Selling a Iphone 3G Safely?

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi everyone,
I own an iPhone 3G set for ATT. It was synched to an iBook that I no longer own. I have since purchased a MacBook and iPhone 4S. I synch the 4S on the new MacBook. I wish to sell the 3G. What is the best way for me to sell the 3G with all personal information removed and not retrievable.
Thanks!

[Daley]

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+wipe+data+from+an+iphone+3g

[BrooklineBiker]

Hi,
I have looked on Google. In reading through user comments, here seems to be some controversy over exactly what method will provide  an effective wiping  of data. I was hoping someone had definitive recommendations on a particular approach. Can you assist?

[KurtLewis]

Best idea is to plug it into your new Macbook and fire up iTunes. From there, you can reset it to factory default settings. If you need instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414

Once this is done it should be like brand new. As for where to sell it, I would recommend gazelle.com. However it looks like they don't even buy the 3G. I would try your carrier. If not, there are many sites that allow you to donate it, which is an honorable decision.

[BrooklineBiker]

Best idea is to plug it into your new Macbook and fire up iTunes. From there, you can reset it to factory default settings. If you need instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414

Once this is done it should be like brand new. As for where to sell it, I would recommend gazelle.com. However it looks like they don't even buy the 3G. I would try your carrier. If not, there are many sites that allow you to donate it, which is an honorable decision.

Hi
Thanks for your response. If I synch the 3G to my new MacBook, will there be any problems for my new 4S? Also do I need to remove the SIM card thereafter?

[zolotiyeruki]

You won't have any issues syncing your 4S after you've synced your 3G.
Best way to wipe it is to use iTunes to restore it to factory stock.
Best way to sell?  I'd go with eBay (that's where I bought my current 3GS).
If the plan associated with your 3G is defunct, you can leave the SIM in or you can take it out--it doesn't matter.

[randymarsh]

If I synch the 3G to my new MacBook, will there be any problems for my new 4S? Also do I need to remove the SIM card thereafter?

If you sync your 3G and then plug in your 4S, iTunes will actually ask you if you want to restore from that backup. You'll have all your pictures, videos, text messages, etc. in no time.

I know AT&T has been including a new SIM card with iPhones. You have to call or go to this website (http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB114181&cv=820#fbid=sCiOHiz4gHU) to activate it. Then after ~15 minutes your old SIM won't work and the new one will be active. Just did this for a friend the other day.

I would sync your old phone, activate the 4S, then plug it into iTunes.

[data.Damnation]

Wiping personal info is definitely important, but let me give you some advice on selling your phone. When you go to sell your phone, do not allow sell your phone to anyone outside the US! I listed my old iphone on ebay and the winning bidder was from Russia. I didn't realize I had allowed international bids but I didn't think it was a big deal. I shipped via USPS international which includes tracking and delivery confirmation. Well, the package got "lost" somewhere in Russia according to the tracking. The winning bidder claimed he never received it, so Ebay forced me to give him a full refund even though I had proof that I shipped the phone. Because I couldn't prove delivery, I had to give him a full refund. So now some asshole in Russia has a free iphone donated by me.

When it came time to sell my next phone, I made sure to only allow people in US to bid on it. When the auction completed, the winning bidder asked me to mail it to his address in Israel. Like I'm some kind of fucking idiot. I e-mail Ebay and demanded the auction be cancelled and the fees refunded, and fortunately they agreed. But I will never sell a phone on Ebay again. Either I'm really unlucky or there is a huge scammer market for phones on Ebay. I saw that Amazon offers a program where you get an Amazon credit worth fair market value if you sell your phone to them. After fees, it worked out to about the same as selling on Ebay, so I went with them instead. And this time I actually got paid for my phone!

So don't make the same mistake as me. Check what Amazon will give you and if it's a fair deal, go with them. If you have a death wish and want to sell your phone on Ebay, make sure you only sell in the US, get delivery confirmation, and don't ship via USPS.

[BrooklineBiker]

Wiping personal info is definitely important, but let me give you some advice on selling your phone. When you go to sell your phone, do not allow sell your phone to anyone outside the US! I listed my old iphone on ebay and the winning bidder was from Russia. I didn't realize I had allowed international bids but I didn't think it was a big deal. I shipped via USPS international which includes tracking and delivery confirmation. Well, the package got "lost" somewhere in Russia according to the tracking. The winning bidder claimed he never received it, so Ebay forced me to give him a full refund even though I had proof that I shipped the phone. Because I couldn't prove delivery, I had to give him a full refund. So now some asshole in Russia has a free iphone donated by me.

When it came time to sell my next phone, I made sure to only allow people in US to bid on it. When the auction completed, the winning bidder asked me to mail it to his address in Israel. Like I'm some kind of fucking idiot. I e-mail Ebay and demanded the auction be cancelled and the fees refunded, and fortunately they agreed. But I will never sell a phone on Ebay again. Either I'm really unlucky or there is a huge scammer market for phones on Ebay. I saw that Amazon offers a program where you get an Amazon credit worth fair market value if you sell your phone to them. After fees, it worked out to about the same as selling on Ebay, so I went with them instead. And this time I actually got paid for my phone!

So don't make the same mistake as me. Check what Amazon will give you and if it's a fair deal, go with them. If you have a death wish and want to sell your phone on Ebay, make sure you only sell in the US, get delivery confirmation, and don't ship via USPS.

Hi Datadamnation,
Thank you for posting that. Your experience selling via Ebay sounds horrible. It is an excellent warning to others. I have never tried selling on EBay. Reading your story, I am not sure I ever would. I just checked Amazon and the maximum they offer for a trade in is $15. I see these phones selling for $100 on Craig's List.

[BrooklineBiker]

If I synch the 3G to my new MacBook, will there be any problems for my new 4S? Also do I need to remove the SIM card thereafter?

If you sync your 3G and then plug in your 4S, iTunes will actually ask you if you want to restore from that backup. You'll have all your pictures, videos, text messages, etc. in no time.

I know AT&T has been including a new SIM card with iPhones. You have to call or go to this website (http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB114181&cv=820#fbid=sCiOHiz4gHU) to activate it. Then after ~15 minutes your old SIM won't work and the new one will be active. Just did this for a friend the other day.

I would sync your old phone, activate the 4S, then plug it into iTunes.

To confirm, I do NOT need to remove the SIM card to remove personal information before selling the iPhone 3G?

[randymarsh]

To confirm, I do NOT need to remove the SIM card to remove personal information before selling the iPhone 3G?

I probably would remove it. You may have stored names and phone numbers of contacts on it. Plus there's nothing the buyer can do with it once it's deactivated anyway. I don't think anyone can do anything nefarious with it though.