Current Events > Buying smartphones online is so painful.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Every seller:

"GREAT condition! Brand new....but open box. And doesn't come with manual or accessories. Or the box."

Then you get the phone and it looks like it's been owned by the most careless individual on planet Earth. Discoloration on the phone body, a permanent imprint of the case it's been in that will never come off, actual chips in the glass that you can feel with you finger, and a hastily put on glass screen protector to hide the fact that the screen probably looks like a used cutting board underneath.

I've been through this cycle at least twice on Amazon by now. Fuck this. I'm gonna spend a little extra and try to find a brand new sealed one. Resellers aim for way too much than what these beat up phones are actually worth.

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I've had a good experience using Swappa, check that site out

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Romulox28 posted...

I've had a good experience using Swappa, check that site out

I spotted them and I was curious, strange how they don't have an app though.

Are they local buying or just another online store?

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Never buy old or refurbished technology unless it's from the manufacturer

AvantgardeAClue posted...

I spotted them and I was curious, strange how they don't have an app though.

Are they local buying or just another online store?

it's an online store. it's pretty legit, every phone sold on there has to have a clean IMEI etc

it's been a few yrs since I used it but I had a good experience with the site, might be worth checking out.

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Hmm, I think I already found one I like

Even better is that they can't use stock photos

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i got a used iphone 8 on amazon. i was worried it would be a stolen phone and thus be blacklisted

but no. looks brand new and works just fine. battery is the only thing that took a hit, as its only at 87% of its factory capacity but hey thats not bad at all.

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Wait what the fuck

Why is the listing still up there if it's already sold

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I love never had a problem with conditioning on phones from Amazon. I literally only buy used phones from Amazon, and they are always in better condition than they claim. But I guess I'm pretty good at spotting bad sellers. Most of the obvious bad ones don't have self-taken pictures of the device they are selling from multiple angles, screen off and on. And they aren't above 95% positive reviews. They often have really poorly written English as well.
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King Rial posted...

I love never had a problem with conditioning on phones from Amazon. I literally only buy used phones from Amazon, and they are always in better condition than they claim. But I guess I'm pretty good at spotting bad sellers. Most of the obvious bad ones don't have self-taken pictures of the device they are selling from multiple angles, screen off and on. And they aren't above 95% positive reviews. They often have really poorly written English as well.

I assume being conservative in the listing helps reduce returns.

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Ive never bought a phone online, but my family has sold our old ones many times. Box included, usually all the original accessories - we never use the earphones and at this point we all have our own chargers so we dont use whatever came with the phone. New phones get a case and screen protector the day we buy them, so when were ready to sell them theyre still in excellent shape. Never cracked a screen, never lost a phone.

I dont understand what some people are doing to their phones, or belongings in general. It seems like no matter what youre trying to buy online, 70% of the listings will be items that look like something chewed on it then stepped on it a few times.

King Rial posted...

I love never had a problem with conditioning on phones from Amazon. I literally only buy used phones from Amazon, and they are always in better condition than they claim. But I guess I'm pretty good at spotting bad sellers. Most of the obvious bad ones don't have self-taken pictures of the device they are selling from multiple angles, screen off and on. And they aren't above 95% positive reviews. They often have really poorly written English as well.

The problem is all the resellers for most iPhones fall under "Amazon Renewed", which promises like-new quality. This isn't the worst phone condition I've seen, but it definitely feels hella used.

renasunflash posted...

Ive never bought a phone online, but my family has sold our old ones many times. Box included, usually all the original accessories - we never use the earphones and at this point we all have our own chargers so we dont use whatever came with the phone. New phones get a case and screen protector the day we buy them, so when were ready to sell them theyre still in excellent shape. Never cracked a screen, never lost a phone.

I dont understand what some people are doing to their phones, or belongings in general. It seems like no matter what youre trying to buy online, 70% of the listings will be items that look like something chewed on it then stepped on it a few times.

I never understand why people who plan on selling their phone eventually don't bother with either a case or screen protector, then expect some sucker to spend as much money on it as the rest.

You can find quality screen protectors and phone cases for less than $20 combined nowadays

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AvantgardeAClue posted...

Buying smartphones online is so painful.

Buying phones online isn't the problem. Buying used items is.

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Ill second swappa. Never had a problem there.

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I have never trusted buying cellphones online. I have a paranoia about getting the wrong thing. Happened with a cellphone case and I immediately imagined my reaction if I got a wrong/bad phone.

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Don't buy used shit? The phones I buy from Amazon are all new with stores with great reviews

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BiggLaw posted...

I have never trusted buying cellphones online. I have a paranoia about getting the wrong thing. Happened with a cellphone case and I immediately imagined my reaction if I got a wrong/bad phone.

Dude I've purchased three different sets of screen protectors for my phone and they have the right shape but are always just *off*. It's annoying as hell.

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Romulox28 posted...

I've had a good experience using Swappa, check that site out

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had to get a phone through assurance. it works fine.
paid a decent chunk for a mid grade phone.
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