What to look for when buying a used Thunderbolt

[Gator Architect]

My wife killed her Incredible when she put a cold water bottle in her purse and the condensation dripped all into the phone. I found a good deal to buy two thunderbolts from a guy. I am just wondering what to look for when I inspect the phones. (I am coming from a Droid X.) Most specifically, it would be great if someone could tell me specifically where the water damage indicators are. (I am very visual and I would appreciate if someone could take a picture of the phone and point them out. I have been searching google and various forums for over an hour now and can't find a picture of them anywhere.)

Also, if there is anything else I should try out on the phones before committing to paying for them. Any specific things that have been issues on a number of thunderbolts and I should look out for.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[thelopenator]

just factory reset the phone and make sure it looks nice, as for the indicator sorry i cant take a photo without my phone lol but its under the battery..i know doesnt help much

 

[rcjames]

My wife killed her Incredible when she put a cold water bottle in her purse and the condensation dripped all into the phone. I found a good deal to buy two thunderbolts from a guy. I am just wondering what to look for when I inspect the phones. (I am coming from a Droid X.) Most specifically, it would be great if someone could tell me specifically where the water damage indicators are. (I am very visual and I would appreciate if someone could take a picture of the phone and point them out. I have been searching google and various forums for over an hour now and can't find a picture of them anywhere.)

Also, if there is anything else I should try out on the phones before committing to paying for them. Any specific things that have been issues on a number of thunderbolts and I should look out for.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Make sure that it has a clean esn and that the phone is on great condition. When you buy any phone do a wipe. Like you would do in a used computer. But computer are different in them you format the drive writing zero into each sectors and install you're favorite os.

 

[sslbaron]

Here are a couple of pics I took of the moisture sensor. I took one close up so you can see the detail of a good sensor, and then I took one further out so you can see where they are. I know they're not the greatest. I hope these help out.

 

[Gator Architect]

Thanks! Those pics are exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Laur3nNewm4n]

When I bought mine, I made sure that the screen was in mint condition, few scratches on the device chassis, no water damage, clean ESN, kickstand was secure, and that it came with a battery, charger and SD card. I looked for ones that were a few weeks up to a month or so old, because those had the best chance of not having visible damage. I bought it already rooted, because I was just going to root anyway. I made sure he had a backup of the stock image. The guy had done a factory reset, but he forgot to format the SD card.

 

[sslbaron]

Thanks! Those pics are exactly what I was looking for.

Your welcome, glad to help. I'm always taking from the forums. It feels good to give for once! lol

Swyped from my T-Bolt using DroidForums

 

[hotelmrrsn]

My wife killed her Incredible when she put a cold water bottle in her purse and the condensation dripped all into the phone. I found a good deal to buy two thunderbolts from a guy. I am just wondering what to look for when I inspect the phones. (I am coming from a Droid X.) Most specifically, it would be great if someone could tell me specifically where the water damage indicators are. (I am very visual and I would appreciate if someone could take a picture of the phone and point them out. I have been searching google and various forums for over an hour now and can't find a picture of them anywhere.)

Also, if there is anything else I should try out on the phones before committing to paying for them. Any specific things that have been issues on a number of thunderbolts and I should look out for.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

When I bought mine I made the seller meet me @ a verizon store so that the esn could be verified, anyone not willing to do this knows that they are trying to sell you a piece of ****.

Sent from my BAMF'd Thunderbolt via Tapatalk

 

[JRParsons]

Going to the Verizon store is important, a friend bought a Droid X from ebay, but the guy who sold it to him owed Verizon money. So no matter what my buddy did, they wouldn't activate it. He filed a claim with paypal, won, but the seller had no money in his paypal account. Bottom line was my buddy lost his money and had a pretty paperweight.

Sent from my Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator

 

[Laur3nNewm4n]

I highly recommend checking out Swappa.com, if meeting up at a Verizon store isn't an option. By listing a phone there, the seller is committing to the fact that the ESN is clear. If it's not, you have buyer protection going for you. I'm sure most credit card companies would (should) also step in if you're sold a dud, based on Swappa's TOS. That's where I bought mine, and I had zero problems.