Can I sell my iPhone 5 after upgrade?

evarghese · ‎09-14-2012

Hi, I currently have an iPhone and I'm eligible for an upgrade to the new iPhone 5. Is it possible for me to upgrade and then sell the iPhone 5? This way, I can sell the iPhone 5 as soon as I get it and then continue to use my old iPhone. Do I need to activate the iPhone 5 before selling it or can I sell it without activation? I called AT&T about this but it sounded like the representative was not completely sure.

Thanks in advance for your help.

sandblaster · ‎08-15-2006

evarghese wrote:
Hi, I currently have an iPhone and I'm eligible for an upgrade to the new iPhone 5. Is it possible for me to upgrade and then sell the iPhone 5? This way, I can sell the iPhone 5 as soon as I get it and then continue to use my old iPhone. Do I need to activate the iPhone 5 before selling it or can I sell it without activation? I called AT&T about this but it sounded like the representative was not completely sure.

Thanks in advance for your help.

You can do whatever you want with your new iphone but yes, you do have to activate it first as that is what starts the new two year contract. If you don't activate it, I believe you are either expected to return it or you get charge the full retail price. Just keep in mind the new iphone comes with a nano-sim card which won't fit in your current iphone. You will either need a sim adaptor or a new sim to switch back to your old iphone because once you activate the new iphone, the sim card in your old iphone will be deactivated.

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.

evarghese · ‎09-14-2012

This is not true. I just called AT&T and they confirmed that I don't have to activate the phone first before selling it.

wilcre · ‎06-01-2004

as long as you get it in store, if online or over the phone you have to activate it to accept the terms and conditions.

AT&T's return policy has changed effective 10/07/12. You have 14 days to return the device & cxl without a ETF. Policy info HERE.

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sandblaster · ‎08-15-2006

evarghese wrote:
This is not true. I just called AT&T and they confirmed that I don't have to activate the phone first before selling it.

There are two things that get activated when you get an iphone as an upgrade, the phone itself (with Apple's servers) and the sim card. You don't have to activate the new sim but if you don't activate the phone itself, the buyer may not be able to activate it because it requires the last 4 digits of the original buyer's SSN. Now if you are willing to provide your SSN to whoever you sell it to, fine. If you don't believe me, read this thread from somone who bought someone's upgrade: http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-Community-Discussion/Cant-activate-iPhone-5/td-p/3311455

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T’s positions, strategies or opinions.

hermi14 · ‎12-20-2007

Hi. I am thinking of doing the same thing. I have an iphone 4s that is eligible to be upgraded to iphone 5, but I'd like to just sell it and get the extra money and keep my 4s.

So, am I to understand that if you buy it in a store you don't have to activate either the phone or the sim, and you can just keep using your old phone/SIM, which will now be working under the new contract, and you won't be charged the full price for the iphone 5, and/but the person you sell the phone to needs the last 4 of your SSN in order to activate the phone?

Also/alternatively, how can you activate the phone without activating the SIM (and thus de-activating your old SIM)? I know that I don't have to give the SIM to the person I sell it to, b/c they will be able to get one for free from ATT.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

hermi14 wrote:

Hi. I am thinking of doing the same thing. I have an iphone 4s that is eligible to be upgraded to iphone 5, but I'd like to just sell it and get the extra money and keep my 4s.

So, am I to understand that if you buy it in a store you don't have to activate either the phone or the sim, and you can just keep using your old phone/SIM, which will now be working under the new contract, and you won't be charged the full price for the iphone 5, and/but the person you sell the phone to needs the last 4 of your SSN in order to activate the phone?

Also/alternatively, how can you activate the phone without activating the SIM (and thus de-activating your old SIM)? I know that I don't have to give the SIM to the person I sell it to, b/c they will be able to get one for free from ATT.

the iphone has to be activated on your number, once it i activated you can go to a store and switch it back, then sell it. Remember to tell the buyer, it is locked to att and cannot be unlocked by the personthat purchases it, and only by you after the 2 year commitment is completed. In addition no US modeled Iphone 5 will work at LTE speeds on any network outside the US, the US model only works on the LTE band that is used in the US

hermi14 · ‎12-20-2007

Thanks! Actually I spoke with an AT&T rep on Friday and she told me that when I make the order (phone or online), they will set my equipment to be an iphone 5 (but obviously I will not have activated it and will still be using my 4s).

When the iphone 5 arrives, all I have to do is call AT&T and tell them to "switch my equipment back" to the 4s. No activation necessary. I can sell the iphone 5 still sealed in box.

I am a "premier" customer because I work for a large tech company and get a 25% discount on my home service, but I don't think that affects this activity. I just thought I'd mention it, though.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

hermi14 wrote:

Thanks! Actually I spoke with an AT&T rep on Friday and she told me that when I make the order (phone or online), they will set my equipment to be an iphone 5 (but obviously I will not have activated it and will still be using my 4s).

When the iphone 5 arrives, all I have to do is call AT&T and tell them to "switch my equipment back" to the 4s. No activation necessary. I can sell the iphone 5 still sealed in box.

I am a "premier" customer because I work for a large tech company and get a 25% discount on my home service, but I don't think that affects this activity. I just thought I'd mention it, though.

good luck then, couple of things to remember when you go to sell that iphone 5

1. it is locked to att network, it will not be unlocked until the 2 year commitment is completed, or you paid full retail price for it, so it cannot be used on another network. If you paid full retail for it it can only be unlocked by you since the reciept verifyiing full retail from a authorized dealer is required

2. if for use overseas with a unsanctiopned unlock, it will not work on those LTE bands, the US phone only works on Band 5, which is unique to the US, so the buyer will not be able to take advantage of the LTE networks over there.

oz_1 · ‎10-25-2008

Just a thought since the 4s still brings a good amount on resale why not keep the 5 and sell the 4s.

hermi14 · ‎12-20-2007

Thanks for the info. The fact that it's a locked AT&T phone doesn't lower the value at all, I've found.

The iphone 5 is not a huge improvement over the 4s and (a) it's too big for me and (b) apparently it scratches easily.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

hermi14 wrote:

Thanks for the info. The fact that it's a locked AT&T phone doesn't lower the value at all, I've found.

The iphone 5 is not a huge improvement over the 4s and (a) it's too big for me and (b) apparently it scratches easily.

Would sugget that you mention that in your for sale ad, saves time and trouble down the line when the buyer tries to unlock it, might also mention that a US LTE Iphone 5 will not get LTE speeds any place but the US, it only recieves on Band 5, which is US only

oz_1 · ‎10-25-2008

hermi14 wrote:

Thanks for the info. The fact that it's a locked AT&T phone doesn't lower the value at all, I've found.

The iphone 5 is not a huge improvement over the 4s and (a) it's too big for me and (b) apparently it scratches easily.

Better camera ,faster processor, LTE , less weight and thinner maybe not huge to you but improvements non the less.

As for easy to scratch not my experience with the white maybe someone with a black one can verify.