Get-rich-quick iPhone schemes not paying off
If you were hoping to make big bucks by reselling an iPhone on eBay, it doesn't look like it was really worth the effort.
Corey Spring has posted an analysis of iPhone listings on eBay over the weekend (spotted on Daring Fireball), and he has concluded that the average listing generated $54.43 in profit. That's not a very good return for those who waited in line for hours, or even days, in hope of flipping an iPhone for big bucks. The median return was even worse, at $34.16, which means that half of iPhone auctioneers made less than that amount.
Those hoping to sell their iPhones on eBay aren't making big bucks.
(Credit: Corrine Schulze/CNET Networks)Spring analyzed 993 eBay listings on Sunday in compiling his report. Half the listings didn't even receive a single bidder. A few folks made decent money, but most generated paltry returns for their time in line, and a few people lost money. Nice work if you snagged an iPhone under cost because somebody forgot to set a reserve price, or simply got desperate. The eBay listing mirrored other estimates that the 8GB model was the primary one sold over the weekend, as 87 percent of listings were for the higher capacity model, according to Spring's analysis.
Lines for the iPhone moved very swiftly on Friday; it was possible to walk into the stores after about 7:30 p.m. or so and purchase one with little to no wait. AT&T stores had a little more trouble with supply, but fears that all iPhones would be gone on the first day were unfounded.
There are still a bunch of iPhones up for sale on Craigslist in San Francisco, but prices appear to be coming down. Same story in New York. Apple stores in San Francisco were supposed to have models available on Monday, although AT&T stores are plum out. But both companies will let you order an iPhone if you're willing to wait a couple of weeks.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
two iPhones. I almost did, but I finally concluded that the payoff
wouldn?t be worth the time I?d rather spend with my wife and kids.
Guess that assumption paid off. ☺
(up to $2,500), when you could very easily purchase directly
from Apple, and get FREE shipping!
Didn't anyone bother reading any of the blurbs from Apple, who
guaranteed quick shipping and who are very good at getting the
product to the customers? Generally, when I've had to replace a
power cord for my laptop, Apple will say, "two to three business
days," but the item has ALWAYS shown up the next day.
Apple knew for a fact that the first three days of availability
would be very important, and made sure that there was enough
product to go around, both by going to the stores, or by
ordering online.
I think that the "get rich quick" folks didn't really look at the big
picture.
As for anyone who's actually buying on eBay, for even one dollar
more than the list price, and paying shipping, I won't comment
on that....
A lot of the eBay sales seemed to be driven by international
buyers. The Apple Store won't ship the iPhone outside the US,
including Canada.
Now, whether those overseas buyers will ultimately be able to
use their AT&T locked device remains to be seen.
But there is a demand there that Apple is not profiting from,
until they announce overseas availability.
the option, howevre their is stock a plenty for at least a few days
for those of us who can't afford to take time out, it also stops the
artificial value increase due to scarcity and profiteering by a shrewd
few.
http://www.smashsworld.com/2007/06/10-things-that-absolutely-suck-about.php
check out his math, and the comments that follow, He makes a very good point imo
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-iPhone-8GB-Brand-New-Free-
Shipping-8-
GB_W0QQitemZ130130495339QQihZ003QQcategoryZ64355QQcm
dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200124500210&rd=1&rd=1
: )
I suspect this auction was before people realized they could pay regular price for the phone.
Do yourself a favor apple fanboy - get off your butt and read up on stats.
Hilarious!
What a jackass
all that great.
And the reason the prices are dropping so fast on eBay has
nothing to do with any of the three. So a score of one point right
out of four is not a very stellar track record.
I was at an Apple store on Friday night. I did not buy one. I did
not wait in line. I got a chance to play with an iPhone. It looks to
be well designed and the interface is by far the easiest to use of
any cellphone I have tried. Despite what all the nay sayers think
the device will probably do quite well.
Having tried a number of cellphones over the last few years I
would have to say this is the best I have seen. I do not carry
tools around with me that require a 10 pound manual to figure
out. And that is not because I can't figure it out but because I
feel I should not have to spend time doing that.
No significant Ebay demand = no inflated prices
The phone is better than anything you can afford, your just jealous. Yeah other so called smart phones are left in the dust, and the wake of incredible engineering.
I almost open an at&t store downtown Miami until I found out agents would not get the phone.
I had rummors of unlocked ones at $450 but that was a rummor.
What I did was add a link to my website http://www.wirelessconsultant.net that will take you to the Apple store to purchase the iPhone online.
- lol
- by amousbad July 5, 2007 2:18 PM PDT
- http://idateher.com/clblacklist.aspx
- Like this Reply to this comment
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