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DigitalEl · Jun 19, 2008, 05:00 PM

Whoever said there's no market for original iPhones now that the 3G is subsidized is apparently way off base. After debating whether or not I even wanted to sell my 8 gig, I just had what could be described as the best Craigslist experience ever.

1218
Ad placed. Original iPhone. Cash only. Will meet at Starbucks for local handoff.

1223

A taker e-mails me. We chat briefly by phone and agree to meet in 45 minutes.

1315
I drive about 15 minutes to the coffee shop and we make the handoff.

1320

I have $300 cash in my pocket and a delicious iced coffee drink. My son has a chocolate milk.

Of course, the downside to it selling so quickly is that I have to slum it for 3 weeks with one of the old GSMs I dug out of a drawer. I've become quite used to being able to Twitter or check Google Reader from anywhere anytime.

I had planned to give my doesn't-care-about-tech-tools (okay, toys) wife my old iPhone when the 3G came out. Guess instead now we're getting 2 new iPhones on 7/11.

ort888 · Jun 19, 2008, 05:04 PM

If you take a current iPhone to activate at AT&T do they still offer the $20 data plan or is that over???

DigitalEl · Jun 19, 2008, 05:10 PM

Don't know for sure. I would think the original iPhones would still be eligible for the cheaper plan. The 3G plan is $10 more b/c of the extra bandwidth they assume you'll consume.

I wasn't sure AT&T would let me remove the iPhone plan when I sold, but they gave me no hassle and it was done in only 10 minutes with a "6-1-1" call. When we get our new iP3Gs, we'll just sign up like it's the first time... Albeit with the pricier data plan.

64stang06 · Jun 19, 2008, 05:11 PM

Hopefully, you'll be able to buy the new iPhone at the subsidized price since you don't have the plan or phone anymore. Congrats on the sale! I might be doing the same thing now...

imitchellg5 · Jun 19, 2008, 05:13 PM

That is pretty cool. Sounds like you got good money for it too. I sold my iPod mini on Craigslist last year really quickly, surprisingly. I put a price of $100 on it (which was pretty high, although it came with a crapload of accessories) and got a call in 15 minutes, met the guy about a half hour later at a store two minutes down the street, and had my money, and went and got my iPod touch.

msuper69 · Jun 19, 2008, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by DigitalEl

Don't know for sure. I would think the original iPhones would still be eligible for the cheaper plan. The 3G plan is $10 more b/c of the extra bandwidth they assume you'll consume.

I wasn't sure AT&T would let me remove the iPhone plan when I sold, but they gave me no hassle and it was done in only 10 minutes with a "6-1-1" call. When we get our new iP3Gs, we'll just sign up like it's the first time... Albeit with the pricier data plan.

Too bad you didn't wait until the new iPhone was available. Current iPhone owners with a contract (which all who activated on AT&T must have) get to pay the lower rate. The higher rate applies to new customers (those w/o a current contract - you).

I think this applies

DigitalEl · Jun 19, 2008, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by msuper69

Too bad you didn't wait until the new iPhone was available. Current iPhone owners with a contract (which all who activated on AT&T must have) get to pay the lower rate.

I don't believe that's correct. The 3G plan is $10 more a month. I've been wrong before, but I don't think I am on this. Everyone with a 3G is gonna pay the increased data plan rate. There will be no grandfathering in of current iPhone owners/upgraders.

Nodnarb · Jun 19, 2008, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by DigitalEl

I don't believe that's correct. The 3G plan is $10 more a month. I've been wrong before, but I don't think I am on this. Everyone with a 3G is gonna pay the increased data plan rate. There will be no grandfathering in of current iPhone owners/upgraders.

He is saying, he thinks you aren't going to be able to get the iPhone for either $299/$399, that you will have to pay a higher price for the actual device, not the service.

Don't know if this is true or not, and neither does anyone else besides those working with Apple/AT&T.

DigitalEl · Jun 20, 2008, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

He is saying, he thinks you aren't going to be able to get the iPhone for either $299/$399, that you will have to pay a higher price for the actual device, not the service.

Don't know if this is true or not, and neither does anyone else besides those working with Apple/AT&T.

There are simply too many first generation iPhone users upgrading to the new 3G version. I can't imagine there's any way in hell they'd try to charge us all some unsubsidized price for the new device. They could, of course... But the $100 early adopters rebate shows how sensitive they are to PR nightmares. Tens of thousands of people like me walking out of stores pissed, b/c the iPhone is suddenly $700* would definitely qualify as a PR nightmare.

I'm fully confident I'll be walking out of the AT&T store at 1550 North Dysart Road on the 11th with two iPhones, having spent no more than $498 + tax for the pair.

If I'm wrong, I'll buy Nodnarb and msuper69 dinner. Seriously.

--
*Wild guess at unsubsidized price.

Nodnarb · Jun 20, 2008, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by DigitalEl

There are simply too many first generation iPhone users upgrading to the new 3G version. I can't imagine there's any way in hell they'd try to charge us all some unsubsidized price for the new device. They could, of course... But the $100 early adopters rebate shows how sensitive they are to PR nightmares. Tens of thousands of people like me walking out of stores pissed, b/c the iPhone is suddenly $700* would definitely qualify as a PR nightmare.

I'm fully confident I'll be walking out of the AT&T store at 1550 North Dysart Road on the 11th with two iPhones, having spent no more than $498 + tax for the pair.

If I'm wrong, I'll buy Nodnarb and msuper69 dinner. Seriously.

--
*Wild guess at unsubsidized price.

Right, I compleltey agree with that--- Apple would never charge 1st gen iPhone owners more than the $199/$299.

msuper's point is that you are no longer a current iPhone owner, and according to the rumors, are going to have to pay the unsubsidized price.

I'm not saying whether he's right or wrong, (because none of us know yet), just explaining the meaning of his post that you seemed to misunderstand.

BRussell · Jun 20, 2008, 09:36 AM

Oops. Yeah it looks like it's not automatic for you to get the subsidized price. Hopefully since you've been an iPhone user until just a few weeks previous, they won't give you any trouble.

LeeG · Jun 28, 2008, 09:47 PM

Yeah, Im curious, Im giving my first gen to my wife, if she can continue to use the $20 data plan - if they jack her data plan to $30 a month for EDGE i'll be pretty annoyed-

L

romeosc · Jun 28, 2008, 10:45 PM

AT&T manager told me the phone price is $199/$299 with new 2 yr plan. I am getting 2 phones now that they offer free and signing 2 year agreement. I am going to trade one back in for new iPhone July 11th + diference in Price. They allow you to trade in a new phone within 30 days.

I could have waited, but my Sprint contracts are up and 1 phone is barely holding charge!

Cold Warrior · Jun 28, 2008, 10:46 PM

Sprint sucks anyway. Good riddance.