AT&T Announces Upgrade to In-Store Smartphone Trade-In Program

I wonder what they do with all their trade in phones.
Usually things like this are pretty not worth it, but convenience factor to people is important sometimes.

I wonder if this will effect them in a good or bad way, seeing as if they were to somehow sell the phones at a cheaper rate as used, and off contract, that might cut into their profits for new phones, or might be the pusher for those on the fence.

I'd imagine they would sell indirectly though, not through AT&T themselves, maybe to another company or in more so of a 3rd party fashion.

The only potential downside is that 3 year old android phones I don't think retain a value of 100, but at the same time it does get people to re-upgrade, so that's where it's at anyway for the most part.

Hmm hmm hmm

Feeling the heat from Tmobile ?

Dwalls90 said:

Feeling the heat from Tmobile ?

Click to expand...

My thoughts too. My first reaction was, "ATTs response to t-mobile?"

How is this any different than what they have been doing already?
Back in February I upgraded to an iPhone 5 because my 4S broke and they gave me $210 off the cost of my iPhone 5 on a visa prepaid card which could immediately be applied to the balance.

Nothing new about this, the trade in program has been going on and the only thing is the guaranteed $100 for any phone less that 3 yrs old. Seems they would do more advertising on tv...

When they say 3 year old phone, is that 3 years from purchase date (and subsequent activation from at&t?? Because the iPhone 3GS was released July of 2009 but were sold until October of 2012 so hypothetically a person could bring an iPhone 3GS to AT&T in October of 2015 and get $100 for a phone that was released over 6 years prior

MacRumors said:

Beginning May 1, consumers who trade in their current smartphone to AT&T* will be eligible to receive at least $100 off the purchase of a new smartphone, including the new Samsung Galaxy® S 4, BlackBerry® Z10 or 32 GB HTC One®.

Click to expand...

I hate how carriers never advertise the iPhone in their offers. It's like they're being bribed specifically to leave it out.

Decent unlock policy

ATT should have decent unlock policy on the iPhones (very strict even for the customers who are with them long time).

Jumped to t-mobile, no thanks ATT!

Funny that this was just posted, I just got a text from Best Buy cause that's where I bought my 4S almost 2 years ago and they'll give me a $200 gift card for my phone that can be used towards a new one.

Or you can keep your phone and unlock it and sell it online.

Unlocked gsm iPhones and some unlocked android phone have great resell value. You can even use it on many prepaid companies and hand it down to a teenage child and not have to worry about overages.

Mad Mac Maniac said:

When they say 3 year old phone, is that 3 years from purchase date (and subsequent activation from at&t?? Because the iPhone 3GS was released July of 2009 but were sold until October of 2012 so hypothetically a person could bring an iPhone 3GS to AT&T in October of 2015 and get $100 for a phone that was released over 6 years prior

Click to expand...

Gotta be from purchase date. They can't expect you to know when a models was released. Well I guess they could, but it'd make a mockery of the program.

...which means that's probably exactly what AT&T is doing. ;-)

...so, give them a phone that could have cost up to $849 and get a sweet "$100 off" coupon, followed by years of them sh*****g down your throat with their terrible prices.

What a deal!

KieranDotW said:

I hate how carriers never advertise the iPhone in their offers. It's like they're being bribed specifically to leave it out.

Click to expand...

It's possible that Apple's contract with ATT and other carriers forbid them to use Apple's name in an ad unless authorized - and it's possible that other manufacturers have no - or looser restrictions.

Can I put the $100 towards the early termination fee?...

Dwalls90 said:

Feeling the heat from Tmobile ?

Click to expand...

Exactly. Things are changing already.

So I read this as any brand of smartphone.

I have an HTC One Virgin mobile that I bought for $49 around Christmas for no reason..

Good now for $100

MacRumors said:

...meaning someone could trade in an older Android smartphone for a new iPhone 4S, or half-price on a 16GB iPhone 5.

Click to expand...

Oh, hey, even trade in their iPhone 5 for the new Blackberry Q10 when it becomes available, as I plan to do. Keeping everything else Apple, but switching back to a physical keyboard, something for which I've ached.

This is the way it works.

1) it has to be 3-yrs from the original phone purchase, not the models release date.

2) prior to this promotion if I traded in an old 3GS the value would have been ~$30. With this new promotion it's bumped up to a minimum of $100 whereas before you would ONLY get $30.

3) if your phones value is higher then $100 then of course you will receive that value instead of the $100 that is advertised. I.E. iphone 5 trade in value is ~$280, you would get the $280 instead of the $100.

Simple as that. Thank you AT&T!

Ideanj said:

This is the way it works.

1) it has to be 3-yrs from the original phone purchase, not the models release date.

2) prior to this promotion if I traded in an old 3GS the value would have been ~$30. With this new promotion it's bumped up to a minimum of $100 whereas before you would ONLY get $30.

3) if your phones value is higher then $100 then of course you will receive that value instead of the $100 that is advertised. I.E. iphone 5 trade in value is ~$280, you would get the $280 instead of the $100.

Simple as that. Thank you AT&T!

Click to expand...

Are there upgrades for additional storage? What about a white iPhone 4S with 64 gb storage?

Lylyluvda916 said:

Or you can keep your phone and unlock it and sell it online.

Unlocked gsm iPhones and some unlocked android phone have great resell value. You can even use it on many prepaid companies and hand it down to a teenage child and not have to worry about overages.

Click to expand...

This.

I just checked to see what the value of my two Android phones would be...pssh.

LG Optimus G 16gb: $100
Samsung Galaxy S3: $128

Really, AT&T? I could easily sell the S3 for $300. Easily. And the Optimus G would go for between $250-$300.

And here's a real kicker...my 16gb iPhone 5?

$272

That's laughable!

The only way this program is worth anything is if you have an old phone that's worth less than $100 on the open market, then at least you'll get more than it's worth.

This program is completely worthless, but people will get suckered in by thinking they're getting a great deal.

Compared to the deals we have on the uk, this is rather crap... I mean, I was 8 months into a 4S contract and for a limited time, EE offered upgrades into 4G handsets for 25£, trading in your old phone. I got my 5 for 25£.
Couldn't be happier.

KentuckyHouse said:

This.

I just checked to see what the value of my two Android phones would be...pssh.

LG Optimus G 16gb: $100
Samsung Galaxy S3: $128

Really, AT&T? I could easily sell the S3 for $300. Easily. And the Optimus G would go for between $250-$300.

And here's a real kicker...my 16gb iPhone 5?

$272

That's laughable!

The only way this program is worth anything is if you have an old phone that's worth less than $100 on the open market, then at least you'll get more than it's worth.

This program is completely worthless, but people will get suckered in by thinking they're getting a great deal.

Click to expand...

I agree - Everyone but you is too stupid to understand the value of their old smartphone.

Or maybe people do not want to go to the trouble of selling their old phone on eBay or CL.

Jeez, the arrogance of some people.

TC25 said:

I agree - Everyone but you is too stupid to understand the value of their old smartphone.

Or maybe people do not want to go to the trouble of selling their old phone on eBay or CL.

Jeez, the arrogance of some people.

Click to expand...

How is that arrogance? Pointing out that it's highway robbery? Maybe you need to check the attitude at the door.

BTW, there are other places to sell/buy cell phones safely from the comfort of your own living room. Personally I never use CL/eBay to sell and buy. The likelihood that you'll end up with a blacklisted device is just too great.

KentuckyHouse said:

How is that arrogance?

Click to expand...

The following statement, which clearly implies there can be no good reason for anyone accepting ATTs offer.

"This program is completely worthless, but people will get suckered in by thinking they're getting a great deal. "