CellSwapper Solves A Very Annoying Problem
Michael Arrington
48 comments »
New Jersey based CellSwapper is a cool service that came at just the right time. The site, which calls itself “the eBay of cell phone contracts” takes advantage of the fact that all U.S. cell phone carriers have clauses in their contracts that allow users to get out early, without the early termination fee that can range up to $250 per phone, just by transferring your account to someone else.
Of course, finding someone else to take over your cell phone contract isn’t easy, and that’s where CellSwapper comes in. The recipient avoids activation charges on a new account of $40 or so, and often the transferring party gives extra incentives. In going through the listings, there are many offers of giving away the phone with the contract, and/or a cash incentive as well.
CellSwapper charges $15 to the transferring user if a successful transfer takes place. There are no other fees.
I say this is coming at exactly the right time because a lot of people, myself included, are going to be looking for a way out of their cell phone contracts this June when the new iPhone is released with Cingular. I will happily give someone my Motorola Q (good riddance) plus $100 to avoid the Verizon termination fee.
Success for CellSwapper depends on their ability to build a network of buyers and sellers fast. We’ll check them out again in a couple of months and see how they’re doing.
Quite a niche! Good one.
Looks interesting, although they don’t appear to show AT&T in the carriers list. I know it switched to Cingular, but we’re somehow still stuck on the AT&T plan.
About time to get rid of my old silver Razr. iPhone here I come…
Does the site ask as to why you are going to quit/change the plan?
I hope they have a mechanism by which they can ensure that both the parties are trustworthy. Also, they should have some system by which they can verify things from some other source other than what the user is saying.
Michael
If you’re serious about getting rid of your Motorola Q, my advice is not to add (good riddance) after it.
Nice idea, shame it’s US only. I don’t know if such a clause exists in the UK market, but it’s one of my biggest complaints about mobile phones, as every provider supplies different phones so you’re forever swapping, based on what phone you want! Guess I don’t have to worry though, the iPhone won’t be here until Christmas or some rubbish.
Mr. Arrington! Shame on you for having the hideous Moto Q. =P Write a nifty article on Samsung or Cingular and have them give you a Samsung Blackjack in return. You won’t regret it!
You fickle minded consumer ( Just Joking ), Playing with the fortunes of companies.
Motorola CEO would be saying this to you not me.
Don’t you understand that a tested product and a reputed company can not be matched bt new comers in a produc Arena.
Pal, Just Joking Don’t mark me as a spammer. Some times bloggers go banana’s.
Ha,Ha
http://www.tekno-world.blogspot.com
I do think its a great idea with a ready market. I think about many people who are sometimes only visiting and need for a short time…this provides an excellent oportunity to possibly swap plans….
Now I like this one!
This site has been out for a while. Almost over a year now I believe.
http://www.celltradeusa.com/
I’m sure the iPhone can be unlocked to work on other carriers.
Wow - I got news the same time Mike did - that’s pretty cool!
I posted some thoughts (click my name) early this morning after checking it out - I have some concerns… mostly about security and about the phone itself.
BTW - Mike - if you don’t like your Q - and you term early (I think you have it what about 5 months now?) then wouldn’t it make sense to term (keep your $100) and sell your Q on eBay which would clearly put you at a nice profit.
Oh yea - and this site has some major usability issues.
For example - do a search, the results just start moving with no way to get back! AAH! And the same thing happens on the buzz page.
We solved this problem in the Philippines years ago. Most cellular subscriptions here are prepaid.
I can see that there’d be no problem with supply, but I think they’ll have to work at it to generate enough demand. I think almost everybody looks at it and thinks, “Great, now I can get out of my contract.” and very few are thinking, “Great, now I can take over a total stranger’s used phone and contract.” There might be enough demand if all the “sellers” are offering an extra $100 like Michael, but with the $14.95 fee that gets you dangerously close to the early termination fee of a lot of contracts. Plus you get to keep the phone if to pay the termination fee.
I’d like to hear how much extra money you guys would look for to be willing take over a plan with 1 year remaining at let’s say $60 a month with a Razr included. For me it would have to be ~$75.
sweet website! i hope they do well.
Isn’t your phone number tied to your plan? So if you do this, you’ll lose that. I’d rather just pay the termination fee, or if you dont have much left, drop your contract to the lowest possible amount and finish it out.
Good points Josh 17 and Qian 15!
I had wondered if the iphone news had done anything to Cingulars stock and it will be interesting to see the numbers of people that switch because of a phone (I know it’s not just any phone but still a phone)
This is the coolest thing on TC for months! I am so going to use this (also to bail on my Moto Q)
None of these guys will last long. I started this up the day number portability started as “Wireless Exchange” and was forced to close due to the carriers putting pressure on me. They dont like it so I wouldnt count on them being around long.
Wish I would have known about this before I paid the $175 t cingular a few days ago!
There is an easier way to get out of your contract without paying a fee. Just check your cell phone bill for a note (usually small print at the bottom) that says that they changed the Terms and Conditions of your cell phone contract. That happens actually quite often, several times a year.
When you see that note, just call them and tell them that you do not agree to the new terms and conditions. They will have no choice other than letting you out of the contract. But be prepared to get your phone service AND YOUR NUMBER terminated right there on the phone.
Greg
I will be breaking up with Sprint early as well to get the iPhone, but a $150 termination fee isn’t a big deal. Signing up with Sprint got me like $250 this Treo 700p so it’s all a wash in the end.
Interesting service though.
Wow, Celltradeusa.com has been around for many years :
“Quote”
http://celltradeusa.com/press/
Celltradeusa.com, a company based in Kearny, NJ since 2003, has pioneered a new cellular category that will forever change the way the world views cell phone contracts. We have developed the world’s first online community that gets dissatisfied cell phone customers out of their service contract. Celltradeusa.com provides this service through an incentive based system that connects millions of cellular customers nationwide that want to Get Out with those that want to Get In.
I used the service 4 months ago with success and now I am a fan for life
I will be ditching my Verizon Wireless contract when the I-Phone is out.
Can’t Wait !!!!
it would be cool to have any company come up with a port my number feature to a holding account. That way you could actually leave your current carrier and keep your number and get the best possible deal out there. Have the carriers bid on the numbers that are in holding for the user to get the best possible deal/plan.
I think that would be very cool. The carriers would know that the user is legitimate and the users could get the best possible plan offers for what they need.
How can the contract be taken over or swapped to someone else? wouldnt they still go on your credit report ???
Another way out of your plan (for free). If you’re on a plan that offers unlimited roaming on other carriers, force your phone into roaming mode. Some Sprint plans and Nationwide T-Mobile plans offer free roaming.
Then make all of your calls in roaming mode. Your carrier will want to let you out of your contract.
P.S. Before you try the above, be 100% certain your plan offers free roaming on other carriers.
We did the same thing in the car leasing business at Swapalease.com
It worked out incredibly well even though on its face it sounded like a complex idea.
The market for liability exchanges is real powerful, albeit incredibly niche.
Fortunately I have Cingular Wireless already.
What’s Hot Today.com
A new jersey based start-up? Oh snap
Uhh wait a minute - doesnt celltradeusa.com provide the same exact service? Cellswapper sounds like a me-too with a prettier interface. Innovative!
Mike,
The concept is not new. There are at least a couple players already in this space. Check out resellular.com (since 2001, they celebrate thier first birthday this january by giving away their service for free!) and celltradeusa (since 2003). A reader on my blog says that he has had better experience with celltradeusa than resellular.
Like you said, the critical aspect in such models is the number of users. I guess cellswapper doesnt have the first-movers advantage.
I’ve written about it in my blog http://exbeim.wordpress.com/20.....llswapper/
I just left Cingular and paid the termination fee so I could get the Q! Damn you , Apple!
I’ll see you in June!
Oh yeah, I do think phone numbers are tied to the account. Another termination fee, here I come. =-/
http://www.resellular.com - Try Resellular..it’s free
iPhone is available with Cingular ONLY!?
And what if I am stuck under contract with a carrier OTHER
than Cingular but still want a iPhone?
Well, the only solution
I could fine was http://www.Cellswapper.com -
they get you out of any cell phone contract!
OK , I decided to try the 4 companies that all claim to be able to get you out of a cell phone contract early without having to pay those early termination fees.
After using the below 4 companies I found that the only one that worked was celltradeusa.com
I didn’t go through the process fully because I didn’t really need to get out of my cell phone contact. I just wanted to see what all the hype was about.
no more contract - 0 response
resellular - 0 response
cellswapper - 0 response
celltradeusa - 7 responses
celltradeusa.com 7 responses which 4 of them where basic question that didn’t amount to anything. 1 response just asking for more information and 1 response which didn’t qualify for the transfer and finally 1 that did qualify and was willing to take my contract over.
Since my test I recommended celltradeusa.com to a friend who claims they used the service to get out of a Verizon wireless contract with success.
I plan on using celltradeusa.com again when the i-phone comes out
I will come back and report my experience when I go through the whole process myself.
Till Then ….