Where To Buy An Apple I Phone

-MRS_T-

Hello

I am looking for some help please. I currently have the htc magic on contract with vodafone. I have had the phone about 6 months and have since decided I would like the iphone instead.

I am a bit wary of buying and selling on ebay when it comes to higher value items such as this.

I am looking to see if anyone could tell me if there is anywhere else that does reasonable priced new/2nd hand iphones please and if not then any tips for buying/selling on ebay to help me please

I would appreciate any help as this is a big purchase I do not want to get it wrong

Streeet

Obvious rules of eBaying apply.. look at feedback.. pay with Paypal.. common sence that they wont be selling 10 at half price!! etc etc

I would recommend cash on collection.. there are so many available on eBay it wont be long before there is a reasonably priced one in your local area. I'd rather pay an extra £10 or £20 and be confident what ever I pay for is real and I wont fear non delivery etc etc. (They can demonstrate it working as well if not sealed and brand new)

Streeet

Forgot to mention.. by cash on collection you'll obviously save on postage. (on the QT some people may also agree to sell outside the auction and save themselves final valuation fees...)

For selling your htc.. if you don't want to endure eBay hassle.. why not try one of the companies Martin lists who pay cah for your old mobiles. It would be nice nd easy for you.
HTH

-MRS_T-

Hi street

Thanks for replying. Ia m a regular ebay user more so buying than selling so I do look at feedback etc. My main concern is that they do send you the phone but its faulty or something so I reckon it would be difficult to get your money back if that happended.

I like your idea of searching for one near me so I could go and see it I think I will look into that option.

I didnt know about the companies that pay cash for your old mobile so I will go and see If I can find it now.

I would love to be able to afford a new or used iphone from a reputable company if anyone has any suggestion on that front please :-)

gjchester

-MRS_T- wrote: »

I am looking to see if anyone could tell me if there is anywhere else that does reasonable priced new/2nd hand iphones please and if not then any tips for buying/selling on ebay to help me please

It may not be what you want to hear but it's probably better to buy it new on PAYG with a warranty although as you intend to use it on Vodafone you'll have to jailbreak it and void the warranty anyway.

The iPhone is holding it's price as there is limited used supply, and it's still in demand. Cex are never hugely competative but are a very good measure of the market. They are offering £149 for the oldest Iphone in C grade condition. (they are selling at £222 upwards). They prices they are selling used phones at is similar to new phones on PAYG.

fiendishlyclever

-MRS_T- wrote: »

Thanks for replying. Ia m a regular ebay user more so buying than selling so I do look at feedback etc. My main concern is that they do send you the phone but its faulty or something so I reckon it would be difficult to get your money back if that happended.

I had a similar problem. 40 days after I bought a sim-free handset on Ebay it was blocked by the network. I was 5 days inside the paypal window and used the threat of Paypal to get my money back (after contacting paypal). The seller had plenty of feedback (from selling many small items) and was eager to maintain it (although I'd already left positive feedback). I think the seller had claimed on handset insurance and sold it as well, not realising he would get caught. If the handset had been barred a week later I'd have lost £160.

I still bought another phone on Ebay, but I'm a little more cautious when I check out their feedback etc. I bought one that the seller had won unlocked, so they wouldn't be able to report it lost/stolen as easily.

Seeing one working may cut out some of the risk, but unless ownership of the handset is transferred to you through the network (which you can do with payg handsets easier) then you run the risk of someone else being able to report the phone and have it blocked.

Jon_01

Having a phone blocked after selling is becoming a real problem.
I used to work on the tech helpline at one of the networks and the number of people coming on trying to get a phone they'd bought off Ebay working was a growing issue.

There is no way to be sure as the phone will be working when you get it, the seller will then report it lost/stolen weeks or months later and off it'll go.
I'm not saying all sellers are doing this, but it is something that's getting more widespread and something you should be aware of...

-MRS_T-

gjchester wrote: »

It may not be what you want to hear but it's probably better to buy it new on PAYG with a warranty although as you intend to use it on Vodafone you'll have to jailbreak it and void the warranty anyway.

The iPhone is holding it's price as there is limited used supply, and it's still in demand. Cex are never hugely competative but are a very good measure of the market. They are offering £149 for the oldest Iphone in C grade condition. (they are selling at £222 upwards). They prices they are selling used phones at is similar to new phones on PAYG.

Thanks for the info

-MRS_T-

fiendishlyclever wrote: »

I had a similar problem. 40 days after I bought a sim-free handset on Ebay it was blocked by the network. I was 5 days inside the paypal window and used the threat of Paypal to get my money back (after contacting paypal). The seller had plenty of feedback (from selling many small items) and was eager to maintain it (although I'd already left positive feedback). I think the seller had claimed on handset insurance and sold it as well, not realising he would get caught. If the handset had been barred a week later I'd have lost £160.

I still bought another phone on Ebay, but I'm a little more cautious when I check out their feedback etc. I bought one that the seller had won unlocked, so they wouldn't be able to report it lost/stolen as easily.

Seeing one working may cut out some of the risk, but unless ownership of the handset is transferred to you through the network (which you can do with payg handsets easier) then you run the risk of someone else being able to report the phone and have it blocked.

Jon_01 wrote: »

Having a phone blocked after selling is becoming a real problem.
I used to work on the tech helpline at one of the networks and the number of people coming on trying to get a phone they'd bought off Ebay working was a growing issue.

There is no way to be sure as the phone will be working when you get it, the seller will then report it lost/stolen weeks or months later and off it'll go.
I'm not saying all sellers are doing this, but it is something that's getting more widespread and something you should be aware of...

Wow

I did not even realise this could happen this is a BIG BIG concern. I presume there is no way of stopping this then?

I am not sure what to do now.

Does anyone know of any good sites to buy them new/used at competitive prices then.

As I am a bit scared of ebay now.

Thank you for all the help you have been so far

Jon_01

It wasn't my intent to worry you overly, just to alert you that it's something that happens.

If you use Ebay and only buy from sellers with a good feed back (and quite a few of them) you should be safe enough. Just check that the feed back comments aren't all the same and placed over a very short time.

watcherman

avforums, has a feedback system like eBay, and is a bit more of an enthusiasts site.