Buying a mobile phone on eBay

Thinking of buying a mobile on eBay? Our review will tell you a few things based on our experience of both buying and selling. First of all eBay can be a great marketplace for connecting those selling with those buying and give each a good deal. Declaring an interest, we have sold phones via eBay for many years and still do, we specialise in sim free phones (that is selling just the phones without sim cards, contracts or network tie-ins) these tend to be the most expensive type of phone but also give you the most flexibility for the future potentially. We're often asked why our phones are so expensive and sadly it's not because we have a large profit margin, so it's worth seeing the explanations of why there are many listings offering seemingly identical phones often substantially cheaper. Network stockIn fact it costs networks or suppliers money to add network branding or locks to phones but generally this makes them worth less when you are looking to buy or sell the phone, the fact it says "O2" when you switch the phone on or has an "Orange" badge on the back of the phone can be just annoying or pointless if you're not using that network at the time, but locking the phone can stop you using it at all on other networks unless someone can unlock it for you. We often get told a high-street retailer is doing a phone cheaper for "just the phone" but what they mean is a pay as you go phone, this may mean it has been network branded or locked but even if that isn't the case the network have offering a subsidy to the retailer to make the phone cheaper on the bassis that they wil make the money back when the user uses the sim card, of course not everyone will use the sim card and most networks will claw back that subsidy from the retailer if the sim card never gets topped off but if you're a major chain these are a small propotion so you can absorb them. Very often you may see box breakers as they are called selling on eBay where they sell the phone for something more than the subsidies price but less than its true value. ImportsAs a UK seller we buy from UK suppliers and therefore sell UK stock (although we do end up selling to customers all over the world) but sometimes the UK is not the cheapest place for mobile phone models, in the UK manufacturers may spend a lot of money on marketing which other countries do not therefore supply is cheaper in the other countries of essentially the same phone. Many UK companies import stock and swap the chargers and these are known as UK converts, these are usually a bit cheaper than genuine UK stock but you can be reliant on the supplier for any warranty rather than having the manufactuer warranty in the UK. In addition eBay still permits sellers to pretend they are in the UK when they are in fact in Asia therefore shipping costs can be very high, take a long time and sometimes elabarote scams are constructed to collect money from buyers, use this to go on a spending spree so that by the time the buyers complain they haven't had their goods they have spent the money getting goods from other sellers who then also end up losing out so be very careful of low feedback users from abroad offering high value mobile phones at incredibly low prices, they may well be cheaper in China but not that much cheaper to still be genuine.UsedThere are many used phones, or "unwanted upgrades" get on to eBay. As networks tend to throw new phones at users to keep them tied in to a contract if you are happy with the phone you had before this can be a chance to realise some money for the phone and for buyers to get phones much cheaper than they otherwise could, sellers probably only want to get back some of the cost of the contract so aren't expecting the true value of the phone. Be aware of network issues already mentioned but also buying from a private seller is of course an even more "buyer beware" process so tread carefully, look out for original photos, full descriptions and go for users with feedback if possible and try and go for payment methods that offer some protection.Unbelievable dealsWe reserve this final category for those that magically have lots of new phones to sell at knock down prices, whilst not wishing to cast aspersions these might be compared to the trader standing on a street corner really - you don't ask too many questions, fallen off the back of a lorry etc. scenarious best fit this category or regrettably still many scammers trying to grab buyers money and then disappear.To some extenet you get what you pay for, buy from a genuine tax-registered business seller like ourselves and you know you get a genuine sim free phone with full warranty, VAT receipt etc. and we'll still be here next week when you have a problem or need another phone. On the other hand, eBay will allow you to potentially connect with other sources and basically you pays your money and takes your pick. Key things to observer about listings:Seller reputationFeedback score - high 90s positive ideallyOther items sold or selling - does the item fit in with their profileEasy to contact - try asking a question before bidding/purchasingDescription - does it sound like they actually have the phoneSource - are you comfortable from where the phone appears to come from (see above categories)What comeback do you have?Payment protectionDevice warrantyHopefully this review will help some buyers, eBay is not the exclusive reserve of rip-off merchants, thieves and con artists there are many legitimate private individuals and businesses selling on eBay so please take the time to make sure you are comfortable with your purchase bearing in mind what we've said and good luck with your purchase and of course you ever need a phone hopefully you will consider us!

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