I broke my cell phone

[Gomboman]

I have a generic Samsung A670 (Verizon Wireless) that I bought about a year ago for about $50 with a new account. I dropped the phone and now it's trash--no insurance. I went to a local Verizon store and they want around $300 for similar phone that costs $50 with a new account. What a rip off.

Anyway, I found my same phone on ebay for around $20. Can I buy a used Verizon compatible phone and have it activated at a Verizon store? What a scam.......

[MostlyLurkingGal]

Bummer! I did the same thing last year. I bought one on ebay and just activated over the internet. Didn't even have to go into a store. Just make sure it has all the things Verizon requires on a phone....If you are getting the same phone....FOR VERIZON USE....you shouldn't have any problems. Make sure the seller has good feedback!

[Gomboman]

MLG, very cool. I didn't know you could activate the phone yourself over the Internet.

[MostlyLurkingGal]

To be perfectly honest with you, it was either over the internet, or by calling Customer service @ 1-800-922-0204 ...I can't remember now which I did

[Tman122]

I have a generic Samsung A670 (Verizon Wireless) that I bought about a year ago for about $50 with a new account. I dropped the phone and now it's trash--no insurance. I went to a local Verizon store and they want around $300 for similar phone that costs $50 with a new account. What a rip off.

Anyway, I found my same phone on ebay for around $20. Can I buy a used Verizon compatible phone and have it activated at a Verizon store? What a scam.......

I use a sim card phone, as long as any new phone I get is capable of excepting my sim card I can get any phone I want from ebay. The sim card stores all the cruicial data and your phone numbers and stuff to transfer to another phone. Call Verizon and ask what kind of phone you need, or re-up your contract with them for a free phone.

[Chad]

I use a sim card phone, as long as any new phone I get is capable of excepting my sim card I can get any phone I want from ebay. The sim card stores all the cruicial data and your phone numbers and stuff to transfer to another phone. Call Verizon and ask what kind of phone you need, or re-up your contract with them for a free phone.

Ahh yes, a Subscriber Identity Module card. Those babies are life savers.

[bosco0633]

Just remember that if you are using a sim card that you still need to purchase a phone that has software for that particular company.  So if you have verizon, you need to make sure that the phone has software for verizon.   On ebay, however, you can purchase what is known as an unlocked phone.  This basically means that the phone has been formatted with software to make it a unit with no specific software, that way you can use it with any phone.

Now, Gombo, it does not sound like this is the case with you.  So if you buy on ebay, you need to make sure that the phone is compatible with verizon.  If its not then look for the type of phone that says unlocked.  I am not sure if this will work for phones without the sim cards, but you can ask around and see.

If verizon offers sim cards, then I would call them and ask them for one.  They are usually 30.00 canadian for the card, but it will last forever.  Once you get the card, you can get any GSM phone with SIM capability.

Hope that this helps a bit.

[ndabunka]

I use a sim card phone, as long as any new phone I get is capable of excepting my sim card I can get any phone I want from ebay. The sim card stores all the cruicial data and your phone numbers and stuff to transfer to another phone. Call Verizon and ask what kind of phone you need, or re-up your contract with them for a free phone.

Actually, this is incorrect. ANY phone will not work.   Any UNLOCKED phone will "probably" work.  However, if you have Verizon service and pick up a used VERIZON phone, you can simply move the chip from one phone to the next and it should work. If you get a Cingular phone and try to activate it on Verizon's network, it can be done but often it is not simple nor easy.  Do NOT renew a contract simply to get a phone.  They may give you a $125 phone for free but they also lock you into rates TODAY.  What happens when they change the plans to offer a $9.95/month unlimited calling service in 3 months and your stuck with your current $59.95/month service?  Yep, your stuck with the old rate or a big penalty.  Buying a valid one off eBay is MUCH better.

[bosco0633]

that goes back to my post, if you buy an unlocked sim phone you can use any phone as long as it takes a sim card.

[Webini]

Actually, this is incorrect. ANY phone will not work.   Any UNLOCKED phone will "probably" work.  However, if you have Verizon service and pick up a used VERIZON phone, you can simply move the chip from one phone to the next and it should work. If you get a Cingular phone and try to activate it on Verizon's network, it can be done but often it is not simple nor easy.  Do NOT renew a contract simply to get a phone.  They may give you a $125 phone for free but they also lock you into rates TODAY.  What happens when they change the plans to offer a $9.95/month unlimited calling service in 3 months and your stuck with your current $59.95/month service?  Yep, your stuck with the old rate or a big penalty.  Buying a valid one off eBay is MUCH better.

You cannot activate a Cingular phone on Verizon.  Two totally different network types.  You can only use a Verizon phone on Verizon.

GSM phones for use on Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc can be unlocked and used on these carriers.  But never on Verizon.

[Brewman]

 I've sold many of my old phones to people I work with.  Seems like Gomboman's problem is quite common- broken or lost phones but not at the point of being able to upgrade inexpensively.  I'm on Verizon too, and nobody I've sold a phone to has ever complained about not being able to activate- so it's quite possible.  
   I have a really good calling plan that's not even offered anymore so I don't mind extending the rates in exchange for an upgraded phone.  

Heck, if I was in a position to upgrade, I'd offer you our phones.  But we won't be eligible again till August.

[drewstar]

If it's a verizon phone  with simillair capability, I'd think you'd be all set just by putting in your old SIM  the little whatchamacallit thingy doohicky card, no?

(fixed for tuggnet   )

[tuggnet]

Verizon does not use SIM cards.  Verizon uses CDMA.  SIM cards are used with GSM phones.  CDMA does have something called UIM (or something like that) but Verizon does not use it.

I have purchased phones off ebay.  BEFORE you buy, you should get the ESN and call Verizon to make sure the ESN  is clear.  If it is, then you can activate it either online with the ESN changer or via customer service.

If you go the customer service route, they will try and charge you $20.

One note, you can only activate the same class phone online (i.e.  VCast to VCast or non VCast to Non Vcast)

Hope this helps.

[countryboy]

I went from a non vcast to vcast online fine.

[tuggnet]

I went from a non vcast to vcast online fine.

That's good to know.  That feature didn't work a few months ago.  I'm glad they got around to fixing it!

The online ESN changer is a handy little feature.  One of the few VZW doesn't charge you for!