really, really pissed off one collecting site because he had pics of the figure I mentioned earlier (selling for $500-600) and he had opened it up and was letting his 2 year old chew on it and play with it. People were FREAKED out. There are actually some accessories that are extremely rare and sell for $5k or more. They surface on ebay once or twice a year if that. I remember seeing a pile of them in an outlet store as a kid and begging my mom for one. She turned me down. She also threw out my dad's baseball card collection after they got married. Mom's are mean apparently.

 

[Bob Maxey]

That's the way I used to be with action figures back when I collected them. One guy really, really, really pissed off one collecting site because he had pics of the figure I mentioned earlier (selling for $500-600) and he had opened it up and was letting his 2 year old chew on it and play with it. People were FREAKED out. There are actually some accessories that are extremely rare and sell for $5k or more. They surface on ebay once or twice a year if that. I remember seeing a pile of them in an outlet store as a kid and begging my mom for one. She turned me down. She also threw out my dad's baseball card collection after they got married. Mom's are mean apparently.

Some collectors can be a bit odd and some hate to see value diminish. some things cannot be replaced and sometimes, I'll get a tad riled.

I have my quirks: I only purchase celluloid or casein fountain pens. I have definite ideas about motorcycles and I collect stamps. I really hate to see some of the value killing things uneducated people sometimes do to those lovely pieces of paper.

 

[OfTheDamned]

The thing is that those things you mentioned that go up in value you have to really know what you're doing. I used to collect action figures. You keep them in the package and some of them go up in value so fast it's crazy. A year later and you can sell them for four times what you bought them for. Others plummet and you can't pay people to take them. I've listed some on ebay for $1 and got no bids. If you know what you're doing though you can make a mint. I sold one for $500-600. That figure originally sold for $100. It was 2-3 years ago I sold it. I had it a year and the price went from $100 to $600 where it has stayed. If you paid $600 for it expecting the price to up up even more you'd have lost. You really do have to know what you're doing.

Personally, I've taken to the philosophy of buying smartphones the same way I buy cars. Buy them used. With cars, you save yourself the butt kicking of depreciation. With phones you save yourself the hassle of a contract IMO. I'm not one who has to be an early adopter or has to be on the cutting edge of tech though. I wait, see what all the issues are with a particular handset (and every handset has them), then make my decision.

My father, father-in-law and brother-in-law started me on a watch collection. I have some that are really nice and I love them, but they are worth very little. Then I have some that are worth a bunch and don't ever wear them. I also inherited my grandmother's nutcracker collection. My mother continued to buy them for me each Christmas and I have over 100 now. They are all Steinbach (some of them signed) and as a kid I just liked the way they looked. It wasn't until this year that I realized how much these things cost and are worth. I actually had to add them under a separate policy on the insurance.

With collecting, you have to find something you enjoy and forget about trying to make money. There are some things that really are investments though and with those you have to be careful not to get ripped off or that you don't make a terrible mistake and ruin something worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

 

[argedion]

My father, father-in-law and brother-in-law started me on a watch collection. I have some that are really nice and I love them, but they are worth very little. Then I have some that are worth a bunch and don't ever wear them. I also inherited my grandmother's nutcracker collection. My mother continued to buy them for me each Christmas and I have over 100 now. They are all Steinbach (some of them signed) and as a kid I just liked the way they looked. It wasn't until this year that I realized how much these things cost and are worth. I actually had to add them under a separate policy on the insurance.

With collecting, you have to find something you enjoy and forget about trying to make money. There are some things that really are investments though and with those you have to be careful not to get ripped off or that you don't make a terrible mistake and ruin something worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

This is so true I have heard of so many people talk about how badly they have gotten ripped of especially by dealers. Before you sale anything you should get several different quotes from different dealers. And also understand its only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. You may have something like a really expensive watch but if the highest bid you get is half of what it's worth then you have a choice either take it or keep it.