why do iphone 4's sell for so much on ebay when you can get them cheaper from apple?

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BlahBlahYouToo

Lifer
Jul 10, 2007
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a month ago, or closer to launch date, the 32gb's were going for $1k.

they're being sold as unlocked, or jailbroken, which means they are not NIB even though many were being advertised as such.

now, you can walk into any apple store and get a new, unsubsidized phone for $600.
why pay $800-1000 for a shady one on ebay?
 
R

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
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Because in order for it to be unlocked, you need to buy the phone, sign the contract. Bail out of the contract, unlock/jailbreak it, then put it with another carrier. Which racks up to about 800-1000 depending on the model.
 
B

BlahBlahYouToo

Lifer
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
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RavenSEAL said:
Because in order for it to be unlocked, you need to buy the phone, sign the contract. Bail out of the contract, unlock/jailbreak it, then put it with another carrier. Which racks up to about 800-1000 depending on the model.
Click to expand...

go to apple store, hand over $600 + applicable taxes, walk away with shiny new iphone without a contract.
jailbreak/unlock yourself.
 
R

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
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BlahBlahYouToo said:
go to apple store, hand over $600 + applicable taxes, walk away with shiny new iphone without a contract.
jailbreak/unlock yourself.
Click to expand...

I thought every iphone was locked into AT&T automatically no matter what retail store it was purchased at? Wasn't that the initial deal Apple and AT&T had? If i'm not wrong, you have to sign up for a plan when you buy the phone...at least thats what http://store.apple.com is telling me when i hit add to cart.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
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I don't know, but I walk by a line of about 50+ morons outside the mall every morning, waiting to get into the Apple store when it opens. o_O

KT
 
P

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
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BlahBlahYouToo said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/APPLE-IPHONE-4G...0493703351?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item230a1facb7

ships to US only.
unlocked, jailbroken... advertised as new in box.

how does he jailbreak and unlock it while it's inside the box?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure one can buy factory unlocked iphones outside the US, maybe those are the ones they are selling... I dunno. My sister bought a "legit" unlocked iphone from an authorized apple dealer overseas, it works on other carriers as well.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
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iPhone 4s are still scarce in some places. Tried to get one today. Guy said best bet was to come right when the store opened and wait for the UPS guy. Screw that.
 
kag

kag

Golden Member
May 21, 2001
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www.boloxe.com
You can buy a factory unlocked iPhone 4 without any contract in Canada. You have to buy it directly from Apple.
 
InflatableBuddha

InflatableBuddha

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2007
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KeithTalent said:
I don't know, but I walk by a line of about 50+ morons outside the mall every morning, waiting to get into the Apple store when it opens. o_O

KT
Click to expand...

Geez, what a bunch of sheep. People will do this for any hyped up product it seems - iPhone, PS3, Wii...I can recall years ago when there were lineups for PS2s and mad rushes to get a Tickle Me Elmo.

I honestly can't think of any product that I desire so badly that I'm willing to wait in a huge ass line to get it. Guess I'm not a typical consumer :rolleyes:.
 
S

Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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81
Don't you need to be an AT&T customer to even buy an iPhone in the US? Even if you don't sign a contract?

Even if you don't have to be, it's locked to AT&T isn't it?

Nexus Ones run for $700 or so overseas too. Maybe it's not a big issue anymore because people have the Desire.
 
secretanchitman

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,352
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91
DLeRium said:
Don't you need to be an AT&T customer to even buy an iPhone in the US? Even if you don't sign a contract?

Even if you don't have to be, it's locked to AT&T isn't it?

Nexus Ones run for $700 or so overseas too. Maybe it's not a big issue anymore because people have the Desire.
Click to expand...

nope, you dont need to be an at&t customer to get an iphone from an apple store. you can buy any of the three models (8GB 3GS, 16GB 4, 32GB 4) without contract and unsubsidized, aka at full price - $499, $599, and $699 at the apple store, respectively.

however, the catch is that the phones are still locked to at&t. if people want an unlocked iphone, they'll need to go to canada, the UK, hong kong, etc - countries that specifically state that the unsubsidized iphones are unlocked.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
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InflatableBuddha said:
Geez, what a bunch of sheep. People will do this for any hyped up product it seems - iPhone, PS3, Wii...I can recall years ago when there were lineups for PS2s and mad rushes to get a Tickle Me Elmo.

I honestly can't think of any product that I desire so badly that I'm willing to wait in a huge ass line to get it. Guess I'm not a typical consumer :rolleyes:.
Click to expand...

Nope, I'm with you, it's totally absurd. People sitting outside at 7:00 in the morning, two whole hours before the mall opens just makes me shake my head and the fact they seem to be there every day... o_O

KT
 
B

BlahBlahYouToo

Lifer
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
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KeithTalent said:
Nope, I'm with you, it's totally absurd. People sitting outside at 7:00 in the morning, two whole hours before the mall opens just makes me shake my head and the fact they seem to be there every day... o_O

KT
Click to expand...

i think it's because they have to get their apple product serviced by the guys at the "genius bar".
not necessarily iphones, but macs, ipods, etc.
 
silverpig

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
KeithTalent said:
Nope, I'm with you, it's totally absurd. People sitting outside at 7:00 in the morning, two whole hours before the mall opens just makes me shake my head and the fact they seem to be there every day... o_O

KT
Click to expand...

It's not actually absurd when you realize that many of them are getting paid to do it. There are people in town that want an iPhone 4, but don't have the time to stand in line all morning, so they pay people to wait in line for them, then call them when they're at the front of the line, or will buy + sell the phone for a markup.

So the line waiters aren't all stupid :p
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
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silverpig said:
It's not actually absurd when you realize that many of them are getting paid to do it. There are people in town that want an iPhone 4, but don't have the time to stand in line all morning, so they pay people to wait in line for them, then call them when they're at the front of the line, or will buy + sell the phone for a markup.

So the line waiters aren't all stupid :p
Click to expand...

I don't know man, have you actually seen them? :hmm:

:D

KT
 
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