Apple relaunches online sales of refurbished iPhones [u]
For the first time in years, Apple has begun selling refurbished iPhones from its U.S. online store, giving people a cheaper way of getting into the iPhone ecosystem while still having official warranty support. [Updated with corrections]
At the moment, the company is only selling a few models of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. A 16-gigabyte 6s is $449, while an equivalent 6s Plus is $529. A 64-gigabyte 6s Plus is going for $589.
All of the refurbished units are unlocked and SIM-free, with new batteries, outer shells, and one-year warranties. Apple normally sells the 6s and 6s Plus for prices starting at $549 and $649, respectively.
While it may be possible to find cheaper prices from third-party vendors, buyers do run the risk of getting a device with hidden defects, which could lead to expensive repair or replacement costs.
Apple has traditionally resisted selling refurbished iPhones, presumably because the product is its main source of revenue and cheaper used models would undercut the incentive to buy new hardware.
It's not clear what might have changed, but sales of the iPhone 6s line were underwhelming compared with the iPhone 6. The company may be opening refurbs to clear out old inventory faster, simultaneously offering better competition against Android phones.
Update: The article has been corrected to reflect the fact that Apple last sold refurbs with 2008's iPhone 3G.
At the moment, the company is only selling a few models of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. A 16-gigabyte 6s is $449, while an equivalent 6s Plus is $529. A 64-gigabyte 6s Plus is going for $589.
All of the refurbished units are unlocked and SIM-free, with new batteries, outer shells, and one-year warranties. Apple normally sells the 6s and 6s Plus for prices starting at $549 and $649, respectively.
While it may be possible to find cheaper prices from third-party vendors, buyers do run the risk of getting a device with hidden defects, which could lead to expensive repair or replacement costs.
Apple has traditionally resisted selling refurbished iPhones, presumably because the product is its main source of revenue and cheaper used models would undercut the incentive to buy new hardware.
It's not clear what might have changed, but sales of the iPhone 6s line were underwhelming compared with the iPhone 6. The company may be opening refurbs to clear out old inventory faster, simultaneously offering better competition against Android phones.
Update: The article has been corrected to reflect the fact that Apple last sold refurbs with 2008's iPhone 3G.
Comments
1) services now are profitable... they are not 'covering costs', profitable over the life of a 'discounted' device enough to justify 'discounting the razor to get people to buy the blades'
2) getting a $400 iPhone in 2016 significantly improves the possibility of that customer buying a $600 iPhone in 2018.
3) These phones sold in the U.S. will grey market into India and other countries not allowing refurb phone sales, driving demand for 1 and 2.
yeh well they copied the macrumors article without fact checking (or simply reading the comments there where people said the same thing!)
Apple relaunches first-ever online sales of refurbished iPhones [u]
"relaunches" + "first-ever"
Isn't that contradictory?
Actually, I think this is for a segment of customers that you kinda like; but they aren't necessarily your "favorite".
Used devices are perfect for Ex girlfriends, former husbands, the attorney in the office whom lost a legal battle.. call them "Tim Cook Certified" and watch them fly off the shelf.
But on the other hand we do agree that iPhone sales and their customers ain't what they used to be.
I love fucking pathetic trolls AND their posts!
Back on topic, Apple selling refurbished phones seems like a good idea. If I were in the market I would likely go to them before purchasing through Gazelle or something similar. And as someone above already mentioned, maybe they're moving excess inventory or possibly these are phones turned in on iPhone Upgrade Program.
Funny how making money selling refurbed iPhones seemed so unattractive before but now those dollars seems valuable.
The selling of rehabbed iPhones will not create any new customer demand for them, the choices for purchasing one have always been there. Therefore overall demand for iPhones is still spiraling downward.
Apple has sold refurbished iPhones in the past so the original point about them being desperate for market share and down sales doesn't make sense. So to your logic they have been desperate since 2008 because that was the first time the decided to do this.
Give the doom and gloom sales narrative a break. Also did you actually take notice to the sizes of the iPhones they are selling refurbished ? The discontinued 16gb and 64gb models? Doesn't take genius level intellect to figure out they would want to get rid of discontinued models. I know it doesn't fit with you're BS comments, but it makes sense.
Any product sold by Apple should have at least 4 years of usability after the sale.
That's accomplished by only selling referbs that are consistent with Apples high standards. Apples referbs really are as good as new, having been repaired and tested by robots. The referbs are all 64bit and have biometrics built in; 64bit for software/app compatibility, biometrics for Apple Pay support. Hence the 4 years of usability.
Fulfilling these criteria didn't exist until now...
As we've seen with Samsungs' disaster, one mistake and customers will walk away from the brand.
There is no desperation here, just business smarts.