Does Target Sell Unlocked iPhones?

[bbddpp]

I don't have a contract with the Big 4 so I pre-ordered a Verizon iPhone 7 from target. Expect to get a pickup email for Friday or soon after.

Will Target pull the same thing that the Apple website did and require me to provide my verizon account and/or phone number before they will sell me the phone, or will I just be able to pay for and walk out with this phone?

Also, any chance it will be locked to Verizon since I purchased at Target? Is buying from Target different than buying from Apple in that Target may be selling carrier-locked iPhone 7s?

 

[westcoastcyc]

I would never buy a iPhone from Target.

 

[Surfer13134]

Have fun with Target, they are worse then bestbuy with preorders

 

[7thson]

You should be able to buy it outright without activating it or verifying an account. It would be best to call the local store and ask. I don't know what their policies are, but my local Verizon store will sell an iPhone without activating it since some could want to buy it as a gift. Verizon iPhones have are unlocked but are a different model than the unlocked version Apple sells. They will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular and some MVNO prepaid plans.

 

[westcoastcyc]

If they are like Best Buy, they will charge you $100 extra to buy it without activating it on an account. They are not making any money off of phones they sell without an activation.

 

[bbddpp]

Thanks for the replies all.

If Target tries to charge me an extra $100 if I don't have an expensive contract with one of the Big 4 carriers, I will walk out the door. At least Best Buy was clear on this on the website. I would agree if they are not profiting otherwise they will likely use this same tactic. No thanks.

I remain astounded and frustrated that Apple won't sell me a full-priced iPhone at launch unless I am a customer of the big 4. This cycle has made it quite frustrating to be an Apple customer. I know that eventually Apple will sell me the exact same phone at the exact same price without needing to have ties to Verizon, Tmo, ATT or Sprint...But I hate that they decided you need to be one of their customers to get a phone on launch day.

That said, if Target will just charge me regular price and let me walk with the phone, as long as it has both the CDMA and GSM radios inside, I don't care if the model numbers is different than Apple's, I guess, as long as it is not crippled in any way for the eventual resale down the road.

 

[fischersd]

Thanks for the replies all.

If Target tries to charge me an extra $100 if I don't have an expensive contract with one of the Big 4 carriers, I will walk out the door. At least Best Buy was clear on this on the website. I would agree if they are not profiting otherwise they will likely use this same tactic. No thanks.

I remain astounded and frustrated that Apple won't sell me a full-priced iPhone at launch unless I am a customer of the big 4. This cycle has made it quite frustrating to be an Apple customer. I know that eventually Apple will sell me the exact same phone at the exact same price without needing to have ties to Verizon, Tmo, ATT or Sprint...But I hate that they decided you need to be one of their customers to get a phone on launch day.

That said, if Target will just charge me regular price and let me walk with the phone, as long as it has both the CDMA and GSM radios inside, I don't care if the model numbers is different than Apple's, I guess, as long as it is not crippled in any way for the eventual resale down the road.

Both of the 6s's on Target's website are only available with plan activation. Highly doubt it's going to be any different than Best Buy. (better call rather than wasting a trip).

 

[westcoastcyc]

T-Mobile is the only one where you did not have to verify your account information to buy a full priced phone on apple.com

 

[bbddpp]

Thanks, that's what I am expecting for Friday then. Figure I'll have to wait the usual month or more before Apple decides I am good enough to buy one of their phones without having a contact with the Big 4.

I did notice the T-Mobile thing, but I wanted a CDMA/GSM phone, not just a GSM phone, so I balked.