Buying Cell Phones on eBay

eBay is, as I'm sure you're aware, an online auction site where sellers from around the world can peddle their wares, but most of the commerce that takes place on the massive website is between average people like you and me. In this way, it's been dubbed the world's biggest garage sale. In this way, you can find a lot of used cell phones on eBay for some really killer prices, especially considering that there are so many people out there that are constantly upgrading their handsets. From the simplest of the simple to the most advanced and rare cell phone, eBay is the place to be. Just be careful out there.

General eBay Tips

Although this guide is geared toward buying cell phones, much of the advice that you'd read elsewhere in regards to eBay purchases also applies. Among the most important are these few tips:

• Seller Feedback: Every eBay member is assigned a score based on "feedback" they receive on every transaction. This includes both when they are the seller and when they are the buyer. The other party involves rates the transaction as positive, negative, or neutral, resulting in a +1, -1, and no change to the feedback score. Underneath the seller's feedback score is also a percentage, indicating the ratio of transactions in which they received a positive feedback. Personally, I'd say a general rule of thumb is to not immediately trust anyone with a feedback under 10, or with a percentage that is not in the mid to high 90s.

• Shipping and Handling: It sounds simple enough, but many -- and I do mean many -- auctions on eBay have inflated shipping and handling charges. In this way, the "selling price" can appear very attractive. There are several items that are available for sale for less than a dollar, but they oftentimes have shipping charges of $20 or more. I've even seen auctions with a "Buy it Now" price of a penny, but with a shipping cost of $100.

• Location: If you live in the United States and you buy from another American eBay member, there isn't too much to be concerned about when it comes to the location of the seller, but if they are an international seller -- including those shipping from Canada -- there is a possibility that you will be charged customs and duties on top of your total price. The seller has no control over this. As such, keep this risk in mind when buying from international sellers, especially those in Asia or Europe (in which case, shipping would be higher as well).

• Payment Options: eBay owns a service known as PayPal that allows you to pay online using existing funds, funds from your checking account, or as a charge on your credit card. This is one of the most secure forms of payment as you have the opportunity to file a complaint if you do not receive the item or if there are other hiccups along the way. This added security can give you some extra piece of mind, as well as having everything documented for later review.

• Never make a deal outside of eBay: Further to the Payment Options entry, it is important to have everything documented through eBay (and PayPal, if applicable) in case anything goes wrong. There are many scam artists out there, who may be quick to accept your money but won't actually send you anything. Sometimes the auction listings can be misleading as well, so read carefully.

Cell Phone Specific Advice

Buying a cell phone on eBay isn't really all that different than buying from an online retailer; the only major difference is that many of your purchases through the world's largest garage sale will be auction-based, so you'll need to use your bidding savvy to find the best deal. The whole "caveat emptor" mindset applies, of course, even more so than online stores.

If you're Buying Used Cell Phones, you need to keep a few extra things in mind than if you're looking for something new. Checking the lifetimer is a good idea, so you know how much the phone has been used, how well the battery still holds a charge, and other pertinent information. Of course, you want to make sure that the phone you purchase will be able to be used in your area and with your carrier of choice. You're advised to have a look at our guide on Locked And Unlocked Phones as well.

Sometimes items sold on eBay are not complete. Make sure you read the posting very carefully to see if you get the original box, charger, instruction manual, included software, and whatever else you'd normally expect from a brick and mortar retailer. It is not uncommon to find a sale of a stolen phone on eBay, evidenced by a lack of any kind of accompanying items (like the AC adapter).

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