If you are interested in a Samsung Galaxy S10 device I recommend Swappa

[jrasero23]

So normally I buy phones directly from the manufacture or in the past I have gone through my carrier but with my Pixel 2's battery not holding a charge I needed a phone quickly. When the S10+ was launched I was impressed how well rounded it was and unlike previous years they weren't trying to sell the phone with gimmicky parlor trick features.

So I decide to buy a S10+ but the phone was back ordered for 3 weeks so I decided to look on Swappa where I had sold some of my old phones in the past. low and behold there was at least 15 brand new sealed unlocked S10+ phones in various colors at launch. So a little nervous but wanting a phone asap I bought an unlocked new sealed S10+ 128GB in white from a seller from Hawaii that had over 1000 sales. The phone came via USPS really well wrapped and as promised. I bought the phone for $945 including shipping and didn't need to pay taxes, so I saved $144.

Fast forward today and in typical Samsung fashion secondhand resale value has plummeted even more so. On Swappa today there are 12 new unlocked sealed S10+ devices listed. Recent sales history shows that new unlocked 128GB S10+ devices are selling for under $800 ($790). Even the more expensive ceramic options can be found sub $1K ($950).

While there always is a tad more of an inherent risk not buying a device from a certified retailer, with Swappa you are backed by Payal and since the phones are new they would be covered under warranty. Now 12-15 listings isn't a lot, but for the people who want to save hundreds of dollars by paying up front and not going through a carrier this is a terrific option. You could also buy the same phone through Swappa but used in various conditions, but IMO I have found what someone deems as mint and what I see as mint can be vastly different.

 

[Mike Dee]

Just a note that not all Samsung S10 come in a sealed even though they may be new

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Verizon won't warranty phones bought second hand. You will have to deal with Samsung directly, have fun with that.

 

[NIZMOZ44]

Verizon won't warranty phones bought second hand. You will have to deal with Samsung directly, have fun with that.

Verizon wont warranty them anyways unless you have the insurance.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Verizon wont warranty them anyways unless you have the insurance.

Verizon has always warrantied my phones and I don't do the insurance. The only one they wouldn't is the one I bought directly thru Samsung, they don't warranty direct Samsung bought phones.

 

[strikeIII]

Yup carriers will handle warranty exchanges if bought from them. I've done plenty of warranty exchanges through AT&T and Verizon. A lot easier than dealing with Samsung.

 

[Mike Dee]

Verizon wont warranty them anyways unless you have the insurance.

Not true... All purchases made through Verizon are covered under manfacturer warranty and handled by Verizon if you chose to go through them. In fact, Verizon will sometimes go past the warranty for long term customers.

 

[anon(1733)]

Not true... All purchases made through Verizon are covered under manfacturer warranty and handled by Verizon if you chose to go through them. In fact, Verizon will sometimes go past the warranty for long term customers.

Exactly. I've seen this pop up a lot lately. People thinking the carrier won't cover the device past the initial 14 days. ATT and Verizon both will handle a warranty issuse no problems. You'll get a refurbished. But that's the same through Samsung as well. To much mis information out there. I've never had a issue with either carrier.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Like I said earlier, Verizon has warrantied all my phones. The only times they didn't were if I bought it from Samsung direct, they even said they do not cover phones purchased directly from Samsung as they don't have records of it.

They will cover phones bought from places like best buy, because they have access to the purchase receipt.

They also will not cover if you bought the phone privately thru places such as eBay, swappa, craigslist, or a friend.

 

[nuangel2]

Exactly. I've seen this pop up a lot lately. People thinking the carrier won't cover the device past the initial 14 days. ATT and Verizon both will handle a warranty issuse no problems. You'll get a refurbished. But that's the same through Samsung as well. To much mis information out there. I've never had a issue with either carrier.

T Mobile as well

 

[jrasero23]

Well in my circumstance I only buy unlocked phones so I really have never had to deal with carrier for warranty issues. But in theory since all Swappa sales are done by Paypal you have quite a bit of protection. Either way yeah I would say there is the benefit of getting a phone from a carrier that day and having it exchanged on the spot, but granted my post was to demonstrate how this is negated by savings hundreds of dollars... Pick what you want but IMO If I can get a brand new sealed unlocked S10+ ceramic for $950 shipped which is a whopping $410 less compared to buying it through a retailer with NYC Tax, plus have the ability to use to on various carriers or go over seas with it I am going with a 2nd hand but new option.

personally the transition to no carrier contracts was refreshing but the fact that we are now financing or even worse leasing $1000+ is outrageous. I find AT&T's financing program to be pretty ridiculous since if you want to pay off your phone you can't pay $50 extra a month, you have to either make your intended monthly payment or buy out the phone in full. Also with AT&T, no retail store will unlock your phone in store, rather you are just told to go online and submit your device for approval, so kind of a hassle. Also believe it or not in NYC a couple of AT&T stores don't sell ANY phones outright, they essentially have to be financed or leased through them. Point being I am not sure what other carries or like but IMO I choose to not deal with carriers in general as much as possible

 

[jrasero23]

I haven't found that to be true. There is a single piece of manufacture tape on the box, it can vary in location, top or bottom but there should always be that tape. Frankly it's no where near the seal Apple gives and yes there has been some instances where customers got phones from carriers that appeared to been opened, but in all the listings and other people's unboxing's there always has been a seal

 

[WizeGuyDezignz]

I just bought a one week old 128gb S10 Plus off Swappa this morning for $750. All accessories in the box are new and haven't been used. Way better than $1k plus tax!

 

[mustang7757]

I just bought a one week old 128gb S10 Plus off Swappa this morning for $750. All accessories in the box are new and haven't been used. Way better than $1k plus tax!

Good deal , congrats

 

[jrasero23]

I just bought a one week old 128gb S10 Plus off Swappa this morning for $750. All accessories in the box are new and haven't been used. Way better than $1k plus tax!

Killer deal but the only downside to this is that with such low resale value just a month or so after launch the 6 month and 12 month resale value will be dog doo doo.

 

[NIZMOZ44]

Well in my circumstance I only buy unlocked phones so I really have never had to deal with carrier for warranty issues. But in theory since all Swappa sales are done by Paypal you have quite a bit of protection. Either way yeah I would say there is the benefit of getting a phone from a carrier that day and having it exchanged on the spot, but granted my post was to demonstrate how this is negated by savings hundreds of dollars... Pick what you want but IMO If I can get a brand new sealed unlocked S10+ ceramic for $950 shipped which is a whopping $410 less compared to buying it through a retailer with NYC Tax, plus have the ability to use to on various carriers or go over seas with it I am going with a 2nd hand but new option.

personally the transition to no carrier contracts was refreshing but the fact that we are now financing or even worse leasing $1000+ is outrageous. I find AT&T's financing program to be pretty ridiculous since if you want to pay off your phone you can't pay $50 extra a month, you have to either make your intended monthly payment or buy out the phone in full. Also with AT&T, no retail store will unlock your phone in store, rather you are just told to go online and submit your device for approval, so kind of a hassle. Also believe it or not in NYC a couple of AT&T stores don't sell ANY phones outright, they essentially have to be financed or leased through them. Point being I am not sure what other carries or like but IMO I choose to not deal with carriers in general as much as possible

If your phone worked when you got it then had a problem months later, Paypal will not protect you. That is not what Paypal protection is for. It's for getting a product that didn't work or not what you asked for right when you receive it. Paypal will side with the seller if it's months later and it failed, as I have won it several times myself dealing with this.

As we have a family member who works for a AT&T corporate store, which told me just now, unless you have the insurance AT&T will direct you to the manufacture for any hardware defects. This is the same for Verizon as well as it states it on their websites. You may get lucky with a nice store/rep every once in a while, but it's not their policy.

 

[Mike Dee]

If your phone worked when you got it then had a problem months later, Paypal will not protect you. That is not what Paypal protection is for. It's for getting a product that didn't work or not what you asked for right when you receive it. Paypal will side with the seller if it's months later and it failed, as I have won it several times myself dealing with this.

As we have a family member who works for a AT&T corporate store, which told me just now, unless you have the insurance AT&T will direct you to the manufacture for any hardware defects. This is the same for Verizon as well as it states it on their websites. You may get lucky with a nice store/rep every once in a while, but it's not their policy.

Again, not true if purchased from Verizon.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I had a issue with the S10+ and Verizon clearly told me if I bought it thru them or an approved agent they would handle the warranty. Samsung direct and sites like swappa are not authorized agents. They also said that if I do purchase direct thru Samsung and I purchase total coverage thru Verizon then they would handle the warranty from day one, and as long as I keep paying the premium. This has been this way for 15+ years. Maybe there is some form of fine print, if there is, versizon is not enforcing it. All Verizon is doing is is swapping out refurbished phones that they get from Samsung, it's just trading game, speeds the process up and Samsung probably wants it this way. If everyone had to deal directly with Samsung for warranty exchanges, Samsung might not be around or as big as they are IMO.

 

[NIZMOZ44]

Again, not true if purchased from Verizon.

Please provide a link that says otherwise then. I trust at&t store more than you honestly.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Please provide a link that says otherwise then. I trust at&t store more than you honestly.

He says Verizon. I've been explained this by several Verizon reps and agents that this is how Verizon does it. I've had warranty exchanges several times thru Verizon, not the manufacturer. AT&T must be different.