Buying a mobile from Ebay?

Further to my thread about buying a mobile...

I went with the Vario II on T-Mobile. Lovely bit of kit but I'm finding it of more use as a pocket PC than as a phone. E.g. writing texts is a bit of a chore. Kicking myself I didn't go for the Blackberry Pearl. Also finding the Vario a bit heavy.

So I was thinking of selling the Vario on Ebay (probably get around £210-£240 for it).

I can pick up a Blackberry Pearl (T-Mobile locked) new on Ebay for £180. (Or I can buy new from Carphone Warehouse for £299 which is somewhat excessive)

The only thing that's putting me off is that I read somewhere, if the phone you're buying is tied to a contract, and the seller later defaults on the contract, the phone can get blocked.

So I am right in thinking I'm risking buying a perfectly good mobile that might, in the next 12-18 months, get blocked?

Anyone have any experience of buying a mobile from Ebay?

Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy
I have purchased my last two mobile phones off E Bay and saved a shed load of money each time. Both mobiles that I purchased have been brand new unlocked sim free and not tied to any network.

I have never personally had any problems and when the time is right I will be buying my next mobile off e bay.

Hope my contribution helps in your decision-making

Happy E Baying[y]

Jerseyboy

[mitchja]

As Jerseyboy says, only go for unlocked handsets.

Regards

[Scrooge]

Take a look [url=puremobile]here[/url], it is a company out of Canada that sells only unlocked phones.When the phone boots it will say Rogers cellular, but other than that it will be the same as in the UK...right ???

Hi

Just to throw in my 2c worth.

I too have bought many phones from Ebay both for myself, Mrs S and my 2 children, with no problems.

As for your concern about the phone being blocked..... generally the handset itself (and the SIM) will only be blocked if it is stolen and even then the handsets are not always blocked. Usually for a defaulted account they will just block the SIM. If it does become blocked the IMEI will be blocked on all networks.

Also bear in mind that just because a handset is sold as 'unlocked'
or 'SIM free' the phone still may be attributable to a particular network/contract.

You will usually find that the price of a true 'SIM FREE' phone will be a lot higher.

Cheers

Mark:D

Thanks guys

Does anyone know if it's possible to use a Blackberry Pearl without signing up to an instant email plan?
T-Mobile charges £10 a month and it's not something I need.

Cheers

Yes you can, it will work as a phone just fine without the email account, although I have to say using it just as a phone it is fairly basic, because you are removing the main attraction of a blackberry.. that being the push email which is brill !!

Cheers

Mark

I've bought a phone from eBay before and not had a problem, also sold 2 phones with no problems.

But, the other week I bought a phone which was advertised as new/unlocked and the seller had 140 positive feedback. It turns up and its still locked so i contact the bloke and I get a load of chav slang back about "what do you expect if its in the box, how can I unlock it for you??" Despite telling him its advertised as unlocked he then has the cheek to ask me for £20 to unlock it!!!

Making a loss on that phone now as I don't trust him to refund it now. Anyway, you should be fine, just be careful who you buy from.