Question about buying and reselling the Iphone

[txenakis]

Hi everyone,

I'm not really into the Iphone (personal preference) but i do have an ATT account that's eligible for an upgrade, and I'll be opening a new line for work too.

So my plan is to get two Iphone #GS for 199 and then sell them on ebay.

What i want to know is this: what is the best procedure for doing that?
-Should I buy at the Apple store and activate, or order online and not activate?
- If I dont activate, will ATT charge me the full price (599) of the Iphone after 30 days?
- What about the $30 data plan, can I cancel it since i wont be using it?
- Finally, what do i tell ATT about the phones? I cant tell them i sold them obviously.

Thanks for any advice

[BrownGem]

Okay so you purchase phones with 2 yr contract, then sell the phone. You are still locked into a contract. Do you plan to obtain 2 more phones and continue the contracts? I don't think they care if you sell the phone. The only question is would you be required to purchase phones that have a data plan for 2 yrs of the data service that comes with Iphone. Not sure if data plan is also considered part of the contract. The Iphones would also be locked to the phone number on your plan.

[txenakis]

I dont mind accepting the 2-yr agreement. What I need to know is, if I activate the phone, can i then sell it on ebay to someone else, or will it be forever tied to my account?

[BrownGem]

The number will be tied to your account until you purchase another phone and deactivate the Iphone.

[Hawk]

Essentially, yes. The phones will be tied to your account. At least until whomever you sold them to tries to activate them, then it's their problem to try and get it activated with their carrier/account, while you foot the bill for 2 iphone data and voice plans at about $140 a month for the next 2 years for a total of $3360.00 plus tax.

[txenakis]

Essentially, yes. The phones will be tied to your account. At least until whomever you sold them to tries to activate them, then it's their problem to try and get it activated with their carrier/account, while you foot the bill for 2 iphone data and voice plans at about $140 a month for the next 2 years for a total of $3360.00 plus tax.

The voice I dont mind (I'll be using voice on my other phone anyway). But the data i mind. I want to know if tis possible to downgrade the data plan after i've sold my iphones.

[Hawk]

That's probably a question for AT&T

[shutter13]

You only have to have the iPhone data plan...if you have the iPhone on their network. If you buy the iPhone w a 2 yr contract, the contract is for voice only. You can stop the data plan at any time you want, you just have to stop using the iPhone on their network.

[txenakis]

Thanks. One more question: how do i justify to ATT that I'm not using the Iphone anymore? Arent they going to make me return it if i tell them i'm not using it?

[shutter13]

Why would you have to justify anything. Provided you keep your end of the contract they don't care. You don't even have to talk to them to remove the data plan. Put your sim in a non iPhone and once it shows up as a different phone in the olam you can remove the feature yourself. You would only have to return the phone if you cancelled your contract within 30 days of buying the phone.

[txenakis]

Got it, thanks for the info. What i still dont get is the activation part. If i buy it say at the apple store and activate it there to my account, can i still go ahead and sell it someone else? i see some iphones on ebay that say they're already activated, so does it work?

[txenakis]

Bump for last question

[TheHitt]

Dude, what u are doing is very simple.... I did it before.... go to store, buy two iphones just as you would be if you planned on keeping them... here is where the choice comes in.... what I did was have them activate the phones in store but keep the plastic on the screen... just lift it up enough to plug in the usb cord.... then go home, take out the sim cards (easy), and be careful to not mess up the screen plastic film, then sell them as brand new, just show that box was opened in store. Also be sure to call att and say that you want to remove data and change to regular phone/txt plan.
you may also be able to do this all WITHOUT having to open the iphone boxes.... when u are in store and purchase an iphone, the sim in your current phone tied to that number will stop working, and sim in iphone will be tied to your account(i think, even tho you didnt open the box).... so do this, then go to store with the phone u want to use and tell them u need a new sim card and they will activate a new sim card and the one in your sealed iphone will be FREE FROM YOU!!! you have a sealed iphone that is not tied to you:)
Happy selling!

[txenakis]

Thanks a lot, that answered y questions. I will do that tomorrow.