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Where are these eBay iPhones coming from?
- Thread starter nickspohn
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No one if you cancel the contract.
If these people are getting the iPhones for just the $200/$300, then AT&T for sure.
It's AT&T's fault for all of this pretty much. But it could be Apple's too because of all the unlocking that has been able to be made. The fiasco when the 3G iPhones were released was because of AT&T making sure the iPhones are all activated right at the store instead of taking the iPhone home and doing it yourself.
If these people are getting the iPhones for just the $200/$300, then AT&T for sure.
It's AT&T's fault for all of this pretty much. But it could be Apple's too because of all the unlocking that has been able to be made. The fiasco when the 3G iPhones were released was because of AT&T making sure the iPhones are all activated right at the store instead of taking the iPhone home and doing it yourself.
You can reset your contract status all you want, but the chances of you being able to walk out of an Apple/AT&T store with an unopened iPhone 3G is pretty low. There are occasional system problems that prevent in-store activations, but your chances of resetting your contract status and walking out with an unopened iPhone 3G twenty or thirty times is pretty much zero.
I guess you people are unfamiliar with the concept of loophole.
It is quite possible if you live in areas where there are many AT&T, Apple, Best Buy and soon, Walmart stores. Also, I am sure wrapped or unwrapped is not going to make huge difference for these sellers or buyers. Apple can activate the sim card within the phone without having to physically connect the phone to iTunes, therefore the seller will either have to remove the sim card or activate another sim card to nullified the sim card that is in the wrapped box.
There is no loophole at the local AT&T store. These people are getting them from somewhere else.
I mean look at this:
this guy is in california
florida:
in the auction, the guy said they are not shrink wrapped because the clerk had to activate them..
and this guy is in singapore, but seriously, look how many there are..
I mean look at this:
this guy is in california
florida:
in the auction, the guy said they are not shrink wrapped because the clerk had to activate them..
and this guy is in singapore, but seriously, look how many there are..
Quite simple. The guy bought from several people whom exploited various loopholes at a margin and sold them at a higher margin.
If this guy was in Kansas or North Dakota, it might be something else.
If this guy was in Kansas or North Dakota, it might be something else.
I gave you an example of a previous loophole. If one existed in the past, it is likely another exist currently.
Plus you don't think posting pictures like those above won't attract attention of Apple/AT&T? If it is illegal, it would have already been shut down.
it would be illegal if the people having the iPhones stole them or had false IDs,credit cards but we're not suggesting this.
Someone at the stores is doing something wrong,if not illegal,certainly unethical
Oh I just noticed that not all of them are wrapped. Now I am most certain that they are exploiting a loophole. If there is a steady 3rd party supply, there is no reason why only some of them are wrapped and others aren't.
Just a guess but I'd assume they have someone on the inside at one of the factories, and they buy them straight from there... who knows but thats what most of the ads seem like when they claim they're bought straight from Apple.
I know you've said it already, but could you define "loophole" in clearer terms? Are you suggesting people find ways to get apple to hand them over iphones?
Taken a look at ebay.com
Are there many selling for less than 600$?
We're talking about locked phones, and I think I read there are some issues unlocking 2.2 with a turbosim.
Anyway,you can have a second iPhone,extending your first contract, for 399$,correct? If you sell it for 600$, considering the taxes, you make about 150$? Not so bad if you repeat it 10 times AND you have a job
If people buy these off ebay for 600, I don't really understand them, I payed mine which has 2 years of warranty, no simlock even though I don't care, I have no contract, I can sell it whenever I want, but of course I bought it in Italy, where I live, for 455,we're talking about a 16GB,through my business, no taxes therefore, and that would translate in 639.45$, w/ taxes the 8GB sells for 499 and the 16GB for 569.
AND if people are buying them off ebay for less than 500$ which would make more sense, somebody has to make money so I guess they really do find them at 199$ or 299$ plus taxes? Who's cheating whom? AT&T/Apple employees? I can't believe their employers can't check how many contracts have been signed and how many iPhones they sell, so are they the ones cheating AT&T/Apple? Should Steve Jobs worry? should the stock keepers worry?
Are there many selling for less than 600$?
We're talking about locked phones, and I think I read there are some issues unlocking 2.2 with a turbosim.
Anyway,you can have a second iPhone,extending your first contract, for 399$,correct? If you sell it for 600$, considering the taxes, you make about 150$? Not so bad if you repeat it 10 times AND you have a job
If people buy these off ebay for 600, I don't really understand them, I payed mine which has 2 years of warranty, no simlock even though I don't care, I have no contract, I can sell it whenever I want, but of course I bought it in Italy, where I live, for 455,we're talking about a 16GB,through my business, no taxes therefore, and that would translate in 639.45$, w/ taxes the 8GB sells for 499 and the 16GB for 569.
AND if people are buying them off ebay for less than 500$ which would make more sense, somebody has to make money so I guess they really do find them at 199$ or 299$ plus taxes? Who's cheating whom? AT&T/Apple employees? I can't believe their employers can't check how many contracts have been signed and how many iPhones they sell, so are they the ones cheating AT&T/Apple? Should Steve Jobs worry?
should the stock keepers worry?There are at least couple reasons from top of my head to buy it from eBay.
1. no contract is needed or extended.
2. FAN account
3. less hassle than to sign up and wait 30 days to cancel.
You are also right about the profit margin at about $100 for locked phones.
1. no contract is needed or extended.
2. FAN account
3. less hassle than to sign up and wait 30 days to cancel.
You are also right about the profit margin at about $100 for locked phones.
I understand what you're saying and kinda agree, but still, are the buyers using them with AT&T or can they use the 3g part with T-mobile that seems to have better service/prices?
What is a FAN account?
Does this all mean the sellers buy the ones that are not sealed in the manner I kind of described? Keep your contract, use it of course if you want to, and buy a second phone in store for it's full price? especially if you have friends in store I guess you can convince them to sell it to you without the need of an instore activation and "breaking" of the seal?
As long as there are buyers there's no stopping the sellers make at least 100$ per phone that way, a lot more if they get them somehow differently
Forgive me if this is incorrect but even if these people got a phone on contract then cancelled the contract, don't apple/at&t take the phone back because you have no obligation to keep it now you're not under a contract and you haven't seen out the contract to the end.
When I said about getting iPhones from 3rd party stores, I mean't smaller retail stores here in the UK such as high street o2 stores. If a store is franchised out they have no obligation to sell stock through the company, they can of course buy stock using suppliers to the store and sell the stock via other means. This of course means they have the possibility to sell iPhones on eBay or where ever without offering a contract. Even before o2 introduced the pay as you go versions. They can still sell the handsets and let people put their own sim-cards in after.
When I said about getting iPhones from 3rd party stores, I mean't smaller retail stores here in the UK such as high street o2 stores. If a store is franchised out they have no obligation to sell stock through the company, they can of course buy stock using suppliers to the store and sell the stock via other means. This of course means they have the possibility to sell iPhones on eBay or where ever without offering a contract. Even before o2 introduced the pay as you go versions. They can still sell the handsets and let people put their own sim-cards in after.
Maybe there is a procedure/loophole for "companies" or corporations buying iPhones for there "employees", in which they order BIG quantities of iPhones which are not activated till they are given to said employees. Who should then be activating the phone and all...
So the guys open a "dummy" corporation (or become incorporated), anybody (2 or more people) can start a corporation and then under false pretense tell Apple they are a legitimate company and they need phones for there employees.
Just as I received a company phone from my employer. They then go on to sell these phones and the end user activates the phone and AT&T and Apple are happy.
So the guys open a "dummy" corporation (or become incorporated), anybody (2 or more people) can start a corporation and then under false pretense tell Apple they are a legitimate company and they need phones for there employees.
Just as I received a company phone from my employer. They then go on to sell these phones and the end user activates the phone and AT&T and Apple are happy.
Maybe they buy them the same way At&t does? Or maybe they are purchased in bulk from At&t? If they went to a store and asked them to order 50 iPhones for them would At&t do this?
This explanation has made the most sense thus far. I think this is probably the "loophole" others have talked about.
Nice work bmwpowere!
This would trigger red flags in many ways. Both eBay and Apple are quite sensitive with iPhone sales.
I am willing to bet that these sellers are taking the straight forward approach and making small margins for their effort. It's really matter of doing the math.
What do you mean eBay and Apple are "sensitive" with iPhone sales? Sensitive in what way? Like they would investigate how in the hell (are they going to edit that?) so many people are selling mass quantities of iPhones? Because that obviously hasn't happened.
And what do you mean the "strait forward approach"? You mean buying each one from a different person and amassing large quantities this way? I could see a few people taking this approach, but it seems unlikely that all sellers that have large quantities of iPhones would actually think this was worth the time requirement.
Just my thoughts anyway....