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Robust Market for Used iPhones Benefits Users, Carriers, and Apple
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the untold story
That's interesting info, and pretty cool. I think there's a tale not represented here though, and that's the 'other' category.
Does anyone really throw out an iPhone? Unless it's completely dead, it's still a useful device. While this won't benefit carriers, it does benefit Apple (in the long run) - we gifted my wife's old iPhone to one of the kids, and it now functions as an iPod. That kid will want a new one some day, and we'll oblige (when he's old enough to warrant a cell phone).
My old iPhone will most likely become a dedicated remote control for the entertainment center, and then I will be buying a new iPhone. When friends see our TV controlled by an iPhone, they think it's pretty dang cool and they become interested in Apple gizmos.
These uses aren't reflected in this study, but I bet they're pretty common. I'd bet that nearly 100% of used iPhones are repurposed (unless they're non-functional).
That's interesting info, and pretty cool. I think there's a tale not represented here though, and that's the 'other' category.
Does anyone really throw out an iPhone? Unless it's completely dead, it's still a useful device. While this won't benefit carriers, it does benefit Apple (in the long run) - we gifted my wife's old iPhone to one of the kids, and it now functions as an iPod. That kid will want a new one some day, and we'll oblige (when he's old enough to warrant a cell phone).
My old iPhone will most likely become a dedicated remote control for the entertainment center, and then I will be buying a new iPhone. When friends see our TV controlled by an iPhone, they think it's pretty dang cool and they become interested in Apple gizmos.
These uses aren't reflected in this study, but I bet they're pretty common. I'd bet that nearly 100% of used iPhones are repurposed (unless they're non-functional).
Um... didn't Apple sweep the top 3 smartphones recently? I don't know how that counts as "modest" sales of older models (namely iPhone 4 and 3GS... I'm quite sure that the 3G does sell poorly these days... and for good reason!).
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My old iPhone 3G is currently used as a stereo when I'm gaming in Bootcamp (through the line-in jack on my computer speakers), as I don't have the desire to move over the library or alt+tab out of games to pick a new playlist. It also serves as the security key authenticator (SW:TOR).
I, too, would like to see it repurposed as a universal remote some day soon. I vaguely remember seeing some "cases" that turn an iPhone into an IR-capable remote, but that was ages ago.
Might be worth looking again, so I can de-clutter the coffee table somewhat
Being on T-Mobile USA, I can attest to this...
A great big thanks to a user here that sold me a 3GS with packaging that's a Collectors' Delight...
A great big thanks to a user here that sold me a 3GS with packaging that's a Collectors' Delight...
Free iPhones are 8gig only, if yours is a 16 or a 32 you can still sell it for good money, some people still like to be able to put a lot of stuff on thier cheaper, used iPhones.
My 3GS is now my GPS phone when I am driving in US, Euro, Australia and NZ.
It also holds travel guides and email.
It's tethered to my 4S.
It's probably got another 2-3 years use as a GPS which is pretty good value!
NOW THAT IS FUNNY! SOMEBODY NEG'S MY POST BECAUSE I GET FULL USE OF THE HARDWARE...
THERE ARE SOME REAL NUT CASES ON HERE...
It also holds travel guides and email.
It's tethered to my 4S.
It's probably got another 2-3 years use as a GPS which is pretty good value!
NOW THAT IS FUNNY! SOMEBODY NEG'S MY POST BECAUSE I GET FULL USE OF THE HARDWARE...
THERE ARE SOME REAL NUT CASES ON HERE...
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned this. But the resale value and lack of regulation of used iPhones by Apple and carriers actually motivates unnecessary theft. There's a huge iPhone theft issue in Metro cities US that's driving a booming iPhone black market. There's an easy intervention to stop the resale of stolen iPhones: serial numbers and reporting as stolen. But both Apple and carriers (and even police depts) have turned the other way on this issue. Obviously, there's a profit to be made. I wonder how many of these iPhone resales were bought from a theft?
yes, i'm the one who have an iPhone 3g from my sister and bought a new iPhone 4s and now using a MBP..
It's nice to see so many iPhones being gifted to friends / family. I've been doing this for a long time, and the argument that giving someone an Apple device does indeed lead to more products being sold new by Apple.
I'm about to gift my iPhone 4 to a buddy, who also had one of my old iPad 1's. He loves it, and is now looking to purchase a mac to replace his current Windows setup.
This can only be good news for Apple, as it get's their products out to people who may not have otherwise considered a purchase. Invariably, I get "wow this is really substantial and well made, not like my last plastic offering" You have one device, you want another.
I'm about to gift my iPhone 4 to a buddy, who also had one of my old iPad 1's. He loves it, and is now looking to purchase a mac to replace his current Windows setup.
This can only be good news for Apple, as it get's their products out to people who may not have otherwise considered a purchase. Invariably, I get "wow this is really substantial and well made, not like my last plastic offering" You have one device, you want another.
Simple .. Blackberry is so suck nobody even wants to buy them anymore. So they give it away
Even then the poor recipient feels not so inclined to use them anymore.
Me? You'd have to pay me to receive a preowned BB for personal use. It stinks, yuck
That would be a misinterpretation
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But I am still looking for a good reason to replace my mid 2009 13" MBP - but I can't find a valid one.
I have the same problem... I have a Late 2008 MacBook Unibody, and have no reason (except the illuminated keyboard) to replace it. As soon as they come up with a new design (someone I know once mentioned a liquidmetal MacBook Pro...?) I'll buy myself a new MacBook!
Nobody mentions the fact that by selling their old iPhone, people also fund the payment for the newer iPhone...
The same can be said for old iphones and the latest ios. Android and iphones are technology products, which inherently have limits on their capability as new OS's are released.
Apple don't care if people continue to use older iphones because they have made their profit on the device, and continue to take a share of the airtime and any apps that are purchased.
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You sound like a member of a cult.
Funny how a happy computer customer who loves his product is cultish. This is in stark contrast to a Windows user, who, upon feeling satisfied with their product, would say "I haven't BSOD'd in a week!". In the phone sector, an Android customer says "OMG! I got Ice Cream Sandwich", while Google works on the Swedish Fish update.
Because, you know, Apple gear is made of top quality components that aren't available in 400 other manufacturer's devices.
</lol>
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An Apple user? Can't be.
The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is how many of the used iphones are going to secondary carriers. H20, Straight talk, Simple Mobile even att prepaid.
I've sold both my and my wife's iPhone 2 and then 3 in order to upgrade to the newer models. I got back 2/3 what I paid for them originally (after two years of use!). There aren't too many pieces of technology with that high a resale value.
Yes, Apple products do resell well, that is why I laugh when someone says their products are expensive? They may cost a little more, but they hold up longer (going on 3 Years with a 2009 13" uMB 2.4) and they resale value makes it more worth it. I think the biggest thing is they just work, and rarely have to reload OSX to clean up from all the junk like in a windows environment where I have to reload once every 6 months?
I think its a lot like the resale value of cars. One of the reasons people are willing to pay a premium for brands like Porsche is that the resale value is very high, and thus the total cost of ownership may end up being lower compared to a cheaper car which depreciates faster.
I think this is one of the reasons people are more willing to pay a premium for Apple products.
I think this is one of the reasons people are more willing to pay a premium for Apple products.
I've recycled all my iphone's, from my 3g first given to my wife, then passed along to my son. To my 4 which is now being used by my wife. By the time I get the 5 my daughter gets the 3g, my son gets the 4, and the wife gets the
4s. Grandma, is anxiously waiting for the iphone 6 so she can get a shot at the 3g
4s. Grandma, is anxiously waiting for the iphone 6 so she can get a shot at the 3g
Your experience of Windows is outdated. I use Windows XP and 7 in a corporate environment as well as Macs, and they're as liable to crash as each other - so pretty much never.
'Spreading the word' and taking obvious pleasure in it is a little bit weird, if as you say this person is just 'a happy computer customer'. I don't think I've ever come across anyone getting that excitable when they've recommended a Sony TV over another vendor, because they happened to have a good experience.
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Ahh the inevitable expensive VS cheap car comparison. The reason people buy a Porsche is rather unlikely to do with depreciation; performance, image, styling maybe. If you can afford a Porsche, you aren't going to care about it going down in value, just what it does for you and/or what it says about you to others.
Whilst I'd agree that people probably buy the iphone for similar reasons, they aren't thinking about depreciation either. However, your phone does lose the ability to run the later OS over time and therefore will lose it's value just as badly as a cheaper less desirable brand over time. My £3k Powermac, now worth a shade over £20 stands testament to that.
A Porsche however, will always be a Porsche.
I look at it this way. Blackberries are tanks and really they are great email and messaging phones. I still would argue that they are the best for email and messaging. The suck for multimedia for for email and messaging they were by far the best. That is the part of my old blackberry I miss. Blackberry email blocks iOS and Android out of the water for what it does. BB sucks for surfing the web.
iPhone has a lot of people who update ever year so many of the phones are also still in the 18 months of its life span so they are still going to be useful.
Apparently you're not in marketing. Brand loyalty isn't weird. I would recommend a Sony to anybody, but not everybody is affected. It's no different than car people. If someone tells me they're interested in cars, I will recommend a VW and be glad I can help them. I took great pride in getting my girl a Mac. I named my cat Fender after my P-Bass. I like Oakley's and Keens and would recommend them to anyone.
I get excited about those things because I want people to enjoy them. I had an exciting experience booting up my mac for the first time and I loved the feeling of holding the neck of my guitar for the first time. If you're not passionate about your computer, fine, but there are people here who are, and that doesn't make them weird.