Question about GSM phone activation.

yes, it would be an easier sell for him if it's unlocked, but if it's not than any tmobile customer should be able to pop a sim in it and use it. And Restocking fees to clarify....are only charged in warranty exchanges, so your friend had to have kept his defective phone for more than sixty days to be charged it without having an option to have it refunded. So in defense of the restocking fee which nobody likes to pay or be charged, your friend had to have had ample time to get the phone back.

 

Is the second phone the "funny" phone that you're questioning the restocking fee? It depends whether they blacklist the IMEI on that phone. If they don't it shouldn't be a problem.

 

If they returned the phone in a month or less than they wouldn't be charged a restocking fee, and if they were and used the prepaid UPS label it has a tracking number on it that tmobile has access too and if this can be proven the restocking fee should be lifted. I don't think you'll have a problem with the IMEI though we generally only blacklist an IMEI if the phone is not returned when a new acct is opened and cancelled right away, or if the handset was obtained with fraud being committed.