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Want to give away an iPhone 3G. What's best way?

I

itsvdiddy

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 5, 2008
67
3
We are hosting an event and wanted to give away an iPhone 3G as a prize. I know you can't buy them without contracts currently and you pretty much have to activate in store.

So what options to I have to either 1) Give it away in person 2) If we do gift certificate, any way to pre-reserve so that the person doesn't have to wait in line too long?
 
you have to do gift certificates
and i dont know about the lines, in the UK you just had to queue up, but all the lines are very short now, if any
 
itsvdiddy said:
We are hosting an event and wanted to give away an iPhone 3G as a prize. I know you can't buy them without contracts currently and you pretty much have to activate in store.

So what options to I have to either 1) Give it away in person 2) If we do gift certificate, any way to pre-reserve so that the person doesn't have to wait in line too long?
Click to expand...

I would just do a GC. And while giving away a 3G iPhone is a great idea in some respects, you might want to reconsider since the phone pretty much requires the $30/mo internet plan and a new contract, something not everyone might be keen to sign up for.
 
In my US Apple Stores they actually sell a iPhone 3G gift card. I thought that was a nifty idea.
 
Yeah, be sure to make it clear the $40+$30 a month fee that goes with the iPhone.

And how does it work for a winner that is not upgrade eligible? The cheaper advertised $199-$299 price won't work for everyone.

So will your gift-card be $500 for a 16gig version, to cover someone not eligible for an upgrade, or $299, for someone that is. Best thing to do is make it $500, to cover everyone, then if they happen to be eligible for $299, they could put the rest to accessories.
 
If you are getting a gift card, maybe get a general one so they can get either an iPhone or an iPod touch depending on their eligibility or desire to be an AT&T customer.
 
soberbrain said:
If you are getting a gift card, maybe get a general one so they can get either an iPhone or an iPod touch depending on their eligibility or desire to be an AT&T customer.
Click to expand...

+1

The winner may not want an iPhone, already be under contract for another cell phone, not want to shell out the $$$ for the required plan, may not have the credit necessary to qualify for an account, etc. Do the Apple GC so the winner can get an iPhone / Touch / iPod / whatever.
 
soberbrain said:
If you are getting a gift card, maybe get a general one so they can get either an iPhone or an iPod touch depending on their eligibility or desire to be an AT&T customer.
Click to expand...

Go to the Apple store and get the iPhone gift card. It can actually be used for anything they want.

Like one of the other posters mentioned, the lines are getting shorter. And I don't think there is anyway you can circumvent them anyway. You might talk to a manager when you purchase the gift card just to see what they tell you.
 
If you're dead set on giving away an iphone as a prize, go to an apple store and buy an iphone. Of course you will have to activate a new line of service with ATT. Don't use it, keep it in the box. A few days later go back to the Apple store and claim you damaged your iphone beyond any repair or lost it or it or whatever. If you're not comfortable with fibbing, just say you want an iphone. The apple store people dont really care and will sell you a new iphone for the ineligible upgrade price of $400/$500 (since you're already an ATT customer). That new phone will be tied to the ATT account you just activated with the first iphone you purchased. Within 30 days, cancel your service, and return the second iphone you purchased. You won't pay ETF, and the only money you'll be out is the cost of the second iphone + tax. Of course it needs to be unlocked but it's contract free.
 
wreckshop said:
If you're dead set on giving away an iphone as a prize, go to an apple store and buy an iphone. Of course you will have to activate a new line of service with ATT. Don't use it, keep it in the box. A few days later go back to the Apple store and claim you damaged your iphone beyond any repair or lost it or it or whatever. If you're not comfortable with fibbing, just say you want an iphone. The apple store people dont really care and will sell you a new iphone for the ineligible upgrade price of $400/$500 (since you're already an ATT customer). That new phone will be tied to the ATT account you just activated with the first iphone you purchased. Within 30 days, cancel your service, and return the second iphone you purchased. You won't pay ETF, and the only money you'll be out is the cost of the second iphone + tax. Of course it needs to be unlocked but it's contract free.
Click to expand...
Why go through all that hassle, just buy it out right as a non-contract phone to start with.
 
Looks like the simplest way to do it is just buy the the iPhone gift card. The apple store person said that they run into this alot because people want to give them as gifts (birthdays, etc).

If you guys want a chance to win it come to our party! http://www.blendedevents.com/casinoroyale
 
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