Can I order a iphone through sprint cs, not activate it and sell it to verizon?

falconbal · 09-14-2012, 06:52 AM

My account is due for an upgrade. Can I order an iphone 5 through sprint customer service, not activate it when it gets shipped to me, and sell it online to someone who has a Verizon network? Will they be able to use the phone just fine?

sitlet · 09-14-2012, 08:49 AM

No, and no. If you order a phone from sprint, it already comes pre-activated. And if you use your upgrade to get the lower cost, you would have to pay the ETF if you get rid of the phone.

Also, a Sprint iphone will not work on Verizon. There are ways to hack them to get calls and texts to work, but the LTE will never be able to work cross carrier right now.

**CSWORKER** · 09-14-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falconbal

My account is due for an upgrade. Can I order an iphone 5 through sprint customer service, not activate it when it gets shipped to me, and sell it online to someone who has a Verizon network? Will they be able to use the phone just fine?

You do not have to activate at all, and no they can not use the iphone on verizons network.

You can only give it to someone on sprints network and yes can order thru telesales.

**Chrscott22** · 09-14-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitlet

No, and no. If you order a phone from sprint, it already comes pre-activated. And if you use your upgrade to get the lower cost, you would have to pay the ETF if you get rid of the phone.

These aren't true. Unless you specify, upgraded phones don't come activated cause the person still needs to use their old phone till they get the new phone, and he wouldn't have to pay an ETF if he gets rid of the phone. You only have to pay an ETF if you cancel the line while you're still in contract.

cadet · 09-14-2012, 11:00 AM

So basically since I ordered, when it comes I can just sell it on ebay and reactive another phone... also since I bought the phone at sprint.com my contract is already renewed right?

**CSWORKER** · 09-14-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadet

So basically since I ordered, when it comes I can just sell it on ebay and reactive another phone... also since I bought the phone at sprint.com my contract is already renewed right?

Yes you can . Just make sure the esn is deleted off of your account and yes your contract is renewed .

Sent from my iPhone using SU Forum

**menmygn2** · 09-14-2012, 01:54 PM

1) You can buy a phone from Sprint.com and it will not come activated.
2) Once you receive the phone, you can sell it free and clear.
3) As long as you don't cancel the line you used, there will be no ETF.
4) It does renew your 2yr agreement on that line, not for the whole account.
5) It cannot be activated on VZ, but can be flashed to work on MetroPCS, Cricket and some other CDMA carriers. BUT, the LTE may not work on all those carriers.

**goodiemob** · 09-14-2012, 03:25 PM

Sell it to gamestop.

gedster314 · 09-14-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodiemob

Sell it to gamestop.

Never tried Gamestop but the other companies that buy old electronics really short change you. I've seen them offer $250 for an Iphone yet the very same Iphone is selling on Ebay and CL for over $400. That's too big of cut in my book, I would go through the extra effort of CL.

**Chrscott22** · 09-14-2012, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSWORKER

Yes you can . Just make sure the esn is deleted off of your account and yes your contract is renewed .

He's right and this is very important, even thought it's not activated when you sell it it's still linked to your account during shipping. You will still have to call and have the ESN removed from your account or it will act like a bad esn if they try to activate it. Not a good look for those impatient people on EBAY who swear you scammed them without contacting you to see if you can fix it

Yes absolutely skip gamestop. Your best bet with a Brand new iphone is on Ebay, even after fees you'll make more than craigslist and with less hassle.

earthshaker78 · 09-16-2012, 09:08 PM

On a similar topic... I have an old Free & Clear plan that is eligible for upgrade. Iphone 5 cant be used on this old plan, Can I use the upgrade for the Iphone 5 (and sell it), without changing my plan?

Thank you

gtplayer · 09-16-2012, 09:27 PM

I don't think you'd be able to order it. But if the system lets you order the upgrade, it would be possible. Your plan wouldn't change until activated. I just don't think the system will allow you to order it, though.

sprintuserryan · 09-16-2012, 09:55 PM

The phone is activated, its called a "ghost activation." its done that way so if someone either steals, or finds your phone, they can't activate.

**menmygn2** · 09-17-2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprintuserryan

The phone is activated, its called a "ghost activation." its done that way so if someone either steals, or finds your phone, they can't activate.

The easiest way to do this is to activate the phone on your line, then replace it with the phone you had on that line and that should fix the "ghost activation" issue.

If not, as they mentioned above, you can call in to get it released.

**cheezit** · 09-17-2012, 08:52 AM

OK, maybe I'm not seeing something that's in plain site here. But doesn't getting a brand new phone as an upgrade at a discount for your account, then turning right around and selling it for a profit without ever using the phone on the account constitute fraud?

Seriously, if this is a perfectly legal thing to do, it's no wonder Sprint is in finiancial trouble. About the only way this wouldn't cause Sprint to lose money is if the phone cost them less than the $199 they charge for the upgrade.

09-14-2012, 06:52 AM	#1
falconbal Two Cans & String User Join Date: Sep 14, '12 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts SU$: 10	Can I order a iphone through sprint cs, not activate it and sell it to verizon? My account is due for an upgrade. Can I order an iphone 5 through sprint customer service, not activate it when it gets shipped to me, and sell it online to someone who has a Verizon network? Will they be able to use the phone just fine? Last edited by falconbal; 09-14-2012 at 06:56 AM.

09-14-2012, 01:54 PM	#7
menmygn2 Formerly known as menmyS3 Mood: Join Date: Jun 18, '08 Location: DFW Posts: 1,262 Phone: I Don't KNOW! Trades: 14 Thanks: 45 Thanked 103 Times in 75 Posts SU$: 10,811	1) You can buy a phone from Sprint.com and it will not come activated. 2) Once you receive the phone, you can sell it free and clear. 3) As long as you don't cancel the line you used, there will be no ETF. 4) It does renew your 2yr agreement on that line, not for the whole account. 5) It cannot be activated on VZ, but can be flashed to work on MetroPCS, Cricket and some other CDMA carriers. BUT, the LTE may not work on all those carriers. __________________ Ok - Ok - I'm not dissatisfied anymore!

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09-14-2012, 08:49 AM	#2
sitlet Cordless Phone User Join Date: Nov 25, '03 Location: Michigan Posts: 993 Phone: HTC Evo 3D Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts SU$: 3,285	No, and no. If you order a phone from sprint, it already comes pre-activated. And if you use your upgrade to get the lower cost, you would have to pay the ETF if you get rid of the phone. Also, a Sprint iphone will not work on Verizon. There are ways to hack them to get calls and texts to work, but the LTE will never be able to work cross carrier right now.

09-14-2012, 11:00 AM	#5
cadet Telephone User Join Date: Jan 14, '10 Posts: 150 Phone: Evo 4G Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts SU$: 1,157	So basically since I ordered, when it comes I can just sell it on ebay and reactive another phone... also since I bought the phone at sprint.com my contract is already renewed right?

09-14-2012, 03:25 PM	#8
goodiemob 9330 curve 3G Join Date: Nov 24, '04 Location: bumpass,va Posts: 1,549 Phone: curve 3G Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts SU$: 3,214	Sell it to gamestop.

09-16-2012, 09:08 PM	#11
earthshaker78 Cordless Phone User Join Date: Feb 17, '04 Posts: 536 Phone: BB TOUR 9630 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post SU$: 2,535	On a similar topic... I have an old Free & Clear plan that is eligible for upgrade. Iphone 5 cant be used on this old plan, Can I use the upgrade for the Iphone 5 (and sell it), without changing my plan? Thank you

09-16-2012, 09:27 PM	#12
gtplayer Telegraph User Join Date: Mar 9, '11 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts SU$: 512	I don't think you'd be able to order it. But if the system lets you order the upgrade, it would be possible. Your plan wouldn't change until activated. I just don't think the system will allow you to order it, though.

09-16-2012, 09:55 PM	#13
sprintuserryan Telegraph User Join Date: May 22, '12 Posts: 86 Thanks: 6 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post SU$: 504	The phone is activated, its called a "ghost activation." its done that way so if someone either steals, or finds your phone, they can't activate.

09-17-2012, 08:52 AM	#15
cheezit Smartphone connoisseur Join Date: Feb 22, '05 Location: Oregon Posts: 582 Phone: Galaxy S III Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts SU$: 3,855	OK, maybe I'm not seeing something that's in plain site here. But doesn't getting a brand new phone as an upgrade at a discount for your account, then turning right around and selling it for a profit without ever using the phone on the account constitute fraud? Seriously, if this is a perfectly legal thing to do, it's no wonder Sprint is in finiancial trouble. About the only way this wouldn't cause Sprint to lose money is if the phone cost them less than the $199 they charge for the upgrade.