Buying a phone on eBay

**regression** · 08-18-2012, 09:06 AM

I am looking to buy a phone off eBay or Craigs List. I see lots of phones listed as bad esn. I assume that means I will not be able to activate it. So, why do people buy phones with bad esns? Is it to just use as a wifi only device?

**Sykotc** · 08-18-2012, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by djs71a

I am looking to buy a phone off eBay or Craigs List. I see lots of phones listed as bad esn. I assume that means I will not be able to activate it. So, why do people buy phones with bad esns? Is it to just use as a wifi only device?

Phones with bad esn's can be flashed to metro & crickett

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**enjamin** · 08-18-2012, 09:20 AM

My understanding is yes on the wifi only deal but then I know a few guys that will buy them for the extra parts. Screens, casing, boards, qwerty kbs,
Once its listed as bad esn its the same as buying a stolen phone although this can also happen when someone neglects to pay their bill and the company drops them as a customer

I know a lot of hardware guys and we work with sodering irons a lot so get bored and try to do dumb things
My platoon sgt still uses a moto razor v3.2.... on his 5th screen and once we were bored so we soldered 2 pentium4 boards with processors and ram and got them to run parrelel and blew it up a little later

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**regression** · 08-18-2012, 09:21 AM

Thanks, I didn't realize that. Makes sense why I see so many phones with bad esns on there.

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**enjamin** · 08-18-2012, 09:21 AM

.... unless it uses a sim card then your golden lol

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**GiantJay** · 08-22-2012, 06:02 AM

The thing about buying even a good phone on eBay or craigslist is that they could sell it to you with a good ESN then when you leave or a few days later can call the insurance and say it was stolen or lost and get a new phone sent to them and yours will be shut down, just a heads up I've heard this is a new scam some people do.

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**regression** · 08-22-2012, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by GiantJay

The thing abut buying even a good phone on eBay or craigslist is that they could sell it to you with a good ESN then when you leave or a few days later can call the insurance and say it was stolen or lost and get a new phone sent to them and yours will be shut down, just a heads up I've heard this is a new scam some people do.

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Thanks for the heads up.

**jean15paul** · 08-23-2012, 01:09 PM

I've heard people recommend if you're buying a used phone from someone, to meet at a Sprint store and activate it on the spot before completing the transaction. I've never done this, but it seems like good advice.

**whatsitsname** · 08-23-2012, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by GiantJay

The thing about buying even a good phone on eBay or craigslist is that they could sell it to you with a good ESN then when you leave or a few days later can call the insurance and say it was stolen or lost and get a new phone sent to them and yours will be shut down, just a heads up I've heard this is a new scam some people do.

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This scam works on gsm phones, cdma (Sprint) phones not so much. You should be good to go on ebay with Sprint phones.

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**Jude526** · 08-23-2012, 03:51 PM

If on ebay kook at the seller's rating. Choose someone who has been with ebay for a long time.
Regarding craigslist :if the seller refuses to meet you at a verizon store DO NOT deal with him/her. Not meeting you at a corporate store is clear indication not a good deal.

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