buying a evo off craigslist.... Advice

[delta7]

350 brand new but owner used it for a week then switched to iphone. What do you think?

 

[RobbyRob]

Make sure the phone ID is clean or you wont be able to activate it.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[scorpiodsu]

See if you can get the ESN and call Sprint to see if it's good. Or have it activated right there before you exchange any money. Shouldn't take long to get it activated and I'm sure the person wouldn't mind waiting just a few minutes for 350.

 

[cmacelis]

Yeah just activate it before exchanging money and tell the seller before u meet up. That is what I did when I bought a hero off of Craigslist a couple of months ago. If everything is good with the EVO the seller won't have a problem.

Sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk

 

[franky_402]

ditto on checking the esn before you even go waste time with a drive. if its legit he shouldnt have any problem getting it for you

 

[mvpilot172]

Meet at a Sprint store and have them check the ESN right there. Just sold my Pre last week this way. They shouldn't have a problem meeting up there if the ESN is clean.

 

[gabbott]

Meet at a Sprint store and have them check the ESN right there. Just sold my Pre last week this way. They shouldn't have a problem meeting up there if the ESN is clean.

This is good advice, that is what I would do.

 

[Robbie317]

Meet at a Sprint store and have them check the ESN right there. Just sold my Pre last week this way. They shouldn't have a problem meeting up there if the ESN is clean.

second that..... At least at the Sprint store you will find out right away that it's good, clean and ready to use..... Because if he canceled early and hasn't paid his ETF they won't allow that phone to work on their network until those fee's are paid..

 

[project.in.process]

i just bought an Evo off craigslist last night. so i have first hand recent experience with this.
here's what i learned--the hard way:
1) definitely meet at a sprint store (for ESN purposes)
2) meet at a Sprint store where you frequent. reason: inform the staff you're upgrading to an Evo (an extra $10/month charge) and you'd like the tech to look at the phone (confirming its software works--also important, apart from the ESN). since you're increasing your monthly bill, they should agree to this request. they'll also try to sell you accessories if they can get you to upgrade your phone plan--so they win regardless.
3) activate the phone/swap numbers---then send yourself a text message AND attempt to browse the internet. (i did NOT do this last night, and spent over 8 phone calls to tech support to fix problems with SMS and internet connection). if you can't--then immediately confront the seller.
4) GET THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE PHONE. i did NOT ask for the receipt--and since the phone was released this summer, you've still got x months in the 1 year HTC warranty--but that warranty is only available to you IF YOU HAVE THE RECEIPT. otherwise, you're going to have to pay the $100 Asurion deductible--and therefore you're paying $475 for the Evo in reality.
5) inspect for LIGHT LEAKAGE, and remove the battery and inspect all parts of the phone (i'm missing the screen over the speaker underneath the phone casing--above the battery)

i'm having trouble receiving Text messages--and have factory reset my phone 3 times in the past 24 hours attempting to fix this. Also, i have light leakage @ the bottom of the phone beneath the Home key.

trust me--do all of this.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

i just bought an Evo off craigslist last night. so i have first hand recent experience with this.
here's what i learned--the hard way:
1) definitely meet at a sprint store (for ESN purposes)
2) meet at a Sprint store where you frequent. reason: inform the staff you're upgrading to an Evo (an extra $10/month charge) and you'd like the tech to look at the phone (confirming its software works--also important, apart from the ESN). since you're increasing your monthly bill, they should agree to this request. they'll also try to sell you accessories if they can get you to upgrade your phone plan--so they win regardless.
3) activate the phone/swap numbers---then send yourself a text message AND attempt to browse the internet. (i did NOT do this last night, and spent over 8 phone calls to tech support to fix problems with SMS and internet connection). if you can't--then immediately confront the seller.
4) GET THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE PHONE. i did NOT ask for the receipt--and since the phone was released this summer, you've still got x months in the 1 year HTC warranty--but that warranty is only available to you IF YOU HAVE THE RECEIPT. otherwise, you're going to have to pay the $100 Asurion deductible--and therefore you're paying $475 for the Evo in reality.
5) inspect for LIGHT LEAKAGE, and remove the battery and inspect all parts of the phone (i'm missing the screen over the speaker underneath the phone casing--above the battery)

i'm having trouble receiving Text messages--and have factory reset my phone 3 times in the past 24 hours attempting to fix this. Also, i have light leakage @ the bottom of the phone beneath the Home key.

trust me--do all of this.

You got screwed. But this is EXCELLENT advice. Kinda like buying a car.

 

[fgkay]

4) GET THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE PHONE. i did NOT ask for the receipt--and since the phone was released this summer, you've still got x months in the 1 year HTC warranty--but that warranty is only available to you IF YOU HAVE THE RECEIPT. otherwise, you're going to have to pay the $100 Asurion deductible--and therefore you're paying $475 for the Evo in reality.

Is this a recent change? It's been a while since I've had to get a phone checked out at Sprint but I know that, in the past, they nver asked for a receipt if the phone was within the 1-year factory warranty. They simply scanned the ESN and, if less than a year old, it was covered -- no questions asked. Had 2 warranty replacements issued for bad phones for which I was not the original owner and had zero paperwork.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Is this a recent change? It's been a while since I've had to get a phone checked out at Sprint but I know that, in the past, they nver asked for a receipt if the phone was within the 1-year factory warranty. They simply scanned the ESN and, if less than a year old, it was covered -- no questions asked. Had 2 warranty replacements issued for bad phones for which I was not the original owner and had zero paperwork.

The problem with that is the ESN will show up as built before the purchase date. So you're getting shorted on your warranty.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro

 

[project.in.process]

You got screwed. But this is EXCELLENT advice. Kinda like buying a car.

hahahaha, yeah i did.

BUT! with the case on the phone, i can't see the light leakage (if i don't see it--it's not there, hahah)
AND now i have my text message error figured out (NortonmobileSecurity is the culprit) so my phone is brand new to me.

 

[project.in.process]

Is this a recent change? It's been a while since I've had to get a phone checked out at Sprint but I know that, in the past, they nver asked for a receipt if the phone was within the 1-year factory warranty. They simply scanned the ESN and, if less than a year old, it was covered -- no questions asked. Had 2 warranty replacements issued for bad phones for which I was not the original owner and had zero paperwork.

then perhaps i was lied to on the phone by a customer rep.
i sure hope so, at least.

in this case, i'm returning to Sprint this weekend to get my camera lens replaced & try to talk my way into a replacement.
and if that works? i'm thanking you about 10 times.
digitally, of course.

 

[bjb_nyj101]

I'm pretty sure that the Sprint reps can see when you purchased your phone, and therefor get the full extent of your warranty period.

 

[makurz]

I tried to exchange my Epic for a replacement Epic due to some of the common problems people are having (WiFi, capacitive buttons, etc...). Everything seemed to go fine till the rep scanned the ESN.

The rep asked if I had the receipt. I stated I didn't have it as I purchased the phone from a third party (craigslist). They refused to help me out without the receipt. Never thought I would actually need the receipt to swap a phone that had just come out the the week before.

Has anyone had success getting a replacement phone they didn't actually purchase directly from a retail store (without a receipt)? If I signed up for TEP/ESRP would I then be able to get it swapped?

 

[rem_kujawa]

Yeah, I bought a pre from radio shack, got an exchange at a Sprint store. They never asked for a receipt.

 

[project.in.process]

I tried to exchange my Epic for a replacement Epic due to some of the common problems people are having (WiFi, capacitive buttons, etc...). Everything seemed to go fine till the rep scanned the ESN.

The rep asked if I had the receipt. I stated I didn't have it as I purchased the phone from a third party (craigslist). They refused to help me out without the receipt. Never thought I would actually need the receipt to swap a phone that had just come out the the week before.

Has anyone had success getting a replacement phone they didn't actually purchase directly from a retail store (without a receipt)? If I signed up for TEP/ESRP would I then be able to get it swapped?

i went back to a Sprint store & spoke with a repair tech--explained my situation (bought it used, confirmed purchase date of a few days prior) and they told me to return AFTER the 30 days (within first 30 days they have to swap the phone for in-store merchandise) so they could file a claim with HTC to send me a new Evo. you might want to attempt this. return after the 30 day period so that they don't lose any stock.

 

[makurz]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks!

 

[project.in.process]

no prob.

make sure you catch the name of the tech rep who helps you just in case, when you return, you can talk with them & have a better chance of getting the claim filed.