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Selling my 3GS in preparation for the 4G - whats the best way.

Simgar988

Simgar988

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 22, 2009
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I have a 32g 3GS running 3.0.1 w/ 04.26.08. As you can see, I've been holding out on updating my phone for a long time, due to anticipation of the 4G. I want to sell my 3G unlocked and jailbroken inorder to pay for my 4G. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it best to see it right before the 4G comes out, or does the value not decrease significantly after the new phone is announced?

Im just trying to decided when the best time to sell it would be. I cant imagine going without my iphone so i dont really wanna sell it that far before if at all before I get my new 4G

thanks for the advice!
 
Selling it now will yield the best price as there will be a flood of 3GS on the market once apple releases the next generation of the iPhone.

As for preparing, you just need to make sure its cleaned up, and you erased the phone. Also collect all of the stuff that came with it and box it up.
 
maflynn said:
Selling it now will yield the best price as there will be a flood of 3GS on the market once apple releases the next generation of the iPhone.

As for preparing, you just need to make sure its cleaned up, and you erased the phone. Also collect all of the stuff that came with it and box it up.
Click to expand...

if I don't have the original headphones should I sell w/o or get a new pair? The phone is in near perfect condition. Never been exposed to water or steam, mist, extreme humidity. Been in a zaggs invashield screen protector and frogz case since day one. The screen's never been touched.

edit: any idea what they are fetching as of now?
 
Simgar988 said:
I have a 32g 3GS running 3.0.1 w/ 04.26.08. As you can see, I've been holding out on updating my phone for a long time, due to anticipation of the 4G. I want to sell my 3G unlocked and jailbroken inorder to pay for my 4G. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it best to see it right before the 4G comes out, or does the value not decrease significantly after the new phone is announced?

Im just trying to decided when the best time to sell it would be. I cant imagine going without my iphone so i dont really wanna sell it that far before if at all before I get my new 4G

thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...
As soon as you know Apple's new event date put it on sale (unless the 15th of june or something has passed, because than it can't take long).

You could do two things: as you say sell it jailbroken and unlocked, but you must realise some people don't want that.

You can also use your warranty. Say something like that your battery doesn't work well. If you do that you will get a new or refurbished iPhone 3Gs back, but with a new battery and with a new back/shell (so there are no scratches). This will surely increase sell value.
 
Simgar988 said:
if I don't have the original headphones should I sell w/o or get a new pair?
Click to expand...

That's up to you. Just be honest and state what the sale includes, the condition as you mentioned and pictures.
 
Simgar988 said:
if I don't have the original headphones should I sell w/o or get a new pair? The phone is in near perfect condition. Never been exposed to water or steam, mist, extreme humidity. Been in a zaggs invashield screen protector and frogz case since day one. The screen's never been touched.

edit: any idea what they are fetching as of now?
Click to expand...

Sell without. You won't 'win back' the 30 bucks that you'd spend on the headset.
 
Simgar988 said:
I have a 32g 3GS running 3.0.1 w/ 04.26.08. As you can see, I've been holding out on updating my phone for a long time, due to anticipation of the 4G. I want to sell my 3G unlocked and jailbroken inorder to pay for my 4G. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it best to see it right before the 4G comes out, or does the value not decrease significantly after the new phone is announced?

Im just trying to decided when the best time to sell it would be. I cant imagine going without my iphone so i dont really wanna sell it that far before if at all before I get my new 4G

thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

If you sell it now what will you use for the next couple of months? Tomorrow is just an operating system preview. Phones probably wont be out til June at the earliest.
 
Take off your case and protector if you have to, but check your phone very carefully for cracks!! Almost all phones get them over time. Look around the switches, headphone jack and connector screws very closely. Any cracks and Apple will replace it with a refurb that is just like new. Now sell it! You will make top dollar like that. Forget jailbreak, unlock or the like. Only geeks care about that anyway....:D

Sell it in new condition!

The average buyer wants an untouched phone. :cool:
 
eBay it as unlocked and jailbroken. Tip: make sure you make the description as idiot proof as possible. I wrote things like "all you have to do is pop in your tmobile or AT&T sim card and you're good to go." it makes those buyers who aren't as knowledgeable about unlocking iPhones(like 99.999999% of the world) way more likely to bid. Also only sell it to verified buyers who have confirmed addresses and require signature confirmation. These things are all essential to make sure you're protected.

Personally I'm ready for my 4g. I had a 3gs but I sold it to get the n1. The n1 wasn't as up to snuff for me so I returned it and I am now using my "extra" iPhone 3G. This iPhone will carry me over until the 4G is released. Let me just say I will be first in line. :D
 
I sold my 16gb 3G locked/wiped last year a week after the 3GS came out and still got $400 for it on eBay. Sold it to some dude in Germany. I think there's a big market for used iPhones internationally as long as you're willing to ship it there.
 
Also be very careful of Nigerian scammers. When I sold my 3G last year I had inquire after inquire from scammers. I'll pay this much to ship it to Nigeria for my son's birthday and so on. They try a lot of different things.
 
Well im not selling it for a while. The 4g hasn't even been announced, but when the time comes I'd like to sell it so I can buy te 4g w/o contract extension and break even
 
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