iPhone 14 US Version with SIM tray

I hate to challenge you on this, but the merchant is Amazon.com, and not an independent third-party merchant. That makes them fully authorized to resell Apple products and every single one is eligible for AppleCare+. The proof is in the last response on this thread:

Is the Apple Store on Amazon a legitimate… - Apple Community

As babowa said it best:

“Note that the Amazon Apple store is an authorized reseller; however, independent "marketplace" resellers are not authorized resellers so be very careful whom you order from.

This is the Amazon authorized store:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Apple/Apple/page/77D9E1F7-0337-4282-9DB6-B6B8FB2DC98D

This is not:

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-21-5-inch-3-3GHz-ME699LL-Refurbished/dp/B078ZN23LV/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Apple+iMac+reseller&qid=1621108812&s=electronics&sr=1-3

(note the "ships from" and "sold by")”

When you look at the item here, it's shipped and sold by Amazon. That makes it legit. If it was sold by a third-party, it would not be.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGY8WSW7

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Why would Apple want phones refurbished by Amazon? Apple does their own refurbishing. And, from the sound of it, they do a much better job. If you buy a refurbished iPhone from Apple, it has a brand new battery, not one with "at least 90%" battery life. Of course, Apple sends them to you in generic packaging, not "deluxe, branded" packaging.

Apple's refurbished store doesn't currently have any iPhone 13 Pros available but you can check regularly to see if any show up.

Certified Refurbished Products - Apple

Apple's Certified Refurbished store is the ONLY place to buy certified Apple refurbished devices.

That's what I thought. I guess I'll just have to wait and see if they show up soon.

Here's some screenshots of what I'm considering. Please let me know if you think it's worth getting or not.

As you can see, it's eligible for replacement or refund for up to a year, in conjunction to Amazon's standard return window. So, what do I have to lose?

Is it possible that I could use one of those iPhone 14s featuring one hybrid SIM/eSIM slot and one eSIM with a United States carrier? If so, how can I purchase one? I don't have a preference for where I buy it. I just want to obtain one, so that I can use it with my carrier.

Terrible! Just terrible! Now I must get an iPhone 13 to use with my carrier unless the iPhone 15 lineup returns the SIM tray. Is there any place I can still get an iPhone 13 Pro (not Max) that would allow me to purchase AppleCare+ from Apple if I bought it from them? I would buy it from a carrier, but all of them lock their phones, which renders my SIM card useless. (I wonder if buying an Unlocked, Premium Renewed one Shipped and Sold by Amazon.com would qualify for AppleCare+.)

Geez! A couple of stories with bad actors involved, and another with an unexplainable event? What do you call that? Makes me not want to shop there anymore for anything but groceries, even if it’s just a mobile order. Apple should ban them from being an Authorized Dealer/Reseller for these reasons alone.

But anyway, thanks for suggesting Best Buy. Out of both that and Target being within walking distance, Best Buy was the only merchant that had offers for unlocked iPhones. They didn’t have the iPhone 13 Pro I wanted, but they at least have an iPhone 12 Pro in both the color and storage capacity I wanted and for far less than Apple Store Certified Refurbished models I’ve seen. I’m going to discuss it with my rep payee and see if she’ll allow me to increase my loan with her. For all I know, not having 5G Nationwide at the very least is making me miss out.

OK. So, I asked ChatGPT for help with this one regarding buying from Amazon because I really want that iPhone 13 Pro. Here’s how it went down:

Me:

If I bought from Amazon an iPhone 13 Pro that’s factory unlocked, is in Renewed Premium condition, and is Shipped and Sold by Amazon.com, would I be eligible to purchase AppleCare+ coverage, considering the phone I receive isn’t locked upon arrival?

ChatGPT:

Yes, if you purchase an iPhone 13 Pro that is factory unlocked, in Renewed Premium condition, and is Shipped and Sold by Amazon.com, you should be eligible to purchase AppleCare+ coverage. AppleCare+ is available for unlocked iPhones purchased from authorized retailers, including Amazon.com. It's always a good idea to double-check the specific terms and conditions on the Apple website or consult with an Apple representative to ensure eligibility and understand the coverage details.

Me:

What if I received one that is locked or was previously locked to a carrier? Should I return or exchange it?

ChatGPT:

If you receive an iPhone that is locked or was previously locked to a carrier, and it does not meet the specifications mentioned in your initial question (factory unlocked), it's advisable to return or exchange it. Contact Amazon's customer support for assistance with the return or exchange process. They can help you with the necessary steps to return the device and provide you with a replacement that meets your desired specifications. It's important to ensure that the iPhone you receive is factory unlocked to have the flexibility to use it with any carrier and be eligible for AppleCare+ coverage if desired.

Being said, I could take a chance with Amazon and see if I can get the model I want, but there are no guarantees that I won't have to exchange it, or even worse, return it.

They should at least have Apple inspect them and make them Apple Certified Refurbished at the very least. I don't want a phone that isn't Apple Certified Refurbished.

In the meantime, where's the best place to get one that is Apple Certified Refurbished? I want to avoid merchants that can't sell an iPhone that can't offer AppleCare coverage on refurbished phones. Like, is Best Buy one of them?