Selling your iphone 3G - What should you know first? -

[sehn]

Hi, I'm a first time poster, long time reader. I did a bit of looking around and couldn't find any good place for information on this subject.

I bought an iphone 3G the week they came out. and In my haste, I got the 8GB. Now I really want the 16GB. So, What do I need to know before trying to sell my iphone.

I see phones on craigslist asking for as much as 800$ for a jailbroken iPhone 3G 8gig (like mine). And on ebay I see them going for 500-700$. If I could unload my phone for anywhere near that, I would be able to afford a 16GB and have some money to spare. Now, I read that you can't buy the iPhone at its normal price if you are an ATT customer, but even at 399$ (which i believe is what it would cost me), I'd still make a profit.

would other att customers be able to use a jailbroken phone with their sim card? Will my apps that I bought be transferable to the buyers itunes?

what else should you know before selling?

Thanks!

 

[Phil A.]

Hi, I'm a first time poster, long time reader. I did a bit of looking around and couldn't find any good place for information on this subject.

I bought an iphone 3G the week they came out. and In my haste, I got the 8GB. Now I really want the 16GB. So, What do I need to know before trying to sell my iphone.

I see phones on craigslist asking for as much as 800$ for a jailbroken iPhone 3G 8gig (like mine). And on ebay I see them going for 500-700$. If I could unload my phone for anywhere near that, I would be able to afford a 16GB and have some money to spare. Now, I read that you can't buy the iPhone at its normal price if you are an ATT customer, but even at 399$ (which i believe is what it would cost me), I'd still make a profit.

would other att customers be able to use a jailbroken phone with their sim card? Will my apps that I bought be transferable to the buyers itunes?

what else should you know before selling?

Thanks!

You need to be very, very careful - the $399.00 price may also cost you a second contract, it isn't a "SIM free" price. Your best option is to give ATT a call, explain your situation and see what they can do for you

 

[brewty]

I might be wrong, but ATT has a 30 day return policy. You should be able to walk in there and tell them you want to exchange. You wouldn't make any money, but I'm not sure you would the other way either, as you wouldn't be getting a subsidized price on your second phone. I'm not too sure though.

 

[Ntombi]

Yeah, I would talk to both AT&T and Apple about returning the 8GB for the 16GB and paying the difference. Others on MR have done it successfully.

 

[sehn]

Returning

I talked to a guy at the apple store. He says that the apple store has a 14 day return policy. So I missed that window. And anyway, the unsubsidized price is 499$ that still leaves me with a decent profit margin.

 

[NathanA]

I talked to a guy at the apple store. He says that the apple store has a 14 day return policy. So I missed that window.

That's BS. If it's only 14 days, how are you supposed to be able to exercise your AT&T 30-day no-penalty cancellation window? Do Apple Store customers forfeit that "right"?

Maybe all items other than AT&T-locked iPhone 3Gs are 14-days only, but the iPhone is returnable to AT&T at any time during the first 30 days for a refund and no early contract termination penalty. I would be surprised if an iPhone purchased at an Apple store instead of an AT&T store was held to a different set of rules. Perhaps the guy you spoke to was just ill-informed and didn't understand that the iPhone goes by a different set of rules.

I'd try my luck at an AT&T store before giving up, even if you didn't buy it there. If they say you need a receipt to return it and so you are forced to go through Apple, then I would press your case there.

If Apple didn't let you return iPhone 3Gs between the 15th and 30th day of your new AT&T contract, then that would be a major hole just waiting to be exploited! First, buy iPhone 3G at an Apple store and start a new AT&T contract to get the subsidized price. Second, wait until 15 days have passed. Third, cancel your AT&T contract before 30 days are up, penalty free, and keep the iPhone (AT&T won't take it 'cause you didn't buy it from them, and Apple doesn't want it 'cause your past 14 days). Voila: $199 iPhone 3G, no first month's bill, no ETF.

Yeah, right.

You sound like you are almost dead-set on not bothering, though, and just trying to sell it off. I personally would advise you to re-think that choice; just because you see listings for jailbroken iPhone 3Gs on Craigslist for $800 doesn't mean they are actually SELLING for that amount. I would be mighty surprised if you were able to pull in that kind of dollar figure from a 3G at this point.

But, best of luck to you if you go on ahead with your original plan.

-- Nathan