To buy or not to buy from 3rd party vendors!

[Robin621k]

Don't do it!

There is a major problem when buying from 3rd party Vendors, Amazon, Ebay, Back Market. You have no idea what you are getting , they might advertise the device as being UNLOCKED, when in fact it is only carrier UNLOCK. It will still have the previous carriers Service Provider Sotware version on it, thats fine if it s your carriers software. It's not fine when its not. You will not be able to get updates. 

.

This community is full of hundreds of posts from distraught members who have unwittingly bought a phone from an unscrupulous vender who doesn't have the ability to flash the phone to make it a factory unlocked phone.

Be fair warned, proceed at your own rick.

[CrazyT8]

50 to 80 bucks, unlocked, 256, etc. My Straight Talk service (Verizon) does a great job, but I have a worthless phone. And yeah, I'm just wondering if it would work. I've got issues with promotions and actual contract service, but I'm not paying for another phone insurance—that's robbery. And yeah.i don't want contracts for face service not worth **bleep** just my opinion and yah I still want the phone but it's 3rd in year and none unlocked or ever actually giving me trading upgrad just bill

[realaud]

Is there a question here? Ordering a refurbished or used phone from any third party has its risks, as they are often not verified to be unlocked or logged out of the previous users accounts - or even working properly (they are only checked to see if they turn on).  They may not even be U.S. models and not work with U.S. carriers, or even counterfeit. Even at 50-80 bucks, it might seem like a bargain, but if you get it and it's unusable, you wasted that money and now you have to expend more money.  At least Amazon and Temu have generous return policies, so if you get a non-working, or non-US model, you can return it.

[CEParsons]

It is recommended to only purchase phones factory unlocked directly from the manufacturer to avoid any issues. Samsung is currently offering some exceptional early Black Friday deals with higher than typical market value instant trade-in.

I would advise you to check that out rather than purchasing questionable devices from Temu.

[realaud]

What is the issue with your current phone that you have deemed it worthless?  Perhaps we can help you fix it.

[Robin621k]

When you see a deal to good to be true, 9 out of 10 times , it's not.

[CEParsons]

Considering the astounding lack of quality in basic household products I've received from Temu, it is the LAST place I'd be looking for a phone!

[Robin621k]

I have never shopped on Temu or AliExpress. Nor will I ever.

[realaud]

10 out of 10. There are good deals that are reasonable and "deals" that should be avoided.

[Robin621k]

There is always that rare occurrence!

[Natey]

That's probably good/safe advice.
But I bought a new unlocked S25 from Amazon in October. It was $100 cheaper than the current Black Friday price at Samsung. The current price on Amazon at the same link is the same BF price on Samsung.
Everything was sealed and new in the S25 box. I even ran a check on the IMEI, and it came out clean.
But I wish they had a 256 GB model there at that time; they only had the 128 GB model.

Even my carrier Black Friday deal has only the darkblue model in 256 GB; the other colors are 128 GB. I could trade in this unlocked S25 for a darkblue carrier-locked S25 for $2.5 x 24 months + a $35 upgrade fee. Hmm...