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When should I sell my iPhone 4?

D

daaneel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 2, 2011
137
0
Hi everybody,
I have an iPhone 4 and I'm wanting to upgrade to an iPhone 5 when it comes out (I've heard about a release date somewhere in September/Octoberish which isn't too far from now). Now the problem is that I'm obviously not going to keep my iPhone 4, but if i keep it until the iPhone 5 will the secondhand value of my iPhone 4 go down? Do you think I should keep my iPhone till the 5 comes out or sell it before? How long before the expected release of the iPhone 5 should I sell it?
 
daaneel said:
Hi everybody,
I have an iPhone 4 and I'm wanting to upgrade to an iPhone 5 when it comes out (I've heard about a release date somewhere in September/Octoberish which isn't too far from now). Now the problem is that I'm obviously not going to keep my iPhone 4, but if i keep it until the iPhone 5 will the secondhand value of my iPhone 4 go down? Do you think I should keep my iPhone till the 5 comes out or sell it before? How long before the expected release of the iPhone 5 should I sell it?
Click to expand...

Now. Lol. and buy a iphone 3g..... but its up to you.. iphone 4 will lose some value when the 5 comes out... but not alot so its really your choice....
 
Alright thanks.
And what should I expect for the price of the iPhone 5 (secondhand) when it comes out?
 
Thanks! I think I will sell my iPhone 4 now and wait till price of the iPhone 4 to drop once the five comes out, and when the 4 has dropped enough, I think I will buy another! :D
 
Depends how much you want out of it. It is worth more now than it will ever be worth in the future. Sell it now and deal with a 20$ dumbphone until the new iPhone's release!

You will get the most out of your iPhone 4 if it is in good condition, clean, and includes the box as well as all of the original accessories.
 
Is it really worth it ?
You'll have no phone for about 3 months to save about $50
Hold on to it and sell it when the iPhones announced.
 
Yeah I wont have an iPhone for 3 months but I could get a GoPhone for $10.
Well if I'm going to get an iPhone 5, whats the use of keeping the 4? Might as well sell it and get a little more profit from it.
 
daaneel said:
Yeah I wont have an iPhone for 3 months but I could get a GoPhone for $10.
Well if I'm going to get an iPhone 5, whats the use of keeping the 4? Might as well sell it and get a little more profit from it.
Click to expand...

Plus you'll save money by not having a data plan. :D
 
daaneel said:
Yeah I wont have an iPhone for 3 months but I could get a GoPhone for $10.
Well if I'm going to get an iPhone 5, whats the use of keeping the 4? Might as well sell it and get a little more profit from it.
Click to expand...

Would that work? Getting a GoPhone and then putting a contract-ed SIM in it? I've been told by multiple AT&T reps that they wouldn't work. Not sure if that's true though ;O

You SHOULD sell your phone, I just don't think you should sell it now. Just wait. The trouble you'll have from not having your iPhone will NOT be worth the (probably about) $50 loss you'll have from selling it after the iPhone 5 release. You'll easily sell it, and if you have a case + extra accessories you'll get a good deal. So many people are waiting for the iPhone 5 so they can get a cheaper iPhone 4, it'll be sold quickly.
 
Yumunum said:
Would that work? Getting a GoPhone and then putting a contract-ed SIM in it? I've been told by multiple AT&T reps that they wouldn't work. Not sure if that's true though ;O

You SHOULD sell your phone, I just don't think you should sell it now. Just wait. The trouble you'll have from not having your iPhone will NOT be worth the (probably about) $50 loss you'll have from selling it after the iPhone 5 release. You'll easily sell it, and if you have a case + extra accessories you'll get a good deal. So many people are waiting for the iPhone 5 so they can get a cheaper iPhone 4, it'll be sold quickly.
Click to expand...

AT&T representatives are notorious for lying in order to get you to buy stuff. People say, "Don't believe everything you read on the internet", but I'd honestly check here for truths before I ever believe someone working in a carrier store.
 
It should work. I am not in a contract plan anymore.

And you've made a good point about how people are waiting till the iPhone 4 gets cheaper....Well I think ill just put it on craigslist for 400 and I'll sell it if I get a buyer... If not, might as well keep it till the iPhone 5 release and hope I can get ~$350 for it.



P.S.
I just received a warning for asking how much an iPhone 5 would be secondhand when it comes out. Lol?
 
daaneel said:
P.S.
I just received a warning for asking how much an iPhone 5 would be secondhand when it comes out. Lol?
Click to expand...

It's considered a "price check outside the marketplace", but that doesn't make sense seeing as how the device hasn't even been announced yet. Weird. I wouldn't worry too much about it. :p

In case you're wondering what the marketplace is, it's a special section of the forum that is open for buying/selling merchandise for members that have 6+ months experience here with a post count of 500 or more. :)
 
awadeee said:
AT&T representatives are notorious for lying in order to get you to buy stuff. People say, "Don't believe everything you read on the internet", but I'd honestly check here for truths before I ever believe someone working in a carrier store.
Click to expand...

I know I know, I didn't say that they were correct. You'd have to Google it or something.

OP, you'll definitely sell that for $400. I just bought my 16GB iPhone 4 for that exact price. I've also sold/bought a lot of phones on Craigslist, haha. But anyways, I'd advice you didn't sell it. You will miss the heck out of your iPhone. I also have a lot of experience with regret. lol
 
daaneel said:
P.S.
I just received a warning for asking how much an iPhone 5 would be secondhand when it comes out. Lol?
Click to expand...

awadeee said:
It's considered a "price check outside the marketplace", but that doesn't make sense seeing as how the device hasn't even been announced yet. Weird. I wouldn't worry too much about it. :p

In case you're wondering what the marketplace is, it's a special section of the forum that is open for buying/selling merchandise for members that have 6+ months experience here with a post count of 500 or more. :)
Click to expand...

The warning was issued by mistake. It's all sorted out now.
 
Argue with AT&T into getting a ETF reprieve. Then sell your iPhone 4 as a no-contract phone for $550. Buy a Verizon iPhone 5 with a contract and you get $250+ profit, if it stays at current prices.
 
Yeah, sell now for most money. Though, you will still make a decent amount (maybe ~$100 less) a few days after the announcement. Even on the day of the announcement the prices haven't changed too much (from my observations).


I would sell later because I wouldn't be able to live without a smartphone of some sort. That's just me though and my obsessive use. ;)

Good luck!
 
Personally, I don't see how giving up your iPhone 4 for 3 months is worth getting an iPhone 5 at no additional cost. Sure you're getting your previous phone to pay for your next one, but you're also only an iPhone owner 9 months out of the year. To each their own.
 
Sell, sell now. It's almost too late! The phone is at its peak about 6 months after it comes out. Its losing money every day.

And of course you never buy right at release. Wait at least two or three months for all the bugs to be worked out and the stock to be high enough so that you can pick one out with a good screen. You certainly don't want to be stuck with bad pixels, yellow screen etc.

During the time without your snazzy iPhone just get an elcheapo gophone! Using my system you'll only have to pay for an iPhone about 3 months out of the year.

Of course figuring out all the contract problems is left up to you. :D
 
Considering the two major flaws with the iphone 4, I bet the used price falls like a stone if the iPhone 5 addresses the antenna issue and glass back.
 
Depends on how flooded the market becomes then. If its just a spec bump and not as many upgrade your value shouldn't go down much. If is so awesome everyone has to have it I would thing the iphone4 prices will drop below $350. Its just supply and demand. The demand will be there for iphone4s its just a gamble to see how it works out and if there are way more them than people looking to buy ;)
 
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