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iPhone 4s' resale value

ApplesAndOrangs said:
Anyone feel it's dropping too fast?

On ebay the average sold price for a used white 16gb currently is only $490.
http://www.ebay.com/ctg/109348370/r.html?_tab=3&_trksid=p4340.l1642

I remember iphone 4 16gb was worth that much even 8 months after being released!
Click to expand...

Obviously the iPhone 4 would have a higher resale value for longer.. the 4S isn't the 5, so people wouldnt be lusting over it like they did when the 4 came out. Remember how much of an upgrade the 4 was from the 3? Well the 4S is physically identical to the 4, but has the dual core processor, Siri, 8mp cam, etc. It's definitely an upgrade, but not exactly what you would call the next generation.

And I wouldn't say the average price is $490. There were some for $575, $615, $699 and some refurbished for $550. And for the cheap ones? Have fun bidding on those!! The price is lower because people are going to wait and then have a bidding fight at the last second, they wont get that phone for $490. It'll be well into the 500s, possibly 600s. Look again on eBay, it shows the "Buy It Now" sales vs. the bidding ones. The "buy it now" ones all have higher prices.
 
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deeddawg said:
No. IMHO it's a tool, not an investment, so the value is relevant only if you have an immediate need to buy or sell one.
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That, I agree with.

But the most likely reason as to why it's dropping is because the ease of getting the 4S now. It can come unlocked, and it comes on many carriers.

Why would someone want to pay $500-600 for a locked AT&T one when they can just buy an unlocked one? Or better yet, just get a Sprint or Verizon one?
 
My att 4s will be up for sale the moment I have it JB and unlocked -
I will go back to my JB 3g and wait for the SGS3 to come out -
A freshly JB and unlocked 4s will get top dollar in the early market -
 
The lack of an untethered jailbreak and unlock is probably what's keeping the value of the 4S down. When one's released, the prices should stabilize.
 
deeddawg said:
No. IMHO it's a tool, not an investment, so the value is relevant only if you have an immediate need to buy or sell one.
Click to expand...

It's relevant to us when the 5 comes out. Most of us sell the last generation and get the new one. Just concerned that my 4s will be worth like $200 when the 5 comes out
 
wordoflife said:
That, I agree with.

But the most likely reason as to why it's dropping is because the ease of getting the 4S now. It can come unlocked, and it comes on many carriers.

Why would someone want to pay $500-600 for a locked AT&T one when they can just buy an unlocked one? Or better yet, just get a Sprint or Verizon one?
Click to expand...

That is probably why. Higher supply of factory unlocked phones.
 
I wish I could find a used 4 for a cheaper price... I've seen 4's as much as the 4S!!! I want one for my wife so she can experience the iPhone bliss ;)
 
ApplesAndOrangs said:
It's relevant to us when the 5 comes out. Most of us sell the last generation and get the new one. Just concerned that my 4s will be worth like $200 when the 5 comes out
Click to expand...

$200...??? Yeah that's NOT gonna be the case lol. When the 5 comes out, there are going to be people that don't want to be early adopters and would GLADLY buy our 4S'. Or those that want another phone, but don't wanna wait for contract to end.

Unlocked and Jailbroken or not, I'd say the resale will be anywhere from $450-$550. If you bought it subsidized, then that's more than 200% profit. If you bought it without contract, then it's a justifiable price if it's been used considering you can get one without contract for $650 is it?

So don't worry...just like any iPhone...we're covered either way.
 
psionicsin said:
Unlocked and Jailbroken or not, I'd say the resale will be anywhere from $450-$550. If you bought it subsidized, then that's more than 200% profit. If you bought it without contract, then it's a justifiable price if it's been used considering you can get one without contract for $650 is it?

So don't worry...just like any iPhone...we're covered either way.
Click to expand...

The trend suggests it has changed, I don't think we will see a $450-$550 demand for the 4s, when the 5 comes around.

4s demand will be averaging around $365. Because of these factors:

1)Higher supply of factory unlocked phones.
2)More cariers jumping on the iphone.
3)The 4s not being radically diff. than the 4.

We'll find out in 8 months when I bump this thread. :D
 
Applejuiced said:
Am I the only one that caught this?
You said your 4S is JB and unlocked?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
No, he said once he gets it unlocked/JB - THEN he'll sell it.

I'm about to put mine on Craigs List (switched to Verizon from AT&T, so I need to ditch the AT&T 4S). I'll be happy if I break even on the phone and cover some of the cancellation fee.
 
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