If you've lost your Blackberry or broken it after the warranty has expired, you're probably worried about heading to your local service provider's store to get a replacement.  Chances are that your contract hasn't expired yet and you'll be looking at paying full retail for a new phone.  You'll probably want another Blackberry and realize that the full retail for those phones is pretty steep, to say the least.  However, there is another alternative - purchasing a used Blackberry.   Purchasing a used cell phone will allow you to get the same model that you had, or an upgraded model, for a fraction of the retail price.  This means you can still have a nice Blackberry that will allow you to surf the web, send emails, and so on without putting a huge dent in the checking account.  As an added bonus, purchasing a used phone is also a more eco-friendly choice.

Wondering how buying a used cell phone can be a "green" decision?  Stop and think for a minute about the number of cell phones that you and your family have used and thrown away over the years.  Now take that number and multiply it by your rough estimate of how many similar families around the world have done the exact same thing.  That's a lot of cell phones.  Although recycling programs are available, most people don't use them and most old phones end up in landfills with the rest of our garbage.  While in landfills, cell phones have been know to leak toxic chemicals into the soil and water supply, which is certainly not good for our environment.  By purchasing used cell phones, you keep one more phone out of the landfill and still meet your communication needs.  It's a win/win.

The used Blackberry phones on the used market today are no different than the phones sold new, except they may or may not have been used by somebody else for a period of time.  The majority of them are returned to the manufacturer when they are returned or traded in and undergo a complete refurbishing.  The phones are restored to factory settings, new software is installed, the memory is erased, and they are cleaned up to look like they're brand new (except for maybe a couple scratches that you'd put on there anyway).  In other words, you essentially get a new phone for a fraction of the price and get to avoid signing a new contract.

The best news for those of you that are looking to replace an older model Blackberry with a newer model is that most new models are already avaiable in the used market.  The reason is that any phone that is returned to a cell phone dealer, whether it is 2 days or 2 years old, must be sold as used/refurbished - even if it was bought as a gift for somebody and was never actually used.  So, you can upgrade your phone for less than it would cost to purchase the same model you are replacing from your cell phone company.

Finally, most people worry about warranties, and if you're replacing a phone that broke, this is an especially valid concern.  The good news is that many used cell phone retailers will offer a warranty on their phones, at no cost, even if the phone is used.  These warranties won't last as long as a warranty on a brand new phone, but given the price point of the phones, the warranties are very fair.  In fact, some used phones can be found so cheap that you could actually buy a few of them if they continue to break (although I'm not sure why you'd do this) for less than it would cost you to purchase the same phone brand new.

So, if you've lost your Blackberry or had it stolen, look for a replacement in the refurbished cell phones market.  Not only will you be able to get a phone with all the features that you want and need, but you'll pay less and will be doing the planet a favor at the same time.  Find a reputable dealer that offers some sort of a limited warranty in case the worst happens, and enjoy the feeling of getting a great deal on the phone that you've always wanted but never thought you could afford!