Buying Phones On Ebay EXCLUSIVE

If, however, you're really into phone photography then you may want to spend a bit more on something with a decent camera. In that case, something like an iPhone X or a Galaxy S10 may be preferable. You'll have to find that balance between the performance you need and the price you're happy to pay. Newer phones with more modern features and better performance will come with a higher price.

buying phones on ebay

Not every phone seller has your best interests at heart, so it's important to be savvy when you're shopping. Some places to avoid should be obvious; don't buy from the guy selling phones on a street corner from a big box, for example. Others can be hit and miss.

eBay is a well-known source for buying used items, and there's a huge selection of phones to be had. Some of these are sold by refurbishing companies that trade solely in buying and selling used handsets. Others are regular people trying to offload their old devices when they upgrade. The result is that it can sometimes feel like panning for gold, looking for those nuggets you actually want. Check the next section for more tips on buying on eBay.

My best advice though is to go to trusted companies that buy old phones, refurbish them and sell them on. I've used MusicMagpie in the UK and had no problems. Its online catalog is vast, it clearly lists the condition of the phones, every handset is factory reset and you get a 12-month warranty with every purchase. Prices might be a tad higher than you'd find on eBay, but the peace of mind more than makes up for it. They also offer rental options if you can't quite stomach splashing the cash upfront. Gazelle offers a similar service in the US, although we haven't tested it ourselves and so can't vouch for the overall quality of the service.

Whether you're buying from eBay, Amazon Marketplace or anywhere else, it's important to pay close attention to what you're actually getting. Read the listing carefully, including any small print that might be hidden further down among other details. It may be that phrases like "nonfunctioning" or "battery faulty" are intentionally buried to trick people into buying a phone that no longer works. They'll also likely explain whether you're getting the original charging cable, packaging and what sort of nicks and scratches you can expect.

I'll make this as clear as possible: Do not buy a phone that no longer gets security updates from its manufacturer. Unsupported phones are open to all kinds of vulnerabilities that can give hackers easy access to every single piece of information on your handset -- or even control it completely. Those bank details, cute pics of your kids, sexy selfies you sent to your partner -- all could be accessed and stolen.

It's frustrating that phones aren't supported for longer, as the hardware remains perfectly capable of handling most everyday tasks you're likely going to need. Some (like the Pixel 4) still pack great cameras that would take beautiful shots on your next vacation. But outdated software makes the phones vulnerable, and it's simply not advisable to continue using phones outside their support period.

Your best bet is to look at phones that came out within the last two years and are therefore likely still receiving security updates. When you find a phone that suits, search the model name and try and find out if it's still getting updates, and if there's an indication of how much longer it'll get them. Companies aren't forthcoming with info about when they're cutting a product loose, but by looking at what other models are being supported you should be able to make a fair estimate.

If you're keen to save some cash by buying used, make sure to check out our full article on the security advice you need to be aware of. If you're not keen on buying used but still don't want to spend all your savings, take a look at our roundup of the best phones under $200.

I have been buying products off ebay for a few years now. I have purchased one mobile phone and was recently looking to buy another and discovered one must read listing VERY CAREFULLY before buying.

Many sellers are listing mobile phones as "new" or "new, never used" or even "brand new" but upon closer inspection it is clear these are NOT new devices. Most are refurbished and only carry a limited warranty, and many are not Australian models and need to be sent overseas for repairs. This can be frustrating for a customer.

A "new" or "brand new" phone will be offered with the original manufacturer's warranty. Some phones are offered as "ex-demo" but have actually been registered on a network - this is not required on a demonstration product and the item in question is probably a refurbished (sometimes with cheap, inferior parts).

There is no reason why a seller would not offer the manufacturer's warranty when selling a genuine new mobile phone. I have even been told recently by an online seller (not ebay) that resellers are unable to, and are not required to offer warranty. This is blatantly false in the case of a new product, that is genuine.

That holds true when buying online period!! It may be more true on ebay than on most other sites, because eBay does not sell anything. The site is made up entirely of individual sellers, and if you buy something without reading everything in a listing it could cause you to lose an item not as described dispute, if a seller described an issue.

"Many sellers are listing mobile phones as "new" or "new, never used" or even "brand new" but upon closer inspection it is clear these are NOT new devices. Most are refurbished and only carry a limited warranty, and many are not Australian models and need to be sent overseas for repairs. This can be frustrating for a customer".

I agree finding out a phone (or any other item) is misdescribed in the item condition specifics can be frustrating. However, a high percentage of phones sold on the site are listed by inexperienced or new sellers. They like possibly you, did not take the time to read ebay's information for new sellers or buyers.

"There is no reason why a seller would not offer the manufacturer's warranty when selling a genuine new mobile phone. I have even been told recently by an online seller (not ebay) that resellers are unable to, and are not required to offer warranty. This is blatantly false in the case of a new product, that is genuine...

A "new" or "brand new" phone will be offered with the original manufacturer's warranty. Some phones are offered as "ex-demo" but have actually been registered on a network - this is not required on a demonstration product and the item in question is probably a refurbished (sometimes with cheap, inferior parts)".

There are two types of refurbished items that can be bought on ebay. Manufacture refurbished, and seller refurbished. A Mfr. refurbished item will have been worked on by the Mfr., or a company authorized by the Mfr to do the work using original parts. Those items usually come with a limited and shorter Mfr's warranty, usually 90 days. However, before leaving the refurbisher it goes through more testing than new phones do coming out of the factory.

Actually I have never bought one of these dodgy phones, and take care to read listings carefully. However, as many new buyers may be unaware, and some of the sellers deceptively word their advertisements, thought I would offer these tips.

Your tips are good ones, unfortunately less than one tenth of one percent of ebay members ever visit these boards. Since your topic also has info for Australian buyers, it should be posted on that site's boards. This is the U.S. based site. We only get a few Ozzie visitors here.

However, purchasing a phone on eBay must be done with caution. While dedicated second-hand device stores, such as second-handphones.com, will offer benefits like warranties, returns and a clear grading system, eBay sellers may not offer such services.

To help you find genuine reconditioned phones for a reasonable price, we take a look at whether or not it is safe to buy a phone from eBay, what you should look out for and what alternatives you can use.

Some phones will be locked to a specific network, such as Vodafone or O2. This makes buying a new phone when you use a SIM from a different provider a bit trickier. On eBay, there are many unlocked phones available, making it easier to find a device not restricted by a particular network.

One problem with phones sold on eBay is the risk that the phone being sold has been stolen. eBay themselves highlight this as a concern in their guide to buying phones safely on eBay.In the guide, they recommend that people looking to purchase a phone through eBay ask the seller for the IMEI number or checkMend certificate number so that the buyer can check the phone has not been reported as lost or stolen.

Here at second-handphones.com, we have a grading system in place for all of the devices we sell which clearly informs the buyer about the state the phone is in; our system is used consistently across the site.

There are many counterfeit smartphones listed on eBay. These are fake phones that look more or less like the real deal but are created in inferior ways, without the security that genuine devices offer. If a phone is listed very cheaply, it may be a fake.

As you can tell, there are many risks to buying from sites such as eBay. If you are looking to buy a phone for less, then it is always worth checking out dedicated second-hand phone stores, such as second-handphones.com, first.

Switching devices can often be an expensive habit, especially considering the best Android phones can cost upwards of $1,000. Mid-range options have got much more accessible these days, but another great way to score a good deal is by buying a used phone.

Regardless, even if you give the process of buying a used phone or tablet due diligence, things can still go wrong. There are many steps you can take to lower the likelihood of a nasty incident, and a backup plan never hurts in the event you run into trouble. The tips below should help you through the process of getting a solid used smartphone, and while written primarily with phones in mind, most of these steps should also apply to anything else. 041b061a72