Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ALL your questions answered: How to sell an iPhone you purchased

lsbuffs said:
Ok but you said if I bought from Verizon I just sell it with a copy of the invoice since it’s already unlocked. But now I have to open it an do the verification, remove SIM and reset?
Click to expand...
I apparently misunderstood.. If you bought it FROM Verizon, you'll need to remove the SIM. If you bought it from Apple and it's being delivered, you need to do the verification steps.

AFAIK, buying from the carriers does NOT add the verification steps to the device.
 
@WolfSnap:

How about this scenario. During the preorder process I had tons of snags with th app, with Apple Pay processing etc. when the dust had cleared, I had an iPhone pick up reservation (for a store literally 2000 miles away), and not one but two phones as replacements for my current device.

I declined the pick up, but the two (Verizon) phones are still set to ship. Paid in full.

My significant other wasn’t into staying up for the preorder so we were thinking I would just give her one that I had ordered.

I’m assuming I would just go through your process for the first phone and give it to her, then activate the second one and keep it for me.

Do you see any problem with this?
 
Here's another confusing case, I don't plan on selling the phone... I plan to use the X on my normal carrier, cricket. As you know, you cannot preorder with cricket as your carrier..

Some background:

I started a plan with Verizon, BYOD, so I could get past the carrier verification screens in the Apple Store app but ran into the issue of "Your carrier may require a deposit" since it was a new account, I then cancelled the Verizon plan..

Next I started a plan with sprint, BYOD and then cancelled the plan after I placed the order for the X through the Apple Store app.

So I have a Verizon, Sprint, and Cricket sims available, I bought my phone through Apple using the Apple Store app and iPhone Upgrade program, which sim should I use when I turn the X on?
 
Last edited:
I ordered directly from Verizon as a brand new customer. I plan on canceling the service as soon as the phones are in my hand without ever activating them.

Will I need to open the boxes to sell them?
 
I ordered from Apple and shipping straight to me. I'm on AT&T and have only line one but manage to order 2 phones (1 through AT&T next payment program, and 1 paid outright).

I will activate the phone that is on the AT&T next which will make me go through the verification process. Will I have to go do the same for the second phone that is paid outright? I'm planning on selling the 2nd one.
 
europorsche914 said:
Here's another confusing case, I don't plan on selling the phone... I plan to use the X on my normal carrier, cricket. As you know, you cannot preorder with cricket as your carrier..

Some background:

I started a plan with Verizon, BYOD, so I could get past the carrier verification screens in the Apple Store app but ran into the issue of "Your carrier may require a deposit" since it was a new account, I then cancelled the Verizon plan..

Next I started a plan with sprint, BYOD and then cancelled the plan after I placed the order for the X through the Apple Store app.

So I have a Verizon, Sprint, and Cricket sims available, I bought my phone through Apple using the Apple Store app and iPhone Upgrade program, which sim should I use when I turn the X on?
Click to expand...
Frankly, I’m not sure you’ll even be able to get past the verification screen if you’ve already cancelled the plan with sprint.... good luck!
[doublepost=1509584774][/doublepost]
Plut said:
I ordered directly from Verizon as a brand new customer. I plan on canceling the service as soon as the phones are in my hand without ever activating them.

Will I need to open the boxes to sell them?
Click to expand...
Please read my post again. Your phones aren’t unique or special. The rules apply the same to them as it does to all other phones purchased from Apple on Verizon.
[doublepost=1509584866][/doublepost]
jdm905 said:
I ordered from Apple and shipping straight to me. I'm on AT&T and have only line one but manage to order 2 phones (1 through AT&T next payment program, and 1 paid outright).

I will activate the phone that is on the AT&T next which will make me go through the verification process. Will I have to go do the same for the second phone that is paid outright? I'm planning on selling the 2nd one.
Click to expand...
Please read my post again. Are they purchased from Apple? Are they not t-mobile devices? Then, they require verification.
[doublepost=1509584950][/doublepost]
riverfreak said:
@WolfSnap:

How about this scenario. During the preorder process I had tons of snags with th app, with Apple Pay processing etc. when the dust had cleared, I had an iPhone pick up reservation (for a store literally 2000 miles away), and not one but two phones as replacements for my current device.

I declined the pick up, but the two (Verizon) phones are still set to ship. Paid in full.

My significant other wasn’t into staying up for the preorder so we were thinking I would just give her one that I had ordered.

I’m assuming I would just go through your process for the first phone and give it to her, then activate the second one and keep it for me.

Do you see any problem with this?
Click to expand...
Sent from Apple.com? Non t-mobile phone? It requires verification.

I feel like a broken record.

There are NO special cases. There are NO stories that you can tell that will change the way these phones are shipped from Apple.
 
WolfSnap said:
Frankly, I’m not sure you’ll even be able to get past the verification screen if you’ve already cancelled the plan with sprint.... good luck!
[doublepost=1509584774][/doublepost]
Please read my post again. Your phones aren’t unique or special. The rules apply the same to them as it does to all other phones purchased from Apple on Verizon.
[doublepost=1509584866][/doublepost]
Please read my post again. Are they purchased from Apple? Are they not t-mobile devices? Then, they require verification.
[doublepost=1509584950][/doublepost]
Sent from Apple.com? Non t-mobile phone? It requires verification.

I feel like a broken record.

There are NO special cases. There are NO stories that you can tell that will change the way these phones are shipped from Apple.
Click to expand...
What if I ordered from Apple.com, but I’m not having them shipped; instead, I’m doing in-store pickup? :-O
 
Subhumanguy said:
What if I ordered from Apple.com, but I’m not having them shipped; instead, I’m doing in-store pickup? :-O
Click to expand...
That was in the original post too.

If you’re picking them up, they may still be linked to your account, depending on how they’re sold. So, removing the sim is still necessary.

If they’re not associated with an account, you’re fine. If they are, activating the phone switches the active sim to the one you picked up.
 
Semi related: I ordered a Verizon iPhone X from Best Buy, assuming I can just put in my current SIM card and use it. The reason I went for BB was that I'm on a business plan and do not have access to the account for verification. So this phone is in no way connected to any account yet. As far as you know, will this work?

Edit: never mind, just read in another thread that this is no issue for Verizon phones.
 
Last edited:
WolfSnap said:
That was in the original post too.

If you’re picking them up, they may still be linked to your account, depending on how they’re sold. So, removing the sim is still necessary.

If they’re not associated with an account, you’re fine. If they are, activating the phone switches the active sim to the one you picked up.
Click to expand...

For the people who preordered online at Apple Store for 11/3 store pickup, if they got wireless carrier verification prompts when ordering, then when they pickup their iPhones on launch day, those units will have the same verification lock.

That step might actually occur when the Apple Store associate scans the IMEI label on the box either beforehand or in front of you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WolfSnap
I ordered a Verizon phone using my mom’s phone line (my account so verification isn’t an issue). If I plug it in and go through verification process, will it disable my mom’s SIM card? She lives out of state so I can’t have her SIM card deactivated.
 
WolfSnap, it's been so frustrating reading all of the incorrect/confusing answers in all the other threads that I stopped reading them. It was pointless to try to correct them. Thanks for writing this. No we have a thread to point to when these questions arise again.
 
Think Im good--Im going to be at the Apple store and buy 2 X's (full price) and sell them--no need to open the boxes on mine :)
 
techiegirl said:
I ordered a Verizon phone using my mom’s phone line (my account so verification isn’t an issue). If I plug it in and go through verification process, will it disable my mom’s SIM card? She lives out of state so I can’t have her SIM card deactivated.
Click to expand...
Yes. It will. She’ll need a new sim.
 
WolfSnap said:
If you ordered from Apple.com, it will change the sim to the sim that the phone came with.
Click to expand...

I can’t have her phone deactivated. That’s why I called Verizon to make sure I’m able before ordering. Looks like I’ll just return the phone and buy at store.
 
WolfSnap said:
Ok, I keep seeing this over and over in the threads, and I keep seeing WRONG info being spread around. So, allow me to present my:

100% accurate, 100% complete, no nonsense guide to selling an iPhone you bought to sell.

This isn't a debate about whether you SHOULD be selling the phones, this is just information that will INEVITABLY help the buyer of your phone.
  1. If you bought your phone from Apple.com and had it SHIPPED to you, AND you paid full price:
    1. If the phone is T-Mobile, there's nothing special to do. Print a copy of the original invoice for the buyer so they can prove ownership, and sell the phone.
    2. If the phone is Verizon, Sprint or AT&T: **STOP** You can NOT sell it without first opening the box and turning on the phone, and completing the initial verification. Apple official support document https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203304 explaining the reasons...
      1. Also, once you complete the verification, the *now active SIM on your account* is the one in the new phone. Don't bother removing it first, it won't matter. The phone was sold as a replacement device on your account, and the carrier WILL swap the active SIM to the sim in the phone when it shipped. So, remove that SIM *AFTER* you've gone through the initial activation screen. Don't log into your iCloud account, etc, just skip all setup questions, then, go to Settings, General, Reset, Erase all Content and Settings. Once you've done that, turn the phone off, remove the SIM, package the phone back up, and sell it. Include a copy of the original invoice with the phone.
  2. If you bought your phone AT an Apple retail store, AND you paid full price:
    1. Sell the phone. Include a copy of the invoice with the phone.
  3. If you bought the phone from a Carrier store that ISN'T Verizon:
    1. You must first unlock the phone with your carrier.
    2. Then, sell the phone with a copy of the invoice.
  4. If you bought the phone FROM VERIZON:
    1. The phone is already unlocked. Sell it with a copy of the invoice.
  5. Bought the phone ANYWHERE ELSE?
    1. The phone follows the activation profile of how it was originally turned on. Ensure you FIRST install a Verizon SIM into the device, then power it on and activate it. Reset the phone after, and remove the Verizon SIM.
    2. If you boot the phone with an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or any other SIM, the phone WILL BE locked to that carrier. Unlock it first, then sell.
    3. Include a copy of the invoice with the phone.
I hope this helps.. This is from YEARS of experience, and carefully studying what happens when you buy iPhones in a variety of ways. This IS accurate, and failure to follow the directions WILL result in VERY upset buyers.
Click to expand...


So what if we bought it Apple.com, paid full price, but doing in store pickup. T-Mobile version.
 
WOLFSNAP---my scenario sounds OK, good to go? I do have a ATT account and preordered one for Me thru ATT----BUT im also going to the Apple store as well to purchase another straight out to sell--no need to do anything special on that phone correct?
 
mainomega said:
So what if we bought it Apple.com, paid full price, but doing in store pickup. T-Mobile version.
Click to expand...
TMobile phones aren’t linked to an account from Apple.com. You’re good.
[doublepost=1509596529][/doublepost]
Icecoldak said:
WOLFSNAP---my scenario sounds OK, good to go? I do have a ATT account and preordered one for Me thru ATT----BUT im also going to the Apple store as well to purchase another straight out to sell--no need to do anything special on that phone correct?
Click to expand...
Paying full price from Apple stores is cash and carry. You’re good. Just don’t give them any account info.
[doublepost=1509596634][/doublepost]
techiegirl said:
I can’t have her phone deactivated. That’s why I called Verizon to make sure I’m able before ordering. Looks like I’ll just return the phone and buy at store.
Click to expand...
Or, call Verizon. They may be able to send her a new sim now.. or, just have her go to a Verizon store and swap the sim. It’s not that hard; and since it’s your mom, probably not the end of the world for her.
 
I'm seeing way to many people putting at&t "new in unopened box" X's on craigslist/ebay. Are all the people buying those really going to be screwed because they don't have the sellers info for verification? Holy crap this is going to be so sad....
 
unitedbit said:
I'm seeing way to many people putting at&t "new in unopened box" X's on craigslist/ebay. Are all the people buying those really going to be screwed because they don't have the sellers info for verification? Holy crap this is going to be so sad....
Click to expand...

I’ve had AT&T for years and have always been able to swap SIM card before activating without any problems.
 
unitedbit said:
I'm seeing way to many people putting at&t "new in unopened box" X's on craigslist/ebay. Are all the people buying those really going to be screwed because they don't have the sellers info for verification? Holy crap this is going to be so sad....
Click to expand...
Worse... a lot of people buy the phones on Next, IUP, or other loans.. sell the phones, then default on the loan. Not every seller is honest...
 
What about unactivated full price from Best Buy. I'm guessing nothing needs to be done just like a T-Mobile from Apple.com?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back