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Sprint phone with active ESN flashing?

Discussion in 'Sprint Forum' started by thatboyrob, Apr 20, 2008.

  1. thatboyrob

    thatboyrob New Member

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    I bought a cell phone on craigslist and well instead of checking to make sure the esn is okay it wasn't. The phone was brand new in the box and even had the protective wrapping on it. My question is, is there any way to have this flashed to able to use with sprint again, or is it a lost cause. I tried getting in contact with the girl that sold me the phone, but no use. Any ideas?
     
    #1 thatboyrob, Apr 20, 2008
  2. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
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    Even if you reflash the phone the ESN does not change. That is why we always recommend getting the ESN checked with your carrier before you buy. The fact that you can't get a hold of the seller now just shows that they knew it would not work.

    -Jay
     
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    #2 Jay2TheRescue, Apr 20, 2008
  3. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Unfortunately this is the risk with Craigslist and eBay resellers.
     
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    #3 M in LA, Apr 20, 2008
  4. andy6432668

    andy6432668 Member

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    Congrats you just bought a paper weight !!
     
    #4 andy6432668, Apr 20, 2008
  5. TelcomJunkie

    TelcomJunkie Bad Handoff Investigator
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    What exactly did Sprint tell you? The phone is stolen?
     
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    #5 TelcomJunkie, Apr 20, 2008
  6. Bill Clinton

    Bill Clinton 10 years scandal free....
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    What is the model of the phone? You miiiiiiiight be able to flash it to a carrier that uses the same phone. I knew someone who got a phone activated with Cricket after Sprint said the ESN was bad and they wouldn't activate it.

    As someone said earlier, start looking for other ways to use the phone.... fancy paper weight or doorstop.
     
    #6 Bill Clinton, Apr 21, 2008
  7. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
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    My personal favorite is take the battery out and use it as fish tank decor...

    -Jay
     
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    #7 Jay2TheRescue, Apr 21, 2008
  8. larry

    larry Sprint loyalist and former mod
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    I have a hard time believing that Cricket could or would activate a Sprint branded phone. Too many obstacles in the way.
     
    #8 larry, Apr 23, 2008
  9. CaspianD

    CaspianD New Member

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    Actually, It is very common for a Sprint phone with a bad ESN to be flashed to Cricket as they use the same network. Find someone with Cricket for service; half the time they have a Sprint-branded phone.
     
    #9 CaspianD, Apr 27, 2008
  10. Bill Clinton

    Bill Clinton 10 years scandal free....
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    If Cricket offers the same model phone I have heard they will activate a branded version from another carrier. Do you know if Cricket activates phone models they they don't offer?
     
    #10 Bill Clinton, Apr 28, 2008
  11. CaspianD

    CaspianD New Member

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    I've seen a Blackberry 8830 on the Cricket network though I haven't seen it offered officially by them. This leads me to believe they are somewhat lax in choosing which handsets to activate.
     
    #11 CaspianD, Apr 30, 2008
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