Other Where is the best place to purchase an older iPhone?

[bobright]

So we're looking to purchase an older iPhone 6 after our iPhone 5 finally died. We want this phone just to last us a year until we get new ones. Where is the best/safest place to purchase from? eBay or Swappa?

I've never went through Swappa. I'm a long time eBay seller/buyer but the descriptions scare me "...may have screen issues dents or nicks etc but working." So wondering what's our best option?!

 

[woodynorman]

Swappa. I have bought and sold a few phones there with good luck

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Swappa..

 

[noobinator]

Swappa. Buy from someone with good feedback/rating.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Swappa is a lot safer (usually) than eBay.

 

[44267547]

So we're looking to purchase an older iPhone 6 after our iPhone 5 finally died. We want this phone just to last us a year until we get new ones. Where is the best/safest place to purchase from? eBay or Swappa?

I've never went through Swappa. I'm a long time eBay seller/buyer but the descriptions scare me "...may have screen issues dents or nicks etc but working." So wondering what's our best option?!

As others have said, Swappa is safer bet over eBay. As always, do your due diligence when researching the seller and lots of photos are always a good thing when purchasing a used phone. I personally avoid eBay, I think there’s more potential for fraud on that site then Swappa.

 

[maerz001]

Look for a 6s. The little money you pay now more you get back in a year when u'll sell it. And it's way better performance

 

[44267547]

Look for a 6s. The little money you pay now more you get back in a year when u'll sell it. And it's way better performance

IF the OP wants an iPhone 6 for less than a year, I would say don’t care about performance. And in a year, the 6s will even drop more in value.

 

[maerz001]

IF the OP wants an iPhone 6 for less than a year, I would say don’t care about performance. And in a year, the 6s will even drop more in value.

Yes sure he has to know. It's just my experience.
And by that iPhone prices fall fast in the beginning for new phones and than linear when they are +3 years.

An iPhone 5s cost now about 150€, a 6 200€ and a 6s 250€ with same storage.

So in either case you lose 50€ after one year.

Btw a lot of people just use their top of the line phones for one year. There they lose about 400€.

 

[44267547]

Btw a lot of people just use their top of the line phones for one year. There they lose about 400€.

Consumers generally don’t care if they lose/trade in their latest phones in a year if they are financing due to upgrade programs and Carrier incentives making it easier. Unless somebody owns their iPhone out right, they will be losing more money that way by selling out right when new models are announced.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Craig’s list has hundreds of them for sale.

 

[Rattle Snake]

Consumers generally don’t care if they lose/trade in their latest phones in a year if they are financing due to upgrade programs and Carrier incentives making it easier. Unless somebody owns their iPhone out right, they will be losing more money that way by selling out right when new models are announced.

@maerz001 still holds his point! You still loose money even if you are financing your iPhone.

 

[MacDawg]

I haven't bought a used phone before, but if I did, I would certainly consider Swappa before eBay at this point

And I know everyone's situation and use case is different, but if I were buying, I would spring for the 6s as well over the 6
I think the difference in performance for me for the year would be well worth the cost

 

[bobright]

Thanks for the responses guys. I want a 6 just to keep costs down going to get a brand new phone next year dont want to spend more than $150.

Is it the safer bet to buy from a seller like this with pretty good feedback over somebody with no feedback but a private owner? Do places like this buy used phones and fix them then re-sell? https://swappa.com/buy/stock/13035/view

Also as long as its an AT&T phone I should be able to hook it up to my existing AT&T line with no issues right? It doesnt have to be "unlocked"?

Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks for the responses guys. I want a 6 just to keep costs down going to get a brand new phone next year dont want to spend more than $150.

Is it the safer bet to buy from a seller like this with pretty good feedback over somebody with no feedback but a private owner? Do places like this buy used phones and fix them then re-sell? https://swappa.com/buy/stock/13035/view

Also as long as its an AT&T phone I should be able to hook it up to my existing AT&T line with no issues right? It doesnt have to be "unlocked"?

Thanks

As long as the phone you buy is an AT&T phone, you should be fine.

Look for a seller with good feedback.

 

[44267547]

Is it the safer bet to buy from a seller like this with pretty good feedback over somebody with no feedback but a private owner? Do places like this buy used phones and fix them then re-sell? https://swappa.com/buy/stock/13035/view

If you intend on purchasing online, never purchase from anyone with no feedback. Always research the sellers history and how long they have been a member. Also something else, look for plenty of photos of the item that you’re wanting to purchase and if you have questions, contact the seller, and if it’s a reputable seller, they will reply back to you within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[now i see it]

eBay can be good & bad
Craigslist can be good & bad
Swappa can be mostly good, maybe a few bads.

I purchased my phone on swappa. It was a mint refurb from a seller that had a few ratings (good). Everything went perfectly. Phone was exactly as described.

I have sold a lot of stuff through Craigslist over the years (not phones). Cars & old furniture & old stuff.
It would be my last choice to buy a phone. For some reason, Craigslist attracts a lot of flakes and scammers.
I pretty much despise it - but still grudgingly use it.

I've never had a bad experience with eBay (15 years now) but I've never bought a phone there. I did buy a $2500 Mac Pro on eBay from an individual 8 years ago - and had zero problems with the transaction.

 

[44267547]

eBay can be good & bad
Craigslist can be good & bad
Swappa can be mostly good, maybe a few bads.

I purchased my phone on swappa. It was a mint refurb from a seller that had a few ratings (good). Everything went perfectly. Phone was exactly as described.

I have sold a lot of stuff through Craigslist over the years (not phones). Cars & old furniture & old stuff.
It would be my last choice to buy a phone. For some reason, Craigslist attracts a lot of flakes and scammers.
I pretty much despise it - but still grudgingly use it.

I've never had a bad experience with eBay (15 years now) but I've never bought a phone there. I did buy a $2500 Mac Pro on eBay from an individual 8 years ago - and had zero problems with the transaction.

Valid points. The problem with buying phones from eBay, is that is has the potential for them to be blacklisted. Swappa is safer in that sense. But purchasing online has its risk no matter which website or how reputable it is. I don’t use craigslist at all. I personally trade in my devices for store credit through a carrier or a gift card through Apple.

 

[eplchamps]

Valid points. The problem with buying phones from eBay, is that is has the potential for them to be blacklisted. Swappa is safer in that sense. But purchasing online has its risk no matter which website or how reputable it is. I don’t use craigslist at all. I personally trade in my devices for store credit through a carrier or a gift card through Apple.

A swappa bought phone also be blacklisted. Bottom line when buying a phone call the provider the phone is from and verify it’s paid off and good to go. Online imei checks are not always accurate. Swappa shows my iPhone X as financed when it was paid in full from bestbuy.

 

[44267547]

A swappa bought phone also be blacklisted. Bottom line when buying a phone call the provider the phone is from and verify it’s paid off and good to go. Online imei checks are not always accurate. Swappa shows my iPhone X as financed when it was paid in full from bestbuy.

Its the risk with selling any iPhone/smart phone online. I don’t sell my iPhones online, but if I were to sell my iPhones in person, at least meet at the carrier store where they can verify if the phone is locked or not before concluding the sale. I also don’t trust some of the sites claiming to confirm if the device is paid off or not.