$599 Pricing for "upgrade"

[jjsun]

I went to the AT&T store and they told me their is nothing they can do for my $599 price. Oh well, my luck.

I'm out for $599.

I just went into AT&T and printed this out and asked them to read it: http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/files/iphone/pricing_fact_sheet_ip4.pdf

Clearly states that since I'm an existing iPhone customer, I should get at least the $399 price point. The manager agreed and advised that he would email the main manager and ask for approval to override my current upgrade date. Waiting to hear back, but he said I had a "good" case.

 

[christyn]

I just went into AT&T and printed this out and asked them to read it: http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/files/iphone/pricing_fact_sheet_ip4.pdf

Clearly states that since I'm an existing iPhone customer, I should get at least the $399 price point. The manager agreed and advised that he would email the main manager and ask for approval to override my current upgrade date. Waiting to hear back, but he said I had a "good" case.

Also printed this off and am taking it in to the store tonight to see what they say. Have 1 line which was was pushed up for the $199/$299 pricing and already preordered. Other line doesn't qualify for even an early upgrade price until December.

Hopefully they will honor it.

 

[rittchard]

I have been buying each iPhone model on day 1 release, but maintaining a minimum minute/data plan (so about $70/month). I was told from AT&T that I had no upgrade pricing until November, and that my only choice was to pay full price - in which case my contract would not be extended.

Last year (and I thought I read it again somewhere for this year) they gave us $200 off the full price and re-started the contract for 2 years, but apparently not this time. I'm genuinely surprised they wouldn't do the same thing this year, particularly since they have to know Verizon iPhones are likely coming soon. It's almost like they are asking/daring loyal customers like myself to leave next year.

Edit: just looked at that sheet and it seems pretty clear that they should be continuing the "early upgrade" approach. We'll see if it pans out on release day (I'm reserved at Apple store).

 

[whateverandever]

Also printed this off and am taking it in to the store tonight to see what they say. Have 1 line which was was pushed up for the $199/$299 pricing and already preordered. Other line doesn't qualify for even an early upgrade price until December.

Hopefully they will honor it.

I emailed AT&T about it and they submitted a case to management or whatever. They ended up adding a note on my account to give me the $199/$299 pricing (my upgrade date is 12/29/2010).

Sadly, that means I'm going to have to camp out at an AT&T store instead of picking up my Apple Store reservation...

 

[christyn]

It's in the link posted above.

Not sure why the price isn't reflecting in the system, but according to the press release, current iPhone users should at least get the $399/$499 pricing.

 

[christyn]

I emailed AT&T about it and they submitted a case to management or whatever. They ended up adding a note on my account to give me the $199/$299 pricing (my upgrade date is 12/29/2010).

Sadly, that means I'm going to have to camp out at an AT&T store instead of picking up my Apple Store reservation...

Well, that's good. I spend 40 mins on hold today to have a rep who refused to even read the press release.

Think I will probably have been luck in the store.

 

[jjsun]

Well, that's good. I spend 40 mins on hold today to have a rep who refused to even read the press release.

Think I will probably have been luck in the store.

Yeah, I think you'll have better luck in the store. Remember, when you call in, you're likely speaking to a Call Center Agent - who is employed by a company that AT&T outsources to. When you go into the store, you're usually talking to competent people who have a lot of ability than any Call Center Agent.

 

[ktex1968]

I emailed AT&T about it and they submitted a case to management or whatever. They ended up adding a note on my account to give me the $199/$299 pricing (my upgrade date is 12/29/2010).

Sadly, that means I'm going to have to camp out at an AT&T store instead of picking up my Apple Store reservation...

This is what I did, they agreed with me that their statement was misleading and they will be giving me the early upgrade pricing.

 

[NJRonbo]

Still don't understand this pricing and not
being able to contact AT&T by phone or
get a working AT&T applet on their upgrade
page is not helping.

Here is what happens when I try and order
a $599 16GB iPhone from Apple:

Now mind you, I bought a 3GS last June
and entered into a new 2-year contract.
I do understand that I need to finish another
12 months that are left.

But if I am buying a $599 phone why am
I being told that it comes with a 2-year
contract?

I have a preorder with Radio Shack for my
iPhone 4. They can't help me with the contract.
They just sell the phone.

I am hoping I can get in touch with AT&T
and find out why a $599 phone is being
advertised as coming with a contract.

 

[whateverandever]

Well, that's good. I spend 40 mins on hold today to have a rep who refused to even read the press release.

Think I will probably have been luck in the store.

I doubt you're going to have any luck in a store. My request had to be escalated for review and took a few days to be approved. I doubt the grunts at the AT&T store have the authority to modify your eligibility date (or just randomly discount your phone by $200). Send an email through your AT&T account. I ended up getting a call back early the next morning from a friendly American woman.

If you try to haggle with the AT&T salesman for 20 minutes while there are 100 people behind you in line waiting for their iPhone, you're going to tick off a lot of people.

 

[Odid]

So at&t will have some iPhones in stock that aren't for preorders?

I thought all were accounted for.

 

[christyn]

I doubt you're going to have any luck in a store. My request had to be escalated for review and took a few days to be approved. I doubt the grunts at the AT&T store have the authority to modify your eligibility date (or just randomly discount your phone by $200). Send an email through your AT&T account. I ended up getting a call back early the next morning from a friendly American woman.

If you try to haggle with the AT&T salesman for 20 minutes while there are 100 people behind you in line waiting for their iPhone, you're going to tick off a lot of people.

Since they're not taking pre-orders no one is in line at the store. As my earlier post states I was doing this this week, not on launch day. And I did end up sending in an email, so we'll see.

But for the record I've had more luck getting things like this fixed in store than I've had emailing CS.

 

[cdd543]

Still don't understand this pricing and not
being able to contact AT&T by phone or
get a working AT&T applet on their upgrade
page is not helping.

Here is what happens when I try and order
a $599 16GB iPhone from Apple:

Now mind you, I bought a 3GS last June
and entered into a new 2-year contract.
I do understand that I need to finish another
12 months that are left.

But if I am buying a $599 phone why am
I being told that it comes with a 2-year
contract?

I have a preorder with Radio Shack for my
iPhone 4. They can't help me with the contract.
They just sell the phone.

I am hoping I can get in touch with AT&T
and find out why a $599 phone is being
advertised as coming with a contract.

Yeah I was going to order from Apple, but it clearly stated that all online orders even full price came with 2 year agreement. It said to visit a retail store on launch day for a full retail phone with no commitment. When I saw that I ordered mine for $599 on premier with no contract extension.