[forgot-im-old]

Plus what thief is checking your carrier before running away with it?

[lazide]

They just can’t make enough money off it, so find some other crime to do. Assuming it’s common enough.

[night862]

The point is, it doesn't matter. They're selling a Locked iPhone instead of an Un-Locked iPhone.

Is the Locked Phone devalued because it is locked to AT&T or is the Unlocked phone at a premium because it is not?

[lazide]

It does matter, by depressing market value - if widespread enough to cause overall market value to be depressed.

Not sure what you’re getting hung up about.

You clearly already know what’s going on or you wouldn’t be able to write the last sentence.

[ezfe]

Because carrier-locked phones to major carriers don't suffer a severely depressed price. AT&T has high market share it doesn't matter enough if a phone is locked to AT&T to prevent theft and depress resale prices.

[Forgeties79]

If that was how these things shook out you two wouldn’t have anything to debate.

[lazide]

Honestly, I’m not even seeing the point of the debate. Even their argument implies they’re well away of it.

[night862]

The point is that the cost of stolen goods is zero or near zero in this case.

The profit margin approaches infinity.