I have a plan...... will it work?

Chandler_90

Chandler_90

Chandler_90

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South Shields
Me and the misses are currently in possesion of 2 32GB Black iPhone 3GS units.. both out of contract and working...

Now... I wanted to try and wait it out for the next gen phone.... which apparently is looking likely to be a 4S or some slight alteration to the current gen hardware...

So with this in mind I am considering the following tactic..

Sell the 2 3GS models to a local trade in center that are currently offering up to 220 quid for trade in... Bank the proceeds gained in a savings account...

Then grab a 18 month contracted iPhone 4 on Vodaphone for £40...
Or a 24 Month contracted one from 3...

Wait for the required announcement from Apple.. then trade in the iPhone 4's and then combine proceeds and grab 2 new generation phones.

Can anyone see any flaws?

The market seems too open for Apple to give exclusive rights to one particular service provider... or could this be a tripping point?
 
If I understand you right, that should work, yes.

The iPhone 4 was a multi-network release and I'm pretty sure the new one will be too. You'd just get it from Apple anyway so that doesn't matter?
 
Yeah I guess I would do.. so it makes that part of the idea faultless.

Just need to decide if I should go with 3 or Voda.. Voda have more masts near my home address so I'm guessing them..

Whats the difference between a GMS and UMTS mast?
 
I think GMS is 2G and UMTS is 3G.

The good thing about Vodafone is that if you have signal issues, you can get SureSignal, which is great and solves any issues at your home address.
 
Damn those Vodafone iPhone contracts are steep. That £40pm contract's currently worth £10pm sim free... so that's ~£800 your paying for the 32GB version! :eek:
 
sarge78 said:
Damn those Vodafone iPhone contracts are steep. That £40pm contract's currently worth £10pm sim free... so that's ~£800 your paying for the 32GB version! :eek:
Click to expand...

All iPhone contracts are that steep if you want a 32GB model sarge. The world of iPhone contracts is a harsh one indeed.
 
You're throwing money away surely, the iphone 5 will be £450+ or so SIM-O - likely £500+ at ~sept launch if stock is bad. Wouldn't waiting be cheaper? Your premise is that the cost of the iphone 4 will be wiped out by the combined value of the resale + iphone 3 when really it should be compared to the cost of not doing the upgrade until the iphone 5 comes out. Rough math inc.

Doing your stuff now:
+400 for 3GS*2 sold now
+500 for iPhone 4*2 sold when i5 comes out
- 400 cost of iPhone 4 initial cost (assuming 31pcm deal)
-1000 for 2*iPhone 5 buy

Waiting:
Trade in 2*3GS for £200 (assuming price drops when the 5 gets announced)
iphone 5 outlay cost on an OK contract * 2 = £400

If you can't wait a few months then go for it I guess but I'd call this a bad idea and it would be easier to grab a sim-o deal in my eyes and then quidco a decent i5 contract in a few months.
 
Last edited:
An alternative idea.

Get two SGS2's on contract (usually cheaper than iPhone contracts too!)

Sell them at £400 each.

Put the £800 in the bank, and use the sims in the 3gs's

When the 5 comes out sell the 3gs's for £150 each (possible for more), add this to the £800 you have stashed and add a little to get two sim free iP5's.

Chop the sims down and put in the iP5 and enjoy :D
 
The problem with those 2 ideas, which are good ideas btw, is that the 2 3GS units I have crash frequently and I've came close to destroying them!

So getting rid of them is ATM a top priority lol

I'm gonna have a think tho.. Both tho options are viable..
 
How about chilimonsters idea but instead sell the 3GSs at the same time and buy a pair of used iPhone 4's (if you're that stuck on using an iPhone). Then sell them when the 5's come out.
 
Not to be rude but you said they were working, and now you say they crash frequently. Makes giving advice difficult if the details change. So ... sell ASAP if I were you while they still have value, then consider what to do from there.

If you REALLY want the next iPhone, then do as you have said if that's a viable plan.
 
Aye, Pike's right. this url should hopefully work ebay search. The price will probably tail on the announcement that the 5 is coming out or the fact that certain iOS 5 features won't make it to the handset.
 
Chillimonster said:
An alternative idea.

Get two SGS2's on contract (usually cheaper than iPhone contracts too!)

Sell them at £400 each.

Put the £800 in the bank, and use the sims in the 3gs's

When the 5 comes out sell the 3gs's for £150 each (possible for more), add this to the £800 you have stashed and add a little to get two sim free iP5's.

Chop the sims down and put in the iP5 and enjoy :D
Click to expand...

this but sell the 3GS now, pick up a cheap phone until ip5 release then decide at that point whether to go to ip5 or get an ip4 which would have dropped in price
 
Well the plan has kinda half worked..

Got my lass a new iPhone 4 White on a 2 year contract with Voda.. £45 a month.. Which is bang on what we needed..

But..

Voda won't let me get mine until 3 months of credit has passed on the account first.. Bummer lol :(
 
Save £25 a month (!!!!!!!!) and get a Samsung Galaxy S2 and enjoy the benefits of an OS that is designed for people a little more intellectual than the iphones target market of 16 year old girls :)

(sorry, had to be done)
 
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