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November 27, 2009 4:27 PM PST

AT&T has refurbished 16GB iPhone 3Gs for $49

by Matt Hickey
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(Credit: Jacques Gene)

Chances are good that someone on your shopping list is pining for an iPhone for the holiday season. If you know of such a person, then we've got a surprise Black Friday deal for you. AT&T is offering refurbished 16GB iPhone 3Gs for $49 for new customers. That's the shipped price, and they're even waiving the activation fee, normally $35.

The refurbished units have the same warranty as new units so you don't have to worry about getting someone junk. As an owner of a refurbished 3G I can attest to the quality of the devices.

Of course a two-year contract with AT&T's iPhone plan is required, but anyone who's asking for an iPhone probably already knows this. Currently, the 16GB black is out of stock, but the 16GB in white is still available.

With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends. Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and most recently, Gizmodo. E-mail Matt.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (67 Comments)
by vectorbabe November 27, 2009 5:12 PM PST
Why bother writing this up?

Your post came at 7:27 eastern time. That's way after business hours and barely still the business day on the west coast.

But by the time I saw your post at 8:10, everything was sold out.

Why help AT&T sucker people to a web site that contains none of these deals?
Reply to this comment
by SkateNY November 29, 2009 10:48 PM PST
Oh. So consumers are basically, stupid, but at least not as smart as you are.

Thanks for the tip.
by galeso November 30, 2009 3:59 PM PST
The headline should have read AT&T has refurbished 16GB iPhone 3Gs for $1008.76 or more. The author should have reminded us that the AT&T service that comes with the phone almost always is near the bottom in consumer ratings.
by Eat_A_Peach November 27, 2009 5:19 PM PST
Refurb units are not the same warranty; they only have the remainder of the original warranty from Apple. As stated from AT&T:
New wireless devices and netbooks carry a one-year manufacturer's warranty from date of purchase. Refurbished wireless devices and netbooks carry a 90-day manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase. New Apple branded equipment is covered by Apple's one-year Limited Warranty. Refurbished Apple branded equipment is covered under Apple's original Limited Warranty, and will have at least 90 days or more remaining under the warranty when sold.
But as the owner of a refurbed iPhone, I can attest myself of the quality of the phone - it came via mail without the original iPhone packaging, but it had everything with it and looked brand new (not even a fingerprint on it)
Reply to this comment
by Herbiejunior November 28, 2009 1:05 PM PST
I purchased an AT&T refurb. A LG vue, It was lousy. It gave me all kinds of problems. would'nt charge, would'nt hold a charge. Would'nt come on. LOUSY,LOUSY, LOUSY !!!
by fshea November 27, 2009 6:02 PM PST
a 90 day warranty for a phone that you're signing a 2 year contract for. Is that an Apple/AT&T Joke.

Holiday sales for Apple must not be doing too well.

It's sad when AppleCare 1 year contract costs more than the damn phone.

Go with Google Android and Be Smart. At least your on a great Network.
Reply to this comment
by tektaktyks November 27, 2009 6:12 PM PST
well,actually if the phone breaks your contract is gone...
by ballmerisanape November 27, 2009 6:12 PM PST
yes.... apple is in a lot of trouble... the iPhone is just a fad... afterall...
by cx881 November 27, 2009 6:40 PM PST
Please check your facts. Refurbished iphones carries the same warranty as the original device. 3GS was available for purchase on June 19, 2009. Therefore even if your refurbished unit was bought on the first day, the warranty still lasts until June 19, 2010, which is more than six months from today.
by timber2005 November 27, 2009 7:03 PM PST
@cx881: read carefully, its a 3G, not a 3GS.
Understandable though, that lowercase s in the title can be confused.
by cx881 November 27, 2009 7:41 PM PST
@timber2005: uh... you may want to read carefully too.
This is a one-day deal for the 3GS, not 3G. Please check this website.
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_package=sku4160234

This deal probably ends soon, and I did a screen capture for your enjoyment just in case.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ccs881/UntitledAlbum#5408994162205167362
by Valethar November 28, 2009 12:33 PM PST
by fshea November 27, 2009 6:02 PM PST

Go with Google Android and Be Smart. At least your on a great Network.

If you're lucky, they may even help you learn to spell "you're".

Or not.
by bctexas November 29, 2009 5:02 PM PST
iPhone is just a fad?!?! [CNET editors' note: Personal attack deleted.]
by fmusignac November 27, 2009 6:09 PM PST
Offer still works! We got another one! Thanks you saved us about 150!
Reply to this comment
by fshea November 27, 2009 7:05 PM PST
If Apple believed in their products then why not give a full waranty like every other vendor.

Steve Jobs & Apple are trying for a Mercedez reputation wih Radio Shack last year parts.

Apple live up to your warranties.

Did you know if you smoke your Apple warranty is void.

Steve's got enough cash for about 50 more livers and doesn't care about the end users.

Apple Fans are Sheep and do what Apple tells them. That's why kids and dumb college students are their target...
Wealthy parent's that can afford the Apple Tax.

When they have to pay for it themselves they realize that Microsoft will get them further in the real business world.

Because nobody in business uses iLife or iWork. They are iJokes.
by Perry_Clease November 27, 2009 7:31 PM PST
"Did you know if you smoke your Apple warranty is void. "

Not true! If you smoke around Mac to such a point that it reeks of tobacco from yards away then you MAY not get service. The simple fact that you are a smoker does not void your warranty and you damn well know it.

You sound real jealous of Mac users.
by Llantha November 28, 2009 9:32 AM PST
No one is Jealous of Mac users. If they were they wold join that elite group of people who pay twice what they need to for a WinTel PC.
by Trane Francks November 30, 2009 11:07 AM PST
@Perry_Clease:

"If you smoke around Mac to such a point that it reeks of tobacco from yards away then you MAY not get service. The simple fact that you are a smoker does not void your warranty and you damn well know it."

Semantics, really. If you can't get your darned Mac serviced, how the heck is the warranty any good? Disclaimer: I'm a non-smoker and an Apple user.
by rahja November 27, 2009 6:16 PM PST
yeah, great.
for NEW customers. nothing like helping out those of that have already supported the business for awhile.
Reply to this comment
by mathcreative November 28, 2009 10:26 AM PST
yeah i hate how the bells only give deals for new customers.
by fshea November 27, 2009 6:36 PM PST
Apple has never been a good vendor for thanking their customers. I made the mistake of buying (full price) the first iPhone.

2 Months later when sales sucked they dropped the price. Steve (I'm a rich arrogant liver stealing bastard) said I was LUCKY to get a $100 gift card which I had to buy more Apple gear with.

I couldn't even use it in the iTunes store.
Reply to this comment
by solitare_pax November 28, 2009 2:16 AM PST
Mac or PC, it never ever works to be an early adopter - you always pay one way or the other.
by Kiljoy616 November 28, 2009 7:47 AM PST
HAHA, early adopter now that is funny. Any company no matter if its Apple or MS or IBM bring out lemons in their first few batches. I wait a few months before I put down my money. At least the first 3 months, better to see real world problems than be one of those people frustrated if yours is a lemon of a product.

Cars are the same, no matter what you buy if you by it in the first days your going to have a chance of getting a lemon.

Every iphone I have bought I waited 3 or so months to see what they say about it and how they behave then have bought them, every one of the generations has been perfect and had absolutely not one problem to report. Only problem I had was with my second phone and that one I dropped it and cracked the glass front, not a problem traded it in for a refurb one and that one looked like it was bran new out of the box, now I own my 3GS and can't get enough out of it, iphone just rock.

Oh there is an app for that also.
by lazycat202 November 29, 2009 4:45 AM PST
"Oh there is an app for that also."

another jJoker! can you put your picture or your own text in iPhone Menu (homepage)?
by websterphreaky November 27, 2009 6:48 PM PST
Why are they REFURBISHED??? Because like all CrAPPLE products they BROKE. CrApple products are GARBAGE.
Reply to this comment
by timber2005 November 27, 2009 7:04 PM PST
People who turned in their 3G for a 3GS perhaps?
by fshea November 27, 2009 7:31 PM PST
That's because when I called Apple & AT&T the iPhone can not be used legally on any other network.

You are locked into AT&T and Apple.

I sold mine after I jail broke my original iPhone on eBay and a Sheep paid me $300 for the piece of junk.

100K of Crapple Apps. Go Google & be Free to use your phone and App's on any vendor when you're contract is up.

Steve Jobs, donate a billion dollars to a liver foundation. It will be the first good will thing you've done in your pathetic life.
by Perry_Clease November 27, 2009 7:49 PM PST
Liar
by cbscowards November 28, 2009 6:04 AM PST
@fshea: Why are you so bitter? I see that you made a profit on your iPhone that you sold on eBay. IOW you profited from Apple's market force.

Oh and blaming people for their medical conditions is beyond contempt.
by SlimGem November 28, 2009 1:14 PM PST
Too bad there aren't brain transplants. These two could use them.
by toddbernhard November 27, 2009 6:59 PM PST
Worked for me! $49 and no activation fee, plus free overnight shipping!
Reply to this comment
by Artie_ November 27, 2009 7:05 PM PST
Saw this as well when I logged in to pay my bill. Not sure if this is available to all existing customers.... They've dropped my price for upgrades on any phone by $50 as I get near my contract end date (Feb 6 2010). I will not be extending my five lines (including my Blackberry) unless and until they get an Android; in fact the only thing better than that would be an unlocked Android I could take where I want. (No I'll never use Verizon Wireless; I was a great customer for almost 20 years [dating back to NYNEX Mobile] until they suddenly went insane two years ago and forced me to leave.)
Reply to this comment
by gerrrg November 27, 2009 7:28 PM PST
But it's AT&T.
Reply to this comment
by chrisx1 November 27, 2009 9:37 PM PST
So what? The really big cost is the service plan, not the hardware purchase price.
It would still be too expensive if the phone hardware was 49 cents.
Reply to this comment
by sharmajunior November 27, 2009 10:36 PM PST
Also this is a refurbished phone. If it breaks, then you gotta buy another at full price (600 bucks for an iPhone) or get out of the contract (200 bucks, depreciating at about 5 bucks a month was it? not sure). I think the latter is a better option, hence AT&T is a useless company.
by skshrews November 29, 2009 8:50 AM PST
Agree

The upfront prices of smarthphones are irrelevant. The service plan prices have gone crazy, and ATT now requires a minimum $30 data plan/month for any "smartphone" (I believe defined as a phone with WiFi).

The smartphones should be free, and the more expensive phones should be the "near smartphones" (ie. Samsung Flight) which don't require the onerous data plan minimums-the latest cellphone scam.
by xxyl November 27, 2009 9:47 PM PST
I was going to take advantage of this offer, until the Android fans won me over with their clever slogans and puns. Crapple! Ha, I get it! I don't want to be a sheep! I'll take the advice of Ayn Rand here instead and be a Cool Guy. Freedom!

Oh, wait, no, that's not true. Clever slogans and puns DON'T work. I just forgot for a second. No, I'm not enthused about signing up with AT&T for another two years, but you know what, it's the price you pay. Yes, Verizon might have better 3G in the mountains of Southeastern Ohio. That's not enough for me. And maybe with Android Google can prove they can make an application ecosystem work without having the hardware/software/provider differences fracture it into a few dozen semi-compatible fiefdoms. But I'm willing to wait another 24 months to see if that will happen.

'Use your phone on any network when your contract is up'. That's the best one so far. As if anyone buying a smart phone is going to keep it for 3 years.
Reply to this comment
by jparkes1 November 27, 2009 9:47 PM PST
First, I make quite a nice living fixing PC's, 9 of 10 failures are OS related. I own several Mac's and in five years never had an OS issue on a Mac, and just one HD failure on a machine that ran for more than a year without shutting down, so I consider that a failure that was to be expected. You are correct that the majority of the world runs windows based programs. I run XP on one of my mac's when I'm forced to use it. It has issues that must be corrected too often.
The iPod set an industry standard that in years has not been equaled. Many owners of other MP3 players refer to them as iPods, even they know that Apple iPods are the best.
The cell phone world was turned on it's ear with the iPhone, it has spawned a whole slew of iPhone like devices. And again after years, the iPhone still dominates the market of smart phones. The world knows what works, they know where the money is best spent.
AT&T Is not the finest carrier by a wide margin, but still they make massive amounts of money because of the iPhone, in fact without the iPhone At&T wireless would be in trouble. My experience with Palm is not terrible, but they are just never going to top the iPhone. I have several iPhones on my plan and my only gripe is the short battery life, and the 30 dollar a month fee on top of my plan rates.
The iPhone is not a rugged device, they never claimed it was. The failure rate is small, each time I check Apple's web store they don't have the model I want, or are out altogether. Any electronics manufacturer will produce a certain amount of defective units, no matter the product. Many are willing to pay a premium for the best products they can get.
Reliability is important in computers, cell phones, and MP3 players. They are part of our lives now. If we were to compare A windows based PC, an Apple computer, iPod, and MP3 players, and iPhones with other smart phones, to vehicles the breakdown issues would clearly bias us all toward the most reliable and least prone to malfunctions.
I blame finances for most peoples decision to go PC, instead of mac because the reliability issue is something they are willing to live with, thank god, I am looking to buy a bigger home, and you PC owners are going to pay for it. So I thank you all for lowering your standards, My bank balance is remarkably content!
Reply to this comment
by Trane Francks November 30, 2009 1:34 PM PST
@jparkes1:

"just one HD failure on a machine that ran for more than a year without shutting down, so I consider that a failure that was to be expected"

The service life of a modern hard disk drive is usually between 3-5 years. On a system that is not acting as a full-blown server, a year of 24/7/365 uptime is actually easier on the components because there isn't the issue of repetitive thermal expansion and contraction associated with warm-up and cool-down. Obviously, a server drive will have a harder time of things, but even there I would certainly expect a drive to last AT LEAST through its warranty period. Which, by the way, is generally over a year for just about any drives these days.
by wfree56 November 27, 2009 10:05 PM PST
I was online just before midnight ordering the $49 iphone refurbed 16G 3GS for me and my wife when the system locked up multipe times (i.e., I could never get the cart to accept both phones) . When I called customer support, the rep had the audacity to say the $49 upgrade price was an error. I found multiple places on the internet stating this was an AT&T Black Friday deal only. Hopefully the online ordering people will correct the snafu on Monday and allow me to upgrade both my phones. If not, it's so long AT&T and hello Verizon!
Reply to this comment
by bettyp888 November 28, 2009 11:09 PM PST
I had a similar problem. I had at 32G in my cart for $149 and before I could checkout the price jumped to $249. This happened at 11:00pm. I am currently corresponding with att rep who is giving me some story about sales tax on the MSRP price which makes no sense. I am not sure what att is trying to pull but it all seems very fishy to me. Good luck with your purchase. I am still trying to get them to honor the posted price.
by mthomtech November 29, 2009 1:11 PM PST
The sale officially ended at midnight eastern. There was a countdown clock on the AT&T website. I did notice for a couple of hours after the sale ended, the front page had the priced changed but the details page and the card still showed the sale price. Obviously a glitch in the system. Luckily I picked up two way before the deadline.
by wfree56 November 27, 2009 10:06 PM PST
I was online just before midnight ordering the $49 iphone refurbed 16G 3GS for me and my wife when the system locked up multipe times (i.e., I could never get the cart to accept both phones) . When I called customer support, the rep had the audacity to say the $49 upgrade price was an error. I found multiple places on the internet stating this was an AT&T Black Friday deal only. Hopefully the online ordering people will correct the snafu on Monday and allow me to upgrade both my phones. If not, it's so long AT&T and hello Verizon!
Reply to this comment
by lusciatti November 28, 2009 6:24 AM PST
I love my iPhone and love to see all the crappers here in force with their comments! I have great 5-bar coverage in my area and am waiting to see what upgrades are available this summer. Maybe an iPhone 4G, that would rock???
by hawaiicop November 27, 2009 11:48 PM PST
You just can't beat a iPhone. Droid comes close and props for that but it is goig to take a lot more to be an iPhone killer. Someone will need to come up with something brand new and not just s copy of what the iPhone does already.
Reply to this comment
by amol_cool November 28, 2009 12:42 AM PST
This is perhaps the only meaningful comment I have read till now in this whole post! Although there are more crappers here than supporters it's because they just need a chance to talk crap about Apple! The very fact that you are discussing about it so intensely itself shows that Apple has already succeeded in what it wanted to do!
by romanom November 28, 2009 3:21 AM PST
How great would this be if IT WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE IN THE NYC AREA!!!! No iPhone has been (at least on the AT&T website) for almost a week now!
Reply to this comment
by November 28, 2009 7:25 AM PST
ATT is horrible.
Reply to this comment
by JimPratt3 November 28, 2009 8:25 AM PST
Well, they (said gift recipients) are probably also "pining" for better network coverage from AT&T too, which is the reason many of them didn't go with the iPhone to begin with. But of course, if you want to give me one for Christmas AND pre-pay a two-year contract for me, I'll take it as a backup cell phone gladly.
Reply to this comment
by PigionMoon November 28, 2009 8:41 AM PST
Sure but they do not offer them these refurbished iPhone 3GS or any in all area's and sure not in New York. Not for that price. They do advertise a 32 gig for $149 but again not in all area's Not in mine anyway.. Thats BS. ATT can go FTS as far as I'm concerned.
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