Home > Support Portal > Frequently Asked Questions
A: We ship all orders within 1 business day of receiving payment and depending on the shipping method most domestic orders take 2-5 business days to receive. While most orders arrive very quickly, we just ask that you allow a full 10 business days for your item to arrive. If you chose overnight express as your shipping method, shipping time is counted in business days and you may not receive your item the very next day. For example, an Overnight Air shipment sent on Friday will arrive on Monday. International customers orders generally arrive in 4-14 days for delivery but please allow up to 21 business days. Also, almost all orders received before 12PM EST Monday-Friday go out the same day.
A: If you made your purchase through eBay, please use the blue "Contact Us" button located on the original product page on eBay to assure we receive your email.
The average reponse time to answer an email is about 3 business hours - however we ask customers to please allow up to 24 business hours for a response - especially on weekends and holidays.
Our normal business hours are:
Monday - Friday from 9AM - 5:30PM Eastern Standard Time
Please note - we provide limited support during normal holidays and weekends
While we do our best to answer emails on weekends and holidays, there may be an extended response time during non-business hours - we ask you to please be patient and to please allow a full 48 business hours prior to sending a second email.
A: Tracking numbers are "automatically" sent to the email you provided during checkout and are "automatically" sent when your item is shipped. PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. In order to provide free shipping for our accessories we ship via USPS First Class mail and by default they do not have a tracking number. You can choose and pay for a trackable shipping method at checkout such as Priority Mail if a tracking number is important to you.
You can receive a deliver confirmation (tracking number) for an additional $0.99 on all accessories we sell. We strongly encourage this if you would like to know exactly when your item will arrive. If you would like a tracking number along with your accessories shipment, please choose "US Postal Service - Parcel Confirmed - Confirmation" at checkout.
Also, shipping status can be found by checking the initial checkout link we provided when you chose to purchase your item. On this checkout page you can see your tracking information if a trackable shipping method was selected.
A: Each phone must pass our 7 point inspection process before leaving our doors. However, electronics can be upredictable especially when being used for longer periods of time. Rest assured, we stand behind all of our items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee on the units functionality and that the item listed is as described. We also offer the option to extend your phone's warranty up to 3 years with the purchase of a Square Trade warranty. Square Trade provides a great service at a great price and has excellent reviews around the web. While we rarely run into issues with our phones, we highly recommend Square Trade if you would like further reassurance on your items functionality for longer periods of time. You can check them out at www.squaretrade.com.
A: If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase we stand behind all of our items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee on our items functionality and that the item is as described in the listing.
Please note that we reserve the right to process a 20% restocking fee if the reason for return is not a functionality issue or a description mistake. In the event of any functionality issues with your device or activation issues - we will gladly provide a prepaid shipping label to send back a defective unit. Please refer to our returns page for more information.
A: We ask that you charge all batteries you purchase from us for a full 12 hours before using your phone. In rare instances because these batteries are kept in a warehouse for an extended period of time there may be drainage that occurs. Full charge may not take place until after 2-3 charging periods.
A: You can find the latest manual for your device by visiting http:/www.thebluedot.net/manual. By default we do not include the manual for any of our new and refurbished phones unless otherwise listed. Manuals for all of our phones can easily be downloaded directly from the manufacturers web site. Cell phone manufacturers continually update the manuals for their products regularly and to do our part as an eco-friendly company we try to minimize the amount of waste resulted from paper manuals.
A: Shipping is free by default for all shipments to the continental USA. We also offer shipment options such as - priority mail and express shipping for all items and this cost varies by listing.
We have successfully shipped to over 150 countries worldwide and offer competitive shipping options for most international customers. Please refer to the listing for shipment price details.
A: While almost all orders in the US arrive in 2-5 business days, we ask that you allow up to 10 business days to receive your order. You can see by our feedback that almost all our items arrive very quickly. Overnight shipments if purchased after 12PM may not be shipped until the next business day. We ship all orders within 24 business hours. If it take more than 10 business days to receive your item, you may just want to check with your local post office. In certain areas we have seen the USPS will hold a package if they feel the item will not be safe or could potentially be stolen. If you live in an apartment complex you may just want to check with your front desk.
For international orders most orders take 4-14 business days for delivery. Depending on customs in your country and the shipping method you chose orders may take up to 21 business days to receive.
A: Please refer to the listing. Shipping cost can vary by item and by shipping method.
A: Almost all orders arrive in 2-5 business days in the continental USA. While not usual, domestic orders can sometimes take up to 10 business days for delivery.
International orders generally arrive in 4-14 business days but may take up to 21 business days to arrive. Delivery time really depends on your country's customs procedures.
A: We do not provide overnight shipping. We ship all orders within 2 business days of receiving payment and will notifiy you within that time in the event of any delays.. Please note - we do not offer "Overnight" shipping and Express shipping can take up to 2 business days once an order is shipped to be received.
Also, express shipments require a signature at the time of delivery. If nobody is at home to accept the package, the post office will hold onto the package and attempt to deliver the next day.
A: I am sorry but we only ship via US Postal Service for orders less than 5 lbs. Other delivery methods are available for larger orders.
A: We do not over "Overnight" shipping. We advertise that we ship all items out within 48 business hours of receiving payment. We provide a discounted rate for express orders and we do not reimburse shipping fees for items that are not received the next day. Once an item is in the hands of USPS, you need to check with your local post office for further information.
A: We test all of our phones and each phone must pass our 6 point inspection process before leaving our doors. Most issues we hear about from our customers, have a simple solution and can be easily resolved over the phone or through email. Phones like any other electronic device can sometimes be unpredictable. Rest assured we stand behind our products 100% in the event of any issues.
We ask that you charge your phone for a full 12 hours before using it. Full battery charge may not occur until after 2 or even 3 times of receiving a full charge and discharge. Also for most phone issues there is a "Hard Reset" feature that will wipe the phone to its original factory settings and in 9 out of 10 issues we have seen with phones, this resolves the problem.
Please keep in mind that the cell phone store where you try to get the phone activated also is selling phones and in our experience we have seen many times that a cell phone store will tell you the phone is not working so they can get the sale.
In the unlikely event that you need to send back your phone, please refer to our returns page. and send back your phone for a replacement or a refund. We stand behind all of our items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
A: We generally send out phones that are in better condition than we describe them in our listings because we want our customers to be completely satisfied. While 99% of the phones we sell are in excellent condition or in better condition than described, we are human. We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase and if you strongly feel the item is not in the condition it was described, simply fill out the return form from our returns page.
A: To start off... We assure you this phone was not stolen. We buy back phones from customers and check all ESN numbers at the time of receiving the phones. There are a number of reseasons your service provider may block the device from being activated and adding it to the "Lost / Stolen" list. One major reason is because whoever last activated the phone did not pay their phone bill. We do our best to prevent this issue from occurring and are taking additional steps to prevent this from happening. About 5 out of every 1,000 phones that leave our door have an activation issue. Unforuntaley, there is no way to remove the phone from the Lost / Stolen list and a replacement will be needed for you.
A: If we advertised the phone as unlocked the phone should definitely be unlocked and we have the unlock code on file or can access the unlock code relatively easily. Just simply email us with your IMEI number that can be found on the back of your phone. We scan in all IMEI numbers and have most unlock codes on file, a phone or two can sometimes slip by without being unlocked prior to shipping. This is an honest human error and we can resolve it quickly by providing you instructions for unlocking your phone. The unlock process takes less than 30 seconds.
A: If you received a Verizon phone and you have Alltel as your service provider unfortunately, the phone will not work for you. Alltel, Verizon, and Sprint phones are not cross compatible. If you received an AT&T phone that was supposed to be a T-Mobile phone, we can usually provide an unlock code for you in order to use the phone without problems. We do our best to avoid this situation by noting the compatibility of our phones directly on each listing.
We sell many of the same model phones for different carriers. For example we may have a Blackberry model for Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel. If however you received the incorrect carrier phone by mistake - we will gladly make it right. In this case we will have to ask you to return your phone for a replacement or a refund. You can read about how to return your phone on our returns page.
A: Some carriers may require you to sign up for a Blackberry plan. I know for sure Alltel and Verizon require a Blackberry plan and I recommend checking with your Wireless Provider to see how much the plan will be for you. Please do not quote me, but I think they start at $29.99 a month. Sprint subscribers, you may also want to check with Sprint. We try to be as clear and up front about this in our Blackberry phone listings.
A: You can find the latest manual for your device by visiting http:/www.thebluedot.net/manual. By default we do not include the manual for any of our new and refurbished phones unless otherwise listed. Manuals for all of our phones can easily be downloaded directly from the manufacturers web site. Cell phone manufacturers continually update the manuals for their products regularly and to do our part as an eco-friendly company we try to minimize the amount of waste resulted from paper manuals.
A: Accessories by default are shipped out in the USA via USPS First Class Mail and generally take 2-5 business days to arrive. While most orders arrive very quickly, sometimes USPS takes up to 10 business days to deliver an item using this method of shipment. Overnight shipments if purchased after 12PM may not be shipped until the next business day. We ship all order within 24 business hours. If it takes more than 10 business days to receive your item, you may just want to check with your local post office. In certain areas we have seen the USPS will hold a package if they feel the item will not be safe or could potentially be stolen. If you live in an apartment complex you may just want to check with your front desk.
International orders generally take 4-14 business days but may take up to 21 days for delivery.
A: The majority of items we carry are manufacturer-direct and are shipped with the original retail packaging. We utilize our substantial buying power purchasing in bulk directly from the manufacturers and selling direct to the customer. One of the main reasons for paying so much more at your local store if because of the cost to ship this excess packaging. At the major retailer, once the item is shipped to the multiple locations in order to reach the hands of the consumer, shipping costs add up significantly making an item at a major retailer cost $59.99 that we sell for less than $10. We would not be able to offer the prices we do combined with free shipping if the accessory was in its original packaging.
A: Please charge the battery for a full 12 hours prior to using. In rare instance because these batteries are kept in a warehouse for an extended period of time there may be a drainage that occurs. A lot of times, we have also found that the problem is not with the battery but may be with the actual phone. If you find that a replacement is causing the same problem you may have to see about finding another phone.
We stand behind all of our items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you insist on sending back the battery, please fill out the return form by following the return form link below (return question section) and send your item back so we can send out a replacement or issue a refund for you.
A: We purchase the majority our accessories in bulk packaging so there may be scratches on the item you receive because they are shipped to us with many other items and they may rub together during shipment. We try to be as up front as possible about the condition of the items we sell and note there may be scratches in most of our listings. One of the main things that makes an accessory in the original packaging so much more expensive is the cost related to shipping the extra packaging with the item. Once the item is shipped to the multiple locations in order to reach the hands of the consumer, shipping costs add up significantly making an item at a major retailer cost $59.99 and we can charge less than $10. We would not be able to offer the prices we do combined with free shipping if the accessory was in its original packaging.
In order to receive the absolute lowest price on batteries we purchase them by the thousands at a time and pass on the savings to our customers. Because there can be extended periods of time these batteries sit in our warehouse, we test some of the batteries we sell with a "Cadex" testing machine to assure each battery holds a full charge. This can cause the scratches you see on the gold contact points of a battery. The battery should still hold a full charge.
We list items as we purchase them. If we purchase an item as new, we will list it as such. If we purchase an item as slightly used, we will also note it in the listing. We sell hundreds of different models and we sometimes make mistakes. If you strongly believe the item you purchased from us was not as described, please kindly contact us so we can make the change to future listings.
100% satisfaction for our customers is our number one priority and we stand behind all of our items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you have any issues at all we will resolve them. For instructions for returning an item, please refer to our return section below.
A: While we do our best to accurately list the compatibility of all of our accessories, we are human and do make mistakes. Sometimes newer versions, although they have the same model name - the may not be compatible with accessories for the older version of a specific phone and vice versa. Extended batteries generally require extended doors and we do our best to note this in our listings.
If you would like, you can call our shipping team at 1-800-690-1543 to determine the correct piece that needs to be sent to you and have them ship out the correct item for you. If a mistake was made, we truly apologize in advance. We resolve any and all issues for our customers and stand behind all items with our 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you need to send back an item, please refer to our Return Questions section below.
A: Our company was established in March 2006 and we plan to become a recognizable brand name worldwide. We have successfully served over 500,000 happy customers in the time we have been in business and have shipped to more than 150 countries worldwide.
A: We currently sell on our personal web site - www.thebluedot.net, eBay, Buy.com and also serve over 50 cell phone stores around the US.
A: 100% satisfaction is our number one priority! We want you to be happy with your purchase and tell your friends and family about us. If for whatever reason you are not satisfied with your purchase we would gladly accept a returned item for a replacement or a refund. Please note - Non-defective merchandise is subject to a 20% restocking fee.
The Blue Dot Safe Shopping Guarantee protects you while you shop at www.thebluedot.net, and through eBay and Amazon so that you never have to worry about credit card safety. We guarantee that every transaction you make at The Blue Dot will be safe. This means you pay nothing if unauthorized charges are made to your card as a result of shopping at www.thebluedot.net. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure online commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read as the information travels over the Internet. In addition to our encryption standards, your account information is password protected so that you and only you have access to this personal information. Please do not disclose this password to anyone. Also, remember to close your browser window when your transaction is complete as this will keep your account safe if you use your computer in a public place like an office or library. The Blue Dot cannot be held responsible if you disclose your account password to other individuals.
A: We sell to many retailers around the country. If you are interested in purchasing from us, please email support@thebluedot.net
- Order# from the original invoice / packing slip.
- Email address you used to purchase your item.
- Date of original purchase.
- Reason for returning the item.
- Your phone number
All original items must be included with the returned item in order to receive a full refund. If you are returning a phone the IMEI number must match what is on our records. We scan all IMEI numbers.
