Best Buy iP7/7+ Models are Subject to the US Reseller Flex Policy

I have purchased an iPhone 7 through Best Buy and activated with a Verizon sim. From my understanding it is supposedly unlocked at this point as it uses Verizon's unlocking policy.

However, another user on this forum had to return their iPhone 7 to Best Buy because it was not unlocked for use in another country...

Did I almost just get screwed? (7+, Best Buy)

Can anyone else here who purchased an iPhone 7 for Verizon from Best Buy confirm that they could or couldn't use an international sim? If I could somehow get my hands on an international sim card, I would be willing to test this.

 

I think if you read into it, one of the posts said that the person was in Central America when he tried to activate it. I think with a US FLex Reseller phone, it must be activated in the US first, then it will be unlocked.

Maybe someone can ping the poster in that other thread?

 

But if the phone is purchased outright for the full price, then realistically it shouldn't be locked no matter which carrier it is activated on, right?

 

Correct, @Beenblacklisted said he/she was in Panama. I'm not sure if it was first activated in the US and then went to Panama, or if it was purchased in the US without activation, then went to Panama and tried to use a local SIM there. But from my understanding, you're correct that it must first be activated with a US sim card.

That is a fantastic question. Based on what I'm reading if it's purchased from a company (such as Best Buy or Walmart) that sells iPhones that fall under the "US Re-seller Policy" it still needs to be activated in the US first. It seems like if somebody is purchasing where it needs to be fully unlocked, it would be best to buy from Apple directly. I purchased mine from Best Buy as I wasn't aware of any differences until I read on here, unfortunately I am out of the return period so I wouldn't be able to return the device. But I am still trying to get clarification on this from Best Buy, but they don't seem to know.

 

I have a 3 Sim Card from a visit to Ireland and just like all of my other Verizon SIM based devices, the iPhone 7 accepted the SIM no problem. While on 3, it roams on ATT, but I got the "Welcome Abroad text" that comes when you use your SIM in a different country.

I haven't had a chance to go out of the country with the iPhone 7 yet, but I would assume that for international use, it would be all good to go.

I was able to take my US based iPad Mini + Cellular (Verizon) abroad, insert a SIM and continue with life.

 

Where did you purchase your Verizon iPhone 7 from?

 

So why not from those? Why would a fully paid off phone be activated as locked no matter where it is bought from? Something doesn't seem right about that.

 

Long story, but Ive tried on both Apple Retail i7 and BestBuy purchased i7 and verizon/wifi trick.

Chris

 

This sounds like good news so far. To make sure I'm understanding correctly, you have an iPhone 7 that was purchased from Best Buy AND activated for use on Verizon in the US? You then tested using a 3 SIM card in it, received a "Welcome abroad" message and it was roaming on AT&T? After that, were you able to re-insert the Verizon SIM and everything was ok?

Sorry for so many questions, I just don't have any non-US SIM cards to use for testing.

 

So the customer then needs to contact the carrier that locks the phone to have it unlocked given that it should be unlocked if the phone was purchased outright for its full price?

 

My concern is that there was another poster on MR who stated that their Verizon iPhone 7 purchased from Best Buy did not work in Panama with a local sim card. I've added that person to an earlier post in this thread so perhaps they will be able to clarify. Because given the information here, they should've had a fully unlocked iPhone 7 as Verizon's lock policy doesn't lock phones. However, it wasn't clear if they activated it on Verizon first in the US or if they tried to activate it in Panama without activating it in the US first.

 

Sorry the phrasing was incorrect on my previous post, I should have stated an iPhone 7 purchased from Best Buy for use on Verizon in the US.

 

I understand the differences between the models. My point is that somebody in another thread which I've linked in a earlier post, purchased an iPhone 7 from Best Buy. They said they had purchased it for use on Verizon which implies that it was activated using a Verizon sim card in the US. They traveled to Panama where they tried to use a SIM card there, it did not work.

 

I still don't quite follow how a carrier can refuse to unlock a device that is purchased at full price (and that's putting aside that devices like that shouldn't be locked to begin with as there's nothing to justify that).

 

Even if there isn't a law it's a rather obvious shady practice these days especially. That aside, isn't there an unlocking law that went into effect not too long ago?