Continue to use iPhone 3g and sell 3gs after upgrading?

[Indirektbrett]

Hi all. After much much much searching to no avail I have finally resorted to asking for help. I was recently able to have my iPhone 3g early termination fee waived after a contract dispute with AT&T. Consequently I now own my beloved 3g outright. After seeing all the sky high prices on eBay I have decided to sell the new 3gs and continue to use my 3g when resigning back up.

My question is this. Since I am purchasing a new 3gs for the $199 price, can I immediately put that 3gs sim into my 3g and sell the 3gs? Technically I am still using an iPhone. I just wanted to know if I MUST use the new 3gs and sell the 3g. I would rather kelp my old 3g and sell the 3gs for profit. Thanks in advance. Any help is appreciated.

 

[PhightinPhils26]

Hi all. After much much much searching to no avail I have finally resorted to asking for help. I was recently able to have my iPhone 3g early termination fee waived after a contract dispute with AT&T. Consequently I now own my beloved 3g outright. After seeing all the sky high prices on eBay I have decided to sell the new 3gs and continue to use my 3g when resigning back up.

My question is this. Since I am purchasing a new 3gs for the $199 price, can I immediately put that 3gs sim into my 3g and sell the 3gs? Technically I am still using an iPhone. I just wanted to know if I MUST use the new 3gs and sell the 3g. I would rather kelp my old 3g and sell the 3gs for profit. Thanks in advance. Any help is appreciated.

In theory, this will work. However, This WILL put you back in contract with AT&T if you buy it at the subsidized price.

 

[Indirektbrett]

So if I sign up for the new contract at the subsidized price with AT&T, I don't need to use the 3gs? My only worry is that they activate the 3gs and then I switch the sim card to my 3g but I am somehow still tied to that 3gs. Will there be any trace of me inside that 3gs? More simply, does activating the 3gs keep any information of mine associated with the phone or can I immediately sell it?

 

[PhightinPhils26]

So if I sign up for the new contract at the subsidized price with AT&T, I don't need to use the 3gs? My only worry is that they activate the 3gs and then I switch the sim card to my 3g but I am somehow still tied to that 3gs. Will there be any trace of me inside that 3gs? More simply, does activating the 3gs keep any information of mine associated with the phone or can I immediately sell it?

No, you don't need to use the 3GS.

Will there be any trace of you inside your 3GS? Um... well, if that's what you're into... HA HA HA... Seriously, I would just do an "Erase All Content and Settings" before you sell it... It's a good rule of thumb.

Upon selling your 3GS, the IMEI of that phone will still be on your account, so AT&T will think you have a 3GS but as far as it affecting your service it shouldn't make a difference.

 

[Indirektbrett]

Will there be any trace of you inside your 3GS? Um... well, if that's what you're into... HA HA HA... Seriously, I would just do an "Erase All Content and Settings" before you sell it... It's a good rule of thumb.

LOL..HAHAHAHAHA. I guess I should have proofread my reply for things other than spelling. LOL

Upon selling your 3GS, the IMEI of that phone will still be on your account, so AT&T will think you have a 3GS but as far as it affecting your service it shouldn't make a difference.[/QUOTE]


Is there anyway to not have an IMEI of that phone on my account at activation? If not, is there any way to remove the IMEI after activating? Lastly, will having the IMEI on my account affect the selling of the phone on eBay or cause difficulties with my service or the buyer's service?

Thanks for answering all of my newb questions. I have been looking for days but all the threads are about selling the old 3g instead of the new 3gs.

 

[PhightinPhils26]

Is there anyway to not have an IMEI of that phone on my account at activation? If not, is there any way to remove the IMEI after activating? Lastly, will having the IMEI on my account affect the selling of the phone on eBay or cause difficulties with my service or the buyer's service?

Thanks for answering all of my newb questions. I have been looking for days but all the threads are about selling the old 3g instead of the new 3gs.

Yeah, you can just call and say that you wanted to update your IMEI. I wouldn't say that you are selling the phone... keep it simple. Having the IMEI on the account MIGHT if affect the buyer if he/she tries to activate it... When I was working there it didn't, but I know they switched their billing system since I have been there and it may cause trouble.

No problem! Nice to have ya here!

 

[Indirektbrett]

Yeah, you can just call and say that you wanted to update your IMEI. I wouldn't say that you are selling the phone... keep it simple. Having the IMEI on the account MIGHT if affect the buyer if he/she tries to activate it... When I was working there it didn't, but I know they switched their billing system since I have been there and it may cause trouble.

No problem! Nice to have ya here!

Sounds great. I will activate it, then call customer care and update the IMEI with my old 3g IMEI. That way, the new buyer shouldn't have any problems "re"activating it.

I wish there was a way to leave the store without opening the box. They AT&T store was backordered so they are calling me when the phone arrives. In the meantime, they opened the new line using my old 3g until the new one arrives. Is ther anything I can do or say to have them just give me the phone when it arrives and walk out without opening the new 3gs and activating it? Technically it is my phone and I have a choice whether or not I want to use the phone I upgraded to, correct?

 

[PhightinPhils26]

I'm not 100% sure on this one... It wont hurt to ask, but they will probably activate the new SIM card that comes with the iPhone and since SIM cards cannot be reactivated the phone will need to be opened to get the new SIM.

You can try telling the AT&T rep to NOT open the box or activate the new SIM because it is a gift and you don't want them to lose service on their current SIM card.

 

[Indirektbrett]

I'm not 100% sure on this one... It wont hurt to ask, but they will probably activate the new SIM card that comes with the iPhone and since SIM cards cannot be reactivated the phone will need to be opened to get the new SIM.

You can try telling the AT&T rep to NOT open the box or activate the new SIM because it is a gift and you don't want them to lose service on their current SIM card.

That was exactly what I was thinking. They already provided me with a new SIM card for my old iPhone. I will just tell him I am giving the 3gs away as a gift. If they do let me walk out of the store without opening the new phone, I can do with it what I please and there is no link to my account, correct?

 

[PhightinPhils26]

That was exactly what I was thinking. They already provided me with a new SIM card for my old iPhone. I will just tell him I am giving the 3gs away as a gift. If they do let me walk out of the store without opening the new phone, I can do with it what I please and there is no link to my account, correct?

Just the IMEI as I had mentioned before.

 

[Indirektbrett]

Just the IMEI as I had mentioned before.

Oh, I think I got it now. So the new IMEI is linked to my account whether I open the new box or not.

In the best case scenario, I get the new phone without opening it, walk out of the store, revert my IMEI back to my 3g and sell the 3gs without activating it.

In the other scenario, they open the box and activate it, I walk out of the store, revert the IMEI back to my 3g, do a full clear and factory settings flush on the 3gs and then sell it for the buyer to 're'activate it.

 

[Indirektbrett]

Just the IMEI as I had mentioned before.

Oh, I think I got it now. So the new IMEI is linked to my account whether I open the new box or not. Does that also mean the new 3gs is activated without opening the box?

In the best case scenario, I get the new phone without opening it, walk out of the store, revert my IMEI back to my 3g and sell the 3gs without activating it.

In the other scenario, they open the box and activate it, I walk out of the store, revert the IMEI back to my 3g, do a full clear and factory settings flush on the 3gs and then sell it for the buyer to 're'activate it.

 

[PhightinPhils26]

Correct because to sell it out of the inventory they need to ring the IMEI out. (Sorry, I wasn't 100% clear the first time around)

 

[Indirektbrett]

Correct because to sell it out of the inventory they need to ring the IMEI out. (Sorry, I wasn't 100% clear the first time around)

Perfect. Thank you for all the quick responses and answers. Let's hope they let me take it out of the store deactivated and still sealed in the box. Those seem to fetch a little more money on eBay (oops..I mean, it makes a better gift if it is sealed).