Originally Posted by bitburgr
Something I just don't get about buying a cell phone on eBay...the prices are always jacked way up. This particular sale had a winning bid of $229.25+$12 shipping. Wouldn't it be cheaper to go to a Cingular store and buy one for $19.99 (discounted price with a 2 year contract), get the cheapest plan, then immediately pay the $175 early termination fee and go back to your original contract and phone number? (unless there's something in the T&C's preventing this.)
Because for the most part, the phones on ebay are unlocked, meaning you can use them with any carrier. Carriers sell phones cheap, coupled to term plans because they use the phone as a loss leader.
Yes, you can pay Cingular $195 dollars (phone plus termination... don't forget activation... you'll have to pay that too as well as most likely the first month's service) and end up with a phone you can use with exactly one carrier. Cingular.
Now do you see why some people view $232 as a good deal for a phone you can use with any carrier?