Buying A Phone Private Deal - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FlamesPuck12 · 08-02-2009, 03:47 PM

I'm currently locked in a 3 year contract with Bell and its only been a year since I signed the contract, so I have no hardware upgrade credits available, which means if I want to change my crappy phone to a Blackberry Storm, it'll cost me around $700 to buy a new one.

I talked to the Wireless Kiosk staff at Costco about alternatives, and she told me that she has a friend who works for Bell, who recently went to a training session and won a free, brand new Blackberry Storm, and since he already had one, he would like to sell it for $300. Apparently, phone hasn't even been used, and plastic wrapping is still on the cover, she said it was taken out of the box just once to be charged but nothing after that, it hasn't been activated, the sim card hasn't been used, and so on.

Right now I'm skeptical about buying a $700 phone for $300, especially if he E-bay it, he would probably get more than $300.

My biggest concern is that it might be a stolen unit, but she told me that there is a barcode on the box that will not let her activate the phone on the bell network if it is reported as a stolen unit. Another concern is that it might be a defected unit, but she told me there was 1 year manufacture warranty.

So question to all those who knows alot about these stuff, what are your recommendation? Should I avoid private deals altogether, or are there certain things I should inspect before I take the deal?

Thanks in advance!

3 Justin 3 · 08-02-2009, 07:41 PM

I think scam. I wouldn't do it if I were you.

ken0042 · 08-02-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

the sim card hasn't been used, and so on.

Did they actually say that? I'd call Bell and report this scam artist; unless I'm wrong in believing that Bell does not use SIM cards.

ResAlien · 08-02-2009, 08:23 PM

Just apply one of the truest statements in the history of mankind:

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Eagle Eye · 08-02-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Did they actually say that? I'd call Bell and report this scam artist; unless I'm wrong in believing that Bell does not use SIM cards.

THe storm actually comes with a SIM card, although I am sure it doesnt work.

I have sold 2 blackberries after purchasing a new one, there are a lot of people out there that dont want to pay full price for a phone because they are either on a plan and cant upgrade or have no contract and dont want one.

It is easy to check with Bell if the phone has been stolen or not.

FlamesPuck12 · 08-02-2009, 11:27 PM

Alright well here's the thing. She opened up a brand new box of blackberry storm because I wanted to learn more about the features. It does come with a SIM card because Bell is switching to ______ (I don't know what its called) network that allows the phone to be used over sea. So I know the SIM card thing is legit.

She is an employee at the Wireless Kiosk and she said she can activate the phone right on the spot (Said something about if it was a stolen phone, it wouldn't be activated through Bell) and get it working for me.

Also, she said I can inspect the phone before I buy it to make sure everything is fine and stuff. If you sign a 3 year term with Bell, they give you the Blackberry Storm for $100 bucks so I don't think $300 for Storm is "too good to be true" deal.

I dunno, I'm still sitting on the fence for this one. She also gave her personal number which I can call if I do want the Storm, and I know exactly where she works so I mean if she can activate it and make it work before I purchase it, what kind of scam could she pull on me?

Agamemnon · 08-03-2009, 12:22 AM

So... the girl at the phone kiosk is going to sell you a phone privately? I can't recall the last time I went to a retail outlet and ended up making a private purchase through an employee for the same product sold in the store. Is there a chance she could just be stealing the phone from the kiosk, not reporting it as stolen, then selling it to you? Maybe the phone gets found missing from inventory 2 weeks later and then it gets reported as stolen?

Sounds ssuuuuuper weird that the employee hit you up for a private sale. I'd say pass.

FlamesPuck12 · 08-03-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

So... the girl at the phone kiosk is going to sell you a phone privately? I can't recall the last time I went to a retail outlet and ended up making a private purchase through an employee for the same product sold in the store. Is there a chance she could just be stealing the phone from the kiosk, not reporting it as stolen, then selling it to you? Maybe the phone gets found missing from inventory 2 weeks later and then it gets reported as stolen?

Sounds ssuuuuuper weird that the employee hit you up for a private sale. I'd say pass.

Well I dunno, I asked for alternatives to getting a Storm without having to pay $700. I was hoping I would have an upgrade credit so she told me that I could call Bell Customer Service and ask for a hardware upgrade credit. And then she told me another alternative is that she has a friend who's looking to sell his Storm. If she was a scam artist, then she gave me way too many info including her personal number, and her business card, and I know exactly where she works as well.

I'll have to think about this for abit. I mean if I inspected the phone and she got it working on the account right away, would you guys still say it could be a scam?

Eagle Eye · 08-03-2009, 07:27 AM

If it was activated right then and there and it works it is fine.

Call Bell yourself about the phone, they will tell you if it is legit or not, then she can still activate it for you after.

Also if you look on Kijiji there are a bunch of storms for sale ranging from $250-$450.

ken0042 · 08-03-2009, 10:21 AM

If nothing else; insist on paying with Paypal, and funding that with a credit card. That way you do have a recourse if it does come back as stolen later on.

Now that I know about the Sim card, it doesn't sound as fishy to me after all.

fundmark19 · 08-04-2009, 11:02 AM

Why don't you just go to the store have her activate it and once its activated give her the cash? I don't see what the problem is if she is saying she can activate it for you before you even leave the deal

llama64 · 08-04-2009, 06:13 PM

Bell is switching to GSM?

FurnaceFace · 08-04-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llama64

Bell is switching to GSM?

Bell and Telus are rumoured to be switching to GSM in 2010.

Da_Chief · 08-05-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Bell and Telus are rumoured to be switching to GSM in 2010.

about time

FlamesPuck12 · 08-05-2009, 10:42 PM

Alright so I took the deal and everything seems to be working fine.

One quick question though, I can't seem to find the SIM Card in the box. Do I need SIM card for anything other than traveling to Europe?

Edit: Make it two, how come I still get text messages on the old phone as well? The old phone can't make calls or send text messages, but it receives the exact same copy of the text message I receive on the new phone.

nickerjones · 08-06-2009, 08:04 AM

I have had this happen to me when i switched phones before.... Eventually it just stops .... No worries... I hope you enjoy your phone buddy... Hope your ready for NHL 10 action Mark!!!!

ken0042 · 08-06-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

One quick question though, I can't seem to find the SIM Card in the box.

Is it in the phone already? I think they go where the battery goes.

FlamesPuck12 · 08-06-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Is it in the phone already? I think they go where the battery goes.

Nope, its not in the phone already.

FlamesPuck12 · 08-06-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I have had this happen to me when i switched phones before.... Eventually it just stops .... No worries... I hope you enjoy your phone buddy... Hope your ready for NHL 10 action Mark!!!!

My xbox is broken and the warranty on it is done. Ugh, I won't be on until Christmas! AHHHH!
It broke my heart reading the NHL 10 thread with all the sweet new features they're adding.