nüvifone™. The navigation phone.
Sell your iPhone 3G at a profit
If you're lucky, you might be able to pocket as much as $200 in profit on your old iPhone.
If you're among those lucky few who are eligible to upgrade to an iPhone 3G S without paying full retail pricing, here's good news: you can sell your old iPhone 3G and walk away with some extra cash.
Let's say you have the 16GB model. A quick check of Craigslist and eBay shows that the going rate for a mint-condition 16GB iPhone 3G is around $400.
Now, it doesn't take a math whiz to figure out that if you buy a 16GB iPhone 3G S for $200, you'll walk away with a $200 profit. Grab the 32GB model and you make $100. Not too shabby, eh?
Of course, with the sudden glut of used iPhones out there, you may have a tough time finding a buyer. If you'd rather not deal with the hassles (and potential wait) of selling to another individual, consider selling to a service.
iPod fix-it shop Rapid Repair, for instance, has an iPhone buyback program that's currently offering $230 for an 8GB iPhone 3G and $270 for the 16GB model. It'll even pick up the cost of shipping.
I also got an online quote from used-gadget buyer NextWorth, which offered about $220 for my 16GB 3G.
Used-gadget buyer NextWorth will give you a decent price for your used iPhone 3G.
Sadly, I'm not eligible for upgrade pricing until 2047, or something ridiculous like that. (Thanks, Apple!) So I haven't been able to put any of these methods to the test. If you have, be sure to leave a comment detailing your experiences.
If you do decide to sell your old iPhone, here's some advice from resident forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski: 1) Pull the SIM card. The new owner won't be able to use it anyway. 2) Erase the phone by tapping your way into Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Make sure to keep the phone plugged in, as this process can take a couple hours to complete.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
How is Apple in any way responsible for this? The lower pricing is subsidized pricing and it's standard practice for manufacturers to charge more for a phone. I remember buying a LG flip phone for $220 out of contract. I don't remember blaming LG because I wasn't eligible for upgrade at Altell. You said you have enough thanks to go around....but I don't get why Apple deserves any of the blame for this.
AT&T, I have to be your customer, but some of your policies.....
Perhaps it would be nice if AT&T had an early upgrade fee for those who want to get the latest and greatest right now (if it doesn't already; and, in fact, AT&T announced its giving a generous break to those who are closer to their upgrade date--when's the last time an electronics store or Macy's did something like that for you?).
I'll wager the "phone" component is $100 (or less) which would make the straight retail cost of an iPhone $399
If ATT subsidizes $200 of if over a two year contract fine, but let's cut the crap on the "early upgrade" price at $399 and a mandatory two year contract.
If you want to know the true cost of an iPhone, just check the Hong Kong price where they sell completely unsubsidized and unlocked. My friend just bought one there for about $500 for the 3G model.
BTW, I just did the same thing with my year-old 3G 8GB. Sold it and went for a spankin-new 16GB 3GS. My out-of-pocket is $120. :P
Awfully 'poor choice' for a rant.
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by philip2021
June 23, 2009 8:53 AM PDT
- Is Rapid Repair a legit business? I heard/read something about people setting up fake shops like this as a scam. Anyone dealt with them before? Thanks a lot.
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by philip2021
June 23, 2009 9:15 AM PDT
- I think I might have found my answer: The BBB gives them an "A."
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (55 Comments)http://www.bbb.org/western-michigan/business-reviews/electronic-equipment-and-supliers-service-repair/rapid-repair-in-kalamazoo-mi-24006061