08-12-2009, 08:17 PM
Ok, please bear with me here as I am definitely NOT a cell phone person. I have a pre-paid cell phone that I carry with me maybe once a month.
My wife has been an AT&T subscriber since before the Cingular days (back when it was AT&T). She has about 6 months left on her current contract and has been itching to upgrade to an iPhone. But apparently, until her current contract expires, she can't get the new model at the cheaper price.
A very good friend just upgraded from a 3G to the new 3GS, so he's selling his 3G. It's the 16GB model, and he's asking $245 for it. He said that he got that figure by checking ebay completed auctions.
The question I have is "Why would anyone (but my wife in particular) pay that much for a used iPhone?". From what I've read, as soon as she upgraded to the mandatory data plan, she'd have to sign a new, two year commitment. If that's the case, then wouldn't it be smarter to buy a new 3GS in 6 months? If that's not the case (i.e. she doesn't have to sign a two year commitment), then I still don't see the advantage. She's been on AT&T for about 10 years and I can't see her switching to another carrier anytime soon. Having no long term contract doesn't seem like a bonus when she's likely to stay with AT&T anyway. Am I missing something here?
Even for me, as someone who isn't a current AT&T subscriber... the only advantage I could see is that IF I don't have to sign a two year commitment (because AT&T isn't subsidizing the phone), I could cancel at any time and not pay a penalty. I'd have the "privilege" of paying ~$70/month until I got tired of it, then could sell it to someone else. Any other advantages?
My wife has been an AT&T subscriber since before the Cingular days (back when it was AT&T). She has about 6 months left on her current contract and has been itching to upgrade to an iPhone. But apparently, until her current contract expires, she can't get the new model at the cheaper price.
A very good friend just upgraded from a 3G to the new 3GS, so he's selling his 3G. It's the 16GB model, and he's asking $245 for it. He said that he got that figure by checking ebay completed auctions.
The question I have is "Why would anyone (but my wife in particular) pay that much for a used iPhone?". From what I've read, as soon as she upgraded to the mandatory data plan, she'd have to sign a new, two year commitment. If that's the case, then wouldn't it be smarter to buy a new 3GS in 6 months? If that's not the case (i.e. she doesn't have to sign a two year commitment), then I still don't see the advantage. She's been on AT&T for about 10 years and I can't see her switching to another carrier anytime soon. Having no long term contract doesn't seem like a bonus when she's likely to stay with AT&T anyway. Am I missing something here?
Even for me, as someone who isn't a current AT&T subscriber... the only advantage I could see is that IF I don't have to sign a two year commitment (because AT&T isn't subsidizing the phone), I could cancel at any time and not pay a penalty. I'd have the "privilege" of paying ~$70/month until I got tired of it, then could sell it to someone else. Any other advantages?