Pixel 2 XL device contacts disappeared

[Android Central Question]

I just purchased the pixel 2 XL phone and had all my contacts transferred from my old Samsung. They were transferred by the sales associate before I logged into my google account on the phone.

Everything was visible (all the contacts were on the device), but when I logged into my google account they all disappeared. Now when I go to contacts it shows me my google account contacts (which I have none of).

Is there any way for me to get back to the contacts that had been transferred onto the device itself?

Thanks in advance,

Sandra

 

[Rukbat]

Not if you don't have the old phone.

That's why contacts should be entered as Google contacts, not as Device contacts. If they were Google contacts, no one would have to do anything to "transfer" them. You just put your Google account into your new phone and it syncs your contacts.