Photo by Rinox via flickr
Apple has long been a poster child for the wisdom of Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand. With active trade in some of its discontinued products, such as the iSight camera (which regularly sells on auction sites such as eBay for more than the original purchase price), and high-resale values for “previously owned” and “refurbished” models of its computers, the reality has been that the cost of owning an Apple over the years has not been nearly so high as its reputation for premium pricing might indicate.
The iPhone is providing additional confirmation that, despite complaints about the company’s obsessive desire to control the user experience, they must be doing something right at 1 Infinite Loop.
iPhone Atlas reported recently on the high prices still being fetched at resale by the original model phones, indicating concern over the ability to unlock and/or jailbreak the upcoming model, combined with significant demand in countries where the iPhone 3G will not initially be on sale, including Russia and China.
While the current value of first-generation iPhones may be high, with reports of the bid on 16GB phones near $600, some believe the market for the phones will stay active with prices coming down as the availability of 3G models gets closer. Michael Johnston at iPhone Alley suggests the window for high prices may be closing soon and Dennis Sellers writes for Macsimum News that active trade in the post-3G launch market for first-gen iPhones could see prices come down under $100.
With Apple and AT&T seeming to have foiled the unlocking/jailbreaking movement that flourished in the wake of iPhone’s initial release, Stateside customers who must have the speed and features of the 3G model but still have, or want, service with a carrier other than AT&T, will either have to wait and see if the new models can be jailboken or look to Apple’s deals with a different carrier in almost every country overseas, where the phones will go on sale next month. Across both ponds Apple has had to agree to a wide range of prices and options for selling the iPhone 3G, making it likely that in quite a few countries outside of the U.S., you’ll be able to buy an iPhone without a contractual agreement.
8 responses to “Market for Original iPhones Looks Robust”
With the new phone cost of just $199, I’ll be getting a new one. I can’t add real good so the additional $40 over the 2 year contract doesn’t register with me.
Dear Lonnie Lazar,
This may be an uber-obvious question, but frankly I don’t know where to begin looking for a proper answer…
How likely/possible would it be to be able to use an unlocked non-USA iPhone 3G with a USA service provider? I really would like an iPhone, but I abhor AT&T (for service & security reasons).
So, would it be possible to (somehow) use the new 3G hardware with USA cell carriers?
Thanks,
CR
I just took my iPhone in for repairs (weird rattle from vibrate mode). It was replaced with a shiny new one free of charge. I immediately craiglisted it. I was offered between 100 to 450 for it. Obviously I went with the highest offer. However upon inspection of the iphone, it had the tiniest nick in the back from being in my pocket with my keys so I let the guy have it for an even $400. Not bad at all I say…
My gf bought a new iMac and got the student discount and free iPod Touch (via rebate). She even had her name engraved on the back. She decides she wants a new iPhone. I had a little trouble getting rid of her iT but I advertised it with full disclosure that her name is engraved on it and within 2 days I managed to get $200 for it.
We will be buy a black (me) and white (her) 16gb iPhones comes July 11.
I sold my 2G iPhone on eBay in less than 3 days this week for a fair sum of money I’d say. It was in mint condition with the original packaging, etc. I’ve bought two iPhone’s so far and only ended up paying for one after all. Thanks to the good resale value for Apple products.
See also:
http://www.maclife.com/article…