Perhaps you've broken or lost your cell phone, or you're looking to purchase your first cell phone - you probably assume that the only way to go is to purchase a new phone from your wireless service provider. Not so. Most people don't realize that cell phones can also be purchased used or refurbished from a number of used cell phone retailers.

Used and/or refurbished phones make great choices for many people and, in fact, there really are not too many cases in which paying full retail for a new phone is worth it. If you are signing a new contract with your provider, you can usually get a new phone at a discounted price that is comparable to buying it used, but then you are locked in to a contract. However, if you're not signing a new contract, the full retail price for a given phone is going to be significanly higher than the price for the same phone in like-new refurbished condition. Many people find that purchasing a used phone is an excellent way to bridge the gap between the end of a contract and the time that they need a replacement for their lost or broken phone. Going this route can also allow you to continue your current service without having to sign a new contract, which will come in handy if you decide to switch carriers.

If you are one of the few that always needs to have the newest, latest, and greatest phone that is available, you may be forced to go with a new phone. Most new phones take at least a month to be readily available in the used market, so if you can't wait for a month to get the new Blackberry for your Sprint service, you'll have to look elsewhere than a store that carries used Sprint Blackberry cell phones. However, if you can wait a month, you can get the same phone that all your friends envy without paying full retail by purchasing it used. In other words, the used market is not limited to bare-boned models - quite the contrary.

Another instance where you may choose a new phone over a used cell phone is if you insist on having a long warranty on the phone. Any quality third party vendor will offer a warranty on their used phones, but they rarely last as long as a manufacturers warranty. In this sense, the decision is much like that of buying a new vehicle. Some people prefer new cars because they know the vehicle's history (or lack of one) and they get a warranty to cover the first few years of ownership. However, they pay more for this. On the other hand, many people are happy to purchase a used vehicle to take advantage of the cost savings. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, but the bottom line is that, in most cases, buying a used cell phone is advantageous.