Online Wholesaler Questions

[Hoofhurr]

Has anyone ever used one of these online membership based wholesale electronics companies to purchase items?

I recently lost my iphone and due to the deal between apple and att replacing my iphone before the contract renewal date would set me back 3x the cost of the original phone ($300). I've checked craig's list extensively for 2ndary market phones but most people are wise to what they can get for a good condition phone ($250). While investigating this issue several people have pointed to these online wholesalers that sell iphone's for fairly cheap ($99 to $170) for refurbished or new iphones. These are all black 8gig 3G phone prices for comparison purposes.

Now memberships for these companies aren't bad but some of them are international and I'm a little leery of these companies but it seems I could almost go into business buying iphones for $99 dollars and selling them for $250 on craig's list. The demand is certainly there. Are these companies legit? Does anyone have experience with these companies or similar ones?

membersupply.net ($30.00 for 60 day membership)
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I could buy 2 phones for $200 plus shipping. Sell one for $250 and I would basically get a free phone.

Thoughts?

[Breand]

ummm...dont brand new iPhones only cost $200 now? And the 3Gs $99? Is it because of the AT&T contract that's the problem?

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[Hoofhurr]

Those prices are only available with a renewed 2 year contract otherwise they are 3 times as much. I'm not eligible for those prices until next april. They're pretty sneaky about their advertising and several times I've been convinced by it only to fill out all the crap and have them give me a more expensive set of options after they reviewed my contract. Everyday there are 2-3 new "Wanting to Buy" orders for $250 on craigs list for used phones so selling a used phone would be easy.

I might as well explain the situation between apple and att.

ATT subsidizes $200 dollars of the $300 dollar cost of the iphone from Apple. The consumer gets a new phone for $99, Apple sells tons of units at full price to ATT, ATT gets tons of new 2 year contracts. It's a win win win for everyone. If however you lose your iphone or have it stolen before you are eligible for a contract renewal, you have to pay the unsubsidized price of an iphone because you already have a 2 year contract with ATT. This creates a huge demand by people looking to replace lost, stolen, or broken phones. You can either buy them from Apple at the highest available prices or you can buy them used from people who stole someone else's phone or switched services and are looking to recoup cost OR these online companies that seem to have gotten a supply of phones from somewhere and can afford to really undercut the 2ndary market.

[Jakensama]

Reason #4827 iphones suck

[Grieve]

There's also a lot of pre-3GS phones for sale by people who upgraded to the 3GS. I'm eligible at the end of the year, so I'll probably sell mine at that point. Especially since it's only a month old (my 3G broke and those nice folks at Apple gave me a brand new one for free even though I was a few days out of my warrenty).

I'd be careful about trying the buy/resell thing. More and more original or 3G iPhones will be coming on the market as people's 2 year contract comes up and they upgrade.

[Fretty]

Your idea sounds like something I'd think of or try and pull, heh.
But personally I would never trust these types of websites, ever.
Giving away credit card information, paying them for a product that you have no "real" warranty on (they may offer one, but if they aren't a legit company than the warranty obviously isn't worth jack). Return policies may be BS as well "30 days no questions asked!!!" except you can never actually get in contact with them!

These are just fears of mine.
Basically, if it's not from a reputible seller/website/company and it sounds too good to be true...it probably is..."probably".

[Grieve]

Reason #4827 iphones suck

[Hoofhurr]

Fair enough but selling one phone would be easy at this point I think. The demand is definitely there. I'm not looking for a career change.

[Diggles]

Sounds like someone didnt get the iPhoneFinder app

[Hoofhurr]

Yeah I had plans to do that but they can yank your sim card and kill that I think.

[Crice]

Reason #4827 iphones suck

I have had all sorts of phone mainly blackberries that were replaced by the company yearly for the latest and greatest. iPhone are the best phone/mobile device on the market... hands down.