Diamonds on eBay
 

Has anyone bought one off ebay and if so had any problems. And please save the 'you get what you pay for' stuff.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

As long as you have confidence in the seller, they are fine.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Yes, I bought a diamond off ebay and have not had any problems....yet. It was kind of fishy that the phone was shipped from Asurion (cell phone insurance company) and not the seller. The seller's rating was 99.4% with a few hundred auctions.

Just in case you haven't seen it, Microsoft Live Search has a cash back program with ebay/paypal. It is at 25% now, but has been up to 35%. There are threads on fatwallet.com/slickdeals.net that describe it in more detail.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Be sure you watch the wording of the add and check their feedback. I have known two people who both bought a Diamond off of ebay and they were both good buys.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

+1 for a good experience. Still, make sure they have a good rating and read the description carefully, so you know for sure what you are getting. Mine was described as an unopened Diamond, and that's what I got. Very happy, so far.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Did Sprint charge you to activate it? I read where I guy got charged $58 on his bill because it came from Asurion. And also was it New in a Retail box?

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine off of ebay. Dude didn't ship it when he said he was gonna but he did ship it next day, on his dime, after the mixup was cleared.

Phone was new, ITB. I was very pleased with the transaction.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

How much are most of you getting the Diamond for off of ebay? I saw one that was going for $459 with two hours left about a week ago.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine a week after it was released for about $438 with shipping.

I'm thinking about selling mine and was surprised to see them as low as $247. Dang. lol

Are you sure you didn't mean the Touch Pro for the price you mentioned?

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I saw that thread, but no I haven't been assessed any additionaly charges (yet). I activated it on Alltel, which also uses Asurion. The description in the auction was for Sprint HTC Touch Diamond brand new in box with clean ESN. I received a new Sprint Diamond in a retail box along with literature from Asurion indicating that the phone was a replacement provided under an Asurion policy. The guy was selling 8 of them and I got it using buy-it-now for $284 shipped.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Thanks !! I just pulled the trigger, and paid with my CC through PayPal. If anything goes funny, I will charge it back.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

good luck. my first attempt ended up being a scammer. my second try turned out better though. only paid $10 more and got overnight shipping.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Got mine off Ebay for $269. Brand new in the unopened OEM box. It stated in auction as brand new,clean ESN, no contract. Had 100% positive feedback.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Yeah it was definately the diamond. I was looking to see how much they were selling for because I needed to sale mine. Most of them were still pretty cheap but I did see a few go higher. Maybe they sold some additional accessories or something.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I bought mine from ebay user dmilton111. 100% feedback, but only a 50 score.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I had 1 really good experience and 1 bad experience. The good one went over really quick. He gave me the esn number so I can verify online and shipped in 3 days. The bad one was the seller's mistake because he cancelled his line before swapping phones so the phone was DOA. He tried to tell paypal that I got what I paid for but in the comments I wrote "By accepting this payment you agree that the phone's esn number is clear and ready to activate. If you can not guarantee the phone's clear esn number please reject this payment." When I brought that up to paypal they found it in my favor and refunded my money. Also make sure you send a message having them guarantee a clear esn and the phone being able to activate and make 1 phone call because that can also be used against the seller. Protect yourself as much as possible.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

eBay is a mixed bag that is for sure. I did purchase two of them from two different sellers who sent me brand new in box units, which I paid $370 for. Been happy with the purchases, no regrets. Better than purchasing used laptops in the past...

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine from the same guy and at the time he had zero feedback. It really smelled like an insurance scam, but all is well so far. I have had it for three weeks.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

That is a good idea. I'll have to send that message with my next purchase via paypal.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine from that dude too. I am 100% sure he is running some type of insurance scam. I dont care though. I got my phone hooked up on alltel and all is good.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine on ebay for about $255. It had been used for 3 days and was in mint condition. She had 100% feedback so I felt good about it. It works fine and I would do it again.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

i got my diamond for dmilton on ebay too. i was scared too when i got the asurion card but since my diamond activated i dont care either, but I am scared of sprint finding out of whatever scam hes running and shuts my phone off though

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

bought not only my diamond but a treo and the past touch on ebay. no problems at all, will definately do it again.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I recieved the Asurion card and return envelope also with my phone from EBAY. I activated the phone online with no problem. I called Sprint to see if the phone was clear, they said yes...I called Asurion to verify they said everythings OK but transfered me to Sprint to verify...Sprint CS said everything was OK. One week later I called Sprint CS again to explain the entire story of my concern...they said everything was OK. Today I recieved a envelope from Sprint verifying the changes to my account showing the new phone (Touch Diamond) and my current plan. Everything was correct even the transfer of insurance to the new phone. I guess I'm in the clear but I did record the time and date of each phone call.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got mine off of ebay and it was brand new shipped from sprint with replacement activation instructions..... Very happy with it.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I got one in today and it is definitely a scam. I'm afraid to activate because it came from Sprint(asurion) with a return auth label. The packing slip lists the customer's mobile number on it but has my shipping address. There was no answer when I called the customer.

I now believe that the person selling these has access to a database he shouldn't--containing customers with Diamond phones and insurance. He's paying $50 a piece for 'lost/damaged' replacements to be sent, and the insurance claim form tells him that Asurion only has new phones in stock, no refurbs.

Buyers likely will have no problems activating but then after Sprint investigates and shuts down this scammer, every phone will be deactivated as stolen. I can't believe that Asurion has no controls in place to prevent this--I mean at minimum the original customer's bad/"lost" phone should be turned off prior to sending out a replacement, or within <x> number of days if the bad phone isn't sent back.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

That sucks. As soon as I get it, I am going to call Sprint and Asurion and document everything. I will activate it if I get the OK, but I plan on charging back my Credit Card right away to protect myself, regaurdless of what Sprint or Asurion say. Worst case I lose the Chargeback case, best case I win and keep the phone !!

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I bought one from Ebay almost 2 weeks ago. Still no phone, but as the last message said, i think that is exactly it - someone either with a customer list of who has equipment replacement or someone that maybe works or owns one of those little kisoks. I didn't order from dmilton, but there are atleast 3 sites doing the exact same thing - the one I ordered from had the same exact wording and text. I found the phone number off of the paypal name and it was a 22 year old girl. I called her house and spoke with "her father" whether he was or not, claimed she wasn't selling phones. I do believe that part. i have a claim in at paypal and ebay sent me a security notice yesterday that the seller has been removed. Ug.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I was wondering if i could put insurance on my phone and then claim it through sprint before they realize that my phone was from an ebay scam and shut it off. I really like the phone and the price i paid for it and i dont want to end up with an expensive paperweight.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I also initiated a chargeback, but in the meantime I am going to use the diamond phone, keeping my old one as a spare.... In the off chance that sprint doesn't want a used phone back. My CC company said the chargeback will only be finalized once the merchandise is back in the seller's hands, but I will document the fact that I am only willing to send it back to sprint or asurion since they are undoubtedly the rightful owners.

I did a phone claim with asurion myself recently (lost my old phone), and I had to know not only my phone # but my pin # as well.. And it shipped to my billing address. Why isn't this setting off a red flag with Asurion? I mean, the ebay seller(s) such as dmilton are not only supplying/bypassing the pin # but also changing the ship to address to no longer match the address on the user's account? If Asurion is checking for this I guess they could be changing the billing address on the account termporarily to the buyer's address, then changing it back before a bill is mailed.. or changing it to online billing. Either way not great news.

I almost think this may not be a sprint sales rep/kiosk agent running things but maybe a group of current/former asurion reps.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Just ordered mine for $274.99 with free express shipping last night. Seller is afezalio1, seems pretty legit (though I still don't understand how people are selling them this cheap). Gives all sorts of contact info and has great feedback.

He is shipping it personally also since PayPal notified me that he printed out a USPS label from them and I did receive confirmation from USPS about the package.

Can't wait!

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I talked to the person whos phone # appeared on my asurion/sprint packing slip (under MDN :, and they have a diamond phone and have zero knowledge of any insurance claim etc. They said they purchased it from a real sprint store not a mall kiosk or other agent. Interesting....

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Ordered mine last Tuesday for $176 ($235 - $58 Cash Back). Received it yesterday and activated fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320317412227

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

The problem is, whoever's phone # they used to file the claim is going to be charged when the damaged phone isn't sent back in the return envelope. Complete horse**** and I am sorry I even bought mine. I am going to send mine back and contact the # on the packing slip to let them know they were ripped off. This same **** can happen to any of us. Someone has access to Sprints customer database to do this. So it is an employee or a dealer.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

There is already another thread here where someone who had bought the phone from ebay was charged by sprint for the 50 fee and the shipping. There was lots of discussions and speculation on this.

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

So can we assume that if we get ours from a seller directly and not from Asurion that the phone is not the result of defrauding another Sprint customer?

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

I don't think we can--here's why. If the scam artist stops sending direct from asurion, he can have them sent to his or a friends location, then ups it from there. more of a red flag since asurion would see dozens or hundreds of phones going to one address--but it illustrates how a shipment via ups or us mail direct from a seller could still be exploiting whatever this sprint/asurion security flaw is.

I really doubt the sprintstore sales reps have access to the pin #. Even if the pin # database was stolen, all asurion needed to do to protect against this was not allow replacements to be shipped to a name and address if it doesn't match the billing database.

update: here's the thread reporting where another user was charged $57 in fees on their bill a month after buying an ebay diamond--apparently tons of people are getting ebay phone shipped right from asurion. When the unsuspecting buywer activates it, it triggers the $57 fee. what a scam!! http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=43817

I am surprised I am the only one that was too suspicious of the wording insurance replacement, the prepaid return envelope, and the scammed (innocent) customer's Mobile telephone number on the packing slip

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

That makes sense but wouldn't that make too big of a risk for the seller since his address would be on file and after a couple (or even one) report Asurion would surely try to track him down.

One thing that is making me kind of mad is how the deductible is being charged after the phone is activated. Whenever I made an insurance claim I had to pay the deductible with a credit card right then and there before they even sent out a replacement. Asurion/Sprint are making this way too easy if these scams are as widespread as they seem to be.

Maybe we should keep track of seller names in this thread. People who have gotten a Sprint bill after activating their phone and were not charged, who did you buy from?

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Crap....I was going to get myself a Diamond off Ebay for Christmas, but now I'm having serious second thoughts.

Anybody care to share legit ebay sellers they have used?

Re: Diamonds on eBay
 

Yeah, it looks like this is probably an insurance scam. I started searching for this and found this thread on the Sprint Users forum: http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144983

Also found this story at the Insurance Journal: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2008/04/04/88853.htm