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I'm looking at getting my dad an iPhone 3G for his upcoming birthday.
Where do I have to look to get the best prices for a legitimate and preferably new (may be OK on some used/refurbished) iPhone 3G?
What price is a good price for one of these?
I don't know nor care enough about iPhones, but it seems like this is what he wants. I did some basic research and whatnot, but I'm sure I'm missing a lot still. Any and all help will be appreciated.
I already checked eBay, but they have way too many fakes, versions, types, etc. The prices are also inconsistent, it seems.
There are none on Craigslist, other than used ones.
Not sure if you just want the phone alone with no binding service/contract. obviously it is cheaper to buy the phone with a contract.
Thanks for your reply.
Yeah, apple.com doesn't let you buy just the iPhone without contract and I'd assume the same goes for the AT&T site.
I've been looking around ebay and they seem to go around $400 for brand new ones for the cheapest. I found some and began bidding on some of the used ones, but I can't not worry about its legitimacy and its condition.
Yeah, apple.com doesn't let you buy just the iPhone without contract and I'd assume the same goes for the AT&T site.
I've been looking around ebay and they seem to go around $400 for brand new ones for the cheapest. I found some and began bidding on some of the used ones, but I can't not worry about its legitimacy and its condition.
buy one
cancel contract
take $150 hit
$199 + 150 + 70 = $420
not sure if this still works, but it did when i worked at "the blue and yelow store" (don't wanna say names, it's a big electronics retailer).
people came in, bought a phone and plan. At&t gives you 7days to cancel for any reason if you're not happy with the service. They cancelled the plan, they lost the $35 activation fee plus (#days / 31)*monthly fee - pro-rated charge.
Att "asks" (cannot make you) return the phone to your retailer, but the people never did, not even once. We had that happen a few times per month.
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Not trying to get off the subject here, but silvrhand how the #### do you have so many posts? Close to 6000 per day?
I'm thinking the you hacked your tracker somehow cause the next member next to you with the most posts only has 36,xxx . If not bro you really need to get out more.
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"Every man dies, but not every man really lives." -Braveheart
Last edited by gamec0mmander; 07-30-2009 at 02:19 PM.
So to recap:
-Get a 2 year contract with AT&T which will allow me to purchase the iPhone for cheap
-Cancel within the first few days of service
-If AT&T asks for phone back I say no
-Keep phone
-Total amount spent is somewhere between 320 and 420
Can other people verify that the above method actually works?
It's comes out to less than that. Here are the cliffnotes:
-Get a 2 year contract with AT&T which will allow me to purchase the iPhone for cheap ($99 for the phone + $35 for the activation fee)
-Cancel within the first few days of service
-If AT&T asks for phone to be returned to the retailer I say OK, but you never do
-Keep phone
-Total amount spent is somewhere 99+35+few bucks for 2-3 day usage. That will be approx. $150. GL
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3hree5ive0ero
Interesting.
So to recap:
-Get a 2 year contract with AT&T which will allow me to purchase the iPhone for cheap
-Cancel within the first few days of service
-If AT&T asks for phone back I say no
-Keep phone
-Total amount spent is somewhere between 320 and 420
Can other people verify that the above method actually works?
Thanks again for those who have helped.
__________________
"Every man dies, but not every man really lives." -Braveheart
It's hard enough finding a new iPhone 3G for much less than $400 (especially on eBay) and I've decided against used ones. Finding a 3GS for less than the price of a 3G will be impossible.
I guess I'll just do what a few of you have suggested. I'll have to research into it a bit, but seeing how 3 different people suggested the same/similar method, I have a good feeling about this.
However, I do have a question. Can AT&T do anything to me for not returning the phone as "stated?"
^^ if you pay by credit card they can probably charge your card the full amount for the phone. That sounds like a bad idea to me just cancel the plan withing the first 30 days or whatever. If you talk to a rep and they are cool they will tell you the cheapest way to do it and easiest.
^^ if you pay by credit card they can probably charge your card the full amount for the phone. That sounds like a bad idea to me just cancel the plan withing the first 30 days or whatever. If you talk to a rep and they are cool they will tell you the cheapest way to do it and easiest.
See, that's what I was thinking too (them doing a chargeback). I just don't want to be screwed over with headaches down the line.
So, how would canceling within the first month (let's say I cancel on the 20th day) be different from canceling within the first few days of service?
Quote:
Originally Posted by danisr1
Are you going to unlock the phone?
Yes, I will unlock and do a lot of stuff to it before giving it to my dad.
if you get the phone through a big retailer, you won't be backcharged, but just to be safe, pay cash.
you can unlock the phone yourself, just google "iphone unlock" and "iphone jailbreak"
the longer you wait to cancel during that first month, the more the pro-rated charge will be. if your montly contract is lets say 100, and you cancel in 3 days, you pay 3/31*100, if you cancel in 20 days, you pay 20/31*100. That's the only difference.
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"Every man dies, but not every man really lives." -Braveheart
Last edited by gamec0mmander; 07-31-2009 at 02:18 PM.
you have to keep the phone/contract for at least 31days because they (AT&T) cannot charge you the ETF if you cancel before the 30th day, so what they will do is charge you the full price of the phone even if you pay cash, they get all your info when you sign up. So keep in mind now you are paying the price of the 199(16gb phone?)+175(etf)+36(plus activation fee)+70(one whole months bill,plus taxes and other bs)+ 10-15 (prorated charge for the following month)= Close to 500.00!
you have to keep the phone/contract for at least 31days because they (AT&T) cannot charge you the ETF if you cancel before the 30th day, so what they will do is charge you the full price of the phone even if you pay cash, they get all your info when you sign up. So keep in mind now you are paying the price of the 199(16gb phone?)+175(etf)+36(plus activation fee)+70(one whole months bill,plus taxes and other bs)+ 10-15 (prorated charge for the following month)= Close to 500.00!
Best place to buy iPhone 3G?
K&N Drop In as of 06/6/2008 Eagle F1 All Seasons as of 06/21/2008
silvrhand
