Need help...sold iPhone on eBay

[LouieSamman]

So...you're saying the OP should take the phone back, refund the buyer's money, and resell the phone on Craigslist?

No just what he should have done. Not saying what he should do now.

 

[IllIllIll]

No just what he should have done. Not saying what he should do now.

Oh OK...so in other words, an unhelpful critique.

When someone asks for help about mechanical problems with their BMW, do you tell them "should have bought a Kia"?

 

[LouieSamman]

Oh OK...so in other words, an unhelpful critique.

When someone asks for help about mechanical problems with their BMW, do you tell them "should have bought a Kia"?

Trying to be helpful for future decision on how to sell off your iPhone.

I guess then it could be stated as trolling and the OP may see it as not being very helpful with what he is now but in seeing the post he may later try Craigslist rather than eBay when selling off his device.

I already have seen that many has responded with some helpful advice of what to do now so I just thought I would divert him to helpful advice towards the future.

 

[Irock619]

THANKS SO MUCH!

I ended up using TeamViewer to remote into his computer and used the task manager windows with "Always on Top" enabled to hide my SSN...It showed up as unlocked on his iTunes screen and he says it is working now.

By inputting your SSN doesn't the phone still think its your account and not the buyers? I guess I am a little confused with this whole process.

 

[WesCole]

By inputting your SSN doesn't the phone still think its your account and not the buyers? I guess I am a little confused with this whole process.

I think it just "uses" my upgrade for that line and activates the phone. The phone never had any of my personal info on it and the buyer had to get his own SIM card, so I think I am OK...I hope.

Also, I did check with AT&T prior to and after the sale and they told me the same thing...take my SIM card out and then I can sell the phone. They didn't mention having to activate it first or I would've been happy to do that.

I apologized to the buyer for all the confusion, though, and he ended up leaving me positive feedback. Next time, I will probably just use Craigslist and meet the person at the AT&T store so I know it works.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[avirambn]

Let's say that you do this process and enter your details and activate the phone. What if the buyer do a restore? Will he need to enter these details again or is it a one-time requirement?

 

[WesCole]

Let's say that you do this process and enter your details and activate the phone. What if the buyer does a restore? Will he need to enter these details again or is it a one-time thing?

From what I understand now, it is a one-time thing. Now, he will be able to just erase all content and sell it to someone else, who will just be able to pop in a SIM card and go.

 

[dunkin1]

I think the whole purpose of this is that someone doesn't steal the phone from the mail (off your porch, mailbox, etc) and try to use it.

 

[SenseiPhone]

From what I understand now, it is a one-time thing. Now, he will be able to just erase all content and sell it to someone else, who will just be able to pop in a SIM card and go.

Yes, it will be one-time activation. Once done, the IMEI will be marked as "activated" on Apple's database.

I think the whole purpose of this is that someone doesn't steal the phone from the mail (off your porch, mailbox, etc) and try to use it.

No, the reason of this is to identify the customers with AT&T contract.

If you purchased the phone full price, they won't ask such SSN + Billing.

This can be fix tho, for anyone with no AT&T account or if the seller refuses to give out the required information:
https://www.google.com/search?q=iphone+activation+data+ssn+billing+zip

 

[Munitalp]

I ordered a few iPhone 5's (all from Apple) and encountered the same thing, luckily before I shipped them out. All you have to do is activate the iPhone, then restore it and then pack it up and sell it. Otherwise it does come locked as the buyer is saying.