Ebayer scammers!

[elzel1]

I just bought a Palm Treo 600 from a guy off of Ebay to find out that it cant be used with Tmobile. The guy advertised that the Treo 600 was "unlocked" for use with any carrier. But, after receiving the phone/pda, I noticed that it was a Sprint model with no SIM card bay!

I am now seeking my $340 bucks back and will purchase thru TMobile.

Has anyone had any similar instances?

[Tam Hanna]

The problem with Sprint vbs T-Mobile is not the unlocking but the Nework. Sprint uses CDMA IMHO; and T-Mobile uses GSM.

[treffmeister]

In other words, elzel you are a noob and should have read up on the matter before making such an expensive purchase. As much as we'd like to help, there is no such thing as a refund based on ignorance.

[elzel1]

Sounds like you are friends with this guy or you are him.

First of all, this particular guy FALSE advertised a product on Ebay. He is liable in the court of law just like a major manufacturing company for the content in that advertisement or any other advertisement.
Second, he sold me a phone with the serial numbers and IMEI numbers scraped off. Just from this alone, leads me to believe that the phone is stolen.
Third, I have found out that this particular guy used his paypal address user name to bid on his own auction back in December. And I believe that he also used a different user name to bid on this particular auction.

I will get my money back...believe me.

This is the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5761011657&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

[elzel1]

Just found out thru ebay that this guy used TWO user names to bid on his own auction! I will receive my full $340 from Paypal. :-)

[djl]

<<Service Compatibility: Sprint PCS, T-Mobile>>

The point you seem to be missing is that _ no_ phone will work on both Sprint and T-Mobile networks because they use different technologies, and it is difficult to understand why anyone would bid based on this description. Also, the phone in the photograph is clearly marked with a Sprint logo. However, the ad copy (if it wasn't simply lifted from another source) suggests that the seller has a number of phones to sell, and some could be GSM versions which would work on T-Mobile's network.

The obilterated serial and IME numbers are, of course, a different matter and I hope you will find eBay management interested in investigating.

dennis

[elzel1]

I agree with you totally. When I contacted the seller to ask him about the phone being unlocked, he told me that the he bought the phone from someone off Ebay whom in return told him that the phone was indeed unlocked. Furthermore, this guy knew that the phone WASNT unlocked after he bought it, so decided to put it back on Ebay to sell to someone else in order to get his money back. He should have contacted Ebay to get his money back from the guy whom sold him the phone if he felt that he got taken for a ride. And selling a phone without any serial numbers nor IMEI number is point blank stupid! Even if he didnt know (which I highly doubt) he should have did the research about the phones before putting that ad on Ebay.

<<Service Compatibility: Sprint PCS, T-Mobile>>

The point you seem to be missing is that _ no_ phone will work on both Sprint and T-Mobile networks because they use different technologies, and it is difficult to understand why anyone would bid based on this description. Also, the phone in the photograph is clearly marked with a Sprint logo. However, the ad copy (if it wasn't simply lifted from another source) suggests that the seller has a number of phones to sell, and some could be GSM versions which would work on T-Mobile's network.

The obilterated serial and IME numbers are, of course, a different matter and I hope you will find eBay management interested in investigating.

dennis

[Tam Hanna]

ELZEL!!!!!!
KNOCK IT OFF FOR A MINUTE!!!!

T-Mobile and Sprint use DIFFERENT KINDS OF RAYS to communicate their data- Thus, YOU NEED DIFFERENT TRANSMITTERS!!!

the phojne may work with every carrier that uss a Sprint-like network, but Spritn is the only one that has such a system IMHO.

If the IMEI's have been removed, it is very likely that the device is stolen....

[poissonsouriant]

Everyone needs to calm down. From what I can understand the eBay listing did not say that it was a Sprint phone, and that it is not his fault, as he believed that the phone was unlocked. The listing even specifically says that the phone is compatible.


Before seeing this thread, I myself did not know that Sprint used CDMA and T-Mobile used GSM. I consider myself to be somewhat knowledgeable about technology.

Sure, he should have spotted the Sprint logo, but it is clear that the seller's intent was to deceive. The seller's actions, like scraping off the numbers, incorrectly identifying the phone as an unlocked phone, and shill bidding make this clear.

I believe that elzel, because of the clear deception of the seller, is entitled to a refund. I also believe that the seller should be suject to further disciplinary action. I also realize that my opinion counts for very little.

But on another note, it is shameful the way that you people treat this buy who comes to you with a legitimate problem. You use this opportunity to flaunt your technological knowledge and bully someone who made a mistake. Just because he does not know something is no reason to be a pissy little jerk.

Thank you and good night.

[elzel1]

I see you guys aren't that friendly on this board, with the exception of P. :( I was wondering if you guys was ever going to catch on about what I was talking about, but I can see some of you are really stuck on your pda knowledge, rather than someone elses feelings. After this little experience on this board, I am sadly left to say that I am not going to become a member and have since purchased a Blackberry phone. I see there are some good guys and there are some bad ones.

Take care!

BTW, Poissonsouriant I am a girl!

-Liz

[Tam Hanna]

Hi Liz,
indeed very sorry for you beeing disappointed. Beeing a boy or a girl makes litle difference for me, I treart everyomne the same. I just wanted to clear the thing that sprint and Tmobile are different. did you get your cash back BTW?

[poissonsouriant]

Sorry elzel. Your gender wasn't clear from your posts, and I made an assumption based on my experience on 1src. I hope you'll stay.

[Bionic Antboy]

I see elzel's point, personally. The box may list both Sprint and T-Mobile, but the title specifies GSM, and the body of the auction starts with the following....
Handspring Treo 600 Color Palm PDA Phone with Built-in Camera SPECIFICATIONS Description: Treo 600 GSM/GPRS Communicator Cellphone Palm Organizer Wireless - UNLOCKED

and later states that it's an unlocked GSM phone.

[elzel1]

Thanks for the apologies guys.

Well, I haven't received my money back from Paypal yet. :( It's funny how Paypal allows you to pay fast but cant handle disputes in a timely manner. I still have the PDA/phone until someone from Ebay, law enforcement, or paypal tells me what to do with it. But, this incident has left a very sour taste in my mouth about Ebay.

[djl]

The ad describes the phone as "unlocked". This may or may not be true, we don't know because the buyer did not attempt to connect it to another CDMA network. The ad also describes the phone as working with both Sprint and T-Mobile. We know this is false because Treo does not make such a phone.

It sounds as if neither the seller nor the buyer understood that Sprint and T-Mobile use different communication protocols, and no phone can be used with both networks. This has nothing to do with "locking", it has to do with the hardware itself.

If messageboards such as 1src have any value it is to help us learn from each other's experiences. In my opinion a series of sympthathetic outpourings condemning the scoundrel who sold the phone would not prevent others from making a similar mistake UNLESS this fundamental misunderstanding was also discussed.

dennis

[Bionic Antboy]

elzel1: this IS actually a great place. I hope you get your money back. I think you were clearly hoodwinked.

It appears the seller cut and pasted some general Treo info (both GSM and CDMA) into the body, but the title of the auction states a GSM phone, as does the start of the main body description, as well as the seller-written affirmation after the bad cut and paste.

In fact, the seller urges to "DESCRIPTION IMPORTANT: Please Read Carefully! Note:" and goes on to explain that it is a GSM phone at three different points.

Status: This item was tested and is working fine. Included: You will receive the following: Carrier: This is an unlocked GSM phone. This can be activated on *any* GSM carrier worldwide. If you are in the U.S., please confirm with your carrier that you can use a world-capable GSM phone on your network.

Considering the auction title and the full description, it's entirely reasonable that most people, not just those new to ebay, would come to the conclusion that the auction was indeed for a GSM phone.

Neither 1src nor ebay are as bad as your initial impressions may suggest. :)

[elzel1]

The guy that sold me that phone will have to answer to DOJ (thanks to my boss). I called this guy on the phone to try to settle this dispute BEFORE I contacted Ebay. The idiot told me to, "just put the phone back on Ebay." And to make matters worst, he dared me to come down to Florida from Chicago to sue him! So, that incident showed me 1) he was a very dishonest person, 2) he was simply out to deceive ANYBODY that bought that phone, and 3) he has no respect for nobody...not even himself. So, I tried to settle this dispute the best way I could without going thru "other" sources. I cant believe how much static this has caused over $340!!!

Oh well, life goes on.....

On to bigger and better things. :)

I love the new Treo 650! Does anybody know if this phone/pda will work on T-Mobiles network?

[djl]

<<love the new Treo 650! Does anybody know if this phone/pda will work on T-Mobiles network?>>

Yes, I use a 650 on T-Mobile, but it's the same situation as with the Treo 600. There are locked CDMA versions which work only on Sprint or Verizon, a locked GSM version which works only on Cingular, and an unlocked GSM version which works on any other GSM network including T-Mobile. (Locked phones are less expensive than unlocked because the network operator subsidizes the cost. In return they restrict the phone to use with their network. After a period of time the carrier will unlock the phone, and it can be switched to another network, provided it uses the same protocol.)


dennis