POSTED BY

Rob Beschizza

AT 2:39 PM
Tuesday August 26, 2008

Phones and Wireless

iphones

$200 cash for first-gen 8GB iPhone, but only if NextWorth deems it "lightly" used

Trade-in shop NextWorth says that it will offer so much cash back on a first-gen iPhone that you can "completely cover" an upgrade to a 3G model.

“As the demand for the first generation iPhone in secondary markets remains strong, we are able to offer higher dollar exchanges and remove the price issue from the decision to upgrade to a 3G iPhone,” said Dave Chen, CEO of NextWorth, in a press release. The accompanying PR pitch is unequivocal: "The company is announcing an easy iPhone upgrade and trade-in program that provides 1G iPhone owners enough cash back to cover the cost of a new 3G iPhone."

The problem is that the estimated trade-in values are not guaranteed. This is perfectly reasonable, of course — you could otherwise send in any old junk — but the way it's being marketed is likely to result in tears before bedtime. You don't know how much you'll be getting until it's in their hands. It will give "up to" $200 for a first-gen iPhone in "light wear" condition, but only if it is an 8GB model or larger.

And the deal goes from "amazing" to "Detroit Craiglist" pretty quickly: a 4GB iPhone with normal wear, for example, nets only $139.50

iPod/iPhone Exchange [NextWorth]

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7 Comments

Mike Scott

#1 – 10:49 PM August 26, 2008

Used 8GB first-gen iPhones are selling on eBay in the UK for a bit over £200, which is nearly $400, so I'm not sure why you think $200 is an "amazing" deal.

Anonymous Anonymous

#2 – 10:51 PM August 26, 2008

iLazze for iPhone and iPhone Accessories - Online resource for new updates on Accessories, soft, games, ringtones and wallpapers for your iphone

Rob Beschizza

#3 – 5:09 AM August 27, 2008

Because, in principle, it's very easy to get it. They are bringing the money to you, and you don't have to do any hustle.

Enochrewt

#4 – 8:52 AM August 27, 2008

Can't you just take your jesus phone to a pawn shop? There's a dirty little secret in the pawn shop business these days, they set prices based on what the eBay/online prices are doing.

Rob Beschizza

#5 – 9:18 AM August 27, 2008

Fascinating. Makes sense, but I never even thought about it.

Anonymous Anonymous

#6 – 8:00 PM August 27, 2008

I just sold my 8GB on ebay for $400, so even after fees & tax I made a small profit by upgrading to a 16GB 3G. I usually use Second Rotation to get rid of old gadgets but when you can get over twice as much it's worth going elsewhere.

jbang

#7 – 8:06 PM August 27, 2008

I think the price for a 1G iPhone should be astronomical, considering Apple never released such a device. Was it used for internal testing?

What is this magical precursor to the 2G/2.5G iPhone?

/gratuitous nitpick

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