Are iPhone's still hard to get?

[akshatp]

Why are the 8gb iPhone's, which you can get from Apple for $399 plus tax going for $550 and higher on eBay?

I was at an Apple store yesterday and they had plenty in stock. So did AT&T.

So why are so many being sold on eBay at an inflated price? Should I go buy a bunch from the store and resell them for a profit?

Somebody, please enlighten me!

 

[sniperruff]

IIRC the $400 price requires a contract.

 

[Kadarin]

Probably just stupid people on ebay...

 

[Minjin]

Hmm. So, if you already have an AT&T contract and you don't mind sticking with them for at least another two years, you could go buy the iPhone, get your contract extension, and make $150+ in the process?

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
IIRC the $400 price requires a contract.

Not true.

Originally posted by: Minjin
Hmm. So, if you already have an AT&T contract and you don't mind sticking with them for at least another two years, you could go buy the iPhone, get your contract extension, and make $150+ in the process?

I bought the phone from the Apple store without providing any information except my name which they got off of my credit card. The two year contract extension doesn't take effect until you activate the iPhone through iTunes, during which time you can sign up for new service or extend your current contract.

In other words, they do not offer an equipment discount for the iPhone like they do with other phones with a 2 year agreement.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: sniperruff
IIRC the $400 price requires a contract.

Not true.

Originally posted by: Minjin
Hmm. So, if you already have an AT&T contract and you don't mind sticking with them for at least another two years, you could go buy the iPhone, get your contract extension, and make $150+ in the process?

I bought the phone from the Apple store without providing any information except my name which they got off of my credit card. The two year contract extension doesn't take effect until you activate the iPhone through iTunes, during which time you can sign up for new service or extend your current contract.

In other words, they do not offer an equipment discount for the iPhone like they do with other phones with a 2 year agreement.

isn't that the same as "requires a 2-year contract"? you can't use it until you activate it and activating it requires you to extend/activate a new contract.

so in effect, a free phone that comes with a contract these days costs about $150-$200, so i'd say the price for an activated iphone for about $550 is justified.

 

[aphex]

well, actually you can use it without activating... Thats part of the whole scene with jailbreaking/unlocking the iphone.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: aphex
well, actually you can use it without activating... Thats part of the whole scene with jailbreaking/unlocking the iphone.

I mean, you get the functionality of a possibility of a cell phone. What's the megs on the camera?

It's interesting how someone hasn't posted a better phone that's more widely available and less hassle-choking.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: fire400

Originally posted by: aphex
well, actually you can use it without activating... Thats part of the whole scene with jailbreaking/unlocking the iphone.

I mean, you get the functionality of a possibility of a cell phone. What's the megs on the camera?

It's interesting how someone hasn't posted a better phone that's more widely available and less hassle-choking.

Not sure I understand what you wrote there.

Its 2 megapixel.

And as for your last sentiment, others will indeed follow, but so far the ones that have are just imitations (and rumored to be significantly more expensive) - http://www.engadget.com/2007/0...inione-m8-989-in-2008/

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: fire400

Originally posted by: aphex
well, actually you can use it without activating... Thats part of the whole scene with jailbreaking/unlocking the iphone.

I mean, you get the functionality of a possibility of a cell phone. What's the megs on the camera?

It's interesting how someone hasn't posted a better phone that's more widely available and less hassle-choking.

Not sure I understand what you wrote there.

Its 2 megapixel.

And as for your last sentiment, others will indeed follow, but so far the ones that have are just imitations (and rumored to be significantly more expensive) - http://www.engadget.com/2007/0...inione-m8-989-in-2008/

Thats way to expensive to take off...

 

[akshatp]

We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: akshatp
We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

because activating the iphone requires a contract activation/extension, unless you unlock it illegally?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: akshatp
We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

because activating the iphone requires a contract activation/extension, unless you unlock it illegally?

Or because fools and their money are soon parted.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: akshatp
We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

because activating the iphone requires a contract activation/extension, unless you unlock it illegally?

Unlocking a phone isn't illegal, I don't think. Even the DMCA has an exception.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: akshatp
We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

because activating the iphone requires a contract activation/extension, unless you unlock it illegally?

Once again, it does not

 

[Kaido]

1. iPhones are still $399 from Apple and are always in stock
2. Buying an iPhone does not require activation or signing a contract
3. Unlocking it is technically not illegal since all cell phones are required to be unlockable

 

[aphex]

One possible reason: Does apple.com accept paypal?

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: Kaido
1. iPhones are still $399 from Apple and are always in stock
2. Buying an iPhone does not require activation or signing a contract
3. Unlocking it is technically not illegal since all cell phones are required to be unlockable

Which is why I asked the question in the first place

 

[Aimster]

Because the phones on ebay are unlocked

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: aphex
One possible reason: Does apple.com accept paypal?

Doubt it. Also, you have to consider that purchasing an iPhone from a retailer requires a credit card. You can't pay with cash/gift cards. (at least not 100%, maybe not at all.)

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: akshatp
We have gone way off the original topic.

My original question was Why are they selling for so much on eBay when they are readily available at retail outlets for way less?

because activating the iphone requires a contract activation/extension, unless you unlock it illegally?

illegally? it has never been against the law to unlock a phone.

 

[vital]

Originally posted by: Kaido
1. iPhones are still $399 from Apple and are always in stock
2. Buying an iPhone does not require activation or signing a contract
3. Unlocking it is technically not illegal since all cell phones are required to be unlockable

Can you call at&t and tell them you're traveling overseas and need your iphone unlocked? I do that all the time w/ tmobile.

 

[Phokus]

This thread is like a 'who's on 1st' type conversation

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Who the hell would pay $399 (or $550+ on eBay for that matter) for a phone with no: MMS, video, 3G, GPS, open operating system, and software that is constantly updated to lock you out? Stupid people, that's who. Put down the Steve Jobs Kool-Aid, the iPhone is an overpriced iPOS. I could have bought one, but I paid $150 for a REAL Smartphone, bought a BlackJack II, and saved the other $250.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Who the hell would pay $399 (or $550+ on eBay for that matter) for a phone with no: MMS, video, 3G, GPS, open operating system, and software that is constantly updated to lock you out? Stupid people, that's who. Put down the Steve Jobs Kool-Aid, the iPhone is an overpriced iPOS. I could have bought one, but I paid $150 for a REAL Smartphone, bought a BlackJack II, and saved the other $250.

Wow - thats a real 'dick' response. I usually enjoy your posts, but your off base here.

Having used a quite a few smartphones (Nokia E61, Blackberry 6-series, Treo 700p, Cingular 2125, played with a friends Blackjack), i MUCH prefer the iPhone.

Your paying for an EXCELLENT interface, one that is user intuitive and extremely easy to use. Obviously its not meant for hardcore business users (they don't even sell it to people on business plans). All the windows mobile phones I had crashed frequently, were slow to use, and just a plain PITA compared to the iPhone.

Not everyone uses video, MMS (in my 10 years of using cellphones i've never once even used this). 3g isn't available everywhere (not where I live, non-issue).

The only thing I would like to see is GPS, but its a first gen (even the blackjack didn't have GPS in the first gen model). Apple has stated the next gen will be 3g, and with the SDK coming out in feb, your open OS is a non-issue.

As i stated earlier, for those who only need what the iPhone does - It is SUPERB.

EDIT: I would also like to add that I replaced my 8gb Nano with my iPhone - which i sold for $225, so $399 - $225, the iPhone actually cost (in my situation) $175 which was significantly cheaper than the Nokia E61 it replaced.