what questions should I ask before buying an ebay android for PP?

**blakesq** · 05-25-2011, 06:20 PM

Recently I was looking at two android phones on ebay. I emailed each seller asking for the ESN number for the phone, whether I can activate on page plus.

The both refused to provide the esn, and they both said they never heard of pageplus.

Should this raise alarms, that they refuse to provide the ESN?

Should I simply get in writing that the Esn is clear? Will that protect me if I cannot activate on PP? are there other qeustions I must get an answer to in writing before buying off ebay? Thanks.

**blakesq** · 05-25-2011, 06:23 PM

oh, and one guy said "it has a clear esn for verizon". Does that mean I can only activate on Verizon? thanks.

**AshleyJS2004** · 05-25-2011, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by blakesq

oh, and one guy said "it has a clear esn for verizon". Does that mean I can only activate on Verizon? thanks.

If it's a Verizon handset and the listing says it's clear for Verizon, then from that it will just work with Verizon or on a Verizon Network(I.E. Pageplus)
Most of the time I just ask if the esn is clear and if they reply that it is clear then I just go ahead and buy it. But that's just me. If they say it's clear and you get it and it's not clear you probably can open a case with Paypal and get your money back.

**tracnet** · 05-25-2011, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by AshleyJS2004

If it's a Verizon handset and it's locked then yes you can only use it with verizon. If it were unlocked then you could probably use it with Sprint or any other CDMA network.

"Locked" or "unlocked" has nothing to do with a VZ (cdma) handset. CDMA phones are not locked in the same sense of the word that is applied to GSM phones being "locked" to a carrier.

**AshleyJS2004** · 05-25-2011, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by tracnet

"Locked" or "unlocked" has nothing to do with a VZ (cdma) handset. CDMA phones are not locked in the same sense of the word that is applied to GSM phones being "locked" to a carrier.

If the seller says it's clear to work with Verizon then obviously it can only work on Verizon.

**tracnet** · 05-25-2011, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by AshleyJS2004

If the seller says it's clear to work with Verizon then obviously it can only work on Verizon.

First of all I was addressing your locked comment. Secondly, if the seller says it's clear to work with VZ it will also work with PP. NOT "only" VZ - of course that's as long as it's not one of the known banned phones..

**AshleyJS2004** · 05-25-2011, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by tracnet

First of all I was addressing your locked comment. Secondly, if the seller says it's clear to work with VZ it will also work with PP. NOT "only" VZ - of course that's as long as it's not one of the known banned phones..

First of all it seems all you do is start arguments. Geesh its not that serious. Second of all if it's Verizon then naturally it will work with Pageplus (unless it's a Blackberry or Prepaid handset). I'm not stupid!!!!

**tracnet** · 05-25-2011, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by AshleyJS2004

First of all it seems all you do is start arguments. Geesh its not that serious. Second of all if it's Verizon then naturally it will work with Pageplus (unless it's a Blackberry or Prepaid handset). I'm not stupid!!!!

No arguments here. I was simply clarifying your "locked" comments. I wasn't being all serious nor was I trying to start an argument.

Also, for the benefit of other readers here who may not be as intelligent as you I feel it is a good idea to make the distinction between VZ and PP. If one were to stop by here and read a comment that a phone with a clean VZ esn will only work on VZ they may be led to believe that it will not work on PP especially when reading that in a PP forum. Just trying to make that clear. peace

**AshleyJS2004** · 05-25-2011, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by tracnet

No arguments here. I was simply clarifying your "locked" comments. I wasn't being all serious nor was I trying to start an argument.

Also, for the benefit of other readers here who may not be as intelligent as you I feel it is a good idea to make the distinction between VZ and PP. If one were to stop by here and read a comment that a phone with a clean VZ esn will only work on VZ they may be led to believe that it will not work on PP especially when reading that in a PP forum. Just trying to make that clear. peace

Seriously, most people know that PP runs off the Verizon network. People are not as stupid as you make them out to be.

**flash007** · 05-25-2011, 08:13 PM

You can't buy an UNLOCKED CDMA phone like you can an UNLOCKED GSM phone. In theory, any CDMA phone can be activated on any carrier with a simple flash to their software, in theory that is. A few examples are, if you were an Alltel customer and now are a Verizon customer, you may continue to use you Alltel phone and you can pay full price for another Alltel phone and activate the phone on your account as long as you have your Alltel plan, switch to a Verizon plan, now you can only get a Verizon branded phone. Verizon phones can be activated on both Page Plus and Cricket, this wouldn't be possible if the phone was locked. I've also heard of people activating their Sprint and USCellular phones on Page Plus, again, this wouldn't be possible if the phone was locked. The secret is in the ESN, If you take a Sprint phone to Verizon, they will know it's not one of their phones by the ESN and refuse to activate it. Their are numbers in the ESN that identify the carrier just as there are numbers on your checkbook that identify your bank.

I wouldn't be alarmed by someone who has never heard of Page Plus, I found them by accident when someone tried to sell me a phone that was already activated on Page Plus. Some sellers have no idea the phone will work with Page Plus because it's for Verizon, but unless the phone is on the banned list, it will work. As far as not wanting to give out the ESN, the jury is still out on that one. The best advice is to buy form someone who sells lots of phones and to avoid sellers with low feedback scores. The best question to ask is if the phone can be returned if it can't be activated.

**AshleyJS2004** · 05-25-2011, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by flash007

You can't buy an UNLOCKED CDMA phone like you can an UNLOCKED GSM phone. In theory, any CDMA phone can be activated on any carrier with a simple flash to their software, in theory that is. A few examples are, if you were an Alltel customer and now are a Verizon customer, you may continue to use you Alltel phone and you can pay full price for another Alltel phone and activate the phone on your account as long as you have your Alltel plan, switch to a Verizon plan, now you can only get a Verizon branded phone. Verizon phones can be activated on both Page Plus and Cricket, this wouldn't be possible if the phone was locked. I've also heard of people activating their Sprint and USCellular phones on Page Plus, again, this wouldn't be possible if the phone was locked. The secret is in the ESN, If you take a Sprint phone to Verizon, they will know it's not one of their phones by the ESN and refuse to activate it. Their are numbers in the ESN that identify the carrier just as there are numbers on your checkbook that identify your bank.

I wouldn't be alarmed by someone who has never heard of Page Plus, I found them by accident when someone tried to sell me a phone that was already activated on Page Plus. Some sellers have no idea the phone will work with Page Plus because it's for Verizon, but unless the phone is on the banned list, it will work. As far as not wanting to give out the ESN, the jury is still out on that one. The best advice is to buy form someone who sells lots of phones and to avoid sellers with low feedback scores. The best question to ask is if the phone can be returned if it can't be activated.

Yeah it was already explained. I get it! Let's move on shall we!!!

**icebook** · 05-25-2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by AshleyJS2004

If it's a Verizon handset and it's locked then yes you can only use it with verizon. If it were unlocked then you could probably use it with Sprint or any other CDMA network..

"unlocked" with regards to CDMA phones normally has to do with the SPC and MSL codes of the phone
Normally handsets from Sprint and USCC are locked as where Verizon ones are not
Also Sprint won't generally allow any other phones other than their branded phones onto their network.

As for the OP questions, if you are buying a phone and paying with paypal then you should be covered under buyers protection. Since Verizon sells Andriod phones for their prepaid plans you should make sure that whichever one you buy was never activated on one of those prepaid plans. It would show up clear for VZ but due to its prepaid association it would not be allowed on PP

**redgurl12** · 05-25-2011, 09:16 PM

If they dont give u the esn number, don't buy it

**untechy** · 05-25-2011, 10:55 PM

Not everybody has heard of PP. The question you should ask yourself about these two sellers is do they have a proven feedback record? If so, you should be OK buying from them. Unless it is one of the phones banned on PP, you should be fine. Buy it if they claim it is clear to work on VZ, and when you receive and it does not work you should ask for a return for a refund.

**JoeSchmoe007** · 05-26-2011, 09:19 AM

I recently purchased 2 new Droid phones on eBay. My strategy is to look for powerseller with feedback of at least several thousands and at least 99.5% positive - someone who does this for a living. Seller should have multiple new phones listed in the same auction and have "Buy it now" option. I then check feedback from people who bought the same phone. While it can be more expensive than trying to win an auction this approach has been working for me well.