Cheapo refurbished iPhones for sale online from AT&T

Remember those dirt-cheap refurbished iPhones we mentioned you could snag in-store? Well it looks like AT&T has decided to share the bounty with the public at large, and has begun taking orders for the $249 8GB models online. If you've been on the fence, here's your chance to get in for $150 less than retail (and sadly for you early adopters, a whopping $350 tumble in price). In our experience, you can grab one in person with no activation, though it looks like you'll have to sign on the dotted line to have it delivered.

Update: According to our commenters, you can get these mailed to you activation / contract free.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Ellianth @ Mar 18th 2008 10:23AM]

"If you've been on the fence, here's your chance to get in for $150 less than retail (and sadly for you early adopters, a whopping $350 tumble in price)."

You know, it would have been nice of you to actually state the actual refurbished price or at the very least include the retail price. $150 less doesn't mean much if I can't remember how much a brand new iPhone costs.

[tom @ Mar 18th 2008 10:28AM]

Is there a contract? If not, it is a better deal then getting a nano. Any warranty?

[aardvark sandwich @ Mar 18th 2008 10:29AM]

They were $600 before tax. I vividly remember it :(

[Joe @ Mar 18th 2008 10:35AM]

aardvark sandwich,

A new 8GB retails for just $400 now, which means these refurbs only costs $250! How people keep on comparing the iPhone to the N95 (a phone which nearly costs twice as the iPhone) is beyond me.

[Fozzie @ Mar 18th 2008 10:47AM]

dude, simple math here could resolve your issue. they stated the refurb price was $249. so... add $150, you get $399 now... and add $350 to $249 and you get $599 for the debut price. why was that so difficult to deduce?

[Esat @ Mar 18th 2008 10:58AM]

You guys in america get screwed on cell phones. Here in the UK you can get the N95 for free for reasonable contract prices. All I had to do was ring up O2, threaten to leave if me and my dad didn't get 2 free N95s as part of an upgrade, and bam there you go :)

[Ellianth @ Mar 18th 2008 11:03AM]

@fozzle, imagine that info was added to the post after I made my comment. Just imagine...

I don't remember reading about any unit prices, just a bunch of price reductions.

Example:

I have a product and i take off 500 dollars off it's original price. What is the new price of my product?

Edit:
I have a product that costs 1000 dollars and i take off 500 dollars off it's original price. What is the new price of my product?

Try to answer the first question without reading the edit.

[redraven5022 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:47PM]

yo elainith or whatever the price of the phone is stated. It says the refurb is 249.95

[jeeesus @ Mar 18th 2008 12:23PM]

it's 400 right?



and @Esat: same thing works with sky - etra channels for less :)

[OneLove @ Mar 18th 2008 10:29AM]

its still ATT (the devil).

[Matt @ Mar 18th 2008 10:33AM]

249$

[Joe @ Mar 18th 2008 10:36AM]

And T-Mobile, Sprint, etc. are all about the hugs and kisses! Yeah right. Get over it.

[OneLove @ Mar 18th 2008 12:21PM]

its still ATT (the worst company in america).

[caramelzappa @ Mar 18th 2008 5:21PM]

ATT is certainly not my favorite, but sprint is most definitely the worst in america.

[OneLove @ Mar 18th 2008 5:23PM]

its still ATT (the devil) FTW!

[Jim D @ Mar 18th 2008 10:40AM]

When I check out the REFURB iPhones on Apple.com it's showing the price as $349.

Mis-Priced initially?? Or did the $249 deal sell out already??

[Jim D @ Mar 18th 2008 10:42AM]

Haha, didn't read closely enough, I see their available through AT&T, not direct through Apple.

Sorry for the spam!

[William @ Mar 18th 2008 10:45AM]

If i were to walk into a AT & T store and get one not activated will i be able to turn it on and jailbrick it? If so sounds good to me but I'm waiting for 3g Iphones lol.

[Rich @ Mar 18th 2008 10:42AM]

Phew, I was panicking there for a moment. 10:15AM and not a single iPhone post on Endgaget today!

[Eric M. @ Mar 18th 2008 12:01PM]

Psh we get it Engadget reports a lot of Apple news, get over it.

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 18th 2008 12:04PM]

lol, I actually laughed at this one.

+1

[Taylor @ Mar 18th 2008 1:00PM]

Phew, 25 posts and FINALLY someone complains about what Engadget is posting! I was beginning to think all the annoying people had gone!
;)
-Taylor

[Lars @ Mar 18th 2008 3:13PM]

Haha, good one Rich.

Even $250 is still about 150-200 more than I'm willing to pay for a stinkin' phone. I'd rather have my phone be just a phone, and use another device for all the fancy extra features so there's no unlocking required or extra cash required just to use the extra functionality.

[dervheid @ Mar 18th 2008 10:43AM]

Ooh, that's gotta hurt!
Wonder how much refurbs will be here in the UK when they (inevitibly) start to appear!

What's the phrase I'm looking for, oh yes.

"Hur, hur, hur, hur, hur!"

[kawanny @ Mar 18th 2008 10:49AM]

wait can u just go in the store buy it without a contract and then go home and unlock it??

[FishGuy @ Mar 18th 2008 10:54AM]

When you add the phone to your cart it says this:
"iPhones are shipped inactive. If you have an existing number with another wireless carrier you will be able to transfer it during the activation process once you receive your device."

This sounds to me that you are not require to "sign on the dotted line to have it delivered" but instead receive an activation/plan-free phone.

[FishGuy @ Mar 18th 2008 10:55AM]

Phone: Apple iPhone - 8 GB (Refurb) Remove | Change $249.00
Plan: Plans for iPhone can be selected once you receive your shipment.

Services: Services for iPhone can be selected once you receive your shipment.

[Benny @ Mar 18th 2008 10:55AM]

I'm not sure why Apple sells it for $100 more for the same refurbished phone.

[Jordan @ Mar 18th 2008 11:44AM]

Because Apple is a minimalist b**** that jacks prices.

I have a love-hate relationship with Apple. Good product. Bad prices. But hey, that's what the economy thrives on.

[BlackBird @ Mar 18th 2008 5:47PM]

I agree totally! I got a referb off of Apple and its crazy that they are selling the same phone for 100 dollars less!

[Phil @ Mar 18th 2008 11:01AM]

Any updates on when the 3G iPhone is supposed to come out? I think i'm just going to pick this up while I wait for the 3G to come out, then wait some more for the price drop.

What are EDGE speeds anyway?

[Dom @ Mar 18th 2008 5:24PM]

I nearly pulled the trigger on this today, but then thought "wait, 3G IS coming". When? Hmmm...$64,000 question, but there are others: more megapixels on the camera? Flash (for camera and for web - maybe that is already in there, don't have one and no time to Google it)? GPS? 64GB SSD or comparable so I can dish my iPod? Real speakerphone? Any MP3 ringtone my heart desires?

So, a couple questions beyond "3G, when?". Until I get a REAL 2 device --> 1 device product, I'm gonna keep my Curve and keep paying T-Mobile. IF that day comes though...I'll might even shell out $600 for the convenience...er...I mean $299 (be wary wary qwiet...Apple is listening...)

[brian @ Mar 18th 2008 11:02AM]

I bought one of the refurbished 8GB ones in a store here in Virginia for $249 last week. No contract required.

[Mark @ Mar 18th 2008 11:08AM]

How was the quality of the refurbished one? Scratches or anything like that?

[Al @ Mar 18th 2008 11:11AM]

hey Brian, what was the phone's condition when you purchased it? Did it look brand new, or did it have some scratches? Ive always been hesitant about buying refurbished electronics

[brian @ Mar 18th 2008 11:18AM]

It looked BRAND NEW (except it came in an AT&T box instead of the original one). No scratches or anything. it came with all the accessories too.

[William @ Mar 18th 2008 5:53PM]

did you jail break it? and can you still use the other features of the iphone?

[justin @ Mar 20th 2008 12:09AM]

where in VA?

[Syed Subzwari @ Mar 20th 2008 4:01PM]

Hey Brian, Where in VA did you get the iPhone for without contract?

[Brian @ Mar 20th 2008 5:29PM]

sterling va

[bdkennedy1 @ Mar 18th 2008 11:12AM]

I'm betting AT&T's refurb is $100 cheaper than Apple's refurb because you have to sign a 2 year contract with AT&T to get it. Apple doesn't require you to have a contract.

[brian @ Mar 18th 2008 11:18AM]

no contract

[rockintom @ Mar 18th 2008 11:27AM]

They both talk about the same 2 year contract for when you activate the iPhone with iTunes.

[Jordan @ Mar 18th 2008 11:45AM]

"no contract"

[Galley @ Mar 18th 2008 11:16AM]

Ordered!
I was on the fence about waiting for a 3G model, but at $250, it was a no-brainer. Unfortunately I have six weeks left on my Sprint contract, so my precious iPhone will be a brick until then. :-(

[ping @ Mar 18th 2008 11:28AM]

anyone has successfully set the order? i tried 3 visa cards (2 credit and 1 debit), but none of them pass the security code check?

[tocsin @ Mar 18th 2008 12:13PM]

Just did. 12:10 PM EST.

[Adrian @ Mar 18th 2008 11:34AM]

so i think i either missread or am confused, can you get a refurb instore? because the site says online only, but the engadget article appears to suggest otherwise. thanks for the help.

[Dom @ Mar 18th 2008 11:35AM]

Just checked two retail stores here in Colorado (Boulder & Flatirons Mall). They both denied they have had or will have them in store. Apple site doesn't seem to have refurb iPhones listed for sale. You guys buy them all already???

[Rob @ Mar 21st 2008 3:09PM]

I would imagine all the eBay sellers bought them already, like with the iPod Videos last year!