Need Cell Phone advise..

[ACRucrazy]

Well, I need a new phone.
I go through T-Mobile, and need a new phone, I have an old Samsung S105 now, but the screen goes black radomly, then the vibrate quits working.
I need an unlocked phone.

I like the flip open style phones, and would like one with a camera now.
T Mobile uses a Sim card, so I need something that works with that, Ive been looking on EBay, but theres just SOOOO MUCH to look at, confusing the hell out of me.
I dont want to spend more then $200 at the most.

How come some phones on ebay, work with T-mobile, Cingular, etc etc...
Are some "Do it all phones", do other companys use Sim cards?
Here are few that caught my eye, but again, I hate phone shopping.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5751329884&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5752997167&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5752239475&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64355&item=5753078933&rd=1

Any suggestions?

[dylan]

Only advice I can recommend is that you make sure they have near perfect ratings. My buddy got one from a guy that said it was unlocked and worked perfectly, turns out it wasn't unlocked and did not work anything near perfect.

[1ViciousGSX]

My advice, don't get one. It's nice to not be "connected" at times with the rest of the world.

[scheides]

http://www.mobilebee.com for some cool phones, some for decent prices.

You can get a discount by extending your current contract for another year or two. This can be done at any mall/cell phone retailer, though.

[Jana]

I would never buy a cell phone off ebay, but that's just me. You run the risk of things happening like what dylan posted.

[TheBlizzard]

I didn't even look at the links to Ebay, but I agree that you should not buy one off Ebay so I don't even have to look. I have the Motorola T720 flip phone and I have had it for over two years and it still works prettys good. I am surprised considering what it has been through.

Doesn't your wireless provider have phone upgrades for pretty cheap? Usually they will give existing customers good deals on phone upgrages.

CRAIG

[Khadgar]

I don't see a problem buying a phone off ebay as long as your are careful about it. I bought my last phone and ended up saving quite a bit of money and it came NIB as advertised. Almost all the new phones come with sim cards except for some of the really cheap models. Otherwise most of my friend just renew their contract and get heavy discounts that way and that seems to work quite well.

[Alpine TSi]

I'll pipe in for Chris here, he can't go and upgrade through T-Mobile as he is participating in a Best Buy discounted plan. Now that Best Buy no longer carries T-Mobile if he were to go and get it upgraded they would notice that he is on a plan that they should no longer honor. Hence his desire to get a phone through different means.

I have had good luck with the few phones I have gotten off of EBay, just pay attention to their feedback, and use a credit card, that way if you get punked on it you can go to your CC company and they will go to bat for you, only as a last resort though.

[mukapahnpy]

Try going through some of the malls, stores such as The Mobile Company and others will often have "Free" upgrades, just requires you to extend your contract for another year. One of their reps said that you are allowed to upgrade "Free" every 11 months or something. I have one of the old blue models from T-Mobile, I've been thinking about upgrading the phone forever, but am just to lazy. Instead I just bought a new MPx220 with 2 year contract from Cingular via the Web. My cost up front was $300 but I will get the money back, rebates. So basically, free with a new contract. Do a little research for free phone deals.

[TheBlizzard]

Try going through some of the malls, stores such as The Mobile Company and others will often have "Free" upgrades, just requires you to extend your contract for another year. One of their reps said that you are allowed to upgrade "Free" every 11 months or something. I have one of the old blue models from T-Mobile, I've been thinking about upgrading the phone forever, but am just to lazy. Instead I just bought a new MPx220 with 2 year contract from Cingular via the Web. My cost up front was $300 but I will get the money back, rebates. So basically, free with a new contract. Do a little research for free phone deals.
Did you read alpinetsi's post? He can't upgrade through his wireless provider because he has and old cell plan and he doesn't want to start a new contract because I bet he has a good plan that is 'grandfathered' in.

CRAIG