It’s no secret that phones are expensive these days. Many people are tempted to buy used phones from online marketplaces to save a little money. If you are considering getting a used phone, you need to know more about the process that you should follow before you purchase a device from a stranger.
Many people are not aware that you can do an IMEI lookup with an IMEI finder, no matter what brand your phone is. There are AT&T device unlock, T-Mobile IMEI check, Samsung IMEI check, and IMEI lookup for Verizon services that you can use to find out more about your phone. There are also third party companies that can help you with your IMEI check needs.
Used phones can save you a lot of money, but you need to do your due diligence before you buy one.
What to do When Buying a Used Phone
The first thing that you need to do when you are considering purchasing a used phone, is make sure that you are going to be able to unlock the phone. You might have noticed that there are T-Mobile unlock, Verizon unlock, and AT&T unlock services online these days that can help you to unlock a used phone so that you can connect it to any cell phone network that you want to use.
The first thing you need to do is get the IMEI number from the seller. This 15-digit number is the unique serial number of your phone and it is registered with an international database. This database tracks where phones were made, what cell service provider they are connected to, what kinds of cell reception they can receive and perhaps most importantly, whether or not the device is stolen.
You will want to use an IMEI check up service to find out if your device isn’t stolen before you do anything else. You cannot proceed with an iPhone 11 unlock or an AT&T unlock with a stolen phone. This is one of the steps that many people miss and it can lead to heartbreak when you find out that the device that you paid cash for is useless to you now.
You don’t have to use tools that are specific to cell phone companies to check this information. Each company will offer an IMEI checker that you can use, such as the Verizon IMEI check, but you can also work with an independent company that will check on the IMEI of the phone that you are looking to buy. They can also then unlock the device so that you can use it no matter where you want to get cell service.
Starting at this point is key, and you cannot skip this critical step. Once you know that the device is not stolen, you can buy it and have an expert unlock the device so that you can get it set up on your cell phone plan.
Are Some Phones Not Able to be Used in the US?
One of the other things that you need to do your due diligence about when buying used cell phone devices, is checking on the kind of cell reception that the phone is set up to receive. Phones that are made to be used in the US will typically also work in Canada and Mexico. Phones that are made to work in Europe and other places in the world might not receive the right kind of cell signal to be used elsewhere.
Knowing which kind of cell service you can access with your phone is critical when you are buying a phone used. You might be getting a great deal just because the phone cannot be used in the US, and it’s a scam sale. The IMEI number will tell you everything that you need to know about your device so that you can make a smart purchase and end up with a device that can be used in your region of the world and with your carrier of choice.
You might need to sell your existing phone to move to a new country and get a used phone that is built to accept the cell signals that are used in Europe. In this example, you would be shopping for a phone that is made for the other part of the world instead.
Scammers are counting on the fact that most people don’t realize that they can check on the status of the phone they want to buy before they hand over their cash. You can outsmart these people by asking for the IMEI so that you can run a check and see if the phone is free and clear to be sold and if it will suit your needs. Being a smart shopper when buying used is critical these days, and IMEI checker services can be a big help in this regard.
An IMEI Check is a Key Step in the Phone Purchase Process
When you are thinking about buying a used cell phone, you need to be sure that the device is not stolen and that it can be unlocked so that you can use it however you please. You can find out all of this information with a simple IMEI check provided by a quality company. Knowing that a phone is not stolen is critical so that you can be sure that the device can be sold to you.
You will also need the IMEI check to be certain that you can unlock the phone and use it with your cell phone carrier of choice. This is one of the steps that sneaks up on people buying used devices, so you need to be sure that you are not taken in by common scams or impediments that you could have avoided. Being a smart buyer of cell phone devices is always a good idea so that you can be certain that you have gotten the good deal that you were hoping for on a new phone device.
