iPhone Insurance - While the rest of the consumer world anxiously awaits the Apple iphone’s launch on June 29th (I’ve bookmarked a nifty little iPhone countdown clock), it appears that are a few folks, who are just too impatient to wait. They have turned to eBay in their search for an early cure to their iphone addiction. With that in mind, a number of eBay cell phone sellers are also cashing in on the anticipated hype over this phone.
With demand being so incredibly high and imminent shortages almost assured, buyers are flocking to eBay in order to get a pre-sale iphone order. Just last week, we witnessed pre-sale iPhones beings sold on eBay anywhere from $900 to $1200 (Over 2X the retail value). I know what you must be thinking…scam.
Not surprisingly, a search for completed iPhone listings on eBay showed several completed pre-sale listings where the seller is no longer a registered eBay user, of which 1 listing had a successful bid of $990.00.
Needless to say, these pre-sale orders are extremely risky, as the seller does not even have it on hand. eBay is probably aware of the iPhone hype and must be keeping a close eye on iPhone listings, just as they did with the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3. eBay only permits Pre-sale listings only on a limited basis where a seller must guarantee that the item will be delivered within 30 days from the auction’s end date.
If it was me, I’d rather wait to fight the long lines at AT&T/Cingular stores, or wait until after 6/29/2007. I just don’t enjoy having the phrases “chargeback” and “Paypal buyer protection” dancing in my head. I’ve also noticed that there isn’t a pre-sale iPhone to be found on any live eBay listings right now. Could it be that eBay has finally cracked down on pre-sale orders of the iPhone?
While we’re on the topic of good advice, here’s one for anyone who plans on getting their iPhone on eBay. MacDailyNews reports that AT&T/Cingular does not plan to offer insurance on the iPhone. Even if they did, it would not be available for iPhones that were purchased on eBay. It looks like SquareTrade Care Plans might be the only sure fire solution way to protecting your iPhone.
Rumors are circling that an AppleCare plan for the iPhone is in the works but until then, we at CarePlus highly recommend looking into picking up a SquareTrade Care Plan to protect your new prized possession. It’s really the only way you can get protection for iPhones purchased on eBay. SquareTrade Care Plans, which are always 10% of the purchase price, will cover your eBay bought iPhone in cases where your iPhone screen goes dead (which is a really big deal since the iPhone is a touch screen), or when the iPhone’s voice quality goes bad.
So happy iPhone hunting! And please, hunt wisely. SquareTrade
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