Buying phone on ebay?

[RobbyZ5001]

Would you suggest buying a cell phone on ebay for an ATT customer?

[-HAWK-]

I wouldn't, considering AT&T has dirt cheap prices already on REFURBS. The refurbs always look mint and come with warranty. EBAY scares me  

[Branuss04]

I did it for my ex.  Everything went fine.  Since she wasn't eligible for an upgrade it was cheaper to buy online than going to the store and paying full price.  I just made sure I bought a squaretrade.com warranty just incase.  

[RobbyZ5001]

I wouldn't, considering AT&T has dirt cheap prices already on REFURBS. The refurbs always look mint and come with warranty. EBAY scares me

It's a little confusing to me on how much the phone alone is without contract.

If possible can someone tell me how much this would be for just the refurbed phone with no contract?

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=BlackBerry%C2%AE+Curve+8900+(Refurbished)+-+Black&q_sku=sku3980228

[Aaron]

I bought a SLVR on ebay a few years ago.  I made sure to buy from a seller with good feedback and used paypal.  I got a good deal and everything was fine.  The phone ended up being from Italy so there a few quirks to get used to but I was not disapointed.

I am looking into getting another phone and will probably use Ebay just make sure the seller is legit.

My main reason for not buying from ATT is that I don't want to renew a contract with them.  I am happy with my service but like to keep my options open, I haven't been under contract in 2+ years.

[slider head]

Robby, I do not think you are going to be able to order from the store with out being renewed. I went thru this a couple months ago and I work for them! Also, unless you allready have a data plan they are going to get you under contract when you add it. If you allready have a data plan then you can just add the sim and be fine.

The DeathStar is going to get you one way or the other!

[slomoe]

The only reason I would buy a phone off ebay is if its a killer deal, or I needed an unlocked phone. Usually a phone by itself will be $120-$180 more than it would be with a contract. The dealers use their activation/renewal commission to discount the price which is why its so expensive to buy the phone by itself.

[Dan:]

That is why I always save my old phones when I upgrade. It is too expensive to replace a phone mid-way through the contract.

Robby, wireless phone companies are completely crazy. There are different prices, terms, agreements, blah, blah, blah all over the place. I think your best option would be to pick out some phones and then go into an at&t store or kiosk and ask about the pricing. Either that or give them a call. I suspect if you are in the middle of a contract then it will be cheaper to buy a used phone off ebay and get it assigned to your account (number) but you never know with these crazy rules and crap they have.

[RobbyZ5001]

Here are two I checked out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-RIM-BLACKBERRY-8800-AT-T-T-MOB-ROGERS-SMARTPHONE_W0QQitemZ270460503270QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_Phones?hash=item3ef8b3c4e6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/BlackBerry-Pearl-8100-Black-New-Unlocked-AT-T-T-Mobile_W0QQitemZ400070596230QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_Phones?hash=item5d2610d686&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Any thoughts?

[I.rar]

cant comment on those specific phones but i have bought a couple off ebay a couple years back without any problems. one unlocked , and the other was used but in great condition. check the feedback. what i like to do is actually go through the feedback and read their negatives (if any).

good luck.

[CFFF 1.5]

Be careful with any unlocked phones especially if you are going to be using data on them. You may have to call ATT and talk to tech support to get all the correct data setting to be able to receive data on the phone.

If you just need a cheap phone without renewing a contract or renewing isn't available go to walmart and pick up on of the AT&T Go Phones. Just put your SIM card in and it will work.

[Glenn]

Just go to T-Mobile and get a FlexPay plan.  Free phones and no contract; monthly invoicing just like your home phone.

Simple.

[NewAngler]

I wouldn't, considering AT&T has dirt cheap prices already on REFURBS. The refurbs always look mint and come with warranty. EBAY scares me

It's a little confusing to me on how much the phone alone is without contract.

If possible can someone tell me how much this would be for just the refurbed phone with no contract?

http://www.wireless....00+(Refurbished)+-+Black&q_sku=sku3980228

$449.

i've got an old HTC Mogul i'll send to you. its through sprint, i dont know if you can switch. But its a nice *** phone and it works just fine. touch screen, the whole nine.

http://www.htc.com/u...t/overview.html

[RobbyZ5001]

The problem is... a lot of these other service providers don't have provide good coverage. Such as T-Mobile and not sure about sprint.

[Glenn]

I think you'd be surprised about T-Mobile's coverage. They've greatly expanded their coverage recently, and they have fewer dropped calls than any carrier.

Check out their coverage map at www.t-mobile.com/coverage.

[RobbyZ5001]

Yeh.. I just checked my home coverage and it's not good at all. I have a few friends who have T-Mobile and they always complain about the coverage, but it is tempting with that flex plan and free phone.

[Dan:]

what about verizon? I've had great coverage through verizon

[RobbyZ5001]

I am still on a family plan.. If it were up to me I would go with verizon. I am thinking about letting the contract run out and my family split up the plan, because my sister is off on her own and I do my own thing.