As a cellular dealer for the last four years, I have found that out of all used cellular phones Sprint is by far the most difficult.

If your phone is lost or broken, you have many choices. 

1.  You can call customer service to see if you are out of your contract.  If your contract is over, you can sign up for another two long years and get a new phone for free or at the discounted rate.

2.  You can buy a brand new phone which was never activated, paying hundreds of dollars for something which will be out of date and way cheaper in six months.

3.  You can buy a cheap used phone on ebay.

Number three makes the most economical sense by far.   Buying a brand new phone is like buying a brand new car.  As soon as you drive it off the lot, it has already lost significant value.  There is a stigma on buying used goods in general which should be overlooked if you are a smart consumer.

The trick is how to buy without getting stuck with a lemon. 

The most important thing to remember about a Sprint phone is whether its ESN (electronic serial number) is clean for activation.

Sprint in general is the easiest with credit checks, requiring only a $125 deposit.  For this reason, many people with bad credit or with fradulent social security numbers who are looking for a contract phone will choose Sprint first.

What this means for you, is that the majority of used phones from Sprint are the result of people who went over their minutes and can no longer afford their bill.  If this was another CDMA (service which doesn't require a SIM card) provider such as US Cellular or Verizon, the ESN would be clear for activation in a mere two to three months.

If there is a balance owed on a Sprint phone, depending on how high the amount... the ESN will not be clear for 6 months to one year.

What you can do to avoid activation problems:

1.  Ask the seller when the last call was made on the phone.  If the phone was used a mere month ago, and there is a balance owed, you will not be able to activate.

2.  Call customer service and give them the ESN.  Ask them if it is clear for activation.  If the person you talk to doesn't sound like they know what they are doing, call up and ask again.  It's best to call and ask 2-3 times since many reps don't give accurate information.  This is a problem for both buyers and sellers and can be extremely frustrating.

3.  Ask if the phone is on the "lost or stolen" list.  This information is going to be on a different database.

If the phone was ever reported lost or stolen, you will NEVER be able to activate.  If the phone was activated with fraud (for example, identity theft) you also will NEVER be able to activate.  If the ESN has one of these results you should avoid this sale.

NEVER buy a phone where the ESN cannot be guaranteed for activation.

NEVER buy a used phone that does not have an iron clad return policy.  ALWAYS ask the seller what the procedure would be if you needed a return before bidding.  Ask if the shipping would be refunded or if you would be required to pay this out of your own pocket. 

And always, ALWAYS check their feedback and know who you are buying from.  It seems very simple, but oftentimes people will bid in the last minute when a $200 phone might be going for only $40.  They get caught up in a frenzy without really checking the feedback and looking at the description of the item.