The rumors about Walmart selling iPhone 3Gs turned out to be true, but that one about them selling the device for only $99? Not so much. If Walmart’s two dollar discount just isn’t doing it for you, then take a look back at AT&T.
AT&T is now offering refurbished iPhone 3Gs at a $100 discount, dropping the 8GB iPhone 3G to just $99.
It’s an excellent selling point, but how do you feel about buying a refurbished iPhone 3G? Many products are safely purchased as refurbs, but it really depends. The only real problem I foresee with this is the possibility of the plastic back being scratched up. So, is that risk worth it to you?
Product [Refurbished iPhone] Via [Gizmodo]
I checked the AT&T web site about upgrading my phone, which is due for an upgrade, and found that the refurbished 8GB iPhones are $149.99. Are the prices different in different parts of the country?
It's possible that prices are different. I think I remember there being an extra $50 for a short period of time, that might be the difference.
I can't imagine the refurbished phones will be any worse than the new ones. The phone is an Apple product, not an AT&T product. When you go to the Apple Store because your iPhone is broken and they replace it, they'll take your old phone and refurbish it, then turn it over to AT&T. Apple's still doing all of the maintenance, so it should be just as reliable as a refurbished Mac.
Of course, once you have that phone, you might want to know how to get your DVDs onto it. I wrote an article at <a href="Mac" rel="nofollow">http://www.macgurulounge.com/getting-your-dvds-onto-your-mac-iphone-ipod-or-apple-tv/">Mac Guru Lounge explaining step-by-step how to do it.
I just tried to upgrade my AT&T phone to a reburbished 8GB phone that is advertised for $99 through 12/31/08 on the AT&T web site and it would not give me that price. I called AT&T and was told that it was for new AT&T customers only. That is not what they advertise, but the web site will not give you the discounted price if you try to upgrade. Not only that, the refurbished price is the same as the price of a new iPhone. Weird.