I recently bought a phone off eBay, waited for it to finally come in much anticipation and once I opened it up and tried to activate it, It said my serial number is suspended. I was LIVID because I'm pretty sure that means someone ripped it off. I contacted the seller and she was really polite and said she's sorry and has another one she got checked and is clear to activate and will send me the new one once I send back the one I just bought and she'd cover and shipping charges.

Well my complaint is this is all very inconveient for me as I don't drive and won't be able to get a ride to the post office for a while.

Is it ridiculous of me to ask her to send me the new one now?
I don't feel like playing the waiting game again, besides what are they going to do with a phone that is practically useless? No one else can use it and if they re sell it they're going to run into some serious problems.

What do you think? This has never happened before. :mad:

She is doing all that she is required, if you can not use it, she will not send you another one, till you return that one.
If you keep it too long and do not send it back, her return may be withdrawn, so find a way to send it back or you may just lose your money.

It is completely proper to ask for it to be returned prior to sending another.

Was it her phone she originally sol you. Just because the MEI is suspended doesn't mean it can't be unsuspended.

If it was originally the sellars all she has to do to unsuspend and release is to call the service providor. I had the same issue with a Blackberry I bought.

Other then that she is doing everything by the book. You just have to chalk this one up a inconvenience for you.

As an eBay seller please take my advice and file a dispute for not as described and escalate it. Send the phone back with Delivery Confirmation, and if over $250 total funds sent including shipping, get Signature Required too. Do not deal with a seller who sends a stolen phone again. She is being polite to get you past the 45 day dispute deadline.

Just because a phone's mei is supended does not mean it was stolen.

This does not mean it is a stolen phone, and the seller may be merely buying dozens of them ( if you look you will find some sellers who sell phones by the dozens or box sales and more)

You may file a dispute, but if the seller is willing to replace, the dispute will do nothing, since all the do is contact the seller, and the seller tells them and shows them copies of emails where they asked you to send it back and they say OK, and ask you to merely send it back for a refund.
So send it back

One other comment: there is no need to have to actually go to the post office - you can use UPS instead, or another service like FedEx. You can arrange for pickup at your home and print out a shipping label from your computer. Check out ups.com.