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US Reseller Flex Policy

Hi there,

I have a very big problem. So I bought an iPhone at Walmart in Miami. I asked for an unblocked iPhone to use it with a foreign carrier and they sold me said phone.

After arriving overseas, I put a SIM card in the phone but the iPhone tells me the SIM Card is not valid.

After some research, I realized that the phone is not activated yet but comes with a "US Reseller Flex Policy". How I understood it, the iPhone needs to see an American SIM card first, then it blocks itself to this provider. I could then go to this provider and get it unlocked for international use.

Walmart is little helpful with this issue and told me that I need to bring the phone back to the store to as they can't do this over the phone. I am already overseas and flying back to the USA is out of question.

Is there anything I can do to get this sorted?

Thanks,

Bernhard

Posted on Feb 10, 2016 12:04 PM

Best reply

JalGroen

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Oct 10, 2017 10:36 AM

Hello,

The same probem just happened to me. I'm from the Netherlands. My girlfriend bought me an Iphone 7 from best buy in Utah and they told her it would work totally fine in the Netherlands. Well, it didn't. I called Apple, Verizon, AT&T and Best Buy multiple times and not anybody was able to help me solve this anoying issue. I've tried everything with the phone like resets, different simcards, etc.. Nothing worked. Until i read somebody ordered an Verizon Sim card from ebay and activated his/her Iphone. So, desperate I was, ordered one as well. Over Ebay. It was, with shipping to the Netherlands, in total: 12€. It took 6 days of waiting and today it reached my doormat and i can tell you it works! I just activated my phone with the Verizon Sim Card, activated the Iphone and inserted my dutch Vodafone Sima Card. If somebody has this problem: order a Verizon Sim Card and you'll be using you phone within a week.

Good luck and enjoy your phone!

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64 replies

Feb 10, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

No.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Feb 10, 2016 6:04 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

The only source for unlocked iPhones in the US is directly from Apple. You're not going to be able to use that phone.

Feb 17, 2016 1:49 PM in response to KiltedTim

If I get hold of an American SIM card (for example AT&T which does roam in this country), will the phone accept the SIM card? Will it then lock itself to AT&T and I could go and get it then unlocked from them?

Or does this not work with roaming and the phone has to connect to an American tower to get activated?

I am trying hard to find a solution, any help is much appreciated,

Bernhard

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Feb 17, 2016 2:37 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

The solution is to return the phone or sell it to someone who can use it and buy one you can use.

Feb 17, 2016 3:20 PM in response to KiltedTim

Thanks KiltedTim for your advice, however, selling the phone via eBay is the last thing I want to do. Just for your information, I am on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, about 4000 miles from any sort of civilization. "Bring it back to the store" isn't easy in my situation. I need to get this Phone working and if the workaround with an US Sim card is working I will rather go ahead with that.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Feb 17, 2016 4:15 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Unfortunately, there are no other options. You can not use that phone. The only way you would be able to activate it would be with a US SIM and an active connection to the network the SIM is for, an impossibility since the network does not service your area.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just stating facts. You should have checked to make sure you would be able to use the phone you bought before you paid for it. If you were told you could by someone at Walmart... well, that's what happens when you're dealing with minimum wage drones who don't know the first thing about cell phones.

There is nothing anyone here can do about it. Contact the management at the store where you purchased it and try to arrange for a refund if you ship it back to them.

Feb 17, 2016 4:24 PM in response to KiltedTim

Thanks for your answer.

To come back to my initial question. For example AT&T does roam in the country where I am. So if I get hold of such a SIM Card, the phone would be able to establish an active connection via roaming. Would I be able to activate it this way? Or would roaming not work for this activation?

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Feb 17, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Maybe. IF you have an active AT&T SIM with international roaming enabled on it. I've never tried to do an initial activation when out of the host carrier's country. Even if you do, however, you will then need to work with AT&T to request an unlock.

I suppose it's worth a try, but how do you intend to establish a line of service with AT&T to begin with? They're not going to allow you to sign up for service if you're not a US resident, at least not without putting down a hefty deposit.

Feb 17, 2016 4:32 PM in response to KiltedTim

Even though I am in a remote place, there are a few American tourists flocking around from time to time.

Would anybody know if there are Prepaid SIM cards in the US available, which do support overseas roaming?

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Feb 17, 2016 4:52 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Not that you will be able to use to activate that phone, no. You're going to have to have a postpaid SIM from either AT&T or T-Mobile if it's actually on a flex policy. You can't activate it with a prepaid SIM and the other US carriers are CDMA carriers. You can't activate on a CDMA carrier if you're outside of the CDMA coverage area.

In order to get a SIM you can even try, you're going to have to sign up for service with AT&T or T-Mobile. By US law, that means you will have to present them with identification in person. That means you can't do it outside of the US.

You're stuck.

I'm sorry, but you made a mistake. You bought a phone you can't use. If there are American tourists there all the time, then sell it to one of them.

Feb 17, 2016 4:57 PM in response to KiltedTim

Thanks, I do very much appreciate all your valuable information.

I will let you know if an activation via roaming was successful (if I ever manage to get a SIM card).

Mar 12, 2016 3:22 AM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Hello, forgive the trouble occurred to me the same thing to you, it could solve in any way? I'm desperate. Thank you

Mar 12, 2016 3:24 AM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Hello, forgive the trouble occurred to me the same thing to you, it could solve in any way? I'm desperate. Thank you

Mar 13, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Hello friend, Have you found a solution to your phone now. I may be of help if you do not mind.

Mar 14, 2016 10:48 AM in response to Bernhard Walzl

Hi,

Unfortunately I have not yet solved the problem. However, I did get access to an AT&T sim card with active roaming. I put the SIM card in the phone and it did get signal. I did not have WIFI available so I couldn't walk through the Set-Up and pass the "phone activation screen" where it checks the SIM card.

I did talk to AT&T anyways who then confirmed me that the device's IMEI is in their database and the unblocked my phone. However, it still does't work so I believe strongly it is due to the missing WIFI and activation during the initial set-up.

If you guys have any other solutions, I will be listening carefully.

Bernhard

US Reseller Flex Policy