Would you buy a "pre-owned" phone?

[MichelleCarmen]

My cell phone was dropped twice in the last month and now I loose every call. The other day DH and I went and looked at phones and the only two ones that would be free after rebate (under our contract) didn''t appeal to us. I''m looking at the Verizon website right now and notice a bunch of certified pre-owned phones that are under a 90-day warranty.

Would you consider one of these phones? The other day I would have said no, but now I''m thinking to consider that option if I find one with great reviews.

Thanks for any opinions.

 

[atroop711]

my husband bought one from someone on Craigslist and she said it was brand new (just a week old). Well he got a lemon...gave him issues within a week. Don''t know if it was a lemon or maybe the seller dropped it?

I just bought myself a brand new phone on EBAY from a trusted buyer. I didn''t want to spend the $549 that sprint wanted for the phone without signing a new contract..so I got it for over 50% off.

with that said, my husband has bought great used phones before...I would be careful

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Eh, probably not...not if I could get a new one.

These phones aren''t "pre-owned"...meaning turned in in perfect condition and resold, like a car. They are actually refurbished phones, meaning they have had problems before that should brought back to the store for an exchange, the issues have been corrected, it is then repackaged and resold at a lower price point.

I had a refurb phone a years ago, it was Samsung, and it was a PITA for sure. I didn''t care for it at all.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay, I was hoping my instinct was wrong. . .but sounds like it''s not. Guess I''ll go with one of the so-so new phones.

 

[monarch64]

MC, my phone bit the dust after 4 years a few weeks ago, but I didn''t have any upgrade options available so I checked out Craigslist. I got a previously - owned (for 1 day, girl''s father got her a Palm Treo and she bought an iphone the next day) phone for $50. I lucked out...you should check CL or ebay.

 

[neatfreak]

I would without a doubt. They''ve been refurbished which means they''ve been gone over with a fine tooth comb usually. I wouldn''t buy one from an individual-but from Verizon? Sure!

 

[tlh]

my friend is selling her and her husbands iphones so they can get the newer model one. Her iphone is over 2 years old, his a year old. Most of my apple products don''t last over 18 months. She did not disclosing HOW long she has had it and sold it for $50. I personally would not purchase anything electronic used or refurbashed. Refurbashed = previous owner had issued... and used= owner may not be disclosing all pertinent info about the product.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Thanks. It''s easy to go back and forth on this since the refurbished are so much nicer, however, after reading these posts and then heading on over to the Verizon store and looking at the rebate (free phones), I picked out a new less fancy model that is new. It was one of only a few available phones left in the world without a text pad!

 

[Elmorton]

If I have the opportunity, I swear by purchasing refurb electronics. Look at is this way: your brand new phone has either not been tested, or if it was tested, it was tested very quickly. A refurb has been fixed AND had the gamut of tests run on it. You''re really a lot less likely to have a problem. My iPod is a refurb, and it has now officially lived longer than my original new-in-box one. If DH and I get the iPhone, we plan to get refurbs - it''s a stinkin steal of a deal.

 

[Sabine]

I bought a refurbished phone...which I think means that it''s been owned before but then checked out by the cell phone company and cleared as good as new. I''ve had it for a few months and had zero problems with it.