Those that sell on Ebay gets their things from here:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/N900-...572687594.html

You cab verify that this seller has sold one recently, that the pone was received and customer happy. You pay to the site, and if the goods turn up damaged and not as described, they will hold on to the funds or even revoke your payment - just like Paypal. These are usually phones that failed first round in QA/QC that has been fixed and sold in "white boxes". They have never been used, should have a valid IMEI (Nokia range) - and this particular seller represesnts a production consortium known to me. They ship quickly, so they can get paid.