Advice on buying iphone on ebay

[Pattyinneed]

Apple along with carriers offer installment plan so you can pay for you phone in monthly installments! Might want to look into this arrangement!

May I ask what is that?
Also, HEK mentioned the battery problem (because the 5 or 5s has been 4 to 3 years, the battery would be a problem?).
If I stay with my budget that would be good, also it is the only thing I can do.

Apart from Swappa, where is safe to find a reliable used iphone?
Thank you for your information.
I love you guys.

 

[M. Gustave]

A better option would be to buy a phone on Swappa.

In what specific way(s) is Swappa safer than eBay? I keep seeing this recommendation every time eBay is mentioned in a thread, but nobody ever says why it's better.

I know that "Swappa" relies 100% on PayPal to resolve any disputes, which is not encouraging.

 

[willmtaylor]

Apple along with carriers offer installment plan so you can pay for you phone in monthly installments! Might want to look into this arrangement!

He said he isn't in the U.S., so carrier installments don't help him.

 

[noobinator]

In what specific way(s) is Swappa safer than eBay? I keep seeing this recommendation every time eBay is mentioned in a thread, but nobody ever says why it's better.

I know that "Swappa" relies 100% on PayPal to resolve any disputes, which is not encouraging.

They at least do some sort of verification that the person owns the phone they are selling and that it is isn't blacklisted or part of a payment plan. They cannot verify everything but they at least do something. On eBay, you can list using any stock/generic photo and no check against IMEI/ESN at all.

 

[bufffilm]

In what specific way(s) is Swappa safer than eBay? I keep seeing this recommendation every time eBay is mentioned in a thread, but nobody ever says why it's better.

I know that "Swappa" relies 100% on PayPal to resolve any disputes, which is not encouraging.

People probably say that because the frauds and flakey sellers on eBay haven't yet moved to Swappa yet (but some will, I'm sure).

I'd give Swappa a slight edge, but both are pretty safe provided you do your homework. eBay definitely requires a bit more in that dept.

Swappa requires a clean ESN and such which eBay does not.

 

[nburwell]

People probably say that because the frauds and flakey sellers on eBay haven't yet moved to Swappa yet (but some will, I'm sure).

I'd give Swappa a slight edge, but both are pretty safe provided you do your homework. eBay definitely requires a bit more in that dept.

Swappa requires a clean ESN and such which eBay does not.

I have started to see a trend more recently where there quite a few buyers who try to lowball you. I did not really experience this when I first joined Swappa, but it's becoming more common now.

Not a huge deal since I typically ignore them, but it's an observation that I made.

 

[bufffilm]

I have started to see a trend more recently where there quite a few buyers who try to lowball you. I did not really experience this when I first joined Swappa, but it's becoming more common now.

Not a huge deal since I typically ignore them, but it's an observation that I made.

You get that w/any selling site whether Craigslist, eBay, Swappa, etc.

Like you said though...just ignore them.

 

[617aircav]

Op eBay protects your purchase for up to 45 days. Just read the description and review the sellers feedback. You buying a sub $200 phone so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The key is the seller describing the product accurately. Also avoid T-Mobile phones.

 

[M. Gustave]

They at least do some sort of verification that the person owns the phone they are selling and that it is isn't blacklisted or part of a payment plan.

That is something, thanks for clarifying. I wonder is scammers can get around those checks.

 

[bhayes444]

Op eBay protects your purchase for up to 45 days. Just read the description and review the sellers feedback. You buying a sub $200 phone so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The key is the seller describing the product accurately. Also avoid T-Mobile phones.

Why would you just avoid T-Mobile phones? If it is about the device payment plans, every carrier offers those, making it likely some phones listed for other carriers are on a payment plan. I'd be wary of any carrier phone, and only look for unlocked variants as carriers have become more strict, most times requiring a complete pay off of the device, before unlocking it.

 

[Matthew.H]

Your safest bet would be to buy a phone from a second hand store where you'll most likely get some form of warranty if anything goes wrong. Stores perform IMEI checks on phones before buying them so you won't have the risk of getting a blocked phone at the start. Plus if the phone got blacklisted for any reason after you've bought it the store would have to replace it if it's under there warranty.