Looking for a deal on an unlocked iPhone4 / 4S

Rumour has it that the new iPhone is launching soon and I am guessing that makes the iPhone 4 / 4S a prime candidate for some bargain shopping. Does anyone know of a legit place to buy discounted and *unlocked* older versions of the iPhones?

I noticed that Apple sells refurbished iPad2 on its website for a decent discount. It comes with a full one year warranty as the new ones. I bought one a couple of months back and its as good as new. Unfortunately, they don't seem to sell refurbished iPhones.Does anyone know if they sell refurbished iPhones or offer discount on older version iPhones to clear stock?

Thanks!

I 2nd this

Sadly, no. If there IS a discount on the 4 or 4s, it won't show up until after the 5 is released. Also, Apple doesn't seem to sell refurb iPhones - only new.

The iPhone will never really be a prime candidate for bargain shoppers simply because it's in such high demand. The don't have any reason at all to discount it, so they don't (until the new model is released).

I say hold off for another month & see what pops up after the iPhone 5 announcement. Your best bet is to look on the secondary market (like ebay or craigslist) if you want a cheaper unlocked one. As of today the 8GB iPhone 4 is $549 and the 16GB 4s is $649 - hopefully those will drop at least a little bit next month.

Refurb'ed iphones get sent back into the system. They are given to people that do insurance claims on their iphones. If you want a good deal on unlocked, your best bet is to buy used. On the bright side, most people wrap their shiny new iphones in the biggest Otterbox they can buy, along with a screen protector, so when it comes time for them to sell their phone to upgrade to the iphone 4s or the iphone 5, they have essentially an untouched phone for sale, because it's been wrapped up its whole life.

Quote from Jeffbx : Sadly, no. If there IS a discount on the 4 or 4s, it won't show up until after the 5 is released. Also, Apple doesn't seem to sell refurb iPhones - only new. The iPhone will never really be a prime candidate for bargain shoppers simply because it's in such high demand. The don't have any reason at all to discount it, so they don't (until the new model is released). I say hold off for another month & see what pops up after the iPhone 5 announcement. Your best bet is to look on the secondary market (like ebay or craigslist) if you want a cheaper unlocked one. As of today the 8GB iPhone 4 is $549 and the 16GB 4s is $649 - hopefully those will drop at least a little bit next month.

The iPad is high demand too, but you can easily find a refurbished iPad on the Apple website. I got mine (iPad2) for $350, a good $150 discount!

I was hoping someone would say that Apple ran out of stock for refurbished iPhones and will be back soon. Disappointed to know that they don't sell them

I know it probably sounds lame, but I am terrified of doing business with sellers on eBay and Cragislist. CL seems like the ideal place for scammers to hang around.

Since Apple refurbished iPhone is out of the equation, I am looking for a well known brand selling older model iPhones. I found a brand new 3GS at BestBuy for $379.99. This is two versions old currently. Hopefully, once the new iPhone is out, the iPhone4 should drop to around this price.

Quote from shnitz : Refurb'ed iphones get sent back into the system. They are given to people that do insurance claims on their iphones. If you want a good deal on unlocked, your best bet is to buy used. On the bright side, most people wrap their shiny new iphones in the biggest Otterbox they can buy, along with a screen protector, so when it comes time for them to sell their phone to upgrade to the iphone 4s or the iphone 5, they have essentially an untouched phone for sale, because it's been wrapped up its whole life.

So true about all the crazy armors for the iPhone. I was hoping to spend my money on an Apple refurbished iPhone or a new older version iPhone. Is there a reliable store / website that sells used iPhones that you would recommend?

Thanks
~M

Honestly, Craigslist isn't the pirateland Somalia that you seem to have made it out to be in your mind. It's just a big online swapmeet, where you don't have to deal with ridiculous transaction costs like on ebay. I buy and sell tons of stuff there. For example, when my girlfriend wanted a new Macbook for her graduate program, we took advantage of the free ipod + free printer deal at the Apple store. I immediately turned around and sold them unopened on Craigslist to recoup some of the costs, giving her a Macbook pro for less than $900. When I decided to shake up my camera collection, I sold my awesome condition DSLRs on Craigslist, and then bought a better one, plus a plethora of lenses, all functioning perfectly. My mom bought her ipad from someone that needed money and wasn't using it as much as she thought, also works perfectly. A good friend that autocrosses cars bought a BMW, exactly in the condition stated. Back when I was in college, my bought-as-new Yamaha R6 was just sitting at my father's house all semester, so I sold it on ebay, perfect condition. Same story with my brother's LS1 Camaro, great condition, well modified, no issues. You being afraid of dealing with ebay or Craigslist is like someone 20 years ago being afraid of dealing with email. You can either deal with an individual and save money, or go straight to Apple and not save money, it's that simple.

Heck, when the iphone 5 comes, we are going to sell my girlfriend's iphone 4 on Craigslist and have her upgrade, which incidentally has been in an Otterbox Commuter all of its life with a screen protector, never been dropped in water. If I were to go to a "reliable store / website that sells used iPhones" to sell it instead of selling it on Craigslist to an individual, I would get less money for that sale. Plus, on the buyer side, he or she would then have to pay more money for it. Why not cut out the middle man and just do a face-to-face? It's easier, and both parties come out ahead! I'll put it up for the going rate of an iphone 4, plus a few extra bucks for the $30 case. I will meet the buyer, as I always have, either at a coffee shop or other public place (or, if they want, at the local AT&T store, so that they can immediately verify that the phone is legit, which is what I did with my Android phone). Heck, if you WERE to go to "a reliable store / website that sells used iPhones," as I mention you're just going to end up buying someone's iphone anyway.

Quote from shnitz : Honestly, Craigslist isn't the pirateland Somalia that you seem to have made it out to be in your mind. It's just a big online swapmeet, where you don't have to deal with ridiculous transaction costs like on ebay. I buy and sell tons of stuff there. For example, when my girlfriend wanted a new Macbook for her graduate program, we took advantage of the free ipod + free printer deal at the Apple store. I immediately turned around and sold them unopened on Craigslist to recoup some of the costs, giving her a Macbook pro for less than $900. When I decided to shake up my camera collection, I sold my awesome condition DSLRs on Craigslist, and then bought a better one, plus a plethora of lenses, all functioning perfectly. My mom bought her ipad from someone that needed money and wasn't using it as much as she thought, also works perfectly. A good friend that autocrosses cars bought a BMW, exactly in the condition stated. Back when I was in college, my bought-as-new Yamaha R6 was just sitting at my father's house all semester, so I sold it on ebay, perfect condition. Same story with my brother's LS1 Camaro, great condition, well modified, no issues. You being afraid of dealing with ebay or Craigslist is like someone 20 years ago being afraid of dealing with email. You can either deal with an individual and save money, or go straight to Apple and not save money, it's that simple. Heck, when the iphone 5 comes, we are going to sell my girlfriend's iphone 4 on Craigslist and have her upgrade, which incidentally has been in an Otterbox Commuter all of its life with a screen protector, never been dropped in water. If I were to go to a "reliable store / website that sells used iPhones" to sell it instead of selling it on Craigslist to an individual, I would get less money for that sale. Plus, on the buyer side, he or she would then have to pay more money for it. Why not cut out the middle man and just do a face-to-face? It's easier, and both parties come out ahead! I'll put it up for the going rate of an iphone 4, plus a few extra bucks for the $30 case. I will meet the buyer, as I always have, either at a coffee shop or other public place (or, if they want, at the local AT&T store, so that they can immediately verify that the phone is legit, which is what I did with my Android phone). Heck, if you WERE to go to "a reliable store / website that sells used iPhones," as I mention you're just going to end up buying someone's iphone anyway.

Agreed. As long as you're careful and have asked all the questions you can get great deals and also sell stuff you no longer want. I haven't used ebay to sell anything in years.

buy it on ebay when new phone comes out

heading to Apple Stores around the September 21 date pre order 12th

Thanks everyone for your replies. Much appreciated.