My boyfriend had the same situation...and the phone company wouldn't let him get a rebate on a new phone for another 8 months
. So he bought an unlocked phone for about $75 less than the normal phone...AND...he ended up getting 5 cases, extra batteries, and a few chargers...all in excellent condition on e-bay.
I would definitely recommend getting an unlocked phone on e-bay. BUT...make sure you check the rating of the seller and any negative feedback that they may have received.
Hope this helps
