# Why was a previous generation iPhone with a busted screen worth so much on eBay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-previous-generation-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-worth-so-much-on-ebay/572404 "2011-02-24T01:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-previous-generation-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-worth-so-much-on-ebay/572404/1 "2011-02-24T01:59:57Z")
Several months ago an acquaintance I help with tech stuff from time to time gave me a 16GB 3rd generation iPhone (the one just prior to the iPhone 4) to use, destroy or tinker with as I wished. The casing had a good accompaniment of normal use dings and scratches, and it had a shattered screen. Interestingly the touch capability still worked perfectly over the 40% or so of the screen surface that was not shattered. All other functions of the phone worked fine. I threw it in a drawer not thinking it was even worth my time to list it on eBay until I was bored and checked out the sold prices for broken iPhones and was shocked. Long story short I listed it, it was bid up ferociously, and it sold for around $240+shipping. This is not an exception due to my mad listing skillz, many similar busted screens iPhones sell for similar prices. I have to admit I’m still curious about why anyone would pay this kind of money for a busted last generation iPhone? Why are they so valuable? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-previous-generation-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-worth-so-much-on-ebay/572404/2 "2011-02-24T02:13:09Z")
Because nearly all phones don’t sell at their real price. You get discounts because of two year commitments. Used iphones regularly sell for $200+ because the actual price is $500-1k. Also, as a WAG, I suspect the iPhone is not available in all countries, or might be far more expensive than here. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-previous-generation-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-worth-so-much-on-ebay/572404/3 "2011-02-24T02:36:36Z")
Superhal is correct. The price of a 16 gig iphone 4 without a contract is $650 with a 2 year contract it is $200. The price of phones without contracts are in my opinion higher than they might be if people in the US bought more phones without contracts. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-previous-generation-iphone-with-a-busted-screen-worth-so-much-on-ebay/572404/4 "2011-02-24T03:36:42Z")
Plus the new iPhone 4 uses a mini-sized SIM card, so earlier iPhones might be more sought-after if you only have access to a regular SIM card.