+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay (/showthread.php?tid=80487)
Pages:
1
2
Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - Carnos Jax - 06-29-2009
Let's say I"m a current iPhone user on AT&T, having just upgraded to the new 3GS.
So I go out and buy another 32GB iPhone 3GS for $299 (assuming I can find one) and activate an additional line on my account (so I incur an additional line charge of $9.99/mo and data plan of $35/mo).
Then let's say I cancel the additional line by paying the $175 (or is it $200?) ETF. So total I'm in for on the iPhone is around $500. I then sell the iPhone for $700/$800 on fleabay. Then repeat the process (or buy a couple the first time around).
What's the fly in this ointment?
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - hal - 06-29-2009
why would anyone give you $700-800 for it?
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - space-time - 06-29-2009
do they really go that high?
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - (vikm) - 06-29-2009
I thought you could buy them outright with no contract for less than that!?!?
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - Carnos Jax - 06-29-2009
All good questions guys. Just go to fleabay and see for yourselves though. I can't explain it, but the market is there.
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - davester - 06-29-2009
The catch is that the ones selling that high are officially unlocked phones, which sell for $799 at Buy.com. If you buy one with a contract from AT&T you will have to unlock it with aftermarket software which will break every time there's an OS update. You will not be able to sell a phone you bought under contract for that much money.
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - Carnos Jax - 06-30-2009
Interesting Davester, didn't know about "officially unlocked iPhones".
But for example, this one's not unlocked, and according to the seller (whom I've emailed) they bought it at an AT&T store (which I presume means they had to activate it w/a 2 year contract, hence the reference about removing the "activated SIM card" ): http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BNIB-Black-Apple-iPhone-3G-S-3GS-32GB-Unlockable-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a13Q7c66Q3a4Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a200QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2301d23af9QQitemZ150354410233QQptZCellQ5fPhonesQQsalenotsupported%22
Then there's this cat, I wonder what his story is (sealed, not unlocked, doesn't mention anything about contract): http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-NEW-Apple-iPhone-3GS-Black-White-32Gb-3G-S-3G-S_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a13Q7c66Q3a4Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a200QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem35a206a632QQitemZ230351611442QQptZCellQ5fPhonesQQsalenotsupported
Plus, if I'm not mistaken, on Buy.com you can only get 3G phones, not the newer 3GS.
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - davester - 06-30-2009
Well that is odd. Perhaps all those bidders are certifiably insane or perhaps they so desperately want a phone that is scarce right now that they're willing to pay anything for it. In that case you might have a shot, of making a small amount of money for a large amount of effort just so long as the shortage holds out. Risky IMHO.
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - Carnos Jax - 06-30-2009
I hear you. I'm just wondering if it's easy as it seems. What am I missing?
Re: Question/Idea about reselling iPhones on eBay - DavidS - 06-30-2009
Is this guy running his own AT&T or Apple store on eBay?