• 20 Comments
  • July 2nd 2007

This is why the iPhone sucks

I got to tinker with an iPhone over the weekend. It’s fantastic. It really is going to change the mobile landscape. I have no major gripes about the iPhone’s features, functionality, design, or price. But this is what I do have a problem with…

iPhone on eBay

It’s brought out the absolute worst in people. Somehow the word “scalper” just doesn’t quite cover it here.

Note the guy selling an iPhone for $1,000,000 with 95% going to charity. I thought it was a joke. Actually, I sincerely hoped it was but to my dismay, the guy is totally serious and claims to have contacted Guiness World Records about potentially having the most expensive cell phone to ever sell on eBay. And wow, what a generous guy too, donating all that money to charity and only taking $50,000 for himself.

Here’s the text from the auction:

Hello everyone, thanks for looking at my auction. This sale will set a record for the most expensive cellphone ever purchased on Ebay. I have already applied with the Guinness World Record people in regards to the record. 95% of the proceeds from the sale will go to charity. We all know the Apple Iphone is a great little device for everybody, however we need to also use this great device to help those less fortunate people in the good ole USA. So Golden Palace.com or Paris Hilton, or anyone who has the means or resources to purchase this phone it would greatly be appreciated. Just think of all the publicity you will get from setting the world record for most expensive cellphone purchase on Ebay!!! Thanks once again for looking!!!

Obviously this person is just a tool and has watched too many newscasts about casinos buying Jesus toast on eBay, but disgusting nonetheless, is it not?

  • http://www.nicharalambous.com Nic

    I must sincerely agree with you. It is mind-blowingly sad to look through that image and see how humanity has transgressed.

    These people all need to get a grip on real life. Iphones are not that important, they will break if you drop them and they will get old. So the gagillion dollars they get for the phone will all be ridiculously wasted if anyone actually purchases one.

    Idiots.

  • http://www.nicharalambous.com Nic

    I must sincerely agree with you. It is mind-blowingly sad to look through that image and see how humanity has transgressed.

    These people all need to get a grip on real life. Iphones are not that important, they will break if you drop them and they will get old. So the gagillion dollars they get for the phone will all be ridiculously wasted if anyone actually purchases one.

    Idiots.

  • http://www.dorm-room-biz.com chris.pund

    I have to agree that if someone buys one for that much in auction, they should be killed. They might as well wait the extra couple weeks until all stores are able to restock and purchase without a line at a store.

    What I find funny is the money that people are wasting to actually list them on eBay for that much. I am curious as to how much it would cost to list an auction with a buy it now price of a million bucks. I am not sure if the buy it now pricing is tiered the same way normal starting bid prices are, but if so, its gotta be a decent “fee”.

    I guess the million dollar guy didnt look at the other auctions to see that someone is trying to sell if for 21 mil, I think he may loose his record chance.

  • http://www.dorm-room-biz.com chris.pund

    I have to agree that if someone buys one for that much in auction, they should be killed. They might as well wait the extra couple weeks until all stores are able to restock and purchase without a line at a store.

    What I find funny is the money that people are wasting to actually list them on eBay for that much. I am curious as to how much it would cost to list an auction with a buy it now price of a million bucks. I am not sure if the buy it now pricing is tiered the same way normal starting bid prices are, but if so, its gotta be a decent “fee”.

    I guess the million dollar guy didnt look at the other auctions to see that someone is trying to sell if for 21 mil, I think he may loose his record chance.

  • http://www.weareonlyhuman.com Jason Sadler

    I’m nervous, I think someone might actually get sucked into the hype of the “world record” and buy it..

  • http://www.weareonlyhuman.com Jason Sadler

    I’m nervous, I think someone might actually get sucked into the hype of the “world record” and buy it..

  • http://www.younggogetter.com/ Travis

    If the dumb asses at Golden Palace want to go for that, they’re more than welcome to.

    But the big picture that Eric’s talking about, people lining up for days to grab an iPhone and head straight for eBay, its like the modern day get rich quick scheme.

    The same thing happened with the last three gaming consoles (wii, 360, ps3). I can’t remember much of this “sleep outside for days to make a couple hundred dollars off of something that somebody who may have actually wanted to use can no longer get” process back when I was a kid.

    It’s very sleazy on Apple’s part to create this supply and demand craze. It looks like they significantly overestimated initial sales anyways, so there are plenty of iPhones to go around.

  • http://www.younggogetter.com/ Travis

    If the dumb asses at Golden Palace want to go for that, they’re more than welcome to.

    But the big picture that Eric’s talking about, people lining up for days to grab an iPhone and head straight for eBay, its like the modern day get rich quick scheme.

    The same thing happened with the last three gaming consoles (wii, 360, ps3). I can’t remember much of this “sleep outside for days to make a couple hundred dollars off of something that somebody who may have actually wanted to use can no longer get” process back when I was a kid.

    It’s very sleazy on Apple’s part to create this supply and demand craze. It looks like they significantly overestimated initial sales anyways, so there are plenty of iPhones to go around.

  • http://www.betterforbusiness.com Terra

    Those prices are hilarious! These people think they’ll really “get rich quick” by selling a few iphones for over 25x it’s list price? It reminds me of a story that was on digg.. of a woman who was trying to buy 16 iphones, but they allowed her only 1, after she already paid some kid $800 for his spot in the front of the line. (no she didn’t get her $800 back either..haha)

    Just when I started to think a little more of humanity…..

  • http://www.betterforbusiness.com Terra

    Those prices are hilarious! These people think they’ll really “get rich quick” by selling a few iphones for over 25x it’s list price? It reminds me of a story that was on digg.. of a woman who was trying to buy 16 iphones, but they allowed her only 1, after she already paid some kid $800 for his spot in the front of the line. (no she didn’t get her $800 back either..haha)

    Just when I started to think a little more of humanity…..

  • idiots

    fucking morons will pay for fo ranything if their daddies leave them enough moeny (aka hiltonism)

  • idiots

    fucking morons will pay for fo ranything if their daddies leave them enough moeny (aka hiltonism)

  • Bruno Roldan

    Common give those people a chance! After all their chances of getting rich quick are higher than buying a lottery ticket!

  • Bruno Roldan

    Common give those people a chance! After all their chances of getting rich quick are higher than buying a lottery ticket!

  • http://skanwar.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-dont-steve-and-paris-have-in.html Satish

    (RE: idiots) Goodness tell me someone didn’t catch Paris buying an iPhone?! Haha!

  • http://skanwar.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-dont-steve-and-paris-have-in.html Satish

    (RE: idiots) Goodness tell me someone didn’t catch Paris buying an iPhone?! Haha!

  • Szombat

    Hey its a very common phenomenon in Japan…
    Lets name it otakuization:)

  • Szombat

    Hey its a very common phenomenon in Japan…
    Lets name it otakuization:)

  • Tom

    Now I’ve seen it all. There’s a “Jesus Toast iPhone” on Ebay. Good Lord!

  • Tom

    Now I’ve seen it all. There’s a “Jesus Toast iPhone” on Ebay. Good Lord!