Below is a Guide on how to activate a cell phone that you purchased on eBay, on Sprint Wireless, from the comfort of your home without the need to go to a Sprint PCS Store.  Its easy, simple and fast.  If you find this guide helpful, please help others find it by clicking "Yes" below. 

Two Steps Before You Call To Activate:
 
   1. Get the ESN Number of the Phone.  Take the battery off of the phone and look for the ESN number.   Models vary, but all of them either show the ESN as an 11 digit number in Decimal format (sometimes abbreviated DEC) or in Hexadecimal format which is a combination of letters and numbers that is 8 digits in length. Sprint can work with either one. It is not the serial number which is usually designated “S/N” or the FCC ID number. 

  The ESN Number is Always Belwo the Battery

   On a Label

   Sprint can use the ESN, HEX, or DEC number to activate your phone

   2.  Make sure the phone is fully charged.  You will need to turn the phone on and program it once you call Sprint and you don’t want the battery to die during programming.   Also, fully charging the battery helps to prolong and enhance the battery’s performance (repeated, short and incomplete charging of your battery will diminish its capacity).  

Transferring your existing Sprint contract service to the phone you just bought.

  1.  Call 888-211-4727 and at the prompt select option 2 enter your 10 digit phone number.  When the Customer Service person answers the phone, tell him/her that you would like to activate your phone number on another cell phone.  You will be asked some security questions, and then they will ask for the ESN number of the phone that you want to switch your service to.   

  2.  They will give you a code to enter into your phone so that it can be programmed over the air.  They will ask you to turn your phone off and back on and dial *228 and press send.  Your phone will be programmed over the air in about 60 seconds.

Please Read: We do not recommend taking the phone into any Sprint PCS Wireless Store.  There are independent stores (not owned by Sprint) and they usually charge a $20.00 fee to activate the phone.  Also, the store representatives are only trained on the few models that the store sells and sometimes that are just not familiar enough with the phone to do the activation.  The best trained people are found when you call in at the above number. 

      If you found this guide helpful, please indicate that below.   We offer many Sprint Cell Phones in our eBay store that will work on all Sprint PCS Calling Plans. 

Flip Cell Phones for Sprint

Traditional Style Cell Phones for Sprint

JustCellular on eBay.