Buying a Phone from eBay

PHARR

So I've been after a Samsung S8 for some time now and found one which is within 10 miles from my home.

The seller has over 1,000 positive reviews and is clearly a phone reseller as that is all the feedback.

I have never purchased a phone online before and I cannot help but stress over the what if's...

What if the original owner blocks it, or will Samsung still honor a 2-year handset warranty.

Long story short, the seller has offered to write up a receipt for me and knock off £50 if I pick it up. Also said on eBay messages that if it were to be blocked they would refund me.

Am I thinking too much into this now? Seems trusty.

Thanks

theonlywayisup

If he is a ''phone reseller" I assume he is registered as a business on eBay?

mrcol1000

Ebay protection only stands if you buy the item on Ebay and pay by PayPal. The seller can promise you all they want, but if you pay cash then you will be on your own if the phone turns out to be blocked and they refuse to refund you. You can show all the Ebay messages you want but Ebay won't help if you buy outside Ebay. If things go wrong then the small claims court is only way you will get your money back.

You need to decide how trustworthy you think the seller is. If you are sure they will help you if there is any problems then go ahead. However if you are not 100% sure then you should keep looking. Have you checked their feedback to see if it is phones that their feedback relates to?

Have you tried Music Magpie or CEX? There are also a number of well known names on Ebay who have shops on Ebay

Marcon

Pay by Paypal - much too risky otherwise.

PHARR

Currently, CEX and other shops are selling the S8 £100+ more.

The seller is a business seller and has said for peace of mind I should buy through eBay / Paypal.

The link is here...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-S8-SM-G950F-64GB-Midnight-Black-Unlocked-Brand-New-Never-Used/263124914781

Marcon

PHARR wrote: »

Currently, CEX and other shops are selling the S8 £100+ more.

The seller is a business seller and has said for peace of mind I should buy through eBay / Paypal.

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Do just that! Do also note that the majority of reviews are for this person as a buyer (reviews can only be positive), NOT a seller.

bxboards

As this is a MoneySaving site I hope you don't mind me saying that paying 570 for a phone is insanity.

shaun_from_Africa

PHARR wrote: »

Also said on eBay messages that if it were to be blocked they would refund me.

That alone would stop me from buying from them.
If they can't guarantee that a phone they are selling isn't blocked then this must mean that they either have no idea of the history of that phone or they have no faith in the person that they obtained it from.

ballisticbrian

What can you do with a £570 phone BTW?

k3lvc

ballisticbrian wrote: »

What can you do with a £570 phone BTW?

The colour when you check your bank account will look so much richer :rotfl:

forgotmyname

I presume the OP bought it. Maybe too late but ebay/paypal is not a replacement for a proper warranty and proof of purchase from a reoutable source.

Is the phone a UK one? Never had a sticker saying only use EU SIM cards in any of my phones?

Notice that some sales state UK phone and this one doesn't.

EDIT: just spotted its EURO spec..