A couple of questions about buying a phone off ebay for Sprint

[Strk]

If I buy a phone (Samsung Epic) off ebay, do I just take it to a Sprint store and they switch it over for me? Are there any issues that I may have? I only ask because it seems like there aren't really any great deals for it online and it seems to sell for $200ish on Ebay.

It's worth noting that I'm not the primary on my account, so most deals seem to bump up the price for me when I do the upgrade option.

 

[Pliablemoose]

The store can do it for you or you can do it online as well

http://www.sprint.com/landings/howtoactivate/index.html

http://www.sprint.com/assets/flvpla...dgesuite.net/support/videos/manage/esn_cc.flv

Be sure it's from a seller with good feedback and has a clean esn (account phone came from must be paid in full) or Sprint won't activate it.

 

[Strk]

Does the clean ESN just refer to account in good standing or that the contract for that phone was fulfilled?

 

[Pliablemoose]

I believe it means either one...

1. • 1 Remove the battery from your phone.
     
     
   • 2 Look for an 11-digit number. The label that appears next to the ESN number is depends on the phone model. The ESN number will appear next to the abbreviations ESN, HEX, DEC, IMEI or MEID. If you are using CheckESN.com, you will get the fastest results if you submit the phone's DEC number.
     
     
   • 3 Call 1-800-639-6111 and press 0 four times to speak with a representative.
     
     
   • 4 Tell the customer-service representative that you want to check an ESN number to be sure a mobile phone is usable.
     
     

Read more: How to Check a Sprint ESN | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6382457_check-sprint-esn.html#ixzz1Je7Hwkgr
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[boomhower]

Does the clean ESN just refer to account in good standing or that the contract for that phone was fulfilled?

Neither really. It just means that the phone isn't attatched to an account that has went bad due to non-payment and it has not been reported stolen or broken and swapped with a replacement. I've bought many off ebay and never had an issue. Just like with every other ebay purchase make sure you buy from a good seller.

 

[SunnyD]

Does the clean ESN just refer to account in good standing or that the contract for that phone was fulfilled?

It means the phone hasn't been blacklisted as stolen or non-paid bill...

YET.

Be forewarned, you may end up with a phone that ends up blacklisted in a couple weeks.

 

[Pliablemoose]

It means the phone hasn't been blacklisted as stolen or non-paid bill...

YET.

Be forewarned, you may end up with a phone that ends up blacklisted in a couple weeks.

I'd never even considered that. Yikes...

 

[boomhower]

I'd never even considered that. Yikes...

Just by from a good seller. Plenty of them sell phones, not buba who is trying to make a buck.