Purchasing from Ebay

[kelbell01]

I have a question that I've been wanting to ask. I see cell phones on ebay that specify who's network they are for. I thought you had to purchase your phone at the time you signed your contract with the carrier. I am with Verizon and have been for a while now. If I go month to month and decide to purchase a phone they don't offer on their site, but will work with their network, the HAVE to let me use it right? They just have to activate it?

Thanks for responding!

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[AnthroMatt]

As long as the phone has 800/1900MHz CDMA and is not stolen or associated with a delinquent account they should activate it no problem.

[GoodmanR]

Make sure it also does PCS (1900 mhz). Some of Verizon's older phones, like the lg v111 only do 800mhz and analog, Verizon WILL NOT activate these.

[kelbell01]

Thanks for responding, I was always unsure about that being legit or not. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[aaronrkelly]

Originally posted by: kelbell01
Thanks for responding, I was always unsure about that being legit or not. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

This is way off topic but I just noticed your name.....my son is Taylor Kelly. Hmmm......

[MrFlashport]

Originally posted by: kelbell01
I have a question that I've been wanting to ask. I see cell phones on ebay that specify who's network they are for. I thought you had to purchase your phone at the time you signed your contract with the carrier. I am with Verizon and have been for a while now. If I go month to month and decide to purchase a phone they don't offer on their site, but will work with their network, the HAVE to let me use it right? They just have to activate it?

Thanks for responding!

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

Ask if it is UNLOCKED or if the seller has the MSL (Master Subsidy Lock). Otherwise it is forever locked to whatever carrier sold it (Sprint is one carrier who locks all their phones). Also, if you did say, buy a Sprint phone (like my old Timeport 7867 for instance) you will still have to have the Verizon PRL for it to work (and most of the time you must go to a VZ store with a service tech who will program it for you, sometimes OTA doesn't work like on the Timeport).

Also, ask the seller for the ESN and call Verizon BEFORE you bid and check it to make sure it is clear. If someone owes a bill on it, or it is reported lost/stolen, they will not activate it, and they may even get nosey and ask a bunch of questions.

Best source of used phones is from friend. Just ask around. Many people have a drawer full of phones! I still have my old Motorola Ultra-Classic 9800XL from 1993!