Crazy AT&T gets $150 refurb'd iPhone 3G in stock, will club a baby seal if you don't buy one
If Walmart's $197 iPhone 3G had you salivating, wait until you get ahold of this deal: AT&T has refurbished iPhone 3Gs in stock for a mere $150, effectively doubling your rice and ramen budget for the month should you take the plunge. AT&T claims the refurbs were returned within the 30 day trial period, are quality tested, and might be just a little scuffed up. If you're really feeling wild, there's also a 16GB refurb available for $250. Apple and AT&T are being a little shady on the warranty, stating "90 days or more," as opposed to the standard one year, but that's a risk you and your growling stomach are just going to have to take.[Via Cnet]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iswearimcool @ Dec 16th 2008 1:33PM
waiiiit...
so i can just order one for $150 without actually signing a "contract" till i plug it into my computer?
Big Al @ Dec 16th 2008 1:43PM
What does this have to do with clubbing a baby seal?
mak618 @ Dec 16th 2008 2:48PM
where do you get one from ? The att /apple website or from the store ?
Jaylight @ Dec 16th 2008 3:56PM
This is not a good deal at all! 50 dollars less, 90 day warranty. No thanks, ill pay the 50 extra bones for a full year warranty! Anyone who takes this is ill advised on the cost of iphone repairs!!
bernardino @ Dec 16th 2008 4:05PM
I wonder if SquareTrade's iPhone 3G warrenty would cover a refurbed iPhone 3G.
bernardino @ Dec 16th 2008 4:09PM
I guess SquareTrade doesn't cover "normal issues" which would be covered by the manuf.'s 1st year warrenty. So if they did cover it, they'd probably make you pay more since you're going to want them to cover that 1st year as well, or you're going to spend 9 months praying that you don't have any "normal issues" with your refurbed iPhone 3G.
marco @ Dec 16th 2008 4:49PM
that goes to show u how many people returned these phones!!!
kjherstin @ Dec 16th 2008 11:22PM
For that price? Just get a new one. That's ridiculous
FireFish @ Dec 27th 2008 3:16AM
I totally agree with you, even though now they're $99.
Truth is, there are people out there who really wouldn't buy an iPhone for $199, but would for $150.
It puzzles me. If you can't afford a $200 phone, 50 bucks won't make a difference. Plus, between the data plan mysteriously becoming $10 more since the first generation iPhones + other charge increases, you're actually paying more than if you bought it outright for $399 like generation one.
Here's what I posted elsewhere:
I wouldn't want a refurbished phone anyways for a hundred bucks less.
I like that Apple is cool when my battery starts to go on my 3G; they just give me a new one. That alone has happened 4 times already! Seriously, my local Apple store just gave me my fourth brand new iPhone 3G on Wednesday.
Seth @ Dec 17th 2008 4:51PM
There is essentially nothing attractive about this "deal," except that it would seem to indicate that the market for these babies is starting to saturate. At least, that is, the market for those who are willing to sign two-year contracts with AT&T is starting to saturate. Apple has what, three years left on their exclusive agreement with AT&T? I suspect they are going to be hurting soon. Thus the Walmart rumors. They may be hurting already. Has anyone else noticed that AT&T basically doesn't lift a finger or spend a dime on pushing these phones? Maybe, hopefully AT&T would like out of the agreement just as much as Apple soon will. It would certainly be a boon for "the rest of us." It's just too bad we couldn't have relied on the Justice Department to have done its job and to have invalidated the whole arrangement in the first place. Hopefully Obama will have those scoundrels shoved onto the streets in short order.
Geekbert @ Dec 27th 2008 2:04PM
Seth, what are you talking about? Apple hurting? Justice department? In less than 2 years, the iPhone has appeared on the scene and revolutionized the wireless industry. The former leader in smart phones now has to produce an iphone killer (storm) to keep up. Obama, that says it all. You're living in an alternate reality.
Whether or not buying a refurb is another question. I've had a 1st gen iPhone refurb for almost a year now and it's worked great. I've had bad experiences with refurbs in the past too. None of us is a fortune teller. If you're a grown up, think it through and decide if $100 (they're selling for $99 at the time I am writing this) savings is worth the risk. But please do not base your decision on some misinformation about Apple hurting or the government punishing successful businesses for making good business decisions. Good grief!