Selling cell phones

[Isocene]

My about to renew the contracts on my families ATT cell phone plan. My parent's don't want to switch their phones because finally know how to use them. I'm looking to buy the phones at the cheaper rates and re-sell them on ebay and apply the profits on ebay.

The Nokia e71x looks to be the best bet right now in terms of profit. I can get one for $50 cheaper for being a customer for a long time. So one will be $49 and one will be $99. They sell on ebay for around $250 so I'm hoping to make around $300 after it's all said and done.

I was just wondering if there is anything I need to do to the phones before I resell them?

 

[bsobel]

I thought with AT&T you'd have to activate those phones (at least for some time) or get charged the full price for them, no?

 

[Isocene]

I don't know! I'm glad I asked then!

 

[uhohs]

i did the same thing and sold some samsung phones a few months ago. just popped the new simcards into the old phones and sold the new phones.

 

[Isocene]

awesome. Did you make a decent amount?

 

[Reckoner]

Upgrade, receive new phone, put it on ebay, wait for winner, make sure sim card isn't in the new phone, ship to the winning bidder, profit.

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: Isocene
awesome. Did you make a decent amount?

sold them on ebay for $290-300 shipped each. insured priority mail shipping was ~$12 and combined ebay/paypal fees were ~$20. got the phones free with contract from amazon.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: bsobel
I thought with AT&T you'd have to activate those phones (at least for some time) or get charged the full price for them, no?

yeah, with att, you have to turn them on with your sim card and make a phone call for 1 minute or something. You can easily cover your ass by saying "opened to test it". Be advised though this only unlocks it to any ATT customer. You still may have to unlock it a different way for Tmobile.

 

[Isocene]

Wow which phones did you buy uhohs?

I just read how to unlock the e71x. Apparently all you have to do is enable international roaming and then call in and ask for a code because you want to use it overseas

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: uhohs

Originally posted by: Isocene
awesome. Did you make a decent amount?

sold them on ebay for $290-300 shipped each. insured priority mail shipping was ~$12 and combined ebay/paypal fees were ~$20. got the phones free with contract from amazon.

whoops, i meant ~$30 in combined ebay/paypal fees. ffffffffff.

they were samsung eternity's (a867), they're probably not fetching as much now though.

 

[Reckoner]

If you want max dollar, wait for the iphone 3gs to come out.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Why would you renew and put them back on a 2 year contract? Being out of contract gives them the leeway to get out if they want.

Originally posted by: Reckoner
If you want max dollar, wait for the iphone 3gs to come out.

His parents would have to get a 3G/Data contract I highly doubt they have data.

 

[Isocene]

Reckoner, you have to get a data plan when you buy one of those. I guess only people who don't mind keeping their iphone 3g will gets a 3gs and sell it.

Vivi, they will always have a cell phone. My father needs it for his business. This makes it cheaper on them. He'll end up saving $500 this year by me joining his plan.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yeah, but what happens if XXXXX cell company has a lower rate and he wants to move companies.

 

[Isocene]

So you're saying he should continue to pay a lot a month now in hopes that something cheaper may come along in the future?

He will go from paying $105 a month right now, to paying $75 a month. With at least 2 months free from the profits of selling the phones. If you know of something better where he doesn't have to switch his number or phone let me know!

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Isocene
Reckoner, you have to get a data plan when you buy one of those. I guess only people who don't mind keeping their iphone 3g will gets a 3gs and sell it.

Vivi, they will always have a cell phone. My father needs it for his business. This makes it cheaper on them. He'll end up saving $500 this year by me joining his plan.

Initially you'd have to sign up for a data plan, but when you get home, put the sim card in your old phone, call at&t, tell them you switched back to your old phone and drop the data plan. That's what I did.

 

[Isocene]

That is smart Reckoner! I think those 3gs will go for a lot, especially if they sell out. I can preorder them now. Actually, I just preordered one for myself. $199 the 16gb goes for now. I wonder how much it would sell for on ebay?

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Reckoner

Originally posted by: Isocene
Reckoner, you have to get a data plan when you buy one of those. I guess only people who don't mind keeping their iphone 3g will gets a 3gs and sell it.

Vivi, they will always have a cell phone. My father needs it for his business. This makes it cheaper on them. He'll end up saving $500 this year by me joining his plan.

Initially you'd have to sign up for a data plan, but when you get home, put the sim card in your old phone, call at&t, tell them you switched back to your old phone and drop the data plan. That's what I did.

From what people say on MacRumors, you need to give back your iphone if you do that...since AT&T subsidizes the prices, ALOT.

Originally posted by: Isocene
So you're saying he should continue to pay a lot a month now in hopes that something cheaper may come along in the future?

He will go from paying $105 a month right now, to paying $75 a month. With at least 2 months free from the profits of selling the phones. If you know of something better where he doesn't have to switch his number or phone let me know!

What? You get a lower rate for signing a contract? That's odd...T-Mobile has never done that too me and I have been 'out of contract' for 4 years nearly.

1000 minutes, 2 phones
unlimited family texts
unlimited EDGE data on one phone
65$ USD per month, after taxes and whatnot.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Isocene
That is smart Reckoner! I think those 3gs will go for a lot, especially if they sell out. I can preorder them now. Actually, I just preordered one for myself. $199 the 16gb goes for now. I wonder how much it would sell for on ebay?

Big bucks, probably at least $500. People hate being tied down to cell phone plans so you should get some decent bank for it. Especially since it'll be basically brand new. I just sold my launch day iphone 3g 8GB for $310 on ebay.

 

[Isocene]

No, right now I have a separate plan. I'm canceling and adding myself to his plan. That is how much he will be paying after we split the bill.

That is a very good price for two phones but I don't see that plan on T-mobile for that price.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Reckoner

Originally posted by: Isocene
Reckoner, you have to get a data plan when you buy one of those. I guess only people who don't mind keeping their iphone 3g will gets a 3gs and sell it.

Vivi, they will always have a cell phone. My father needs it for his business. This makes it cheaper on them. He'll end up saving $500 this year by me joining his plan.

Initially you'd have to sign up for a data plan, but when you get home, put the sim card in your old phone, call at&t, tell them you switched back to your old phone and drop the data plan. That's what I did.

From what people say on MacRumors, you need to give back your iphone if you do that...since AT&T subsidizes the prices, ALOT.

Originally posted by: Isocene
So you're saying he should continue to pay a lot a month now in hopes that something cheaper may come along in the future?

He will go from paying $105 a month right now, to paying $75 a month. With at least 2 months free from the profits of selling the phones. If you know of something better where he doesn't have to switch his number or phone let me know!

What? You get a lower rate for signing a contract? That's odd...T-Mobile has never done that too me and I have been 'out of contract' for 4 years nearly.

1000 minutes, 2 phones
unlimited family texts
unlimited EDGE data on one phone
65$ USD per month, after taxes and whatnot.

You only have to give back the phone if you cancel your service with them in the first month. Data's considered a feature, so it's no big deal if you want to drop that at any time, so long as you no longer use the iphone. You just have to make sure your sim card is in your old phone before you call, so when they pull up your IMEI it shows your current phone instead of the iphone.

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: Reckoner
If you want max dollar, wait for the iphone 3gs to come out.

have fun with the 24months x $30 data plan.

hm, the cancelling method might work if you get it direct from at&t, but with other places you'll probably have to sign another contract that'll fine you if you change or cancel anything in the first 6 months.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: uhohs

Originally posted by: Reckoner
If you want max dollar, wait for the iphone 3gs to come out.

have fun with the 24months x $30 data plan.

hm, the cancelling method might work if you get it direct from at&t, but with other places you'll probably have to sign another contract that'll fine you if you change or cancel anything in the first 6 months.

Correct, as long as it's purchased through Apple or AT&T, there's no problem.

 

[uhohs]

darn, if i knew that earlier i would've probably gone with a dataplan free iphone.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: uhohs
darn, if i knew that earlier i would've probably gone with a dataplan free iphone.

Only works if you want to sell it though. If you drop the data plan and keep using the iphone, AT&T will send you a text message that you need to add the data plan back on.