how are eBay Sellers able to offer brand new phone w/o contracts?

[calbear88]

Hi, I am considering buying a new sprint phone from eBay without a contract. I was wondering where the eBay sellers get their brand new sprint phones.

Are they sprint dealers who are selling the phones without a contract?

Is this legal?

Thank you for your help

[thesonofgray]

Yes, it is legal. If the phone is used, just make sure it has a clean ESN which helps protect you from inheriting a "problem" phone (stolen, etc).

The sellers on eBay are often just like your 3rd party store or mall stand selling phones with a contract. They most likely buy their phones in bulk from a supplier and then offer them without a contract for a small profit margin or with a contract for a steep discount.

This is the same as how Sprint sells their phones, but their prices are often much higher and discounts much less. Why is this? I dunno, but I assume it has to do with less overhead costs by being a small 3rd party that sells online and can accept less profit margins than a huge corporation.

Just make sure the seller has good feedback and that you read the entire auction page carefully. 'Powersellers' are usually a good option because eBay is either an extension of an established business or is the person's business entirely. This helps to ensure a good and fair transaction because powersellers have more invested in their ability to do business on eBay. If you have any questions, ask the seller or us here on SU. :tu:

[prelude619]

Thank you for shedding some light on this. I was cracking my head on how these people sell phones without contracts. I would love to do this but since these are how you said "mall retaliers" they are already in the business and it would probably be a hassle for any regular Joe Shmoe to get a hold of phones in this manner.

[chamberskb]

How do you make sure the ESN is clear? AND can you get a warranty for the unit? I was looking at a unit off craigslist locally and it said it was new in box.

[SprintSALES]

Its probley people like me who get a new phone every 3 months becuase i have a cell phone problem and i use my upgrades to get brand new phones and sell them..:)

[chamberskb]

bought a treo 755p off craigslist brand new w/ no contract. got it up and going and added the TEP plan -so away we go.

[cmbezln]

Its probley people like me who get a new phone every 3 months becuase i have a cell phone problem and i use my upgrades to get brand new phones and sell them..:)

how do you have an upgrade every 3 months?

you're saying you somehow get a full upgrade eligability every 3 months and then sell them?

[james2K]

I sell sprint phones for a 3rd party dealer on ebay. The reason we sell the phones is because they are usually discontined models that we can't activate on contracts because there is no interest in them.... so getting 1/4 of the money invested in the phone on ebay is better than nothing, or taking up space in the stockroom.

[TK011391]

hey j2kninek can you gimme a link to your ebay profile? or your employers i guess..........