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Is it safe to buy someone else's contract phone?

bladeboet

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I see there are quite a few people selling note 20 ultras at ridiculous prices, but they're usually listed as 'upgrades' which I believe means that someone took the phone on a contract upgrade and are now selling the phone?

Lots of phones going super cheap on both bid or buy and carb using the same business model.

Isn't there a good chance that the contract holder may just stop paying though? And then the phone gets blocked and you're left with a brick.

Anyone have experience with buying a phone this way?

Cheers.
 
I would be cautious from who you buy it. If it is a well known member that sells phones because it's their business it should be fine.

That being said, it is mandatory to list of it is a contract or not so that the buyer knows the possibility of what could happen.
 
Yea it's a mistake you only make once. Some of these prices are tempting, but remembering how much fun dealing with a blacklisted phone was makes me happy to pay more.
 
The danger is that you pay them cash and they could end up not paying the contract anymore and then the phone gets blacklisted.

Technically the phone belongs to the service provider until the contract is over. In the same way that if someone buys a car on finance and they are paying the finance provider off and you buy it from them for a cash price and they stop paying the instalment.
 
I think the mods should make a field in the cellphone subforum that says to ensure people always disclose this as not everyone even does.

Contract: Still in contract/not in contract
 
I think the mods should make a field in the cellphone subforum that says to ensure people always disclose this as not everyone even does.

Contract: Still in contract/not in contract
Report the posts that dont. I saw the one time an oke bought a phone from another carbie which said it was contract phone then when the oke put the phone up for sale he said cash sale. I jist reported the thread. Fortunately i was able to confirm it through an itrader.
 
I've done it before, and didn't have problems, but it is a gamble especially if buying from re-sellers where "stock" may have been sourced indiscriminately.
 
Tbh this can be done on a cash phone also. So if the guy got the phone cash and insured it and ends up claiming its stolen then he has to first blacklist old one before insurance Co help...

What you also have to remember sometimes the guys need cash but they don't need 1k pm but need like 20k in next few days. So then they end up taking a contract as they can afford if but Dont want to get a loan as it's more expensive seeing that some Co's allow you to upgrade earlier the longer you with them.
 
So I messaged a few of these resellers and they all say that the phones are from corporate contracts. So they're being paid for by a company, not an individual, and the risk of the phone getting blocked is very low.

Whether or not that's true is anyone's guess though.
 
So I messaged a few of these resellers and they all say that the phones are from corporate contracts. So they're being paid for by a company, not an individual, and the risk of the phone getting blocked is very low.

Whether or not that's true is anyone's guess though.

Not to be negative but what stops the corporate from shutting down due to financial reasons or other , +- 3 years and counting I have personally bought some mobile devices from members (200k+) on here no issues but if I was to be honest especially in todays time things can happen whether a person wants to accept it or not , which ever decision you make good luck .
 
Not to be negative but what stops the corporate from shutting down due to financial reasons or other , +- 3 years and counting I have personally bought some mobile devices from members (200k+) on here no issues but if I was to be honest especially in todays time things can happen whether a person wants to accept it or not , which ever decision you make good luck .

Ya agree with you completely. Decided not to pursue it further. I'd rather get a snap dragon note 20 anyway. Should be able to get one on aliexpress soon.
 
Ya agree with you completely. Decided not to pursue it further. I'd rather get a snap dragon note 20 anyway. Should be able to get one on aliexpress soon.
On Aliexpress?
You'd sooner take your chances on there?
That's interesting. Perhaps give wish.com a go next :D
 
On Aliexpress?
You'd sooner take your chances on there?
That's interesting. Perhaps give wish.com a go next :D

Nothing wrong with aliexpress for phones as long as you use a well-reviewed seller. Bought a oneplus from one of the suppliers there after receiving a recommendation from someone on mybroadband. No issues at all.

And for samsung snapdragon phones, aliexpress is often the only option we have because amazon doesn't always ship to us.
 
Nothing wrong with aliexpress for phones as long as you use a well-reviewed seller. Bought a oneplus from one of the suppliers there after receiving a recommendation from someone on mybroadband. No issues at all.

And for samsung snapdragon phones, aliexpress is often the only option we have because amazon doesn't always ship to us.
Wish you the best of luck.
Of the tons of things I order from Bangood and Aliexpress, the last thing I'd order is a flagship samsung phone. If shit goes wrong it's just too much of a mission.
My rule of thumb for ordering off Chinese sites is only buy stuff you can't source here at similar pricing or a bit more on pricing locally and only buy stuff from China thats not going to make a massive dent in my finances when it inevitably fails.

Guess that's just me and the way I think
 
only buy stuff you can't source here at similar pricing or a bit more on pricing locally

Well that's exactly what i would use aliexpress for. Samsung phones with snapdragon processors are only available in a handful of countries - mostly in North America and East Asia AFAIK - so aliexpress is the best option for getting hold of them in SA.

As for the item 'inevitably failing' , I can't say I've had that problem before but it is definitely a part of the risk.
 
I bought an Samsung M30s using Aramex global shopper and the phone came DOA. It's a mission to ship it back and you basically have to write it off. Thank the almighty it wasn't a 20k phone...
 
I bought an Samsung M30s using Aramex global shopper and the phone came DOA. It's a mission to ship it back and you basically have to write it off. Thank the almighty it wasn't a 20k phone...
I was keen on the samsung M51 when it eventually comes out.

Damn that sucks. Ive imported two phones one through the slowpo and aramex.

I imported a pc screen a few years back and screen arrived cracked had to pay for shipping back which was R500 or R700 screen was worth R3k i think
 
I bought an Samsung M30s using Aramex global shopper and the phone came DOA. It's a mission to ship it back and you basically have to write it off. Thank the almighty it wasn't a 20k phone...

Shit. That's rough...
 
I bought my note 9 from a reseller on here. 2 years later and no problems at all, guess the reseller has to guarantee that if phone gets blacklisted they will resolve it.

As someone mentioned before can happen with a cash phone as well so if you not buying new then thats the risk you taking.
 
Stick to a trusted reseller. Bought a phone on here from a reseller and upon setting it up it was blacklisted but the seller sorted it all out with a replacement quickly.
Its all about who you deal with. Just Choose wisely and you’re safe
 
Anyone have experience with buying a phone this way?

I've seen a couple people buy a contracted phone, the guy selling is basically going to default on everything and needs short term cash to cover other expenses like food, defaults and the buyer is left with a brick.

Unless you do something highly illegal like change the IMEI number, it's a brick of a phone.

TLDR; don't do it.
 
I've seen a couple people buy a contracted phone, the guy selling is basically going to default on everything and needs short term cash to cover other expenses like food, defaults and the buyer is left with a brick.

Unless you do something highly illegal like change the IMEI number, it's a brick of a phone.

TLDR; don't do it.
This generalization is a little extreme, possible yes but to think its always the case is the extreme in the opposite.

I have a fully working note 9, I have to upgrade as company allowance of 2k is reimbursive so either upgrade or lose the allowance. I have no plans on keeping the upgrade as I am happy with my note 9 so will sell the upgrade( it just so happens to finance my Ps5 :) ).

Their is surely similiar people in my situation that is happy with their current phone and will sell for other toys. Like I said not everybody selling their phones has financial problems. Pretty sure if it was as u say then most resellers on here would go bust.
 
This generalization is a little extreme, possible yes but to think its always the case is the extreme in the opposite.

I have a fully working note 9, I have to upgrade as company allowance of 2k is reimbursive so either upgrade or lose the allowance. I have no plans on keeping the upgrade as I am happy with my note 9 so will sell the upgrade( it just so happens to finance my Ps5 :) ).

Their is surely similiar people in my situation that is happy with their current phone and will sell for other toys. Like I said not everybody selling their phones has financial problems. Pretty sure if it was as u say then most resellers on here would go bust.
If you’re the seller then I’d be happy to buy the phone.

I did generalise. It’s just a bit of a high risk way of buying a phone IF you don’t know the seller wants a PS5.
 

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