Buying a Cell Phone Case from Ebay
If your cellphone is not branded by Apple or Samsung, usually you don't have much of a variety when shopping for a phone case. Thankfully you have a much wider selection and variety with cheaper prices online minus the speed of instant purchase when buying locally. You can purchase insurance for your phone and pay monthly, but the cheapest insurance is a good handling case.
Now I accidentally killed my previous phone, an HTC One M8, after unsuccessfully replacing a part of the circuitry. Then I purchased another HTC One M8 from Ebay only to receive the next model up; an M9. While I was ecstatic at my findings, I also had to purchase a new case. Best Buy claimed to have an Otterbox in stock on clearance for $18, but when I got there it was sold out. K-Mart's electronics stock is dwindling, and Target (like many stores) only carries accessories for Apple and Samsung. This left me with having to purchase from the global marketplace known as Ebay.
I've always had specific techniques for searching depending on what exactly I was searching for, but generally I would search for the item and filter the list of those auctions that have the Buy It Now feature, are located in the US or North America, then sort by prices from lowest to highest. Sometimes the results gave me items related to what I wanted but not the higher-priced item itself, so I would then put in a minimum or maximum dollar amount and search from there.
Note: For this article, any text typed in the Ebay search field are on its own line and italicized. You can also click on each photo and it will open up to a larger view for easier viewing.
USING QUOTES
For this example, I typed in my new phone model:
htc one m9 case
Whatever you type is not cases sensitive, but it could bring up results such as, “Leather case for HTC One M7 M8 M9”, along with stronger-related items such as “Rubber and hardshell case for HTC One M9”. For smarter searches you can put the search terms in quotes such as this:
“htc one m9 case”
Then all results will have “htc one m9 case” verbatim just as it is typed in the search field. Anywhoo I performed my search for “htc one m9 case” without quotes and got a lot of results.
Now I accidentally killed my previous phone, an HTC One M8, after unsuccessfully replacing a part of the circuitry. Then I purchased another HTC One M8 from Ebay only to receive the next model up; an M9. While I was ecstatic at my findings, I also had to purchase a new case. Best Buy claimed to have an Otterbox in stock on clearance for $18, but when I got there it was sold out. K-Mart's electronics stock is dwindling, and Target (like many stores) only carries accessories for Apple and Samsung. This left me with having to purchase from the global marketplace known as Ebay.
I've always had specific techniques for searching depending on what exactly I was searching for, but generally I would search for the item and filter the list of those auctions that have the Buy It Now feature, are located in the US or North America, then sort by prices from lowest to highest. Sometimes the results gave me items related to what I wanted but not the higher-priced item itself, so I would then put in a minimum or maximum dollar amount and search from there.
Note: For this article, any text typed in the Ebay search field are on its own line and italicized. You can also click on each photo and it will open up to a larger view for easier viewing.
USING QUOTES
For this example, I typed in my new phone model:
htc one m9 case
Whatever you type is not cases sensitive, but it could bring up results such as, “Leather case for HTC One M7 M8 M9”, along with stronger-related items such as “Rubber and hardshell case for HTC One M9”. For smarter searches you can put the search terms in quotes such as this:
“htc one m9 case”
Then all results will have “htc one m9 case” verbatim just as it is typed in the search field. Anywhoo I performed my search for “htc one m9 case” without quotes and got a lot of results.
196,285 to be exact. Now I could narrow my search down. With the phone I have, there is no other model of the M9 without the “One” series, so I could also type in:
When you place a minus sign before a word you want omitted in the listings, listings without that word will not appear. I could simply omit the word "one" so that the search reads "htc m9 case", and this results in auctions that may include the word "one" in the title when listing the HTC M9 and those without the word "one" since I didn't specify it in the search field.
USING PARENTHESIS
To use multiple words, put them in parenthesis separated by a comma. Any words you want to omit follow the same rule, but you must put a minus sign before the beginning parenthesis.
If you look back at the photo, the word “once” appears by mistake. The person who created the ad did not word it properly. Looking for odd or misspelled words for listings of specific items can give you the upper hand sometimes. If a seller lists something improperly, and you happen to type the same word incorrectly, you have a good chance of finding that item. A good example of this is the first set of Star Wars figures that came out in 1995. the came on a black background with a lightsaber graphic through the back of the figure placement, but some people called them orange cards while some called them red cards. You could search for:
“Star wars” “orange card”
and find listings of Star Wars figures on an orange card, but you could also search
“star wars” “red card”
and find similar listings only with a red card. The smarter way would be by searching
“Star wars” (“red card,”orange card”)
This means that you would see listings with "Star wars" "red card" and "Star wars" "orange card"
Just for fun I did a search by misspelling “card” into “crad” and got this:
USING PARENTHESIS
To use multiple words, put them in parenthesis separated by a comma. Any words you want to omit follow the same rule, but you must put a minus sign before the beginning parenthesis.
If you look back at the photo, the word “once” appears by mistake. The person who created the ad did not word it properly. Looking for odd or misspelled words for listings of specific items can give you the upper hand sometimes. If a seller lists something improperly, and you happen to type the same word incorrectly, you have a good chance of finding that item. A good example of this is the first set of Star Wars figures that came out in 1995. the came on a black background with a lightsaber graphic through the back of the figure placement, but some people called them orange cards while some called them red cards. You could search for:
“Star wars” “orange card”
and find listings of Star Wars figures on an orange card, but you could also search
“star wars” “red card”
and find similar listings only with a red card. The smarter way would be by searching
“Star wars” (“red card,”orange card”)
This means that you would see listings with "Star wars" "red card" and "Star wars" "orange card"
Just for fun I did a search by misspelling “card” into “crad” and got this:
It is a listing Star wars Crab Droid, but a careless seller didn't spell it right resulting in “CRAD” appearing in the auction's title. By searching for “Star wars” crab droid, I see similar listings for the same item at better prices, so the seller who spelled it wrong won't be getting any money from me anyway.
NARROWING IT DOWN
Now we have to search for the compatible brand. Just because I put in “HTC” doesn't mean it will only show items from HTC. Now I can click on “Compatible Brand” and select HTC from the list.
NARROWING IT DOWN
Now we have to search for the compatible brand. Just because I put in “HTC” doesn't mean it will only show items from HTC. Now I can click on “Compatible Brand” and select HTC from the list.
Some sellers have one auction for multiple items, or rather a single auction for an item that can fit many devices. The number inside the parenthesis next to the brand shows the number of listings for that brand. So while my search contains “HTC”, an item may be listed to fit an Acer brand model or any other brand listed in it's auction.
The same principle also applies to color. Do a search for “htc one m9 brown” without quotes and you'll see a list of items. By default, the left hand pane doesn't have many details regarding the item we're searching for because we haven't specified what category to search for look in. To fix this, go to the upper left and click on the link “Cellphone cases, covers, and skins”.
The same principle also applies to color. Do a search for “htc one m9 brown” without quotes and you'll see a list of items. By default, the left hand pane doesn't have many details regarding the item we're searching for because we haven't specified what category to search for look in. To fix this, go to the upper left and click on the link “Cellphone cases, covers, and skins”.
Scroll down a bit until you see “Color” listed in the left hand pane.
Click on “Show all”, select “Brown”, then click on “OK” and your list of items is narrowed down even further:
Now even if a seller misspells the name of the color in the title of the listing, I'll still get accurate results. Here I'll click on the listing for “TOGO GENUINE LEATHER HOLSTER BELT LOOP & POCKET CASE FOR MOBILE PHONES”:
The top part of the page displays a drop-down list for the color selection.
...and now you see that the item comes in both black and brown. If you find a particular case or item you like where the main photo doesn't display the item in the desired color, it's worth checking out anyway because the auction may have color options in the description itself.
Back to more sorting. Because of the bulk number of items, go to the left pane again and check the Buy It Now option, and set the item location to either North America or United States:
Back to more sorting. Because of the bulk number of items, go to the left pane again and check the Buy It Now option, and set the item location to either North America or United States:
Return to the top of the page and set the sorting by pricing, lowest to highest:
WINDOW SHOPPING
Now that things are sorted better, it's time to take an in-depth look at 10 of them. Here's a sturdy-looking case:
Now that things are sorted better, it's time to take an in-depth look at 10 of them. Here's a sturdy-looking case:
While Otterbox is a popular brand (and for good reason!), there are may knock offs or copycats that attempt to emulate or duplicate the Otterbox design, and they're succeeding! This design is very similar of the Defender series. The phone gets placed inside of a two-piece plastic shell, then the shell gets placed inside of the polymer exoskeleton. Any impact is absorbed by the polymer, and any further impact is absorbed by the plastic shell.
You'll find many like this on Ebay and also find manufacturer's that use the same design but different color combinations. For the purpose of this article, this will be case #1. Let's take a look at another:
You'll find many like this on Ebay and also find manufacturer's that use the same design but different color combinations. For the purpose of this article, this will be case #1. Let's take a look at another:
The above graphic shows Case #2, another popular case at a very affordable price. This is a simpler two-piece set. Like the first example, you insert the phone into the plastic shell which then gets placed inside of the rubber housing. Both housings cover a good portion of the phone itself but leave some parts exposed. While this doesnt' weight the wearer down, it doesn't offer full protection like other cases. Everyone has different needs though, and thinness or ease-of-operation may be a priority for some.
Here's Case #3, another rugged-looking case with a two-piece design. Additionally it also has a kickstand, comes in multiple colors, and has a separate belt-mounted clip. As a personal user of a work phone with a belt clip, I can attest to the the belt clip getting in the way at times. I've had to remove mine from the clip entirely just to walk easier.
As seen in the photos, a portion of the top and bottom of the surface is exposed as well. There are no touch-screen controls so no protection is needed at the very top and bottom of the surface, but all it takes is one awkward bounce onto a protruding object to mar or damage it.
As seen in the photos, a portion of the top and bottom of the surface is exposed as well. There are no touch-screen controls so no protection is needed at the very top and bottom of the surface, but all it takes is one awkward bounce onto a protruding object to mar or damage it.
Case #4 is a wallet-type design which seem to be somewhat popular. A small window is visible to enable the user to see the current time. Some users have custom themes on their phones and have the clock placed somewhere else, so this type of design may not be fitting. While it does offer more screen protection when closed, the thickness of the case doesn't satisfy my needs because of my klutziness. I do like the fact that it has a small magnetic clasp to keep the lid closed.
Case #5 is a similar wallet-type case but uses leather which is much thicker and durable than the material for case #3. Instead of a clasp it has a leather belt which should have a metal clasp to keep the belt tightened and the lid shut. It offers total screen protection when closed, but the method as how the phone is held in place is unknown. Some units have rubbery straps on all four corners to secure it in, while others have malleable plastic edges to snap the phone in place. This case also can be opened at an angle to provide a stand, and has a few pockets for credit cards. While the pockets are nice, I wouldn't want to expose them to anyone on the outside while I'm on my phone making a call. Yes, the numbers are obscured, but if a thief takes interest and gets you; you're out of a phone and any cards you had stored in the pockets.
This design of case #6 is similar to case #4. It too has the belt clip but is set in all black (which blends in easier). As you can see by the auction details, there are cases with the same design but fitted for specific phones based on brand and model.
At some point you'll see a vendor selling the exact same case with a graphic on it. It's impossible to grab a shopper's attention by only showing one graphic and then listing the auction with different graphics to choose from. Therefore the seller has to put individual auctions with the case type and graphic description on it. If you notice, all the prices are the same and set at an offbeat amount. To bypass all of the unwanted listings, go to the left hand pane under pricing. If you're sorting from lowest to highest, set the lowest price at a penny higher. If you're sorting from highest to lowest, set the highest price as one penny lower.
The grid-type listing on the left shows the price at $10.82 and I'm sorting lowest to highest. So I would go to the left pane under Pricing and set the minimum price to $10.83. Now all of those repeating styles would not be seen until I see another batch of cases with different graphics on them.
Only a few more to go...
The grid-type listing on the left shows the price at $10.82 and I'm sorting lowest to highest. So I would go to the left pane under Pricing and set the minimum price to $10.83. Now all of those repeating styles would not be seen until I see another batch of cases with different graphics on them.
Only a few more to go...
This case, Case #7, is made by Poetic and is a popular brand and case style. The appearance is very armor-ish and tough-looking. I like the fact that they embossed the volume up and down buttons with a plus and minus symbol into the case and did the same for the power button. The screen protector is built right in which saves time and extra expenses. This also saves the hassle of putting a screen protector on yourself (followed by having to pop out any air bubbles with a pin, such a mundane task). Still, having seen thicker protection from other cases for lower prices, I'm not quite sold. Am I buying the name or the product?
Here's another example where the name may be popular or demand a higher-price, but the product isn't up to par with others, Case #8. This was one of those auctions with the same product but a different graphic printed on it. I wanted to see what was so popular about a fancy case and a higher price tag. Would other bus riders be impressed that I'd be sporting an official Monkia Strigel graphic on my case?
I've become more focused on practicality than image, which explains my reason going from Apple Macs to Hackintoshes (better hardware, less price, better function). With this case having a 0.98mm thickness, maybe phone critics may be impressed. I don't see the hype. When I bought my iPhone 4s I was tempted to buy a Fisher Price case for it due to its thickness and durability.
I've become more focused on practicality than image, which explains my reason going from Apple Macs to Hackintoshes (better hardware, less price, better function). With this case having a 0.98mm thickness, maybe phone critics may be impressed. I don't see the hype. When I bought my iPhone 4s I was tempted to buy a Fisher Price case for it due to its thickness and durability.
Case #9 was one of my favorites, the Love Mei case. It is worth the cost? Depends. The phone fits in a thick rubber piece and gets formed in between two layers of aluminum. Before purchasing this case I bought a similar case with 6 plastic clasps to keep the aluminum halves together, but after a few drops, the plastic clasps started breaking. The Love Mei case eliminates the issue by sealing everything together with 6 Allen screws (tool included) and has a screen protector built in. Everyone who held it said the same thing, that I could really hurt someone by throwing it. So either people get really violent with their phones or the Love Mei case brings out the luggage-testing gorillas inside of them.
There are two downsides to this case: weight and signal. The aluminum itself is lightweight, but combine this with the phone and you get a small dumbbell on your hands. The case does act as a barrier between the antennas, so some signal loss may be apparent. This is crucial if you're in the middle of nowhere or barely in range of a cell tower for roaming purposes.
While I was happy with this, I found that using the volume adjustment buttons over time caused the phone to slip a bit. I would have to disassemble the case, realign it, then bolt the case back together.
CONSIDER THIS
You can consider a case just like you would a fashion statement. People love to be seen showing off the styles that make them happy. In my opinion, a phone case should be seen as an important tool, a one-time insurance purchase against damage to your phone. Good cell phone insurance goes from $50 a year and upwards, and chances are that not all insurance covers drops or loss.
How careless are you? Could you afford another phone if needed? If your phone was out of commission, how could people still get a hold of you? Could you still do business on your phone and remain in your daily routine? How easy or difficult could it be to get back on track once you retain your old phone or a new phone? Many people have abandoned their land lines and rely solely on their cellphone making it crucial for communications and lifestyle.
I can be klutzy sometimes (ok, often), so I need a cellphone case that can stand up to abuse. The cases that have hardened plastic or a polymer on the outside may not be as durable as those with a rubberized polymer or shell. While the plastic will help absorb impact, it becomes damaged and breaks down over time and may leave you with just the rubberized shell. The thinner the material, the shortest lifespan the case may have. If you decide on a thinner case whether it be for aesthetic purposes or convenience, purchasing two or three extra cases of the same kind may help later on if one of the plastics break.
If you tend to do a lot of reading, buying a case with a kickstand is a good move. While it's more suited for larger devices such as tablets, the kickstand frees up a hand or two (except when scrolling). If you're constantly on the move and don't like the feeling of a cellphone in your front or back pocket, purchasing a cell phone case with a belt clip is a wise investment as well. If security is a concern you can put the clip on your pocket and place the cellphone on the inside of your pocket, discomfort withstanding.
THE VERDICT
The case I ended up selecting was a thicker style with rubber polymer all around, only costing $6.95. This looked thick enough to handle my needs. I also got a similar case for my work phone to give it more protection. Even though I'm paying out of pocket, a few bucks will only help protect my phone and save me from having to pay for it myself if I damage it.
There are two downsides to this case: weight and signal. The aluminum itself is lightweight, but combine this with the phone and you get a small dumbbell on your hands. The case does act as a barrier between the antennas, so some signal loss may be apparent. This is crucial if you're in the middle of nowhere or barely in range of a cell tower for roaming purposes.
While I was happy with this, I found that using the volume adjustment buttons over time caused the phone to slip a bit. I would have to disassemble the case, realign it, then bolt the case back together.
CONSIDER THIS
You can consider a case just like you would a fashion statement. People love to be seen showing off the styles that make them happy. In my opinion, a phone case should be seen as an important tool, a one-time insurance purchase against damage to your phone. Good cell phone insurance goes from $50 a year and upwards, and chances are that not all insurance covers drops or loss.
How careless are you? Could you afford another phone if needed? If your phone was out of commission, how could people still get a hold of you? Could you still do business on your phone and remain in your daily routine? How easy or difficult could it be to get back on track once you retain your old phone or a new phone? Many people have abandoned their land lines and rely solely on their cellphone making it crucial for communications and lifestyle.
I can be klutzy sometimes (ok, often), so I need a cellphone case that can stand up to abuse. The cases that have hardened plastic or a polymer on the outside may not be as durable as those with a rubberized polymer or shell. While the plastic will help absorb impact, it becomes damaged and breaks down over time and may leave you with just the rubberized shell. The thinner the material, the shortest lifespan the case may have. If you decide on a thinner case whether it be for aesthetic purposes or convenience, purchasing two or three extra cases of the same kind may help later on if one of the plastics break.
If you tend to do a lot of reading, buying a case with a kickstand is a good move. While it's more suited for larger devices such as tablets, the kickstand frees up a hand or two (except when scrolling). If you're constantly on the move and don't like the feeling of a cellphone in your front or back pocket, purchasing a cell phone case with a belt clip is a wise investment as well. If security is a concern you can put the clip on your pocket and place the cellphone on the inside of your pocket, discomfort withstanding.
THE VERDICT
The case I ended up selecting was a thicker style with rubber polymer all around, only costing $6.95. This looked thick enough to handle my needs. I also got a similar case for my work phone to give it more protection. Even though I'm paying out of pocket, a few bucks will only help protect my phone and save me from having to pay for it myself if I damage it.
I also ended up trying something unusual, for me at least. The majority of the auctions are Buy It Now because the market is so saturated with similar products. In order to see if there were any products that might be worth clamoring for, I checked the normal auction listings and found one worth trying:
It was a similar armor case to the earlier example, Case #7. The delivery takes longer because the item comes from overseas, but with the starting bid of one penny plus $3.99 shipping AND the fact that my main case will arrive here faster, I can take a chance on it. If I lose out on it, no big loss because I'll have my primary case earlier anyway. My goal is to get the phone “insured” by getting the thicker case. If I hold out and wait for it to arrive from overseas, I'm stuck if something happens to my phone while I'm waiting.
In conclusion, take your time looking for a case, but make sure it will fit your needs. Consider what might happen from constant "droppage" and damage, but also ensure you have a backup "just in case".
P.S. And just like that, I won it for a penny!
In conclusion, take your time looking for a case, but make sure it will fit your needs. Consider what might happen from constant "droppage" and damage, but also ensure you have a backup "just in case".
P.S. And just like that, I won it for a penny!