Import GSM

Q:	How do I send a payment with Western Union, or by Bank Wire Transfer?
A:	If you are an international buyer, or need to send payment via Western Union, Wire Transfer or Money Order, please visit http://www.importgsm.com/pages.php? pageid=24&mode=preview and follow the instructions in the document. If you have further questions, feel free to contact us

Q:	Can I return my phone after I buy it? What is the return policy?
A:	We do accept returns, most of the time free of charge! Our detailed return policy can be found on the Terms and Conditions page. In summary, the return policy is the following: Within 3 days : If the item is not working within 3 days upon receipt of the goods by the customer , item may be exchanged for a replacement at no charge. Within 7 days : Items returned within 7 days upon receipt of the goods by the customer may be returned at no charge, but are subject to a restocking fee. If packaging or materials are damaged or missing, the phone has been used more than 10 minutes of total call time, or if there is any other physical or cosmetic damage, a restocking fee may apply. After 7 days : Non functional units may be sent for warranty repair within 1 year upon receipt of the goods by the customer. Items not working due to negligence are not covered by the standard 1 year warranty provided by ImportGSM, and are subject to repair fees at customers expense. Note: Shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer. In addition, no refunds will be given to items before they are returned. Click here to process a return

Q:	I'm an international customer. How long will it take you to ship to me?
A:	International shipping is much faster than you may think! So long as the item you've ordered is in stock, just choose 'DHL/Airborne International Express' as your shipping option, and your phone will be at your door in 24-48 hours.

Q:	I'm a domestic customer. How long will it take for me to receive my phone?
A:	It's all a matter of how fast you'd like it- provided we have the phone you want in stock, it will ship as fast as the service you choose. Some orders will even ship the same day that you purchase them from us, if you order early enough in the day. To be safe, expect a 24-48 hour processing period before your order ships, no matter what shipping method you choose. That way you aren't stuck unexpectedly waiting for a phone you want in your hands!

Q:	I'm interested in buying wholesale, or a large quantity. Can ImportGSM offer me a discount?
A:	Absolutely! ImportGSM.com can offer wholesale prices starting with 5 phones and up. Simply submit a support ticket with your wholesale inquiry, and a sales rep will give you a custom quote right away!

Q:	Is a warranty provided with my phone purchase? What happens if I break my phone?
A:	ImportGSM.com offers a 1 year warranty with every purchase. If within 14 days you return your item in new condition, with all of the package contents, you will be sent a replacement phone at no cost. If your item becomes problematic after 14 days and within 1 year from the purchase date, and has no sign of physical damage, ImportGSM.com will have your phone repaired by the respective manufacturer and sent back to you within 90 days.

Q:	Where can I find an english manual for my phone?
A:	We have created an online database of english PDF formatted manuals for your convenience. This page is located here: http://www.importgsm.com/manuals.php

Q:	What is an 'Unlocked' Phone?
A:	An Unlocked phone is a phone that can be used on any GSM network, including Cingular, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, and more. Simply place your SIM card in the phone, and you will be up and running in minutes!

Q:	Why do phones cost less when I buy them from my carrier?
A:	When you purchase a phone from Cingular, AT&T, or T-Mobile, they give you low prices for signing on to a contract. These companies receive rebates from manufacturers such as Nokia and Motorola for selling phones in mass quantities, and pass those savings on to you, the consumer, so as to lock you in for a 1 or 2 year service agreement with them, where they make the majority of their money. If you should ever choose to switch carriers, you would not be able to take your phone with you to your new carrier- it is 'locked' to your original carrier's network. By purchasing a phone from ImportGSM, you'll be able to use your phone on any GSM network, no matter what carrier you use!

Q:	What is a 'Carrier'?
A:	A Carrier is a mobile service provider such as Cingular, T-Mobile, or AT&T Wireless. These providers give you the service you need to use your mobile phone, but only allow you to choose from a shortened list of phones from select manufacturers. ImportGSM gives you the freedom to purchase any phone you'd like, and use it on any carrier you want!

Q:	How can you offer a phone that my carrier does not?
A:	Carriers such as Cingular, AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile only offer certain phones from select manufacturers. This limitation places you, the consumer, at a distinct disadvantage, unable to choose the phone that most closely fits your lifestyle. By purchasing an unlocked phone from ImportGSM, you can enjoy the freedom of choice- pick the phone that best suits you, and use it with ANY Carrier that supports GSM networks, and keep it for as short or as long as you'd like!

Q:	How do I set up my phone for GPRS Internet on my carrier?
A:	Because ImportGSM sells phones that are not preprogrammed for any specific network, you may need to set up the GPRS settings in your phone in order to access the internet and send Multimedia messages. For information on how to set up your phone for internet access, please visit http:// www.importgsm.com/pages.php?pageid=23

Q:	I want to give my friend a Gift Certificate to use on ImportGSM - How can I do this?
A:	Sorry, we do not sell or accept Gift Certificates at this time. We appologize for the inconvenience.

Q:	Does ImportGSM really offer a 3 Year Protection Program?
A:	Yes! The ImportGSM 3 Year Protection Program is a one-of-a-kind offering that you can only get from ImportGSM. We sell only the highest end phones in the world, and understand this constitutes an investment for you, our customers. The ImportGSM 3 Year Protection Plan is your way of insuring your investment for an extended period of time against any kind of damage.

Q:	How do I sign up for a 3 Year Protection Program?
A:	Signup is an option before you add the item to your cart. In the product options section, under the specifications, click the drop down menu and select 3 Year Protection Program ensure your phone is covered for damage FOR 3 YEARS and your loaner phone is available when you need it the most at no additional cost!

Q:	What does my 3 Year Protection Program Cover?
A:	If you'd like to read more, please take a look at our 3 Year Protection Program Section. In brief, here's what your 3 Year Protection Program will do for you: - The Warranty covers any kind of damage. - Free shipping, both ways! - Automatic Enrolling in the Always On program, FREE!

Q:	Are there any hidden charges? Deductibles? Shipping costs?
A:	NO! Once you buy the warranty, you are set for 3 years. Rentals are free, return shipping is free, repairs, replacements, parts, labor, everything- free! Everything is included in the price of the warranty.

Q:	Okay, what's the fine print?
A:	We have nothing to hide- so we had our lawyers make the font size bigger on the small print. In fact, we wouldn't even consider it small anymore. Really, take a look at it!

Q:	Does the warranty cover loss or theft?
A:	We cannot cover against loss or theft. Think of it this way: as long as we get the phone back to be repaired or replaced, we have you covered- no matter how bad of a shape it is in.

Q:	My phone broke. How do i fill out a claim?
A:	You may fill out and submit a warranty claim by clicking here.

Q:	I lost my warranty application form. Where can I find another one?
A:	You may download a warranty application form by clicking here.

Q:	What is Upgrade UP?
A:	Simply put: we want to buy your old phones. ImportGSM has the newest, most unique phones in the world- we know, and we're proud. We want you to have our phones, and we also think you should get a little something back for your old phone! So think of it as "Upgrading UP" to an ImportGSM phone.

Q:	How do I take advantage of ImportGSM's Upgrade Up Program?
A:	Here's how it works: - Fill out an Upgrade UP form here. - We will send you a DHL label so you can ship your old phone back to us for free. - We will assess the phone for value. We want to know if it works, how old it is, what damages have been done, and so on. - We will email you with our Guaranteed BuyBack value. This is the price we will pay to keep your old phone. If you are happy with the price, we'll give you that value towards the purchase of anything in our shop. If you don't like what we are willing to pay, we will ship your old phone back, and you never pay a dime for the estimate, or shipping, or anything. No harm done.

Q:	My phone is REALLY old. Are you really going to buy it?
A:	We can't buy every phone. While we do buy most phones, some phones we can not purchase for a credit.

Q:	Can I Get cash for my old phone?
A:	Sorry, but we can't do that.

Q:	How do I know ImportGSM's estimate is fair?
A:	We let you be the judge of that - that's why we ask your permission to buy it when we've come up with a price! But don't worry, most of our customers accept our offers, because we accurately value your phone - if it's 3 months old, and a fairly high-end phone, we will pay accordingly.

Q:	I need a loaner phone. How do I obtain one?
A:	First, fill out an RMA form here. Once you've filled out an RMA and faxed it to 484-450-2500 or emailed it to support@importgsm.com, contact support to request an Always On replacement phone.

Q:	What are these rental phones like? Will I be carrying around a brick with a 4 foot antenna?
A:	No. We use the same high end phones we sell. Generally, you can expect a color screen camera phone, made within the past 2 years, from a well-known manufacturer, such as Motorola or Nokia. Yes, we're serious!

Q:	How do I get my AlwaysOn Loaner phone up and running?
A:	It's easy- just open up the back of your phone and take out the battery. Behind it is your SIM card- a small, easily removable chip that looks like a rectangle with one of the corners cut off. Take this chip out of your broken phone, place it in the SIM card slot in your loaner phone, put the battery in and turn it on, and the loaner phone will automatically work with your number!

Q:	How long will I be without a phone?
A:	About 30 seconds- while you change phones. The rental phone comes to you before your phone gets sent to us.

Q:	I've never heard of some of these phones before. How does ImportGSM offer such a wide variety of phones?
A:	ImportGSM gets the latest phones available on the worldwide market, and imports them from all over the globe. We make it our business to ensure that you are able to choose from EVERY phone a manufacturer offers- not just the 10-15 phones that your carrier lets you choose from while locking you into a 2 year service contract. If you've heard of a phone that you don't see on our webshop, just ask us! We'll make sure that you get the phone you want, no matter how new it may be.

Q:	Some of these phones say 'PreOrder'. What does this mean?
A:	We at ImportGSM strive to be not only a place for you to purchase phones, but to be a resource as well. We find out about the latest phones that manufacturers will be offering, and place them on our site along with the specifications so that you may learn about them! This way, you can then make a more educated decision as to what phone you really want. These cutting-edge phones are placed in our PreOrder section, where you may read about them, and sometimes purchase in advance of the release date if you know it is what you want!

Q:	What Manufacturers do you sell phones from on ImportGSM?
A:	We currently sell phones from a very wide variety of manufacturers, including: Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Siemens, O2/Imate/HTC, Panasonic, Innostream, Sendo, Sharp, PalmOne, and more. If you're looking for a phone you don't see, just ask us - we may be able to get it for you!

Q:	What is Bluetooth?
A:	Bluetooth is a short-range wireless protocol that allows your phone to 'speak' with other devices in range, such as wireless headsets, hands-free carkits, and computers. It can be used for a wide array of applications- take a look at www.bluetooth.com for more information!

Q:	What is 'Quad-Band'? Why does this matter when I'm picking out a phone?
A:	A Quad-Band phone is a special type of phone that can be used on any GSM network world wide. In the GSM world, there are four radio frequencies, or bands: 800, 900, 1800, and 1900. It supports all four different bands, and thus can be used in any GSM environment on the planet! Not all phones are Quad-Band. Some are Dual or Tri-Band phones- Dual-Band phones being used primarily in Europe and Asia, and Tri-Band phones being used in the United States. Be sure to check which type of phone works on your carrier before making a purchase- if you're not sure, just ask us!