[Ads]

Just had my upgrade phone from 02, and I would like to sell my old phone on Ebay. Its currently locked to 02, is that likely to mean I would get a lot less money for it than an unlocked phone? Would it be worth me getting it unlocked first?

Also as there won't be a sim card with it, will that also mean I would get less money for it?

thanks for any advice

[_amanda_]

Is it an O2 contract phone? O2 haven't locked its contract phones in a long while, are you sure its locked?

Get a hold of another network sim and try it in the phone. If it works then its not locked.

I wouldn't say you would get less for not having a sim card. Most people buying phones have there own number they want to keep anyway.

[Talizman]

There's nothing to suggest you'll get a significantly less amount than if it was unlocked.

All I will say if you are going to put it on ebay, make sure your listing has a large red warning stating you will not send the phone abroad, especially not to Nigeria.

[Hopeless_Savage]

And only give the option for recorded delivery with insurance. There are so many people ripping off sellers these days.

[copydeskcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ads

Just had my upgrade phone from 02, and I would like to sell my old phone on Ebay. Its currently locked to 02, is that likely to mean I would get a lot less money for it than an unlocked phone? Would it be worth me getting it unlocked first?

Also as there won't be a sim card with it, will that also mean I would get less money for it?

thanks for any advice

A few tips for selling anything like a phone on eBay:

- search around and suss out what price your phone is going for and price it £5-£10 cheaper than the average.

- sell it as a Buy it Now, with immediate payment required upon purchase. Auctions are a waste of everyone's time - you either get Chongo Tightropes from Nigeria offering to send you £10,000 in return for keeping £2000, or it fails to sell for the average price

- set your eBay settings to reject buyers who have a rating of zero or less or have had an unpaid strike in the last month

- set your eBay settings to reject users who do not have a credit card on file and who do not have a PayPal account

- only accept PayPal. Sure, the fees are a pain, but it's safer than just about any other method out there.

- weigh the item and check the postage costs at the Royal Mail website - and make sure you get it insured up to its value when you post it

- take a decent photo of both the phone (in close up) and the phone alongside the kit/box etc. and put them both in the listing - and put one of the pics in a gallery listing

- be as honest in your description as possible, including the condition of the phone, its locked/unlocked status and its reliability

I've sold almost every phone I've every owned on eBay, going right back to my original Sony I got in 1992 - and I've never been stung once following the methods above.

CDC

[Clangerette]

Accept Paypal but insist that they must have a CONFIRMED Paypal address. I lost a PS3 to a fraudster because of that and Paypal wouldn't help me because they didn't have a confirmed address!

[prking]

@copydeskcat, that is truly excellent advice. That's how I sell on eBay and never have a problem with scammers. A little effort before listing reaps huge rewards later.
The only two things I would add, is to make everything is crystal clear in the listing. Even the fact that the buyer will need to be home to sign for the parcel.
Keep the buyer informed, when the item is sent email them with the parcel number and how to track it.

[copydeskcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

@copydeskcat, that is truly excellent advice. That's how I sell on eBay and never have a problem with scammers. A little effort before listing reaps huge rewards later.
The only two things I would add, is to make everything is crystal clear in the listing. Even the fact that the buyer will need to be home to sign for the parcel.
Keep the buyer informed, when the item is sent email them with the parcel number and how to track it.

One other tip:

- Block buyers who are registered in countries to which you don't ship. Helps prevent Chongo Tightropes spamming you.

- Immediately report spam-type emails from users who have zero ratings or ask you to ship the phone to their cousin in Zimbabwe.

- make sure your PayPal account can accept Credit Card Payments (you'll need to upgrade your account for free). I got hassle once from a stupid kid who was using his dad's credit card, and I didn't accept credit card payments, but it worked out in the end.

- wait until the buyer has left you feedback before you leave them feedback. There's a lot of nasty people out there who will wait until you leave them feedback, then they'll shaft you with a negative strike for nothing other than the sheer malice of it. A guy threatened to give me a negative strike on a £1.50 comic I'd sold him because he claimed there was a greasy fingerprint on the cover. Imagine what they could claim with a second-hand mobile.

- oh - and make sure you reset your phone to the factory settings before you sell. You don't want sensitive photos or text messages being put into the hands of an eBayer!

[SKYtvFREAK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by copydeskcat

One other tip:

- Block buyers who are registered in countries to which you don't ship. Helps prevent Chongo Tightropes spamming you

I'm a quite new to the whole eBay thing and so, i'm not 100% sure about the whole "Chongo Tightropes" thing.


Is that where someone from an Eastern country tries to purchase things like a phone and car etc and trys to flog it in places such as Nigeria??

[copydeskcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemstv

I'm a quite new to the whole eBay thing and so, i'm not 100% sure about the whole "Chongo Tightropes" thing.


Is that where someone from an Eastern country tries to purchase things like a phone and car etc and trys to flog it in places such as Nigeria??

Yes - and believe it or not, one of them who emailed me went by the name of "Chongo Tightropes". I think I still have the email somewhere.

Basically, they usually email you with a sob story, asking if you will ship the phone to an African nation, like Nigeria or Congo. It's usually followed by a complex offer of them giving you a large some of cash (like £10,000) - but in order for you to get the £10,000, you have to send them the phone - or some other such scam, like sending them money.

Report any email that even remotely resembles something like that.

At the most, anyone who is genuinely interested in buying your phone will want to know the following:

- what is your eBay rating, and do you have any recent negatives - they can get this from your profile. (As a seller, I'd want to know this about the buyer too).

- is the phone in good condition/will it work with their sim

The might email you, they might not.

Most people who buy from me make an instant purchase without contacting me, and I maintain good communication with them throughout the sale/postage process to reassure them that I'm genuine.

[SKYtvFREAK]

Thanks for the info Copydeskcat


I shall be careful when selling on eBay.

[airfix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemstv

Thanks for the info Copydeskcat


I shall be careful when selling on eBay.

Make sure you remain vigilant.

Quite soon, eBay, in their quest to 'improve' their 'selling experience' plan to stop sellers from leaving feedback for buyers. Quite how this is going to improve things is beyond me but only time will tell.

[copydeskcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by airfix

Make sure you remain vigilant.

Quite soon, eBay, in their quest to 'improve' their 'selling experience' plan to stop sellers from leaving feedback for buyers. Quite how this is going to improve things is beyond me but only time will tell.

That's correct, from May, sellers will not be able to leave negative feedback, comments or remarks about a buyer.

As far as I'm concerned, eBay has finally taken heed to the concept of the customer always being right (which I know isn't *always* the case, but it is most of the time).

Imagine the same situation in the high street: let's say I purchase an item from Marks and Spencer, then complain about the quality, service, or any other aspect of the sale - only for M&S to post my name in their window accusing me of being a bad buyer. It wouldn't happen, so why should it be allowed to happen on eBay. Maybe if I didn't actually pay for the item, yes.

The only problem I foresee with this is sabotage from rival businesses, who will inevitably purchase items and leave negative feedback to deliberately undermine their rivals' eBay rating.

[upnunder]

I resent the fact that you all think I am a Nigerian scam artist.


Yours Sincerely

Chongo Tightropes.


PS. My father is a Nigerian general, who has £1,000,000 he needs to deposit in your bank account..........

[withnail 73]

Tried to sell a N95 twice on ebay. Both times Nigerian ******* closed the bidding early and attempted to rip me off.

Sold it via Adtrader. No scammers or delivery costs.

I wont use ebay again. They even tried to charge me selling fees. Cheeky *******.

[Talizman]

Have some fun with the Nigerians using ideas found at www.419eater.com - I've brightened up many a dull weekend with it!

[withnail 73]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talizman

Have some fun with the Nigerians using ideas found at www.419eater.com - I've brightened up many a dull weekend with it!

I love this site. Have you heard the recording of him getting run over outside the Western Union?

Brilliant. Although the link doesnt seem to be working

[copydeskcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talizman

Have some fun with the Nigerians using ideas found at www.419eater.com - I've brightened up many a dull weekend with it!

classic stuff - my favourite is the Dead Parrot sketch scam.

Hilarious.