How does one activate an iPhone bought on eBay?

Question

How does one activate an iPhone bought on eBay?

Apple just replaced my 3GS under warranty with a refurbished 3GS and I decided to sell it before the 4G hit the market. I've never even activated it or put my SIM in. I've sold it on eBay and my buyer should receive it Monday morning. Is he gonna have any trouble activating it? He uses AT&T, so I told him it should be as simple as plugging in his SIM and connecting it to iTunes. Is this correct? I also told him he wouldn't need a two year contract seeing as how he didn't pay the subsidized price from Apple. Thanks for any help.

Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jun 5, 2010 3:58 PM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jun 5, 2010 4:04 PM in response to mistertomlinson

I also told him he wouldn't need a two year contract seeing as how he didn't pay the subsidized price from Apple.

Well, you're gonna have a problem there. ALL new iphones activated on AT&T's network, regardless whether purchased subsidized or not require a two year contact.

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Answer 2

Jun 5, 2010 4:51 PM in response to mistertomlinson

Thanks for your help, but I think you're mistaken. This is taken straight from the Apple iPhone description page: "For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB)." Why would they charge $300 more than the subsidized price if the recipient is still required a 2 year contract?

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Answer 3

Jun 5, 2010 4:57 PM in response to mistertomlinson

Lemme requote that:

"Existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G should check with AT&T to find out if they are eligible for early upgrade pricing: $299 (8GB), $399 (16GB), or $499 (32GB) with a new two-year contract. For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB)."

According to that statement, $299 would be the early upgrade price for the 8GB iPhone if you're contract wasn't up. $199 (as advertised on the "Buy Now" page at Apple) is the fully subsidized price with a NEW two year contract and $499 is the unsubsidized price that does not require a contract. Why else would they charge so much more?

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Jun 5, 2010 5:06 PM in response to mistertomlinson

Quoted from Apple:

Can I buy an iPhone without an AT&T contract?
No. iPhone requires a two-year AT&T wireless service contract.

I said new activations. If your buyer does not now have an existing iphone activated with AT&T, your buyer will be required to agree to a two year contact in order to activate an iphone.

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Answer 5

Jun 5, 2010 6:38 PM in response to mistertomlinson

*Sigh.

Thanks again, but could someone else please answer my question. I would like to know: I received a refurbished iPhone 3GS from Apple replacing my previous iPhone 3GS under warranty. I never activated it or put my SIM in... and left it sealed. Then I sold it on eBay. My buyer will receive it Monday. How does he go about activating it? Take it to AT&T or connect to iTunes? Will he have any trouble. Thanks again.

User uploaded file

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/mistertomlinson/Picture1-16.png

User uploaded file

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/mistertomlinson/Picture2-5.png

... and here's a link to an article explaining no contract iPhone 3GS.' Nowhere in that article does it mention you have to have owned an iPhone in order to get one at the unsubsidized cost.

http://theappleblog.com/2010/03/23/apple-begins-offering-iphone-3g3gs-without-at t-contract/

and how the **** do I attach an image to my posts?

Message was edited by: mistertomlinson

Message was edited by: mistertomlinson

Message was edited by: mistertomlinson

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Answer 6

Phiggy

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2010 6:04 PM in response to mistertomlinson

Lol.. The guy who keeps telling you that any new iphone purchaser requires a 2 year commitment is flat out wrong.

In regards to your question. If it's the sim that came with the iphone, and never been used, he shouldn't have any issues activating it through itunes at home. If there are any issues, apple store will gladly do it.

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Answer 7

KC7GNM

Level 4

2,904 points

Jun 7, 2010 9:51 PM in response to Phiggy

Phiggy you are correct. I just bought a new one to replace my broken iphone 3g and got the 3gs at the subsidized price. I have a 2 year contract on that phone. Because I had the best buy service plan and they replaced the phone with a refurbed phone my son now has a 3g phone that is on month to month contract. I did not need to get a new contract for him. He is on my contract but when I check with ATT they say his is on a month to month plan so whoever said that you had to have a 2 year contract is full of it.

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Answer 8

carl wolf

Level 6

14,625 points

Jun 7, 2010 10:32 PM in response to mistertomlinson

"Thanks again, but could someone else please answer my question."

Are you going to keep asking the same question until you get the answer you want?

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