How to save money when purchasing an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus
Want to purchase an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and save some money at the same time? Customers who are looking for the best deals, should bypass the Apple Store and visit third-party retailers like Walmart or Radio Shack. Several retailers this week confirmed they will offer Apple's next generation iPhone with discounts that undercut Apple's retail price. Even more retailers offer trade-in programs that'll provide cash for older iPhones that can be applied directly to the purchase price of a new iPhone.
Radio Shack
Radio Shack offers the best deal with a $50 iTunes gift card with each iPhone purchase through September 27. Radio Shack also will accept your old iPhone as trade-in with the retailer paying up to $300 for an iPhone 5.
Walmart
Walmart is taking its discount right off the price of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with the 16GB iPhone 6 retailing for $179 instead of Apple's $199. This $20 price drop applies to all iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models. Customers who pre-order the smartphone will receive an additional $15 e-gift card from the retailer.
Walmart also has a trade-in program that'll give you a gift card in return for a working or broken phone; credit varies by model and config, but a functional iPhone 5S 16GB on AT&T could net you $250, or you could get a $52.80 credit for a 16 GB AT&T iPhone 4 -- Gazelle credit is about the same.
Walmart-owned Sam's Club is undercutting its parent company by a few dollars, selling the iPhone 6 for a starting price of $177 and the iPhone 6 Plus for $277.
[Correction: We mistakenly cited trade-in info from Walmart's 2013 smartphone trade-in press release in the original post, rather than the walmart.cexchange.com current quoting.]
Verizon Wireless
Besides Walmart and Radio Shack, Verizon Wireless also is offering customers the option to get a free 16GB iPhone 6 handset when they trade in an old iPhone and agree to a new two-year customer agreement, The deal extends to the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, and 5S. Customers who trade in a working phone will receive a $200 gift card that can be applied to the purchase of the iPhone 6.
Sprint and T-Mobile
Sprint and T-Mobile also are offering trade-in programs that'll match the offers of other US carriers up to $300. While Sprint is pairing the iPhone with a leasing plan that requires no money down for the iPhone 6, T-Mobile is sweetening the deal with an additional $50 bonus that'll piggyback on the trade-in amount.
Target
Target also is accepting trade-ins on older iPhone models, but is offering no other additional discounts. Customers have until September 18 to lock-in a price, which will be guaranteed until October 18. The retailer also will be processing iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pre-orders starting on September 12.
Apple
Customers who prefer to make their purchase directly from Apple can take advantage of the company's Reuse and Recycling program. The trade-in option provides customers with a gift card that can be applied immediately to the purchase of the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.
