possibly buying a used Epic - anything to look out for?

[AndroidSPCS]

I may be buying a used Epic from someone on craigslist. I'm going to have Sprint check the ESN and activate it on my line to make sure the phone ESN is clean.

Of course I'll carefully check the screen / body for damages, etc.

Are there anything else I should be looking for to make sure it's a good phone? I read on here various issues with Epics but not sure how to check the used Epic for any particular issues.

And how much do you think a used Epic is worth? New ones go for $250 after $100 MIR. Should a used one (in good shape, clean, etc) be worth around $350?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[missdeevi]

Yea that is a good price for it. Honestly you wont be getting it for any cheaper without using an upgrade or getting a new line. As far as looking for anything specific to ensure its quality, I wouldnt even begin to know. Just make sure the esn is clean, meet the person at the Sprint store and the rep can run the ESN first so you can pay the guy and send him on his way.

 

[gme109]

I may be buying a used Epic from someone on craigslist. I'm going to have Sprint check the ESN and activate it on my line to make sure the phone ESN is clean.

Of course I'll carefully check the screen / body for damages, etc.

Are there anything else I should be looking for to make sure it's a good phone? I read on here various issues with Epics but not sure how to check the used Epic for any particular issues.

And how much do you think a used Epic is worth? New ones go for $250 after $100 MIR. Should a used one (in good shape, clean, etc) be worth around $350?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Considering I'm on my fourth new Epic, I'd be very hesitant buying a used one. My first one had a bad mic, the second and third had serious gps problems, and slightly lose sliders. The fourth one seems to be fine. I don't know how you'd check out certain things, before activating it on your line. Hopefully the seller will allow you to do that.

 

[Aero1]

Our testing shows the gps problems are intermittent based on user habits, but the bug and issues causing them are present on all epics, so that is not an issue fixed by getting a new handset. getting a new one may appear to fix the problem. You are much better off applying the stickied fix

I would say the two main things for this buyer come from the idea of buying off of craigs list whcih is would not recommend.

First woudl be reception issues. In my view the Epic has slightly sub par reception. So do you live and work and use the phone regularly in an area with marginal signal? if so then the option of swapping for evo is a huge benefit.

Second, price to shipping cost ratio is very high meaning the seller would get a better price through ebay. Why are tehy not selling on ebay? With craigslist you get no idea of how legit the seller is. no reputation and much less protection. If the price is $10 less than ebay I would go with ebay where you get paypal an reputation protections. If it is $50 less why would then not be selling on ebay?

Also if the buyer had bought it from sprint or best buy an changed their minds all buyers are within 30 day return and he could return it. so it brings up the question if everything is ok and this phoen doesn't have individual problems, why is he selling it instead of returning it?

i would be cautious, you are exposing yourself to quite a few downsides.

Lastly, I am not for insurance but absolutely get it at least for the first month with this purchase. sprint itself warrants legit phones, while your warrant from samsung might not be as strong. In other words, sprint wont take a return for exchange to a different model, but will warrant this cragslist phone. I can't thnk of a better case for at least one month of insurace the full $7)