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ayasinsk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 29, 2008
242
67
I'm trying to buy multiple iPhones, but I know that Apple limits 5 per person with an existing ATT account. Also I heard there is a penalty if the iPhone is not activated within 30 days. My GF has an iPhone 3G plan. So what is the best way/workaround to buy couple of iphones a week and then resell them without any consequences? Or any helpfull links would also be greatly appriciated. I couldn't find much info online.
 
Pretty sure you can't buy a couple a week. You need to buy them with an existing account (or start a new one). Say you buy 5 phones, that account will be marked saying you bought 5 phones. When you buy them, you're starting a new 2 year contract (even at the Apple store, the POS ties into the AT&T system). They're not going to let you buy more phones the follow week because it shows on your account that you just bought 5 phones. And if you cancel the account, they'll make you return the phones because it's less than 30 days. After 30 days you can cancel and keep the phones, but have to pay the ETF. Unless there's some really crazy hidden backdoor way around it, your best case is getting new phones every 30 days. And even then you have to keep breaking a contract and getting a new one, and eventually they'll probably just deny you, not to mention the hit your credit score is going to take from constantly having them pull your credit (ever new contract they'll do it) and canceling contracts.

I don't see how you're possibly going to make any money off this when you factor in the cost plus fees and stuff. As a 1-time deal you'll probably be ok, but if you repeatedly do it, I can't see it being worth the hassle?
 
Pretty sure you can't buy a couple a week. You need to buy them with an existing account (or start a new one). Say you buy 5 phones, that account will be marked saying you bought 5 phones. When you buy them, you're starting a new 2 year contract (even at the Apple store, the POS ties into the AT&T system). They're not going to let you buy more phones the follow week because it shows on your account that you just bought 5 phones. And if you cancel the account, they'll make you return the phones because it's less than 30 days. After 30 days you can cancel and keep the phones, but have to pay the ETF. Unless there's some really crazy hidden backdoor way around it, your best case is getting new phones every 30 days. And even then you have to keep breaking a contract and getting a new one, and eventually they'll probably just deny you, not to mention the hit your credit score is going to take from constantly having them pull your credit (ever new contract they'll do it) and canceling contracts.

I don't see how you're possibly going to make any money off this when you factor in the cost plus fees and stuff. As a 1-time deal you'll probably be ok, but if you repeatedly do it, I can't see it being worth the hassle?

Cosign.

I'm assuming that you're buying the iPhones at the price of an AT&T customer who is signing up for the plan, which is the only way you'd really make any money "flipping" the iphones.

As stated, your AT&T account will be charged for 5 iphones, or how many you can possibly charge onto it, because I'm assuming you either have one on that account or will be using your GF's account.

Unless if you decide to pay the early termination fee for each one of those iphones, you're going to have to return the iphones if it's before 30 days of purchase, which is such a waste of money, time, and effort.

Try reselling some other things if you're looking for some quick cash.
 
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