It appears Apple has again teamed up with online auction site eBay to setup a low-profile “Factory Outlet” store to sell Apple Certified Refurbished devices. The devices, iPhone 5s models are currently the only devices listed for sale, offer full one-year Apple warranties at attractive prices.
The store front, discovered by AppleInsider over the weekend (1, 2, 3 — thanks, Max), is dubbed the “Factory Outlet eBay Store” and currently lists about half dozen factory restored and unlocked GSM iPhone 5 models for between $449 and $499.
While there are no specific markings or language on the eBay storefront to suggest Apple is involved, it does include many of the indicators from the iOS device maker’s 2013 partnership with eBay to sell refurbished iPads. Among the indicators are the “Apple Certified” iPhone 5s marked as “exclusive” to the eBay Factory store.
The devices also come with a full one-year Apple warranty, and they are listed as having been completely restored, burn-in tested and professionally repackaged with a “final quality inspection performed by Apple.”
Apple made a similar move in March of 2013 when it launched a Apple Certified Refurbished Products Store that sold refurbished iPads for $100 less than were available on Apple’s own online store. That storefront disappeared from eBay before the 2013 iPad product launch.
Current Factory Outlet eBay Store Listings:
64GB White iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $499 – ($350 off MSRP)
64GB Black iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $499 – ($350 off MSRP)
32GB White iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $479 – ($270 off MSRP)
32GB Black iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $479 – ($270 off MSRP)
16GB White iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $449 – ($200 off MSRP)
16GB Black iPhone 5 (Factory Unlocked for GSM) for $449 – ($200 off MSRP)
The Factory Outlet eBay Store can be found on eBay. [DIRECT LINK]