Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Bgriz

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 12, 2011
19
0
Risks of buying on eBay aside, is it as simple as taking the SIM card from the 4s and popping it into the new phone and good to go? Assuming we are on att and the new phone is an att phone.
 
Risks of buying on eBay aside, is it as simple as taking the SIM card from the 4s and popping it into the new phone and good to go? Assuming we are on att and the new phone is an att phone.

You'll need the smaller Nano SIM (you have a micro SIM) but then.... yeah!
 
Thanks! Ok, so it's not as simple since they are different SIM cards. A visit to att store is required then.

Depending on the AT&T rep, they may just hand you a new sim card if you explain what you are wanting to do. This way, once you phone arrives, you can just go online or call to activate the new sim and you are good to go.

Either way, it requires a trip to AT&T.
 
As mentioned. AT&T will give you a new sim, just show them the phone that you'll be using. This is what I did when my daughter when from her old 4 to one of my 5S's.
 
You can also print an online template and cut down the microsim using scissors. It's not very technique sensitive
 
Simple as long as the phone is not on a contract

Yes, since you brought that up.....risks as I understand them:

Someone could report phone as stolen
Someone on the "next" plan could sell a phone then default on payments

If it's a regular 2 year upgrade phone, is that a risk also? I would think this category makes up the majority of the phones for sale on eBay, they use an upgrade, sell the phone, then use some other phone for 2 yrs. Is that how it works?
 
Last edited:
Someone could report phone as stolen
Someone on the "next" plan could sell a phone then default on payments

AFAIK, so long as a phone was on an account once, it can always be reported stolen irregardless of it being on contract. I could buys phone outright, activate on my account, sell it to you, then report stolen (just to be a jerk).

As far as defaulting on Next, I have asked this question myself and multiple people stated AT&T doesn't blacklist for that, they just send the account to collections. I couldn't tell you if this is 100% the case or not. I haven't found any literature saying one way or the other.

I have bought and traded for phones locked in contract. Never on eBay though; I always buy on craigslist and then meet the person at AT&T and have an AT&T rep add it to my account. My understanding is that at least that way I have some form of recourse if they tried to report the phone stolen.
 
Another question guys, if the new phone comes factory sealed presumably that has a SIM card already installed(correct?) can I just then call AT&T to transfer wifes number over and activate?
 
Another question guys, if the new phone comes factory sealed presumably that has a SIM card already installed(correct?) can I just then call AT&T to transfer wifes number over and activate?


Yes, as long as the phone isn't already associated with an account. If it is factory sealed it is probably ok. I just purchased a Verizon 128GB iPhone 6 on eBay that was factory sealed. I took the Verizon SIM card out and put my AT&T sim in and everything is working fine. Just make sure you purchase one from a good seller with 100% feedback and you shouldn't have any problems.
 
Another question guys, if the new phone comes factory sealed presumably that has a SIM card already installed(correct?) can I just then call AT&T to transfer wifes number over and activate?


You don't need to call att. Just put your wife's sim in it and viola.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.