[Q] How to buying phone from people without being scam? - T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII

I saw a thread or two someone buying S3 from someone the imei being blocked by t-mobile or just turn out to be stolen phone or something.
If I do buy the phone from someone can what are something I should check to avoid being scam?

Do the exchange at a T-Mobile store, and have the phone ownership be changed to you on the spot.
Failing that. Get the receipt.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Android_Monsters said:
Do the exchange at a T-Mobile store, and have the phone ownership be changed to you on the spot.
Failing that. Get the receipt.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I am planning to get the phone and use it on Simple Mobile. Can I still do it?

Android_Monsters said:
Do the exchange at a T-Mobile store, and have the phone ownership be changed to you on the spot.
Failing that. Get the receipt.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing it at a T-Mobile store won't stop the phone from being reported stolen. All the person has to do is call customer support after they leave the store and claim stolen.
Sent from my SGH-T999

joshnichols189 said:
Doing it at a T-Mobile store won't stop the phone from being reported stolen. All the person has to do is call customer support after they leave the store and claim stolen.
Sent from my SGH-T999
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Click to collapse
No. I think you missed the second part. I might be wrong but I don't think so.

dkmdlb said:
No. I think you missed the second part. I might be wrong but I don't think so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The receipt doesn't matter either. If you buy it from someone and they don't pay their bill or report it stolen it doesn't matter if you have the receipt or not or did it at the store or not.
If the person you bought it from can't pay their bill for the phone or service why would T-Mobile let someone else use the phone?
Sent from my SGH-T999

joshnichols189 said:
The receipt doesn't matter either. If you buy it from someone and they don't pay their bill or report it stolen it doesn't matter if you have the receipt or not or did it at the store or not.
If the person you bought it from can't pay their bill for the phone or service why would T-Mobile let someone else use the phone?
Sent from my SGH-T999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So should avoid purchase phone from someone?

SGT2012 said:
So should avoid purchase phone from someone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you know the person, yes. Ebay wouldn't be a bad idea because of buyer protection but I wouldn't buy one off of CL unless you can prove the phone has been paid for, but even then the person can just call in and report it stolen.

joshnichols189 said:
The receipt doesn't matter either. If you buy it from someone and they don't pay their bill or report it stolen it doesn't matter if you have the receipt or not or did it at the store or not.
If the person you bought it from can't pay their bill for the phone or service why would T-Mobile let someone else use the phone?
Sent from my SGH-T999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the second part was changing phone ownership at the T-Mobile store
If they don't really own the phone. Good way to find out.
If they do T-Mobile will switch the phone into your name.
I have a cell phone repair store
You could go to simple mobile that way too. Just go with month to month and only do a month
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Android_Monsters said:
the second part was changing phone ownership at the T-Mobile store
If they don't really own the phone. Good way to find out.
If they do T-Mobile will switch the phone into your name.
I have a cell phone repair store
You could go to simple mobile that way too. Just go with month to month and only do a month
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always found a few on craigslist around $500. I thought save $100, can spend it on better protective case, screen protector and MicroSD.
I guess may be it is too risky.

Related

My phone is blacklisted

so my phone i bought off craigslist is blacklisted. what do i doo? can i delete the efs folder and it will work? or like unlock it and it will work on att? what do i do!?
You may be stuck. Did you get any type of proof of purchase off the person. Anyway to prove you bought it from a legitimate owner?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
i bought it off craigslist so i have to proof and the person wont pick up. what do i do!?
Without being able to prove you bought the phone in a legit deal probably nothing. Craigslist is full of this. I also got my phone from craigslist but had the guy meet me at a t mobile store and got a t mobile rep to verify the transaction.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
You may be stuck. There have been three other posts that I can remember about same thing happening. Unless you can providetmobile that you bought it feom that perso. And show he purchased it and didnt steal it, they may be able to take it off blacklist.
g1user101 said:
i bought it off craigslist so i have to proof and the person wont pick up. what do i do!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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chib1panda said:
You may be stuck. There have been three other posts that I can remember about same thing happening. Unless you can providetmobile that you bought it feom that perso. And show he purchased it and didnt steal it, they may be able to take it off blacklist.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Something i have been wondering lately... So far, i have only seen documents of the sk4g (my own personal experience) and gs2 being blacklisted. Do all phones now qualify? Only samsung?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Good job, admitting to insurance fraud on a public board...
n1n00b said:
Good job, admitting to insurance fraud on a public board...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ hahaha
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA Premium App
There is one of three reasons you're blacklisted.
The phone was reported lost/stolen to Asurion and a claim was made.
The phone is a T-Mobile demo device that was stolen.
It was purchased on a Value plan and the customer defaulted on the bill.
You can try tinkering with the efs but no idea what trouble that will get you in or if that works on the GS2. If you can find the craigslist ad or money order receipt they may reverse it but it might have to go to risk assessment and take awhile.
ungarisch said:
WTF??? blacklist? there is no such thing, I'm currently using a GS2 that was "lost" by my GF, claimed on insurance, and "found" by me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering if they considered a difference between lost and stolen. But again, i was told they blacklist for reasons that directly affect them - fraud, theft from a store, or not making payments.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I thought asurion required that you file a police report if you told them someone stole it before they filed your claim? If you say its lost and found it later they may not blacklist it assuming that most people will . I have heard that at times asurion will allow you to keep your found phone if you claim lost then found it later. Not 100% sure on that.
jonathan3579 said:
I was wondering if they considered a difference between lost and stolen. But again, i was told they blacklist for reasons that directly affect them - fraud, theft from a store, or not making payments.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
i change any phone imei before using it.
who cares blacklist or not, it is censorship, same as SOPA and PIPA.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk
chib1panda said:
I thought asurion required that you file a police report if you told them someone stole it before they filed your claim? If you say its lost and found it later they may not blacklist it assuming that most people will . I have heard that at times asurion will allow you to keep your found phone if you claim lost then found it later. Not 100% sure on that.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Yep. I have a manager friend at a T-Mobile store who advised me and others to NEVER report stolen.
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cgigate said:
i change any phone imei before using it.
who cares blacklist or not, it is censorship, same as SOPA and PIPA.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
I wasnt sure you existed
yeah I don't think tmobile or asurion will blacklist a phone if it was lost because if found, it can still be used. However, if someone purposely stole a phone from a store/person, then it would be blacklisted. Not 100% sure but sounds about right.
well the phone is brand new condition. no scratches nothing. you think ill be able to sell it for only $200?
no, keep it as a tablet, or file a police report, and hope to get your money back
Don't sell it or your just as bad as the person who sold it to you
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
clninja said:
Don't sell it or your just as bad as the person who sold it to you
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Click to collapse
true statement.unless you tell the person exactly the situation the phone is in.maybe a developer can use it
From a glaxay better than yours.
AllGamer said:
no, keep it as a tablet, or file a police report, and hope to get your money back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seconded like in every other fraud or stolen phone thread

So T-mobile block my phone. Help.

I bought my phone on Craight list and it turn out it was not paid in full so t-mobile block my IMEI number, paid 500$ for it too. My question is if I unlock my phone using code can I by pass the block from T-mobile ? if I can't , can I at least use it for ATT ?
You can unlock it and use on at&t but unlocking won't let you use it on tmobile tho. Sorry to hear that man I hate when our customers get ripped off like that unfortunately there is no way to unblock it unless you has legitimate proof of full purchase.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
ebatr8 said:
You can unlock it and use on at&t but unlocking won't let you use it on tmobile tho. Sorry to hear that man I hate when our customers get ripped off like that unfortunately there is no way to unblock it unless you has legitimate proof of full purchase.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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+1
sell it to someone for parts.. that you be best to recover some money...
companies dont support unlocking these blocked phones to be used on another network.. infact it's not much legal too..
i might be wrong//
dullhunk said:
sell it to someone for parts.. that you be best to recover some money...
companies dont support unlocking these blocked phones to be used on another network.. infact it's not much legal too..
i might be wrong//
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are wrong.
they wont give you an unlock code for it ... so whatever you do to unlock it would be against their will ??
dullhunk said:
they wont give you an unlock code for it ... so whatever you do to unlock it would be against their will ??
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Click to collapse
Tmobile won't but he can use a third party to get the unlock code careful with info you give to others no need for op to waste his phone he can still get use out of it if he switches.
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dullhunk said:
sell it to someone for parts.. that you be best to recover some money...
companies dont support unlocking these blocked phones to be used on another network.. infact it's not much legal too..
i might be wrong//
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So are so wrong. Unlocking a phone is perfectly legal.
OP. Check ebay.
Sell it to a Canadian!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
icheroz said:
I bought my phone on Craight list and it turn out it was not paid in full so t-mobile block my IMEI number, paid 500$ for it too. My question is if I unlock my phone using code can I by pass the block from T-mobile ? if I can't , can I at least use it for ATT ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI for all buying phones from a classified ad.
About 6 months ago before I got my SGS3 I went to buy a SGS2 form KSL.com a classified site here in Utah. When I met the seller in a 7-11 parking lot I told him I was going to call customer care to check and see if the phone was stolen. When I called customer care they looked up the IMEI number, it turned out that the phone was blocked and reported stolen, customer care tried to get me to hold onto the phone and give some detail about the seller that's when the he guy grabbed it off the hood of my car and ran. I found a second phone from the classified ad site and called on it before I purchased and the phone was clear and free to use.
Its just more or less you always have to be weary of dishonest people. It really makes me sick. I just sold my sgs2 on craiglists, and I always try to do good business. I contacted everyone from the phone I was selling so they could see, this was actually MY phone before upgrading. Let him put his sim in, hell, he even could have called customer care if he wanted. Its never good business to try and get over on someone. Karma is a B****!
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I thought networks use a "shared hosting service", so when an IMEI is blocked on one network, that info is shared thus blocking it on others.
I don't think it works even with att. The blocked imei database is stored by all the networks providrtd
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avataranjie said:
I don't think it works even with att. The blocked imei database is stored by all the networks providrtd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not currently shared. They hope to get that going late 2012 to 2013. They plan on it thought.
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Oh, the old Craigslist scam. Bummer man.
Sent from my SGH-T999
It used to be the cdma scams. Now I see that gsm is worse. It is much harder ion gsm phone to find out if the phone is or potentially can be blacklisted.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
The problem is... the can report it stolen/lost AFTER selling it to you... so checkiny with customer care doesn't matter. they have something crazy like 60 days after someone else starts using it to report it stolen or lost. So you csn buy a free and clear phone and then 2 months later it will be blocked. The ONLY way to protect yourself is a bill of sale... typed up with the imei number of the phone and everything on the paper.. and signed by the previous owner.. this will prove purchase and save you
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clninja said:
The problem is... the can report it stolen/lost AFTER selling it to you... so checkiny with customer care doesn't matter. they have something crazy like 60 days after someone else starts using it to report it stolen or lost. So you csn buy a free and clear phone and then 2 months later it will be blocked. The ONLY way to protect yourself is a bill of sale... typed up with the imei number of the phone and everything on the paper.. and signed by the previous owner.. this will prove purchase and save you
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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Yea that's what most scammers do on craigslist they sell you the phone then report it lost or stolen and only have to pay around $100 to get a new one
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Help bought an unpaid galaxy s3

hey guys i bought a galaxy s3 on craigslist and i got it for 350 with the box and all accessories. It worked awsome for 1 month but now the owner stopped paying his bill so i cant use it..... i was wondering if maybe i can brick my gs3 do the point where i send it to samsung repair and they cant fix it so i get sent a new phone that has difference imei. Would this work?
lazarat said:
I r fraud promoterz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes let's promote fraud. Great idea.
joshnichols189 said:
Yes let's promote fraud. Great idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aw man.
ross1998 said:
hey guys i bought a galaxy s3 on craigslist and i got it for 350 with the box and all accessories. It worked awsome for 1 month but now the owner stopped paying his bill so i cant use it..... i was wondering if maybe i can brick my gs3 do the point where i send it to samsung repair and they cant fix it so i get sent a new phone that has difference imei. Would this work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried calling T-Mobile and explaining the situation, or would that not make a difference?
Would they be atleast willing to continue letting you pay what's left of the phone?
theexel said:
Have you tried calling T-Mobile and explaining the situation, or would that not make a difference?
Would they be atleast willing to continue letting you pay what's left of the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They won't unblacklist an IMEI. Once it's blacklisted you're screwed unfortunately.
That's unfortunate.
As I hope I don't get on the same boat you're in, I too purchased a Galaxy S3 off Craigslist, so far everything's fine.
I've spoke to a T-Mobile rep and the IMEI seems clean, they've added a note on the date I purchased it and was transferred to my account.
I'm still scared what happened to you can still happen to me.
OP, to be honest, your idea sounds like it'd work, although it's on you and you have to know it's not the "right" thing to do.
Just unlock it someone using att or straight talk with att sim, save difference.and buy a new one u dont have to worry about being blacklisted,
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
This thread will be closed if discussion of fraud continues.
Any more flaming will be met with immediate infraction and/or ban
Constructive legal options only
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
What don't I understand about this?
The owner stopped paying his bill?
He was paying your cell bill while you use the phone?
I don't get it.
How many times is this gonna happen. first of all 350 is pretty cheap to sell a phone like this so u should beware of potential fraud. This is why I never buy anything on craigslist there is no protection whatsoever and tmobile needs to take more responsibility and drop customers who do stuff like this
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You can always change your imei.
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Sell it for 350 on ebay as blacklisted. It could probably go for more. You're lucky you didn't pay 500
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rpavich said:
What don't I understand about this?
The owner stopped paying his bill?
He was paying your cell bill while you use the phone?
I don't get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The original owner bought the phone on contract and stretched the payment for 20 months, he sold the phone to OP, the original owner stopped paying his phone bill, T-Mobile blacklisted the phone.
So the original owner probably bought the phone from Wallmart for $200 without needing to go the rebate route, just extending their contract and then turned around and sold the phone for $350 making a quick $150 profit on a legitimately $650 phone. Lame ass fraud there to begin with if you ask me.
Basically you can change the IMEI but the legality of that is unsound or you can just go with another carrier like ATT or whoever else uses sim cards in their phones.
the-Mike_D said:
So the original owner probably bought the phone from Wallmart for $200 without needing to go the rebate route, just extending their contract and then turned around and sold the phone for $350 making a quick $150 profit on a legitimately $650 phone. Lame ass fraud there to begin with if you ask me.
Basically you can change the IMEI but the legality of that is unsound or you can just go with another carrier like ATT or whoever else uses sim cards in their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember reading that changing imei for this exact reason isn't truly illegal. I know xda doesn't like it being posted or links on how to do it but I totally feel for the OP in this situation. Poor guy just wants to use his phone again on tmobu
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elesbb said:
You can always change your imei.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and then go to prison enjoy your changed imei phone
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lazarat said:
Yes and then go to prison enjoy your changed imei phone
Sent from my SGH-T999
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Click to collapse
Coming from the guy promoting eBay fraud LOL
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joshnichols189 said:
Coming from the guy promoting eBay fraud LOL
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Click to collapse
Ebay is not the government lol
Sent from my SGH-T999
Imei z3x go to a place that has a z3x....
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What Should I Do?

On Nov 6th I met up with someone at Starbucks from Craigslist to purchase the Galaxy Note 2 for $450 with box charger and instructions. I checked the esn number and it was clean. I inserted my sim card and was able to use the phone. On Friday Dec 28th, my phone all of sudden couldn't go on the web using 4g and I couldn't make and receive incoming calls. I called T-Mobile using a landline and they said my imei has been blocked. I went to the T-Mobile store and paid $50+ tax to use a loaner phone because I can't be without a phone. Today T-Mobile told me that this phone can't be activated due to equipment installment program. What should I do? Should I sell this phone on eBay and specify that this imei is blacklisted? Maybe someone from around the world could use this phone unlocked. Right now the phone is LOCKED. Should unlocking be my expense or should it be the buyers expense to unlock this phone? Should I use the money I get from selling this device to buy a brand new galaxy note 2?
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Track down the creep who sold it to you and get your money back. Call him and let him know you have contacted the police and they are reviewing the tape from Starbucks and you fully expect to get your money back. Have him meet you at the police station for the refund.
Hey, may not work but worth a try. I'd rattle the hell out of him and would not leave him alone. He knew what he was up to and essentially stole your money. That's not ok.
Outside of saber rattling, it's now your problem. If you like the device enough, just pay whatever T-Mo needs to get it turned back on. You got a good price so whatever they need should still be cheaper than buying a new one.
Edit: well, who knows what T-Mobile needs paid. It may be worth it to just sell as blacklisted and call it a day.
The person who sold me the phone is the only one could make payments toward the phone. Its a lady that sold me the phone.
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awesomedeals88 said:
The person who sold me the phone is the only one could make payments toward the phone. Its a lady that sold me the phone.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you contacted the lady to talk it over and understand why she did what she did?
This type of transaction is becoming a problem with tmobile phones.
Making sure esn number is clean is one thing. Make sure its not on a value plan.
I hope op gets this sorted out.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Yea you got scammed bad. That sucks major big time
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Call me an extremist but if I were in this situation, the police would be involved & I'd be pressing fraud charges against that douchebag. Or, I'd be taking that seller to small claims court.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda premium
U got a note 2 for 450? You should have seen this coming.
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When I sell the phone on eBay, should I pay to have the sim unlocked or should I let the buyer pay to have the sim unlocked?
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awesomedeals88 said:
When I sell the phone on eBay, should I pay to have the sim unlocked or should I let the buyer pay to have the sim unlocked?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just do it yourself... follow instructions from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
This is the second time I am hearing of this. I blame tmobile. If you call them to ask if the phone is clean to purchase and they tell you yes then it's their fault for not making sure it doesn't have any outstanding balance. To the Op you have yet to explain why you haven't contacted the seller. The other poster didn't try to contact the seller either. So either you are both idiots or maybe you are trying to figure out how to unlock a stolen phone. And please don't say you can't find the owner because tmobile had there information and with a push from the police they have to give it up.
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kozmo21 said:
Just do it yourself... follow instructions from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
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Click to collapse
Once I follow this procedure, how can I tell if the sim is unlocked if I don't have another sim to test it out?
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awesomedeals88 said:
Once I follow this procedure, how can I tell if the sim is unlocked if I don't have another sim to test it out?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So instead of dealing with the person that sold you the phone you are going to unlock it? Once again I am calling BS on this and now you have people helping you unlock a phone that is not legally yours.
....... But unlocking won't unblock the IMEI o.0 Unless you're planning to use it on another carrier than Tmo, unlocking won't allow you to use the phone.
flexte said:
This is the second time I am hearing of this. I blame tmobile. If you call them to ask if the phone is clean to purchase and they tell you yes then it's their fault for not making sure it doesn't have any outstanding balance. To the Op you have yet to explain why you haven't contacted the seller. The other poster didn't try to contact the seller either. So either you are both idiots or maybe you are trying to figure out how to unlock a stolen phone. And please don't say you can't find the owner because tmobile had there information and with a push from the police they have to give it up.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree with this. Tmo wouldn't just tell you the phone was clear & then turn around & say "Oops, we meant to say it's blocked!" If they actually made a mistake when the OP first called in, he needs to escalate until they either unblock him or credit him for a comparable new phone. This whole story just smells funny. I know that if I had just dropped hundreds of dollars on a phone that I couldn't even use thanks to the seller's negligence/fraudulence, I'd be sitting in the police station filing a report within minutes of finding out it was blocked. I can't even imagine just saying "oh well, guess I got scammed!" about something like this. The OP is either incredibly rich & $450 is just pocket change, or else something is fishy here.
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My plan is to get the sim unlocked so I could sell internationally on eBay.
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awesomedeals88 said:
My plan is to get the sim unlocked so I could sell internationally on eBay.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
You boight a phone as is. Cops dont care that u got scammed. Lesson learned.as far as t mobile goes contact the better business Bureau and t mobile will step up and go after the lady who owned it. Plus unless u have phone conversation recoreded that is all on u. If it to good to be true......... well u know the rest.
Sent from my SGH-T889
Never mind
kozmo21 said:
Just do it yourself... follow instructions from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2014982
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with those who say you should hold the lady responsible. Contact her and see if she will make it good. If not, small claims courts is the way to go. I've done two small claims cases. Its easy and not expensive. Sounds like you have a solid case. Of course once you get a judgement you may have a problem collecting if she's a deadbeat. But if she's got an income you can force her to pay up. My 2 cents. Good luck.
Could this phone be activated on Straight Talk? Might be able to get most of your money back via CL if someone wants to use it on prepaid.
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[Q] How to purchase E980 from att without activating att service plan?

Hello, I want to buy an E980 from att because the price cheaper, but how can I do that without activating an att service plan?
I know there is an option to buy from ebay, but I am just afraid of being scammed.
Thank you.
I believe if you're paying full retail, you can just walk in and pick it up. Have you tried that?
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2
TJBunch1228 said:
I believe if you're paying full retail, you can just walk in and pick it up. Have you tried that?
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried that in the nearest store and they refused to do so. Maybe I should try another store?
arika44 said:
I have tried that in the nearest store and they refused to do so. Maybe I should try another store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can just purchase it from the Internet.
I bought mine from buy.com
Nukpana said:
You can just purchase it from the Internet.
I bought mine from buy.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I can find another online store that sells 440, I guess I won't hesitate
buy from costco then cancel the contract after 14 days and pay the ETF. It'll be cheaper than buying from AT&T outright.
arika44 said:
I have tried that in the nearest store and they refused to do so. Maybe I should try another store?
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if u go to a cor store...a real att store not a dealer location they'll sell it to u no problem without service. dealer locations like ms wireless and parott only sell with upgrades and new lines cuz they r typically pure commission. cor reps still get hourly pay so if u wanna just walk in, bye, walk out, it should be quick and easy
U could buy it on swappa on the xda site.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
An AT&T Cor Store will gladly sell you that phone without an account.... They HAVE TOO or they would be going agenst policy.
hyelton said:
An AT&T Cor Store will gladly sell you that phone without an account.... They HAVE TOO or they would be going agenst policy.
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I wish that were the case. I was able to buy the first one with a bit of persuading. But I returned it only to have the price drop 110 dollars so I bought the 2nd one. 3 different stores said it was against policy to sell without service plans. I called Customer service and they said the same thing. Who knows. But Just FYI they may be getting ready to stop selling the phone altogether . I had to purchase a 3rd due #2 dropping and shattered the screen. It rang up for 400 dollars.
royale192 said:
I wish that were the case. I was able to buy the first one with a bit of persuading. But I returned it only to have the price drop 110 dollars so I bought the 2nd one. 3 different stores said it was against policy to sell without service plans. I called Customer service and they said the same thing. Who knows. But Just FYI they may be getting ready to stop selling the phone altogether . I had to purchase a 3rd due #2 dropping and shattered the screen. It rang up for 400 dollars.
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interesting the only time ive ever had an issue buying out right was at Verizon several years ago.
They must had had a glitch, that phone should had been 439 plus tax. But I wouldnt complain at $400! haha.
So they are supposed to let you purchase the phone full retail with signing up for even a go phone plan?
vinniemac84 said:
if u go to a cor store...a real att store not a dealer location they'll sell it to u no problem without service. dealer locations like ms wireless and parott only sell with upgrades and new lines cuz they r typically pure commission. cor reps still get hourly pay so if u wanna just walk in, bye, walk out, it should be quick and easy
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thanks for the reply. I actually did go to a att store, where i was refused, not a dealer
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
Wow that's crazy. The only restrictions we had on no contract sales were with iphones. A phone that Att doesnt even market should be no problem, especially if u already have service with them. Did they say y the wouldn't sell it to u?
cproaudio said:
buy from costco then cancel the contract after 14 days and pay the ETF. It'll be cheaper than buying from AT&T outright.
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won't that affect my credit history somehow? i have not signed any wireless contract before so i am not quite sure
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
vinniemac84 said:
Wow that's crazy. The only restrictions we had on no contract sales were with iphones. A phone that Att doesnt even market should be no problem, especially if u already have service with them. Did they say y the wouldn't sell it to u?
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eh.... i dont have att service. i just want to purchase it,unlock it and use on an att mvno. i didnt told them this much but i did say i dont want att service
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
arika44 said:
won't that affect my credit history somehow? i have not signed any wireless contract before so i am not quite sure
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
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It will only affect your credit if you don't pay the etf.
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2
arika44 said:
eh.... i dont have att service. i just want to purchase it,unlock it and use on an att mvno. i didnt told them this much but i did say i dont want att service
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
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saying you wanted it without service is probably why they didnt sell it to you. most sales reps r shady and sharks...i know cuz i used to be one. i used to see my coworkers bold face lie to customers sometimes if they didnt wanna do something that didnt make them any money. since you wanted just the hardware and no service they werent getting jack from you at all and just said they couldnt even tho its not a problem at all
Did you try the swappa.com link in the forum? Several for sale there.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium

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