buying cell phones on ebay? - Big Big Forums

Surfergal · 10-30-2009, 10:20 PM

I have a five year old LG basic cell phone and have been going month to month with verizon on my old 2 yr cheap plan that's no longer available. They'll give me a basic phone free, if I sign up 2 two years, but an expert on TV, said it's cheaper to buy a phone on ebay than to lock yourself into a contract, plus I really need to keep costs down as I am out of a job. My cell phone will not hold a charge for long, plus it is forever "changing service areas". I am not at all up on new technology, so if I buy a phone on ebay how does it get changed to my phone number? or maybe it would be better to get just a new battery?

My friend said my phone is way out of date with the cell phone service now -(no longer 3g??). And if I get a camera phone, can I take pictures but just not send them on my basic plan? I mean then can I downlload pics to pc somehow? LOL I am so out of it ...never had a camera phone - don't even know how to send texts really - as I have no text messages in my plan - all I get are the stupid verizon text every month saying my bill is due and my bill is paid.. any help appreciated - I need a cell phones for dummies guide

jasmine · 10-30-2009, 10:39 PM

on ebay just look for a phone that carries your cell service, or one that is unlocked. All you do is get it, slip in your sim card and it's yours, same phone number everything.
I've bought my daughter a couple off ebay, she's with T-mobile, I just made sure the phone I was buying/bidding on was for T-mobile service.

Explorer 4x4'r · 10-30-2009, 11:13 PM

be careful in buying off ebay.
most sellers are in hong kong

ttistin · 10-30-2009, 11:16 PM

Verizon does not do sim cards, you just need to activate a phone. You can just switch your number to the new phone.

***ahippiechic*** · 10-30-2009, 11:35 PM

I buy a lot of unlocked phones from Ebay. You can find pretty good deals.

Airbuswife · 10-30-2009, 11:48 PM

the last phone i bought from ebay was a 3 year old model. not really the best that i could have purchased, when i took it to verizon to have all my stuff loaded, she said that she could have sold me a much better phone for cheaper than i paid. i would go to your closest verizon person and ask where you are in your contract and how easily and inexpensively it would be for you to upgrade.

good luck!