Newbie advice: Buying an Unactivated iphone 3g

[athreya#IM]

guys,

does anyone have any authoratative news on how much an unactivated iphone will cost?

News on all websites seems to suggest stores r letting u walk home without activation because of the glitch. If i want to buy paying cash (not by card), and dont activate what happens?

Whats the ETF?

many thanks in advance

 

[jmeiners]

ETF = Early Termination Fee.

Often used here in reference to ending service with another carrier while still under contract. e.g. leaving Sprint before a contract is up.

 

[athreya#IM]

ETF = Early Termination Fee.

Often used here in reference to ending service with another carrier while still under contract. e.g. leaving Sprint before a contract is up.

to clarify i know what ETF means...was asking whats the ETF on an iphone

 

[whmurray]

guys,

does anyone have any authoratative news on how much an unactivated iphone will cost?

News on all websites seems to suggest stores r letting u walk home without activation because of the glitch. If i want to buy paying cash (not by card), and dont activate what happens?

Whats the ETF?

many thanks in advance

This is hardly a "glitch." It is more like a tragedy. I suggest that nobody do anything for a day or two. Definitely do not do anything the least bit different from the most straight forward transaction. "Newbies" should definitely hold their water.

 

[Jeremy]

They will not let you walk out of the store without setting up everything with At&t... they get all your info and set everything up. You can just bring home to hook up to iTunes to get the service going. So even if you did go home with no service you are still in a contract at that point.

 

[whmurray]

They will not let you walk out of the store without setting up everything with At&t... they get all your info and set everything up. You can just bring home to hook up to iTunes to get the service going. So even if you did go home with no service you are still in a contract at that point.

iTunes leads me to water but will not let me drink. I cannot download 2.0 or purchase any software.

 

[athreya#IM]

They will not let you walk out of the store without setting up everything with At&t... they get all your info and set everything up. You can just bring home to hook up to iTunes to get the service going. So even if you did go home with no service you are still in a contract at that point.

thanks..so is there NO WAY of buying an unactivated iphone at all anywhere in the US?

What abt the UK? Would anyone know abt that?

 

[supermum]

By law Belgium must sell unlocked iPhones... but it will set you back about $900 (U.S.)

 

[athreya#IM]

im told in hong kong u can walk away with an unactivated 16gb for 512$

 

[HymerSchmidt]

im told in hong kong u can walk away with an unactivated 16gb for 512$

You might as well buy one here and terminate early.

 

[athreya#IM]

You might as well buy one here and terminate early.

how much would that come to?
299+175+ 40$ activation fees?

about the same i guess...


any flipside to it?thanks

 

[xwhatsmysn]

ETF is $175 in US

you cant purchase it with cash.
needs credit card, social security card, ID.

 

[athreya#IM]

so there is no flipside to buying and immediately cancelling?

if i buy at apple...walk out of store...call att and cancel..

is there any negative to this? we dont have to return the phone?

 

[xwhatsmysn]

well you have a chance to return within the 30 days given without paying the 175 .. but most ppl wants the phone so they pay the 175 instead

no flipside.. they dont care.. most ask for a reason..