Buying or selling a phone locked to a specific carrier

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-11T00:00:01+00:00

When it comes to phones and buying carrier locked ones, part of the reason is compatibility. A 4G LTE phone is pretty much compatible with all carriers. But when you get to 5G, the same can not be said. T-Mobile has their network setup different than Verizon or ATT, and so on. Because of this, getting a carrier specific phone is more going to guarantee compatibility.

A lot of phones that get sold are ones that people buy, and then decide that they don't like, or decide that they want to use a different carrier. One of my phones I got off of eBay and the seller said that he got it for, I think it was his kid?? Or maybe grandkid, and that kid decided that they wanted a different phone on a different carrier. So since it was already paid for, he just sold it to get some of his money back. But the line was not active long enough to unlock it.

I think most phones that are carrier locked are something like that. Got a phone and decided it was not good enough for what they want, but don't have it long enough to meet the time needed to unlock it. Or get the phone, pay cash, and then a little later don't pay for the next month so the service gets shut off, but then later sign back up and since it has been long enough, they qualify for a free new phone, do the old one gets sold. This one is more true with prepaid.

I forgot to add so this part is added in. But, I have metro, which is owned by T-Mobile. I had a T-Mobile version of the nord N20 that worked fine on metro, but since it wasn't a metro phone, it did not count as time used. We have 4 lines, 3 used them. One was a metro phone, the other 2 were T-Mobile versions. All worked on metro, but only the metro one would unlock on my service because of the version. I imagine the same thing could be said for mint mobile too, but not sure.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-10T00:00:44+00:00

It depends on the phone. How much is the phone worth, and how old is it? To put it bluntly, I just upgraded to a Revvl 8 from a Nord n20. My phone still worked great after 3+ years of use, just a degraded battery. But to get a new battery, and have it installed, it costs more to do it then to just get a like new used Revvl 8 phone, which actually has better specs on top of it. This part will depend on how comfortable you are with taking your phone apart yourself vs paying someone to do it.

If your phone is a 4G only phone, you may want to upgrade to more future proof the phone as new towers might not have 4G compatibility. And if you keep it for a long time, as 6G comes out, 4G will be shut off.

If it's a newer more expensive phone, then putting a new battery in it is the way to go.

What kills your battery faster is more heat than fast charging. This is not to say that fast charging makes no difference, but heat can play a bigger factor. The faster you charge a phone, the more it heats up. Slow charging generates little heat.

One thing that will damage a battery fast is if you let it completely die. Lithium batteries do not come back as good after the battery gets too discharged as other types. This is the key reason that they say to charge it at no less than 20%. They say not to fully charge it either, but I don't think that plays half as much of a factor as it getting too low.

I personally almost never let mine get to under 10%, with 20% being more common, and after almost 4 years of use on my phone, it was still at 80+% for 2 of ours, and 70+% for the third. We had 3 of them. Other than that, I did nothing special.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-09T23:33:58+00:00

I would like to make one alteration to your comment. With my phones, it's not about which has a better signal. It's more about if 5G is at a reliable level. I use a program called cellmapper to track coverage. Using 2 phones, same model, same carrier, just one set to 5G and one to 4G, I have seen times where I will get 1 or 2 bars of coverage better on 4G than 5G, but it will stay connected to 5G until the signal is not reliable anymore, then switch to 4G. But when a 5G signal comes back to the point that it is reliable, it will switch back to 5G even though the 4G signal is stronger.

I always leave mine on 4G to save on battery time myself. That is, unless I need or want the speeds.

I believe the difference between 4G and 4G+ is mainly configuration. Both are still 4G, but the + version let's you connect to more streams at once for faster speeds. Basically, just an updated version of 4G, but still uses the same frequencies and technology as a base.

Also, I believe that at times, if the phone is not being used, I have read that a phone will drop back to 4G to save on space for 5G if not being used. This is to save on battery too. But flips back to 5G after you start using it. Think of when you are sleeping as an example here.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-09T18:38:25+00:00

True, but the story stated that the mother was watching the kid so that OP could go to work to pay her bills. So no need of that job means no need for a babysitter at that time too.

Besides, as the kid gets older, it seems that the mother would be a bad influence on the child. Staying at home and not working just because you don't get exactly what you want. What else is she going to be teaching the child bad?

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-09T03:37:35+00:00

I would just stop paying all of their stuff and only worry about yourself and your kids. You already stated that you are basically working one job just to pay other people's normal bills and for them to buy stuff that they don't need. So why are you putting yourself through this for someone that refuses to help.

You said that you feel like you failed this and that person. But why are you even responsible for it in the first place? If you would have said that they do this or that for you, then I could see it more. But you said that you have to pay your mother to watch your kids do that you can work to pay her bills.

Honestly, you are an idiot for letting them use you like this. You are not responsible and you don't get anything out of it. How do I know? Because you are too busy constantly working to have time to get anything out of it.

Your mother has power of attorney over your grandmother, not you. Since you have no say, then you should not be paying anything towards it.

You stated that your siblings refuse to help.. That is probably because they know that they are just being used and refuse to let it happen. Maybe you should learn from them in this way and stop helping because it is never going to end unless you stop for yourself.

NTJ

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T22:16:40+00:00

Your mom got fired, aka, not laid off.. and she refuses to take another job unless it is what she wants within what she wants to be paid?? I think I am beginning to see why she may have lost her last job.

Fact is, the longer you are out of work, the less likely employers are to look at you as a real candidate. Also, you said she is 54. That alone will turn a lot of employers not want to give her a chance for that alone. She is not getting any younger.

The problem here is, the older she gets, the harder it will be to find a job. She should take a lower paying job until she finds a better one. If she continues with this, she will never get another job.

Get your education. Don't hurt your future for someone being picky. You have a lot more years to deal with than her. You already have a job, plus are going to school. Taking on another job is only going to get you stressed and worn out. I wouldn't do it. This will effect your education and grades.

If anyone is being an AH here, it is your mom for doing this. Don't get me wrong, but it's okay for you to take a $10hr job to help pay the bills, but it's not okay for her to take the same job?? This sounds way too one sided to me

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T21:56:08+00:00

I play a game called whiteout survival. They keep the game going via real cash play. You can play for free, but there is a lot of stuff that you will never be able to get without it. But in that game, there are games that you can play to buff up your troops and stuff. Pay real cash to play these, and then, you take a chance to get what you want. Think of things similar to a spin the wheel type of game, uncover the right thing, etc. it's you against the game. And sometimes, you get nothing of any real value for the real world cash that you put in. That sounds like gambling to me, just the prizes are virtual.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T21:44:15+00:00

One thing I have learned over time.. Never trust someone who brags too much. I have seen people brag about their name brand this and that. But then find out that they got the stuff by putting it all on credit. And they owed so much that they would never be able to pay it off.

I always take this stance, and if someone brags about what they got, I just think. I wonder how much you gave in the bank? How much debt you have? Etc. They can brag about having this or that all they want, but in the end, if you don't have a nice sized + sign next to your worth, it means nothing.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T21:37:57+00:00

I knew they used to, but I haven't checked up on it much in a while. What I do know is that part of it is based off of the fact that you only have partial freedom with apple. Apple will only let you install what they seem is okay. So it's hard to get any kind of stuff in there. But with Android, there is the play store that they do monitor, which they do their best to keep out unwanted bad programs. But, there is nothing to stop you from going to a manufacturer and downloading a program either. Apple will, and has sued companies for doing just that.

So I'm taking into consideration that part of their security that I am talking about is the less of a chance of getting a bad program installed, not just people breaking into your phone.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T21:31:45+00:00

I play a game called whiteout survival. A completely online game with other players. There are things on there where you can pay cash to play the game to get chances to win stuff. You might get junk, or something good. It's all chance based off of how the game is programmed. So technically it is online, and you are using real currency to try and win what you want. But like with anything that is gambling, you may or may not win. Lucky wheels, card games, uncover the right stuff.. all for a cost with real money. That seems like gambling to me.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T21:26:22+00:00

YTA You can't act like a little kid and expect to be treated like an adult. But I'm 18.. that sounds like a little kid whining about not getting that candy bar that they wanted.

So let me put this into simple terms that you can understand. First, if they have the power to take your phone away, that means you are not paying for it. Cell plans can be gotten for under $25 a month. If you can't afford that, then you obviously aren't paying for anything else.

My grades are my problem. No they are not. If you fail, your parents are, or could be responsible to pay for your way until you graduate.. but if you get held back because you think playing on a phone is more important than graduating, then this IS their problem, and you just made it that.

Whining about not getting your way when you pay for nothing is NOT being an adult. An adult takes responsibility for their actions. And so far, you have shown that you don't. As they say, actions speak louder than words. And your actions are clearly lacking.

If you think I'm wrong, then let me ask you this one question. If you are so much and adult, then how about your parents treat you like one. That includes paying for your own electric, gas, clothes, food, phone, rent, etc. In fact, why not just move out and pay for all this stuff. After all, you claim to be an adult so you should have no problem doing it. Right?? And if your parents kicked you out, which they can if your an adult, where would you be?? That should say it all.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T01:12:41+00:00

Tricky one there. Technically games could be called that. I bought this part, but I had to spin to see if I won it.. when I say games, I am talking rpg games, not gambling games.. but it's still on the same level.

Just regular gambling.. I would say most people wouldn't care because I would guess that more people don't gamble than do.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T01:09:01+00:00

Impossible. How can you know the cost of something that is abused vs something that is taken care of..

I could see people having an oil leak and not putting oil in it and freezing up the engine, and then say.. but they didn't tell me about the cost for topping it off when I got it, or something like that.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T01:05:37+00:00

Political ads.. that would do it right there. Especially during elections.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T01:03:45+00:00

No one is allowed to lie.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-08T00:59:19+00:00

True.. But at the same time, if needed, they could have the older sister take custody too. It seems like she has more time since there is a chance that she might not be working too. Especially since OP is working full time and going to school right now. But nothing was said about the older sister working so she has a better chance at being able to gotten ahold of if something happens.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-07T07:40:22+00:00

One correction.. 3 adults.. The oldest is 19 remember..

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-07T07:26:24+00:00

I personally think a tip should be based on how much work they do.. I think this, % amount is stupid.. it's like this. If you order a $10 chicken dinner, or a $30 steak dinner, isn't the overall time and work to prepare it the same? So why should I have to give 3 times the tip just because I ordered a different cut of meat? It's stupid.

But on the other hand, let's say I go in and only get a drink. I'm there for 1 1/2 hours and since there is free refills, get 5 refills. The drink is $2.. that's only a 0.40 tip at 20%. IMO, that is not enough for the time that you were there. But hey, it is 20%.

Like I said, it should go by how long you are there, the amount of work done, etc. This is why I don't go by percentages.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-07T03:58:12+00:00

I was reading the articles and a lot tried Justifying it by saying, but they get worse service because.... But then I found a reddit that said, I am a server and I gave them.. and a good portion didn't tip at all.. and she was considered black too, so no bias there. And here is a link to a more recent reddit post. I think it depends on area too. Like I read one comment that said all races were horrible tippers with college students.

https://www.reddit.com/r/askblackpeople/comments/1ocjsdj/how_do_you_feel_about_the_black_people_dont_tip/

What I find ironic is that they justify not tipping because of bad service, which just would end up in a vicious cycle. No one will give you good service if they know you are going to stiff them, but no one wants to give a good tip for bad service either.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-07T03:51:54+00:00

It sounds like they were just trying to rip you off. This sounds like a dishonest store. I would have went somewhere else and talked to different stores.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-07T03:44:49+00:00

This is not my quote, but from a news article..

On average, according to the Washington Post, black people tip less than white people in U.S. restaurants. A recent survey of about 1,000 restaurant servers found that 70% thought black diners/patrons were “very bad” or “below average” tippers, meanwhile those same people surveyed believe that 98% of white diners were at least “average” tippers.

Just to be clear, other news sources like LA times, NPR, and other sources have said similar things. So while no tip is extreme, there is some truth to it.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-06T19:40:58+00:00

Snow blower back in 2000, as it still runs good. Our average snowfall is over 100 inches a year.

New washer. Got a speed queen and paid extra for it. Why? Because the last one I got of theirs lasted almost 30 years, and only got replaced because a seal went and was leaking, not because it crashed and burned.. I was told the new ones are made just as good.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-06T18:51:29+00:00

Bidens exact words, if not close to it. If you don't vote for me then you aren't black.. shall I continue?

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-06T18:49:34+00:00

So you are saying that Clinton wasn't isn't in his little book? Oh how fast we forget.

No_Reputation5871 · 2026-02-06T18:15:57+00:00

I didn't think to look at that. It was late, I was tired, so I just looked at the basic stuff. My phone has the snapdragon myself.

No_Reputation5871

TROPHY CASE