Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

When are you going to sell your phone?

B

bornjr

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 23, 2011
64
0
Virginia
If you are going to buy a new iPhone 6, and you currently have a phone, when are you going to sell it to try and get the most $ out of it?

I'm thinking about listing mine around the end of next week and I do have a back-up. Just curious what everyone else had in mind.
 
Sold my iPhone 5 last week on CL and am using an old iPhone 4 until the 6 comes out. Got back the exact same $325 I paid for it almost two years ago.
 
Probably within the next week or so. Trying to hold out as long as I can though, since my beater phone is absolutely awful. Thankfully I always have the iPad Air on me.
 
The smart bet is selling ASAP, but I need my phone until the 6 comes out so I'll have to settle for a lesser price post-release.
 
We don't sell our phones.

We use part of our tax refund every two years to buy new phones so it's not necessary. Because we don't sell them we also don't have to worry about cases or handling or maximizing the resale value.

Our old phones either go on to other people as freebies or get used for other things around the house.
 
We also don't sell our old phones, we keep them as back ups and eventual give them away.
 
Just sold my 5S yesterday, using my backup now. You want to make sure you sell before the announcement of the keynote. Not the actuall keynote, but when Apple officially says the keynote will be held sept 9, before that.
 
I'll sell it on ebay and have the auction end about 2 days after the phone is released.

I really couldn't care less about losing 50 bucks by not selling now. I'm not gonna use some ancient phone for a month just to make a couple bucks.
 
Based on my experience (and fortunate enough to live in a huge Craigslist market), I've never had any issues re-selling iPhones on Craigslist... even after the launch of the new phone. If anything, it makes Craigslist buzz even more... people jump to Craigslist knowing they can get the older models for a decent price, so as long as you got a good deal to begin with, you should be good to go.

I bought a gold iPhone 5s for $400 a year ago and plan on re-selling it for around that price. As long as you keep the phone in great condition (preferably with a case) and have the original box, charger, etc... you'll be able to get probably 80-100% return.

Granted, I know the original $400 a year ago was a good deal (they were typically going for $450-$500, so I got kind of lucky).
 
I wait until launch when I do sell.

Sometimes, I hand mine down to the kids.


I use my phone daily. Inconveniencing myself to make a little extra isn't worth it.
 
Not selling our 5s's, either. My brother's and my iPhone 5s are going to my mom and dad to replace their 5. The 5 will be unlocked for use when traveling overseas.
 
Immediately after I have the 6 in my hands. I'm selling my 4S for only $200 to a friend of a friend abroad. I will miss my 4S. I wonder if I should just keep it and just store it somewhere, but it's Sprint, and I doubt I can use it anywhere else but abroad.
 
rockyroad55 said:
I sell it between the time invites go out and the actual event since most of the general public don't pay attention to that.
Click to expand...

My policy is to sell between when MacRumors reports on the rumored date (confirmed by WSJ, Jim D., etc.) and when Apple actually sends out the invites. The last few years, the mainstream press and local news has even reported "New iPhone expected to be unveiled by Apple on September ___." When people see it on the news, that's when the value starts to drop.

I remember I sold my iPhone 4 for $580 right before the 4S came out. That is the best I have ever done... considering it sold for $650 unsubsidized new. The person who bought it had to be clueless and had to have been kicking themselves once the new phone was announced.
 
1080p said:
I remember I sold my iPhone 4 for $580 right before the 4S came out. That is the best I have ever done... considering it sold for $650 unsubsidized new. The person who bought it had to be clueless and had to have been kicking themselves once the new phone was announced.
Click to expand...
Technically, if it was the iPhone 4 AT&T, it was $600 without contract so that is pretty good. Then again, back in those days, you can sell brand new AT&T locked iPhones on eBay for $800-1,000. :p
 
I have an iPhone 5s, i just bought it 4 months ago and its works really great so right now not have any planing to go with 6. but really excited for ios 8.:cool:
 
If you're worried about the "timing" of selling your old phone for maximum price, and $50 extra is a big deal to you, then you probably shouldn't be buying a new phone.
 
I'm not "worried" one bit. I buy a new iPhone every year off contract. I was just wondering what other people were doing, so I asked. Simple as that.
 
I wait until I have another phone in hand, I don't want to lose my phone number.
 
Selling?

Why?

We will probably be adding another 5 or 5s shortly.

So many people that are POSITIVE they want this new phone. Going to be interesting to see what really happens.
 
nostresshere said:
Selling?

Why?

We will probably be adding another 5 or 5s shortly.

So many people that are POSITIVE they want this new phone. Going to be interesting to see what really happens.
Click to expand...


If it sucks I'll go with the note 4 and moto 360. Simple as that.
 
I'll just trade my 5s in at Best Buy when I get the new phone. I have enough phones on my plan that I will get a new one on contract for free that way. I might not make any money, but I don't have to go without a phone and there is no hassle that way.
 
I'm going to sell it on the same day I buy it. I should've kept my 5c as a backup.

I might buy another 5c for that purpose.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back