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Re-selling an iPhone 5?

K

KoolAid-Drink

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 18, 2013
1,866
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USA
So, long story short, my iPhone 5 was stolen, I upgraded to the 5s, and now I managed to recover the 5 back in mint condition (thank the cops for that). It looks as new and is an AT&T, 32gb, white model.

How should I go about selling the 5/trading it in? I've tried Gazelle, Glyde, Gamestop, etc - the highest being offered is $258 on Glyde.com, the Apple Store had a trade-in offer of $275 (but I've already purchased the 5s, so too late, and I don't want store credit), and Verizon was offering a straight up trade-in to the 5s ($300), but I don't want to switch to Verizon.

So... what are my options? I don't know if I want to do Craigslist (sketchy), and I don't trust eBay. Any ideas?
 
They're selling for more than $300 on Swappa.com. Maybe you'd feel more comfortable using that instead of eBay? They only take a $10 flat fee and that's it.
 

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Agent-P said:
They're selling for more than $300 on Swappa.com. Maybe you'd feel more comfortable using that instead of eBay? They only take a $10 flat fee and that's it.
Click to expand...

IDK, they have PayPal fees, and I don't exactly feel comfortable with PayPal, but will consider it.

I've contacted AT&T to ask about unlocking the iPhone, and have filled the form out to unlock the iPhone. However, they said that typically it's 24 months until the iPhone can be unlocked... :confused: I explained that I have upgraded to the 5s already, so I didn't need the 5, hence unlocking it, and they said to wait 2-5 business days for the approval/disapproval process. Does anyone have that experience? AT&T worked with me to approve an early upgrade, so that may make a difference?
 
eBay.

The 10% fees suck but I just got $320 for a beat up iphone 5 16gb. I'm sure yours being mint plus 32gb you could get closer to 400.
 
Unlocked, AT&T or another carrier?

The main question: what's the likehood that AT&T will unlock my iPhone?

Scs15 said:
eBay.

The 10% fees suck but I just got $320 for a beat up iphone 5 16gb. I'm sure yours being mint plus 32gb you could get closer to 400.
Click to expand...
 
screw ebay. i ONLY sell my old devices on internet forums. i usually put them for sale up here or on imore.com, however find that the devices always sell faster on my go to subaru forum for some reason lol.
 
When I sold my 5, I used Gazelle and at that time (just after 5C/S release) they gave me $325. Their price was fair, if not great, and they make it incredibly easy. They sent the return packaging, pre-paid and labeled, I just had to drop the phone in and I was done. I also now have a spare set of accessories, since they only wanted the phone. Class outfit.
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
IDK, they have PayPal fees, and I don't exactly feel comfortable with PayPal, but will consider it.

I've contacted AT&T to ask about unlocking the iPhone, and have filled the form out to unlock the iPhone. However, they said that typically it's 24 months until the iPhone can be unlocked... :confused: I explained that I have upgraded to the 5s already, so I didn't need the 5, hence unlocking it, and they said to wait 2-5 business days for the approval/disapproval process. Does anyone have that experience? AT&T worked with me to approve an early upgrade, so that may make a difference?
Click to expand...

In response to paypal, the fee is generally 3% of gross (unless that company is taking another fee on top of that). Paypal lets you dump the money into a verified bank account, which generally takes 2-3 business days (it may take longer for brand new accounts). Not steering you any direction, just wanted to make sure you had that info.

As far as AT&T unlocks, I have had an unlock be virtually instant, and one took about a day or so. If your account is in good standing and if you have already used an upgrade on the line (not the NEXT program since technically an upgrade and NEXT can currently overlap), they you should be good. The amount of time it takes shouldn't really indicate much other than server load. I believe it is all automated as I have received an instant rejection before (when trying to unlok a phone from another account that I had traded for).
 
The problem is that I was halfway through my contract when my iPhone was stolen, and AT&T worked with me to give me a fully discounted upgrade, so technically my 5 was only halfway through contract. Do you think they will count that against the unlock, or still be willing to unlock my iPhone, considering I've already upgraded to the 5s?

lordofthereef said:
As far as AT&T unlocks, I have had an unlock be virtually instant, and one took about a day or so. If your account is in good standing and if you have already used an upgrade on the line (not the NEXT program since technically an upgrade and NEXT can currently overlap), they you should be good. The amount of time it takes shouldn't really indicate much other than server load. I believe it is all automated as I have received an instant rejection before (when trying to unlok a phone from another account that I had traded for).
Click to expand...
 
dictoresno said:
screw ebay. i ONLY sell my old devices on internet forums. i usually put them for sale up here or on imore.com, however find that the devices always sell faster on my go to subaru forum for some reason lol.
Click to expand...
screw internet forums. I use ebay and it works just fine. imore is awful too. Never had any type of luck with those...in general
 
I've had good transactions with both eBay and Craigslist, but of course YMMV.

Sold my Apple Refurbed Original iPad for about $250 IIRC on eBay (this was 2012 when it was still receiving software updates).

Sold my iPhone 4 Verizon for $300 on CL when I upgraded. Met at Verizon, let them run the ESN and check the account to make sure it was off contract and money changed hands.

Sold my Apple Refurbed iPad 2 for $399 on eBay when I changed to the iPad mini.

Never had a single problem with selling them, only when the new owner of the iPad 2 wanted to change the name on AppleCare (AppleCare Admins Helped them).
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
The problem is that I was halfway through my contract when my iPhone was stolen, and AT&T worked with me to give me a fully discounted upgrade, so technically my 5 was only halfway through contract. Do you think they will count that against the unlock, or still be willing to unlock my iPhone, considering I've already upgraded to the 5s?
Click to expand...

Most likely, yes they will. I don't work (nor have I ever) for a telco, but it would be pretty easy to put an "expire date" on the IMEI of your phone. once that date is reached it become officially unlockable.

At this point, you went through the motions, just see what they tell you. They may pleasantly surprise you.
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
Unlocked, AT&T or another carrier?

The main question: what's the likehood that AT&T will unlock my iPhone?
Click to expand...

Mine was AT&T not unlocked.

As long as you list it as an AT&T phone and clearly state it can only to be used for AT&T service then your good.

Generally I notice forum guys know how much they can get the phone for so they try and get a bargain. eBay users sometimes just get caught up in the bidding or just don't know better so they'll pay more. If you sell for $400 which I think is very feasible that would net you about 360/345-350 after paypal
 
Scs15 said:
Mine was AT&T not unlocked.

As long as you list it as an AT&T phone and clearly state it can only to be used for AT&T service then your good.

Generally I notice forum guys know how much they can get the phone for so they try and get a bargain. eBay users sometimes just get caught up in the bidding or just don't know better so they'll pay more. If you sell for $400 which I think is very feasible that would net you about 360/345-350 after paypal
Click to expand...

Right, but when AT&T unlocks it, it is unlocked everywhere (except CDMA) so the value of the phone goes up.
 
mstgkillr said:
I've been a member here for a while now and I never knew there was marketplace section.
Click to expand...

It's a very good one. You need 500 posts to get access, but I've sold Mac's phones etc and always found the people I've dealt with to be friendly and easy to communicate with...I certainly won't pay ebay or paypal fees.

OP: If you have a local free ads site, that's worth a look...In the UK we have something called Gumtree....Free to advertise, and no fee's on sale of goods.
 
IpadSC400 said:
screw internet forums. I use ebay and it works just fine. imore is awful too. Never had any type of luck with those...in general
Click to expand...

To each their own. I've bought and sold dozens of devices over the past 12 years, all on forums and never on eBay or Craigslist. eBay turns out to be a pain sometimes with deadbeat bidders or none at all and then a fee on top of it. I've never not been able to dump a device after listing it on a forum for free.
 
Macman45 said:
It's a very good one. You need 500 posts to get access, but I've sold Mac's phones etc and always found the people I've dealt with to be friendly and easy to communicate with...I certainly won't pay ebay or paypal fees.

OP: If you have a local free ads site, that's worth a look...In the UK we have something called Gumtree....Free to advertise, and no fee's on sale of goods.
Click to expand...

Its 250 posts to access , isn't it?

Regarding Gumtree, our counter part in the US is Craigslist. Only certain ads is there a fee, such as apartments and jobs in major metro areas (LA, SF, NYC), otherwise its free also. I'm surprised, I thought the UK had craigslist?

Scs15 said:
That's IF they unlock it or he has to wait another year to be out of contract.
Click to expand...

There is technically no contract. He had his phone stolen, AT&T allowed him to upgrade early which when that new 2-year agreement kicked in, the original one was voided. This was how early upgrades worked when carriers still had them.
 
I got my 5 unlocked (approved by AT&T)! I would love to have access to the Marketplace, but it doesn't seem like I do :(

Very, very dumb question probably, but when I sell my 5, should I include the original SIM or just provide the phone without the SIM? (sorry, this is an entirely new process to me!)
 
KoolAid-Drink said:
I got my 5 unlocked (approved by AT&T)! I would love to have access to the Marketplace, but it doesn't seem like I do :(

Very, very dumb question probably, but when I sell my 5, should I include the original SIM or just provide the phone without the SIM? (sorry, this is an entirely new process to me!)
Click to expand...

I would also be interested in purchasing.
 
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