[Unsubtle1263]

Once someone SBMs an iphone at target, to target's knowledge, the iphone is still in their inventory (at least until somone finds the sealed box doesn't have the product in it).

My question is:  Does Apple have any way of knowing if a phone has/hasn't been sold from a given retailer? Or does apple lose track of the phone's "bought/unbought" status once they sell it to the retailer?

I'm thinking that this determines whether or not someone could SBM an iphone, and then trade it in for cash somewhere else.

Does anyone know or have any experience with this?
If I've posed this question confusingly please let me know and I can clarify

Thanks