I see a lot of people estimating how much they'll be able to resell their phone after 12 months, basing the estimated prices off of used iPhone sales from prior years. But it now seems that upgrade plans, whether through Apple or telecoms, are becoming a new norm. So won't that have a significant effect on resale prices? Or will there remain enough demand for later generation used iPhones that it won't matte? I'm guessing resale prices drop significantly.
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Won't resale prices decline significantly with the rise of upgrade plans?
- Thread starter lavventi
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On the contrary. People have to turn in their phones to upgrade instead of selling them. Their will be less phones available in the open market.
Well for me, my resale of my 6+, is going up this year. I used to just list my iPhone at a 2 year contract level, and maybe just a little over to cover sales cost and remainder of apple care+. But now, having to out of pocket the phone for the full price, I will be listing it above what I used to. The price range I'm aiming For is about an early upgrade on your 2-year contract, when the iPhone used to be 649.99 if you had a year and a half under your belt, you could do a partial subsidy and upgrade your line. Just a few dollars less than that figure, and it's getting listed after next Friday.
Erm. What do you think will happen to those phones turned in to upgrade? They will get resold.
But probably most will be resold overseas, according to media reports. Disappear from North American market.
Good luck with that. Prices dropping quickly on eBay. Just look at recently sold listings. U be lucky to get $550 for a 64gb plus model.
This is what I am afraid of. I regularly sell my iPhone and buy the new iPhone with that money. And now with all these offers of financing a phone and trading it in the next year. I see most ppl getting on those deals. Although there may not be as many phones on the market to be resold. Most ppl won't care cause why buy? When you can just trade your phone in every year? That's what I am afraid will happen.
They likely won't be sold to consumers here, it's not like Apple or Verizon will sell used phones to customers.
They'll stay relatively the same. The resale market is a global one that isn't limited to the US.
Good point, that is my concern as this is kind of what I have to do every year to get the newest model. I sell it slightly below full price since I have a concession line and cannot upgrade normally.
But on the contrary, Apples iPhone Upgrade Plan is sounding more enticing. I might end up going that route next year or thereafter.
But on the contrary, Apples iPhone Upgrade Plan is sounding more enticing. I might end up going that route next year or thereafter.
Apple already sells used phones. That's what Apple-certified refurbished iPhones are. Whether Apple is the vendor directly, or whether they set up an ebay shop as they do:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...certified-refurbished-unlocked-gsm-iphones-5s
it does not matter, they're selling used iPhones. I'm sure they will be selling prior generation iPhones as refurbs and I'd imagine they will do it domestically and internationally.
Somebody will still own the phones--namely companies like Apple and they will sell them in the market, as they have a value. And they will be the largest sellers of such phones and, as I'm speculating, likely drive prices down for personal users selling them in the after market.
The supply-and-demand metrics will change, I believe. There will be more supply (more people upgrading) and less demand (more people on upgrade plans rather than buying phones to own).
I couldn't agree more. I think that we're going to see many more people upgrading every 12 months with the carrier 12 month programs and Apple's 12 month program, so the resale market will be flooded with 1 year old phones. Doesn't matter how Apple or the carriers resell the traded in phones, the market will be flooded.
It might be a different market though. iPhones returned to Apple might end up as white box replacements or potentially sold as certified refurbished in the refurb store, rather than eBay, CL, swappa, etc.
That is exactly what I was thinking. It should make it even easier to sell your phone if you actually own it.
Most private sellers aren't willing or able to sell overseas, and I'd bet that the traded in phones will end up mostly being exported to poorer countries where a lot of people can't afford new models but still want iPhones. So I don't think it'll effect the resale value too much.
The analogy would be like asking how the dealers' car leasing programs affect the open market. Leased cars turned in to dealers are usually re-sold on their lots rather than the open market. Sure, they affect each other but not to the extent that members are worried about (i.e., resulting in a dramatic decline in re-sale prices).
I do it every year. There is always some one who wants to replace the one they had, and if they are waging against a full price iPhone to a few hundred off iPhone, then you can assume they will go with whatever savings they can. My phones are flawless condition with box, and materials unused (headphones, lightning cable, and charger) in plastic. So I do get what I'm asking for. I am always open to negotiate.
Exactly. The phone companies & Apple, are essentially doing the same thing we are. When they need to replace your phone that got damaged or just need a replacement, where do you think they come from? The ones you send back and when they give you a "new" one, it's of equal or in working condition/quality. They know iPhones hold their value. So why crack open a new box and loose revenue on a new one, when people are literally giving their phones to them, and in turn, have phones to give back to their customers.
The place I worked at had many employees from Yemen. They snapped up phones like crazy to send back to Yemen. Getting double what they paid for here from their relatives.
Looking through the upgrade options on ATT, there were certified used products available.