Any "deals" on buying iphone when not eligilbe for upgrade?

[ski_mom]

This is probably a long shot, but I was just wondering if there are any "deals" on buying an iphone 4 or 4s without a contract?

DH and I work at a small-ish company and he handles the cell phone contracts. He has been told to upgrade a salesman's phone to an iphone, but it is not time for a renewal per his contract.

So, I was trying to help DH save some money for the company, but I really haven't found anything, so just thought someone might have some experience with this.

I of course said - have him wait until it is time for his renewal, but that didn't seem to go over.

Even thought it's not directly out of my pocket, I just hate to see anyone waste money unnecessarily!

 

[DawnM]

So, is his work offering to pay? I would just go for it.

You can buy used iPhones online often times, but they are typically the 3 and not the 4 or 4s.

We have Sprint and since they JUST got the iPhone in, it is impossible to find used ones.

I love, love, love my iPhone. I finally bit the bullet and got a smart phone.

Dawn

 

[ski_mom]

Yes, his work is paying - it's not even a phone for him (he already has an iphone through the company).

He's just in charge of the cell phones for the company and an employee is switching from a "regular" (non-smartphone) to an iphone, but he is not up for renewal yet, so they are going to have to buy it outright.

 

[disneyfreakk]

I know that it is possible to use someone elses upgrade within the company at AT&T.

So that may be an option.

 

[clh2]

How many phones is he managing? When is the next upgrade avaiilable for anyone within the company? I would try to swing it through that angle.

 

[BSil]

Although I haven't personally tried this...A friend of mine is always stopping by different pawn shops etc. He bought his kids some iPod touches (current generation) for short money, and he got himself an iPhone 4 for $150. He said it worked out fine because the person had sold it to the shop (had packaging and all), because they wanted the 4s, so they sold it off made a small amount of money to put toward the new one. My friend just simply made sure the phone was on his carrier (he has Verizon), and swapped his SIM. That was that. If I absolutely had to upgrade to the 4s, I would actually consider checking one of those shops to try to save a buck.

I shop frequently on newegg.com . They also sell phones with no contract. If the salesman can accept an iPhone 3, they usually have them for about $179 refurbished. The 4 is usually about $500, and the 4s is $780 or so.

The only other thing I can think of is to check craigslist for a person who upgraded and is selling their old phone. Again it would need to be on the carrier you will be using it on, but you might find a deal that way.

Other than that I think it will be a full price through the carrier option, or as others have suggested using another user's upgrade to buy for the salesman. Let us know if you come up with anything else.

 

[ski_mom]

Well, thanks everyone for all the suggestions! He just ended up getting the salesman an brand new Andriod phone of some sort. It was still expensive, but not as much as a new iphone.

There are probably about 35 phones in the company, so not a hugh amount or anything.

thanks again for all the thoughts!