i thought i'd make a general outline for buying from Craigslist / Kijiji. This could be very useful and i think everyone who buys used / new phones from these sites should check this out / Add insight to it. - its mainly for getting the best deal / not getting hustled. - once you buy that phone, you may lose complete contact with the person so its important to make sure your product works the way you want it to.
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I use to sell on craigslist often and as of late i have started buying. I buy phones for cheap and sell them for higher and make a good profit doing this ... eg buy a 10/10 used bold for 200, and sell it for 320. helps pay for school books
when buying, some important points are (assuming the seller says nothing is wrong with the phone / or states a minor flaw.:
* Always send this text: "'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'" - this will ensure that all of the alphanumeric keys are working and that the phone can send texts.
*you can send it to yourself (to see if the phone can receive texts) or you can ask the seller to send you a text.
*Always make a call. Always receive a call.
* Always test out the camera. I have owned phones where the camera did not work. People might be selling phones when the camera has some disfunction. Test out the camera. If you do not care for the camera, and it does not work, you can ask for a $50 discount on the phone on the spot since you'd have to get it repaired (even though a simple device reset can fix the camera).
* Test the browser
*Meet up in an area with good lighting. If you are meeting up at night, propose to meet up at perhaps a fast food restaurant as opposed to meeting up on the street where its dark, and nicks and ticks and minor wear will go unnoticed.
* Get the price lower a bit before meet-up.
Talk to them, show great interest in the phone and confirm yourself as a buyer. give them a meet up location and time (same day) - and pretty much confirm that the phone is yours. At this point, depending on the phone, you can get a lower price (usually on used phones). THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SAVE A BUCK OR 50-100 BUCKS. i have saved a lot and got great deals using this tactic. Tell the person that you are 100% ready and you are in your car heading to them right now / about to get on the subway to meet them, etc.... But your bank account has a limit on your funds... lets say the phone cost 275 ... tell the person you only have 225 available, but you can pick it up right now ... if they are all like 'ummmm', tell them they can keep their cheap *** SD card and their flimsy *** holster / phone case (if you dont want it)
so pretty much, right when you are about to leave, get the price lower. If they are firm, and you still want the phone, tell them, ok hold on let me see what i can do, call back in 5 mins - and tell them that you cannot get the money, but you are available to get the phone right then and for 235 max ... or its no deal
a majority of sellers will let the phone go for 235... since a lot want $ as fast as possible.
- Always ask about the warranty. If at the point of purchase, you find out there is no warranty, ask for a lower price.
- Always be willing to walk away. The willingness to walk away can always get you a better deal. If you find a flaw with the phone when meeting up, and the price is higher than what you think it is worth, tell them them (so and so is really affecting the quality of the phone) ... you can ask them what their lowest price is ... or you can propose a new price (unless the phone is at a crackhead price, cause then they could find a new buyer at the snap of a second)
- Jump at crackhead prices that you see on craigslist and crackhead prices that a buyer proposes on spot. (that seem to be legit ads)
Questions to ask while buying:
Why are you selling the phone
How long was it owned
ask them if the phone had a previous owner before them
Where did you buy it from
Any problems with the programming
how new is the battery
How is the battery life
How can i contact you if i do not figure how to work something
Does the bbm pin work
ask them to show you the scratches, cause some are very hard to find.
if you are discontent with their response, tell them that you don't think the phone is worth your $, and ask for a lower price (be reasonable with the lower price.) Be ready to walk away aswell. If your price is reasonable, and they wont budge, and you think / know you can get a much better deal elsewhere, tell them to fucck themselves and to eat shyt. (not really, but you catch my drift).
well im tired of typing for now. everyone feel free to comment and add tips and stuff to getting good deals.