I want a new phone and I'm in the middle of a 2-year contract. Buying a new decent phone is like SO expensive so I thought of buying one off ebay, which is a little sketchy? Has anyone bought a phone off Ebay and how does it work if you have a contract and it doesn't have a SIM card?
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zamrambo
3-0 Patron
You take it to Verizon and they activate it for you.
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Trendz
Scenester Sustainer Tech Support Leader
I don't know any Verizon phone that uses a SIM card.
But you'd most likely have to activate it with Verizon.
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AbandonedFunPark
Quality Control Engineer
ask them to send you teh ESN number so you you can verify it can BE aitvaited and that should be ok
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JTHM
Soothsayer Support Leader
Verizon has to activate the phone for you. I don't believe the use SIM cards at all.
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espresso8097
Nazi Dinosaurs Patron Tech Support Leader
When buying an eBay phone for Verizon have the seller send you the ESN so you can verify that the phone was not stolen.
And you don't have to bring the phone to a Verizon store to be activated. If you have access to their web service you can change it through there. If you need more help when/if you actually order one I can help with that. I've done it myself.
And no, they do not use SIM cards. You tell Verizon the ESN (electronic serial number) of the phone and that is how they connect the phone to your account.
If we are going to be damned lets be damned for what we really are.
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( silliness )
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Quote: from espresso8097 at 2:17 pm on Nov. 4, 2009
When buying an eBay phone for Verizon have the seller send you the ESN so you can verify that the phone was not stolen.
And you don't have to bring the phone to a Verizon store to be activated. If you have access to their web service you can change it through there. If you need more help when/if you actually order one I can help with that. I've done it myself.
And no, they do not use SIM cards. You tell Verizon the ESN (electronic serial number) of the phone and that is how they connect the phone to your account.
Great, thanks :) Also, my current plan is an old Alltel plan, so I shouldnt get a blackberry because I would need a different plan for that kind of phone right?
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espresso8097
Nazi Dinosaurs Patron Tech Support Leader
Great, thanks :) Also, my current plan is an old Alltel plan, so I shouldnt get a blackberry because I would need a different plan for that kind of phone right?
I really don't know much from the Alltel transfer. But I do know that data/web service is required for Blackberry phones when with Verizon.
If we are going to be damned lets be damned for what we really are.
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Cingular Wireless
Guru Patron
To get a Blackberry you will most likely need to mirgrate over to Verizon. That's what I had to do before I got my Blackberry Storm.
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Yo Quiero un Burrito
Soothsayer Sustainer Support Leader
I think you have to take it to a Verizon store and have them activate it for you. I wish they'd just get SIM cards! It would make everything so much easier.
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espresso8097
Nazi Dinosaurs Patron Tech Support Leader
I think you have to take it to a Verizon store and have them activate it for you. I wish they'd just get SIM cards! It would make everything so much easier.
I have activated multiple phones over the internet with Verizon. It is pretty simple. It is just going through their web interface and typing in the ESN (after logging in), waiting a few minutes, and calling a number for final setup.
If we are going to be damned lets be damned for what we really are.
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newmie66
Guru Support Leader
Quote: from espresso8097 at 9:17 pm on Nov. 5, 2009
I think you have to take it to a Verizon store and have them activate it for you. I wish they'd just get SIM cards! It would make everything so much easier.
I have activated multiple phones over the internet with Verizon. It is pretty simple. It is just going through their web interface and typing in the ESN (after logging in), waiting a few minutes, and calling a number for final setup.
Oh really? That's more convenient than I thought it was. I thought you actually had to go to a store and have them activate it for you.
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When buying an eBay phone for Verizon have the seller send you the ESN so you can verify that the phone was not stolen. 
