Cell phones are one of the more popular items being sold on eBay right now. Anyone who has lost or damaged a cell phone and gone into their local retailer can tell you why. If you are not going to sign a new 2-year contract, a new cell phone can cost from $150-$400. Used cell phones can often be a cheap way to replace your phone until your contract expires.

For first-time buyers, this can be a confusing process, as there are many different styles, features, and types of cell phones - not to mention carriers.

Know your carrier

Many carriers have both local and national requirements regarding which cell phones they will activate. Some require the phone to be GSM or CDMA, while others will only activate phones specifically made for their company or already have the electronic serial number (ESN) in their system.

Before buying a cell phone you need to know what will work for your carrier. If you've already decided on a model you haven't owned before, ask specifically about that phone.

Remember, too, that a GSM phone requires a SIM card and that may not be provided. If you are currently using a SIM card in your phone, you can should be able to use any phone that says GSM Unlocked, or GSM and your carrier name. Sellers often lack the time to do this themselves and will not refund on a phone that cannot be activated for this reason. If you don't see it, ask the seller. If you cannot get an ESN from a seller before buying a phone, I highly advise looking elsewhere.

If you are a US Cellular customer looking for a used phone, be sure to ask if the phone you are looking at has been activated on US Cellular service before. If buying a phone that names the other carrier in the ad, make very sure it also says unlocked. Unlocked phones are those that are not carrier specific.

Which Phone?

People buy different cell phones for many different reasons. Some like the "flip phone" style, while others need something to pick up their email with. Many ads on eBay list the phones features, however, some don't.

If you need to know what a phone can do, try looking at others ads or doing an internet search. com. They have many phone features plus buyer reviews.

Reading Ads

When looking to purchase a cell phone do not skim over the ad. Read what the seller is telling you about the phone. If you don’t see one, you might ask the seller before buying if condition is important to you.

Be sure to read carefully when a seller calls a phone new. If you are going with a refurbished phone, one that is factory refurbished is always best.

Not all phones come with full accessories, either. If a phone is listed as boxed, make sure all the items you wanted are there. Many manuals can be found online - try going to the manufacturer’s website and browsing. Also, be sure to look for call times in a seller’s ads. Many sellers do not have the time to list every phone's call time individually, however, most will check it out for you before you buy. Remember, this is the best gauge of how used a phone really is. Look for the seller's return policy. If a seller is selling a phone "AS-IS" know that they will more than likely not refund your money for any reason. In other words, you are gambling that the phone will arrive as stated in the ad and will work. If it doesn't, you will lose, so remember that when considering the price you are paying. Need a Phone Fast?

If you absolutely need a phone as soon as possible, buying a used cell phone may not be for you. Older cell phones sometimes need software upgrades that your provider may or may not be able to do. Remember, too, that somewhere between five- and ten-percent of used cell phones have issues that either arose during shipping or that the seller couldn't detect. And while sellers are usually willing to work with a customer to resolve a problem, there is still the time and money it takes to ship the phone back and wait for an exchange or refund.

Different sellers handle shipping in different ways. If you see that buyers mention fast shipping consistently in the sellers feedback, it's a pretty safe bet they ship in a reasonable amount of time.

SUMMARY

I hope this has been some help to someone out there looking to buy a cell phone on eBay. This is a great place for finding a bargain on a used cell phone if that's what you need.

Just remember to never be afraid to ask the seller questions, always read the ads carefully and to always check the seller’s feedback.