[Price Advice] Should I buy a damaged 4S from a friend?

davidg4781 · Jan 18, 2013, 12:33 PM

I have a friend who has a pretty shattered up 4S. It's still usable, she has a piece of tape over the screen to keep the pieces of glass together.

She's up for an upgrade in March. I'm thinking of buying this from her and paying Apple $200 for a repair.

Thoughts on this? It's a 16GB AT&T model. I'm with Sprint but keep an AT&T GoPhone in case I'm out somewhere and need service. Right now I'm using a 3G for this and not being on iOS 6 is a pain.

I'm feeling a little unethical about this, I guess having Apple fixing it, but that's their prices and I'm paying her for it, if she wants to. I did check Mac2Sell and it says I can resell it for $320 and that may be an option. I am being upfront with her on my plans.

js81 · Jan 18, 2013, 01:39 PM

If you're comfortable doing the repairs (and they're not that are todo), you could easily have it fixed and looking nice for around $50 or so.

davidg4781 · Jan 18, 2013, 02:18 PM

I've thought about that. From what I've read and seen the front glass is a lot more difficult to replace than the back.

Also, for resale value and personal peace of mind, I'd rather have a 100% refurbished Apple iPhone than one that's been damaged and has a 3rd party screen on it.

js81 · Jan 18, 2013, 04:53 PM

I kinda agree with you.

For $200 repair cost, I say go for it; but then again, that depends on what you invest in it... You can get (supposedly) Apple OEM screens for it, and believe it or not, the screen isn't that hard to replace, if you're patient. The back is redonkulously easy.

davidg4781 · Jan 25, 2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by js81

I kinda agree with you.

For $200 repair cost, I say go for it; but then again, that depends on what you invest in it... You can get (supposedly) Apple OEM screens for it, and believe it or not, the screen isn't that hard to replace, if you're patient. The back is redonkulously easy.

Yeah, it's the front. Pretty bad.

I'm guessing if I can flip it quick the $200 I'm out won't hurt much. Or I can sell the 3G I have to help cover that.

BTW, it's ridiculously slow compared to my 4S. I'm hoping there's still a market for it. It's in great condition though.

designs216 · Jan 25, 2013, 02:11 PM

Skip it. This is complicated from several different angles.

Jan 18, 2013, 12:33 PM	#1
davidg4781 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Moulton, TX	Should I buy a damaged 4S from a friend? I have a friend who has a pretty shattered up 4S. It's still usable, she has a piece of tape over the screen to keep the pieces of glass together. She's up for an upgrade in March. I'm thinking of buying this from her and paying Apple $200 for a repair. Thoughts on this? It's a 16GB AT&T model. I'm with Sprint but keep an AT&T GoPhone in case I'm out somewhere and need service. Right now I'm using a 3G for this and not being on iOS 6 is a pain. I'm feeling a little unethical about this, I guess having Apple fixing it, but that's their prices and I'm paying her for it, if she wants to. I did check Mac2Sell and it says I can resell it for $320 and that may be an option. I am being upfront with her on my plans. __________________ 2010 MBP 2.4GHz 4GB RAM 750GB HDD iPhone 4S 32GB - Sprint iPod nano 2GB - 2nd gen.
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Jan 18, 2013, 01:39 PM	#2
js81 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: KY	If you're comfortable doing the repairs (and they're not that are todo), you could easily have it fixed and looking nice for around $50 or so. __________________ Late-09 Mac mini server
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Jan 18, 2013, 02:18 PM	#3
davidg4781 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Moulton, TX	I've thought about that. From what I've read and seen the front glass is a lot more difficult to replace than the back. Also, for resale value and personal peace of mind, I'd rather have a 100% refurbished Apple iPhone than one that's been damaged and has a 3rd party screen on it. __________________ 2010 MBP 2.4GHz 4GB RAM 750GB HDD iPhone 4S 32GB - Sprint iPod nano 2GB - 2nd gen.
	0

Jan 18, 2013, 04:53 PM	#4
js81 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: KY	I kinda agree with you. For $200 repair cost, I say go for it; but then again, that depends on what you invest in it... You can get (supposedly) Apple OEM screens for it, and believe it or not, the screen isn't that hard to replace, if you're patient. The back is redonkulously easy. __________________ Late-09 Mac mini server
	0

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Jan 25, 2013, 02:11 PM	#6
designs216 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: On the way to M-83	Skip it. This is complicated from several different angles.
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