Buyer guides

Short guides for buying a used phone from a stranger. What to check, what to ask, and what no check can tell you.

• Buying a used phone on Marketplace, Craigslist or OfferUp
  A short checklist for buying a used iPhone or Android from a stranger: what to ask before you meet, what to test in person, and what no check can tell you.
• Is the phone carrier locked? How to check before you buy
  What carrier locked means on a used iPhone or Android, how to see it in Settings, and what to do if the phone is locked to a carrier you don't use.
• Samsung Knox Guard: what it is and how to check a used Galaxy
  Knox Guard lets a lender or carrier lock a financed Samsung phone if payments stop. Here's what that means for a used Galaxy and how to check before you pay.
• Is the phone paid off? What you can and can't check
  A financed phone can be locked after you buy it. Here's what an IMEI check can show about payment plans, what it can't, and what to ask the seller for.
• How to check if a phone is stolen before you buy it
  Use the IMEI to see if a used phone has been reported lost or stolen, what a clean result does and doesn't mean, and the red flags to watch for.

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