How to Buy An iPhone 3G S Without A Contract

Sebastien, Jun 12, 2009

If you were thinking about upgrading your iPhone 3G to the 3G S, you may have been turned off by AT&T scandalous prices for its “valued customers”. Indeed, current 3G owners willing to upgrade to the 3G S will have to pay between $499 and $699 depending on the model you want and renew their contract with AT&T for 2 more years.

A smart folk over at iTalk iPhone figured out how to purchase an iPhone 3G S without an AT&T contract.

Note that you will have to pay full price for the iPhone, but at least you won’t have to renew your contract for 2 more years.

1. You need to use FireFox and have the FireBug plugin installed.

2. Go to any non-Apple product in the Apple Store (example)

3. In FireFox, click the little FireBug icon at the bottom right of the browser. FireBug will pop up. Click “Inspect” and choose the “Add to cart” icon.

4. Right above the highlighted part on the image above, you should see “TV943VC/A”. This is the product code. Change it to the product code of the iPhone you want. For this example, we’ll choose the iPhone 3G S 32GB MB 718LL/A.

iPhone 3G 8GB ($499): MB046LL/A
iPhone 3GS 16GB Black ($599): MB715LL/A
iPhone 3GS 16GB White ($599): MB716LL/A
iPhone 3GS 32GB Black ($699): MB717LL/A
iPhone 3GS 32GB White ($699): MB718LL/A

5. Finally, click on the “Add to cart” button and voila! The iPhone you chose should appear in your cart. You can now proceed to check out.

I tried this myself up to the Check Out part. It worked. I obviously didn’t try to order the product as I already pre-ordered my iPhone 3G S.

Props for this hack go to an Admin of the iTalk iPhone forum.

Results seem to be mixed. Some people claim that it work. Some others claim that it doesn’t. If you try this out, please let us know in the comments.

 
← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • Juan

    Doesn’t work anymore. They fixed the bug!

  • http://nikeoneblackball.webs.com James

    Apple Fixed it. IT DOES NOT WORK!! PLEASE DO NOT POST SAYING “It doesn’t work anymore! HELP HELP”

    This Firebug glitch DOES NOT work.

    Thanks & sorry for being so blunt

  • Danny

    Hey i just read all the comments from the beginning until the end.

    thats really sad that they find out the trick. Any way, my question is still how i get i Phone 3GS with out a contract? is there any possibility still or you have to buy it at ebay or you have to make a contract!!!!

  • http://www.southwestnetworksolutions.com HOUSTONBUSINESS

    I tried today and it doesn’t work anymore. Maybe you guys can find something else that will work. We will appreciate it very much if you find another loophole. Anyway, thanks for trying and making it work for some people. Keep up the good work.

  • river0

    SINCE JULY 18TH, APPLE AND ATT HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY A 3GS IPHONE DIRECTLY FROM THEM WITHOUT A 2-YEAR ATT CONTRACT. There are no loopholes at present nor are there likely to be. The best way to duck the 2-year contract is, ironically enough, to sign up for one. On the 30th day of your contract you call ATT and cancel your contract. You pay an Early Termination Fee of $175.00 (minus the cost of your service for one month). You DO NOT have to return your 3GS. At least I didn’t, and I’ve used the method for family members three times now.

    eBay is a fairly safe site to pick up a non-contact iPhone (though DON’T buy one from someone who’s just joined eBay or who has feedback for only very cheap items). I plan to sell a 3GS myself on eBay this weekend. iPhones are no longer in stock anywhere except the United States.

  • kenny

    i get my 3gs 16g for $625. ship from china (not in us). but they fix that hole already. it will not work any more.
    only way right now is ebay.

  • Oathman

    Hi every body,,, thank you for this amazing subject!!!!!
    I am not living in united state, so how i can buy the new I-phone 3g s……
    Please tell me because i need it so badly.
    Thank you again!!!!!!!!!!!!11

    • river0

      International buyers interested in buying no-contract, unlocked Apple Black 3GS 32GB iPhones should contact me at paul-diehl[at]uiowa[dot]edu.

  • DaMC

    How much is an 32GB iphone if i buy it from you?;)

  • Pedro

    Does anyone here can tell me how to buy an iphone 3gs without a contract? I went to the apple store and they told me that they can’t sell me the iPhone because I’m not an AT&T customer!

  • John

    Hmm, doesn’t seem to work for “MB718LL/A”. It just takes me to the AT&T Contract Place to start a contract.

  • John Chue

    Hmm, doesn’t seem to work for “MB718LL/A”. It just takes me to the AT&T Contract Place to start a contract. It doesn’t work anymore?

  • Current AT&T user

    Find someone with an AT&T contract and have them add a line to their contract and then cancel that line. You’ll pay the 2year contract price and then the cancellation fee. So $299 $175 = $474!! Donzo!!! iPhone free and clear!!

  • torrentfreak

    Terms Applicable to AT&T Nation/FamilyTalk® GSM Plans: Credit approval required. Subscriber must live and have a mailing address within AT&T’s owned network coverage area. An early termination fee of $175 applies if service is terminated before the end of the contract term. For service activated on or after May 25, 2008 the Early Termination Fee will be reduced by $5.00 for each full month toward your minimum term that you complete. If phone is returned within 3 days, activation fee will be refunded. If phone is returned within 30 days in like-new condition with all components, early termination fee will be waived. All other charges apply. Some dealers impose additional fees. iPhone returns will be subject to a 10% restocking fee, except where prohibited.

    So if we go for termination then att will ask for the equipment or else u r torn apart. Enlighten me guys. I also need this phone badly

  • http://www.macmate.org t3mur

    oh come on Apple!!

    JUST LET US BUY THE DAMN iPHONES!!!

  • Nadir

    If we know this you can be sure THEY know this too

    Somewhere along the line they will block it pre shipping – unlikely that they dont have some kind or verification process before shipping out a 7oo dollar item

    Some bean counter somewhere will block it I am sure

    nadir

  • torrentfreak

    my chat transcript is deleted

  • matias

    Friends of mine! This method it is not necessary, because, AT&T offers to buy the iPhone with no contract, at the same price it appears in the method $699. the 3Gs 32 gb.

  • torrentfreak

    no i dont think so it ask for a contract for 2 yrs as it is stated in the link below

    http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/apple.jsp

  • http://kahlilstudios.com KaHLiL

    i just want you all to know the at&t suck! they said here http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/internet/iphone-faq.jsp that we can buy the iphone 3gs without the contract, but when i called them they said that we still have to sign up. get a plan, cut the line, and pay the iphone in full. for 16gb 3gs that’s like $599 phone price + $175 termination fee + $70 1 month service +30 activation fee. what a rip-off, been trying to get this phone for a month now, this type of scheme really pisses me off. anybody know where i can get one except ebay?

  • Steve

    Wow all this talk , gimmicks, links, etc and since day one you could always buy without contract… see this page:
    http://www.apple.com/iphone/buy/

    Note at bottom fine print:
    “…For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB). In CA, MA, and RI, sales tax is collected on the unbundled price of iPhone.”

    So only thing I need to know is can it be used at all without ATT activation… My thing is I want it LESS the phone I can care less about the phone feature, & no i dont want a ipod touch, since i need the camera/mic features of the iPhone and will use wifi only So, what happens with no activation does the phone work at all? Or can I use any sim card even if not right network to just get by the activation notice?

    Apple, reading this? Please drop AT&T in the US, they have the worst service, period. Verizon, TMobile, Sprint all have better service & coverage. AT&T wont even work in my house which AT&T coverage shows my area in best coverage… joke…

  • torrentfreak

    @Steve Read the whole paragraph
    Requires new two-year AT&T wireless service contract, sold separately to qualified customers; credit check required; must be 18 or older. Existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G should check with AT&T or use http://www.apple.com/iphone/buy to find out if they are eligible for early upgrade pricing: $299 (8GB), $399 (16GB), or $499 (32GB) with a new two-year contract. For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB). In CA, MA, and RI, sales tax is collected on the unbundled price of iPhone.
    God knows how to buy an apple iphone without a contract

  • http://GMAIL SERGE BIZABA

    I WANT FO R REALLY AN IPHONE
    BUT I CAN’T AFFORD ITN BECAUSE
    I’M POOR

  • Michelle

    Didn’t read all the comments but want to purchase a new Iphone. As I live in the Bahamas now, my celly has to be unlocked. I had it done with my old Iphone about two years ago when I moved here. Can they do it with the newest versions? Thx!

  • dieter helmut

    i am liking sexy iphone really much butt f ck att in arsch!

  • armen

    TO SAVE U ALL A PAIN JUST GO ON CRAIGS LIST IVE SEEN THEM GO FOR AROUND 500-600

  • http://swager123.blogspot.com/ john t

    nice…

  • Mark

    Doesn’t work anymore… I tryed it to buy the iphone 3gs 16gb for 599$ but it requires you to make a contract with At&t.

  • alper

    I did this method , but after I have clicked “add to cart” , a new page open about

    “Are you a new or existing AT&T wireless customer?”

    I am not an existing AT&T customer so , how will I solve this problem?

  • Nadir

    Hi All

    Let me say it plainly : This cannot work.

    They let a few slip thru the cracks but then tightened up when they realized what happened.

    Finally I bit the proverbial bullet and bought an Apple Unlocked Iphone – paid a pretty price too but its less headache and tension than buying something on a plan and then absconding and then jailbreaking and then hacking with CEDIA and Gosh knows what else.

    It costs lots but at the end its worth it.

    You HAVE to buy the plan when you buy the phone – I tried every loophole to get one at $199 but every avenue is sealed tight. UNLESS you want to write a dud check to them and sit in jail. Tried AT/T tried Wall mart tried Apple Store tried high street … no dice

    No they have covered it well

    Do I approve – No way !!! The policy SUCKS ! Apple pays no more than $150 to produce the phone so technically it should be sold Unlocked for no more than $ 400 (making vulgar profits too )

    But these B******S want to milk us dry -just because AT & T has perverted the whole concept of quality communication by cornering the Iphone completely

    SCUM of the earth.

    Apple should be ashamed
    But Shame or not – I need the i . I tried to use everything else after my iphone 2 gave up on me and for nine months suffered with Motorola , Nokia , Samsung and even the vaulted Blackberry (good but not ideal) until I returned, defeated by the “suits” to buy an officially unlocked iphone from Apple

    Its Fkd up but what can you do

  • kAndY08

    They’ve caught on : (……

  • mali

    i need a macbook

    can somebody by it for me, i will pay it but i m from germany, so you can send it to me and i will pay it with a master card

    pls help
    i need a macbook but in germany they are soo expensively…

    greet
    mali

  • Calvin

    Tried your little “hack” for the whole ordering without the contract deal with FireBug. Seems Apples geeks got smart and wrote code into the button that even if you do as you have said, you still have to fill out the stupid AT&T crud to get the phone added to your cart.

  • K

    Can you people read the article? It’s been posted well over 30 times that it doesn’t work, it hasn’t worked since June!

  • Tammy

    I can’t not at the Iphone to the cart. It keeps adding the non-apple product to the cart. Someone knows why? Please help me out

  • Refan

    you can get it by 550 $ from the Walmart

  • http://asitus.com wedphp

    I try it works.. Thanks for this post…

  • http://www.asitusi.com wedphp

    It is nice to see that we can buy iphone in india. Great post.

  • mf

    so guys doesn`t work. Now after changing the model name in this plug-in after adding to cart they ask you about creating a new contract

  • Sev

    yea it doesn’t work. When you change the model name then click “add to cart”, it brings you to this page: https://buyiphone.apple.com/WebObjects/IPACustomer.woa/

    has anyone tried a new way, or fixed this?

  • Mark

    If everyone stops buying Iphone for a while then Apple will realize the mistake they made with ATT. Or if everybody starts to write a complaint latter to Apple they may reconsider. Don’t they realize they would get more money if they stop this contract?

  • senormota

    Hello all, just read this whole thread, I’m wondering if I manage to aquire an iphone 3gs can i put my active att sim card in it and will it just work on my att plan?

    Backstory: I have a crappy samsung phone and I want to upgrade, but they told me I cannot upgrade because I’m only 5 months into my 2 year phone slavery/indentured servitude. So in order to get an iphone, I must cancel my 2nd line on my family plan, pay the disconnect fee of $175-$200, and then open a new line on the same plan, with a new 2 year commitment. This seems fcking ridiculous for an att customer to not be able to change phones without pseudo changing my contract. Can’t they just extend my commitment by 5 months and charge me full price or something? It seems insane and unlikely to stimulate business for them to treat their EXISTING customers this way, much less potential new customers.

    Does anyone know if this will work? I’m about to say fck the iphone, and just get a tom tom gps and tape that shit to my samsung.

  • jo shmo

    I tried this method on the site and it didn’t work for me. Yes I was using firefox and have the firebug installed, but the website still came up to the menu screen for purchasing with an at&t plan. I do know someone that can crack the phone for me so it’s no buggie. I guess I’ll just have to buy it at BestBuy. I wonder how much through ebay?

  • Jacky

    I tried it, it doesn’t work. Keeps sending me to the account set up page!!!! Thanks for the tip. I’m sure Apple caught on, which sucks for us.

  • dan

    this doesn’t work, goes to the AT&T signup page.

  • Jone

    Nop, this doesn’t work anymore. It does change the product code, but when you hit the “Add to cart” button, it does take you to the “check” page, which is the page you should either create a new AT&T account or login into your existing account. Maybe there’s a way to change the Cart’s content, who knows?

  • Ahead

    this iphone shit is getting out of hand. its fucking “666″ stuff, soon without att you can’t communicate. BEWARE

  • michelle

    if people are going to read the posts that talk about trying to do it a secret way…they should also read the posts saying it no longer works.
    everything has already been said!!!
    if new ways come up writing them on this site is a waste…apple obviously reads these sites…finds the flaws…and fixes them. writing them on here is a good way to make “workable methods” obsolete. (rant over

  • Tyler

    This is great and all, but I don’t understand how it says $100 on site and turns into $500

  • Williams

    Do you need an iphone, imac, macbook, macpro, ipods or other apple products at affordable price?
    Jut contact us at appleconnect

  • kasun

    Hi..i live in sri lanka. i badly need a iphone. can any one please help me on that case., i need a shipping to srilanka coz theres no apple dealers in here.
    how do i find it easier. can any body pls give a trusted web site or contact.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →