Smart shoppers that want to save money on their next cell phone purchase while still getting the phone that they want know that shopping for a used or refurbished cell phone is the way to go. However, shopping for used cell phones isn't as easy as heading down to the local store for your service provider as they never carry used phones. There are literally thousands of used phones on the market to choose from, and it can be tough narrow your options down to the one that you want or that serves your purposes the best. So what is the best way to shop for a used phone? Basically, you have three options, each of which has it's own advantages and disadvantages. The choices are to search for a phone by manufacturer/model, searching for a phone that is compatible on your network, or searching for a used cell phone that is unlocked.



If you know what brand and/or model of phone that you want, then searching by manufacturer is probably your best bet, especially if you have some flexibility in choosing which network you'll be using (i.e. you're not currently locked in to a contract with a cellular company). Searching by manufacturer/model is probably the easiest way to shop because you already know what you want, it's just a matter of finding it. A quick search in a search engine should give you plenty of quality options.

If you're currently locked in to a contract with your cellular provider and don't have the freedom to pick a phone before picking your network, you'll have to focus your shopping efforts on phones that will work on your network. You'll also quickly realize that the great deals that your provider is offering on new phones only apply to new contract agreements, meaning you're out of luck and are on your own to find the best deal on your replacement phone. Not to worry, though. There are plenty of phones available that will work on your carrier, but be aware that you won't find them at your local Verizon store, for example. Instead, you'll have to shop from a third party vendor that specializes in used and refurbished cell phones. Most of them have sections on their website for the major carriers, so simply look at the selection for your carrier and see if anything grabs your attention.

The final option is to shop for unlocked cell phones, and is generally the most effective way to go about things. An unlocked phone is one that is capable of being activated on one of many networks, so you don't have to worry as much about finding a phone specifically designed for your network. These phones also give you the freedom to change networks without having to buy a new phone, such as at the end of a contract.