Buying a Fascinate on eBay - any tips?

[spiff72]

Hey all...

Was thinking about buying a Fascinate off eBay in the hopes of getting a no contract phone for less than $400. Or $300.

Are there any red flags to look out for other than very low feedback scores of a seller? As I look, I always make sure they say that the ESN/MEID is clean...not sure if this really means anything though...

Also - if I did this, could I still go to a VZW store for warranty service (and get replacement phone if I have issues down the road)?

Thanks!

 

[sho95]

Ask to give you the ESN to verify with Verizon. As for the 1 year warranty I don't think so but you can add the paid insurance to any smart phone, I've done it 3 times.

 

[xliderider]

Clear MEID is uber importante! It's the most important thing, unless you're shopping for a paperweight. Lol.

Squaretrade.com sells warranties on phones purchased on eBay at very reasonable prices. $20 something dollars for a two year warranty is good.

 

[spiff72]

Clear MEID is uber importante! It's the most important thing, unless you're shopping for a paperweight. Lol.

Squaretrade.com sells warranties on phones purchased on eBay at very reasonable prices. $20 something dollars for a two year warranty is good.

Sorry - I realize that it is important. When I said that I wasn't really sure if that meant anything, what I should have said was "they can say anything they want to". I don't know if that is really true - just seems like EVERYONE says that! And I will look at the squaretrade and insurance options.

Thanks!

 

[anaphora68]

In addition to a clean ESN/MEID, you need to make sure that the ESN/MEID is not "activated" or assigned to someone's number. I just ran into this yesterday off a Craigslist purchase. Luckily the woman was willing to work with me, and met up with me again to sort the issue out. Had she not been willing, I would have been stuck with a paperweight, or a nice music player...