Getting a Used Cell Phone
It is a sad fact that cell phones get lost, stolen, or destroyed every day. If your phone is stolen, you need to report it to your cell phone carrier and local law enforcement. Your cell phone carrier can block the device from being used on their network. Take the steps you need to secure your online banking, credit card, and other accounts. For example, many banks now offer a service that allows you to put a temporary hold on purchases made with your card. If you’ve entered the card number into a particular website, no one can make purchases on that website because the bank will block access to your funds.
When a person finds himself without a cell phone, they might not have the discretionary income to buy a brand-new phone of their choosing. Instead, it is also possible to buy a used or refurbished cell phone, but specific considerations should be taken into account before buying a used cell phone at any price. Here are some things a person who is in the market for a used cell phone should take into consideration:
Check status—Is it stolen?
To see if a device is stolen, you’ll need the IMEI, MEID, or ESN of the phone. If an iPhone is stolen, you can find the IMEI number listed in Settings >General>About - scroll down to IMEI.
The device number can be checked at this website to see if it has been reported stolen. Never buy a phone that the site shows as being a stolen phone, even if the seller gives an excuse like he lost the phone and reported it stolen by accident.
Ask friends
We have noticed that when a person gets the word out that they need a cell phone, quite often family or friends will come to their rescue by offering an old device that they have tucked in a drawer somewhere, usually because the screen is broken. We can repair the device. While we can sometimes fix water damage, in most cases, if it has been sitting for a while, it has become irreparable if it’s been damaged by water.
If someone gives you their old iPhone, follow these steps:
settings, general, reset -> erase all content and settings, and add your iCloud ID
If family or friends aren’t forthcoming with a spare phone, here are some other sources of used cell phones:
Amazon
Amazon has a 90-day warranty on refurbished phones sold by manufacturers. Make sure to get a refurbished one, and watch out who the seller is, as different ones offer different warranties.
eBay
Because eBay sellers are rated, and because eBay offers a money-back guarantee, a buyer has the advantage of being able to see the seller’s rating history. It’s also possible to ask the seller questions about the condition of the item before purchasing it, and many will make a point to offer clear photos of the flaws in their listing.
Other selling sites
Here are a few other websites that sell phones:
Gazelle buys and sells phones and checks them for theft and functionality. Swappa connects buyers with sellers, but all payments are processed through PayPal, which protects buyers. They also offer some nice buying features.
Craigslist
Craigslist offers local listings, so proceed at your own risk, since there is no way to know if they are trustworthy sources or not. If a phone is under contract, it can’t be activated until the end of the contract term. Many of these individuals want cash, so a buyer can’t be covered under their credit card protection or PayPal guarantee in the event there is a problem. Don’t forget to ask for the MEID number to check to see if it’s stolen. Make sure that the device you buy has the same MEID number the seller offered, and be prepared to accept the loss if it’s working perfectly one day and fails the next. (See note above about water damage.)
There are also certain functions you should test, including the camera, the speaker, the microphone, the flashlight, the front-facing camera, etc. We can repair all of these but the buyer should balance the cost of repair against the value of the phone.
Your carrier
Sometimes your phone carrier will offer a discount or payment plan for a new phone. While this isn’t technically a used phone, it’s worth considering if you’re low on cash and do want a new one. They also offer refurbished models. However, their prices are universally high, so you’ll pay about double what you can buy one from other sources.
The loss, theft, or destruction of a cell phone is a nightmare. But, having options to get a device so you can reconnect with humanity is a way to make the best of an unfortunate situation.
Call us at 480-435-9330 if you need a highly-rated, expert cell phone repair company to repair your iPhone, Samsung, PS4, XBox, iPad or tablet.