$99/$149 Iphone at Best Buy

[dave006]

Yes. Best Buy requires a two year service commitment (contract) that's the only way they get their commision from AT&T. No iPhone 3G sold in the US by Apple, AT&T, Best Buy and now Wal*mart will be sold without a two year commitment.

Dave

Does anyone know if this is right? Does buying it at Best Buy somehow, not subsidize it nor require that you connect to AT&T? Could I buy one for $99 and turn around and sell it for $400? Or could I use the new one and sell my old one for $400?

I thought no matter if you bought at AT&T, WalMart, Best Buy, or Apple that you were getting an AT&T subsidized phone??? So, according to KuKitch, I can buy this for $99 and not have it alter or affect my current AT&T plan... and when the new iPhone is released in a month or two, I can still be eligible for an upgrade price?

Doesn't seem right to me???

Please see my post as quoted again here to help clear up the confusion.

If you buy the iPhone 3G at Best Buy, you will be signing up for a new two year service commitment with AT&T valid rate plan and with the required $30 data plan.

If you are not currently upgrade eligible then you can't get the cheapest price at Best Buy. The $99 / $149 type pricing is for a new line of service or an eligible upgrade. If you don't fit those two groups then you will have to pay the higher "Early Upgrade" pricing.

Again, there is no free lunch with the iPhone. Best Buy is not special, they are just trying to compete buy using the RewardsZone. They still have to meet the rules set by AT&T and Apple and they don't get paid if they don't follow the rules.

Fine Print of Best Buy Offer:
*Valid in-store only. Must be a Reward Zone® program member on or before 2/21/09. Limit one per customer. No rainchecks. Not valid on prior purchases or refurbished iPhones. In-store activation and data plan required. Not available in all stores. Apple iPhone 3G not available for purchase at BestBuy.com. Instant savings on phone requires activation through Best Buy on new lines of service with 2-year agreement on each line. The Qualified Upgrade Price requires a new 2-year agreement for qualified existing customers. Offer does not apply to Early Upgrade.

Source; http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat168900050002&type=category

Dave

 

[Max Archer]

"Early Upgrade" pricing is BS when it comes to the iPhone, though. With most of AT&T's line, you may get something of a discount, but with the 3G, all it gives you is the mere right to buy the phone at all. $500 for a 16gb is obscene. I'd be all over the thing if AT&T would sell me, a loyal, long-time customer, an iPhone for the price they give any new subscriber, but I won't be able to get a reasonable price until almost a year from now.

I'm just a little upset over the whole thing, since on the old rules, I, as a "VIP Subscriber", could get a phone at the new subscriber price nearly whenever I wanted, while now I'm stuck waiting two years with an obsolete phone. AT&T are risking losing their "enthusiast" customers, who'd otherwise be buying the highest-end phones much more frequently than an average customer buys phones at all, subscribing to the most expensive plans, and staying with the company because they do indeed have the best phones available.

If they'd sell me the iPhone right now, for a decent price, I'd already have one, since I'm paying as much for my Windows Mobile 3G data/GPS/text/etc plan already as I would for the iPhone version.

 

[pterodactyll]

good deal to me

this was a good deal for me. i picked up the 8gb iphone for $76-ish with taxes. i'm a premier silver member and had $30 in reward zone certificates to use.

i lucked out on timing i guess.

 

[macshill]

Analyst: iPhone service plans too pricey. Duh!
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41524/146/

Just mutual greed between Apple and AT&T.

Hope the two grand was worth it, folks. Glad it's not me, actually. I don't care what I may (or may not be) missing.

 

[WardC]

Rumor has it the new iPhones will have Hi-def HD 1080p motion video cameras built-in, and the new 4G service AT&T is rolling out for the "iPhone 4G" will allow you to video conference, with anyone in the world, anywhere, in real time. You can even webcast live and stream live to a web server, so that anybody can tune into your life, and see you LIVE, from anywhere.

In keeping with the theme, the data plan for the service will only cost $4 per month with unlimited use of the multi-terabit wireless broadband for broadcasting your HD signal, from anywhere.

ehh...did I miss a couple zeros? hmm. FOUR DOLLARS A MONTH? can't be.

 

[antztouch]

Rumor has it the new iPhones will have Hi-def HD 1080p motion video cameras built-in, and the new 4G service AT&T is rolling out for the "iPhone 4G" will allow you to video conference, with anyone in the world, anywhere, in real time. You can even webcast live and stream live to a web server, so that anybody can tune into your life, and see you LIVE, from anywhere.

Nice dream!

 

[hsk]

Rumor has it the new iPhones will have Hi-def HD 1080p motion video cameras built-in, and the new 4G service AT&T is rolling out for the "iPhone 4G" will allow you to video conference, with anyone in the world, anywhere, in real time. You can even webcast live and stream live to a web server, so that anybody can tune into your life, and see you LIVE, from anywhere.

In keeping with the theme, the data plan for the service will only cost $4 per month with unlimited use of the multi-terabit wireless broadband for broadcasting your HD signal, from anywhere.

ehh...did I miss a couple zeros? hmm. FOUR DOLLARS A MONTH? can't be.

Stupid rumor - ATT has already stated that 4G (LTE) will not be out until 2011 at best. Heck, they are still building out 3G and doing a poor job of it to boot.

 

[hsk]

Analyst: iPhone service plans too pricey. Duh!
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41524/146/

Just mutual greed between Apple and AT&T.

Hope the two grand was worth it, folks. Glad it's not me, actually. I don't care what I may (or may not be) missing.

Hey man, know you are not happy that you can't afford an iPhone w/ a plan - but the reality here in the US is that all data plans cost $30/mo - couple that with voice and you are looking at ~$70-$80 MINIMUM for any carrier's PDA/BB/iPhone contract. Even with a cheaper Sprint plan (SEP w/450 minutes is $70/mo) - ~$1700 for a 2 year contract. So don't just point fingers at ATT and Apple. Yes, we ALL wish data was free or cheaper, but that is just not the case right now.

 

[KUKitch]

Does anyone know if this is right? Does buying it at Best Buy somehow, not subsidize it nor require that you connect to AT&T? Could I buy one for $99 and turn around and sell it for $400? Or could I use the new one and sell my old one for $400?

I thought no matter if you bought at AT&T, WalMart, Best Buy, or Apple that you were getting an AT&T subsidized phone??? So, according to KuKitch, I can buy this for $99 and not have it alter or affect my current AT&T plan... and when the new iPhone is released in a month or two, I can still be eligible for an upgrade price?

Doesn't seem right to me???

My meaning was that you'd buy the 3G at the upgrade price, so you'd get it cheaper at BB, then when the new one comes out you unlock your 3G and sell it. You would have to pay the non-contract price on the new phone, whatever that may be, but you would subsidize it yourself with the money you got from selling your old one. Either way you've gotta re-up for 2 years, but you've (hopefully) got that extra 2-300 bucks from selling your 3G to cut the price on the new one

 

[hsk]

My meaning was that you'd buy the 3G at the upgrade price, so you'd get it cheaper at BB, then when the new one comes out you unlock your 3G and sell it. You would have to pay the non-contract price on the new phone, whatever that may be, but you would subsidize it yourself with the money you got from selling your old one. Either way you've gotta re-up for 2 years, but you've (hopefully) got that extra 2-300 bucks from selling your 3G to cut the price on the new one

Just what I was getting ready to ask - as long as I keep the contract (once I buy one from BB), I could sell it and buy the newer one at some full retain price? I have read that people are not being allowed to buy new ones - after they lost their original - ATT would not sell them one at retail. Only sales with new plans. Did I read that wrong - or just understood incorrectly?

 

[KUKitch]

Just what I was getting ready to ask - as long as I keep the contract (once I buy one from BB), I could sell it and buy the newer one at some full retain price? I have read that people are not being allowed to buy new ones - after they lost their original - ATT would not sell them one at retail. Only sales with new plans. Did I read that wrong - or just understood incorrectly?

Wow, I hadn't seen that. That's pretty ridiculous if it's true, I don't know why they wouldn't allow people to pay them $400/$600 for a phone. I would be pretty unhappy myself if that's the case on the next one but I guess we'll see.

 

[Max Archer]

Wow, I hadn't seen that. That's pretty ridiculous if it's true, I don't know why they wouldn't allow people to pay them $400/$600 for a phone. I would be pretty unhappy myself if that's the case on the next one but I guess we'll see.

Yeah, as I mentioned up the page, it's true. You have to be eligible for an "early upgrade" to even buy one at MSRP, at least according to the AT&T people I've dealt with. I happen to be eligible myself, but I simply don't think the 3G is worth 600 bucks. If I were spending that much on a phone, it better be something either insanely cool, or imported and rare. (i.e. one of the higher-end Sonys with the awesome cameras, or a Japanese SoftBank Sharp, or whatever.)

 

[ThugZilla]

I'll be going to Best Buy tonight and get the iPhone for $30 (I'm a silver member, and I have a silver reward zone membership). Im planning to use the ATT service for a month, cancel, pay the ETF, and then sell the phone. I have a G1, so I don't really need it.

 

[hsk]

I'll be going to Best Buy tonight and get the iPhone for $30 (I'm a silver member, and I have a silver reward zone membership). Im planning to use the ATT service for a month, cancel, pay the ETF, and then sell the phone. I have a G1, so I don't really need it.

Read above, they will bill you for the difference in what you paid and the retail cost. Probably need to keep it for at least 6 months.....

 

[dave006]

Just what I was getting ready to ask - as long as I keep the contract (once I buy one from BB), I could sell it and buy the newer one at some full retain price? I have read that people are not being allowed to buy new ones - after they lost their original - ATT would not sell them one at retail. Only sales with new plans. Did I read that wrong - or just understood incorrectly?

Wow, I hadn't seen that. That's pretty ridiculous if it's true, I don't know why they wouldn't allow people to pay them $400/$600 for a phone. I would be pretty unhappy myself if that's the case on the next one but I guess we'll see.

Yeah, as I mentioned up the page, it's true. You have to be eligible for an "early upgrade" to even buy one at MSRP, at least according to the AT&T people I've dealt with. I happen to be eligible myself, but I simply don't think the 3G is worth 600 bucks. If I were spending that much on a phone, it better be something either insanely cool, or imported and rare. (i.e. one of the higher-end Sonys with the awesome cameras, or a Japanese SoftBank Sharp, or whatever.)

Folks, this is not rocket science.

Everyone can purchase the iPhone 3G. You just have to understand a few basic rules and the basic pricing.

New Customer or new line of servce or upgrade eligible = $199/$299
(Note: new two year service commitment required and a deposit may be required)

Exiting customer that is "Early Upgrade Eligible" = $399/$499
(Note: new two year service commitment required)

Existing customer that is Not "Early Upgrade Eligible", pay your outstanding bill to bring your account current and you will be able to purchase "Early Upgrade Eligible" = $399/$499 (Note: new two year service commitment required)

Dave

 

[ThugZilla]

Read above, they will bill you for the difference in what you paid and the retail cost. Probably need to keep it for at least 6 months.....

What do you mean? I signed up for a two year contract, after 30 days, I call up AT&T, cancel, pay the ETF, and the phone is mine.

 

[harry454]

i may go get one for 150 as I dont have silver membership

 

[dave006]

Read above, they will bill you for the difference in what you paid and the retail cost. Probably need to keep it for at least 6 months.....

What do you mean? I signed up for a two year contract, after 30 days, I call up AT&T, cancel, pay the ETF, and the phone is mine.

No you will not be billed the difference between what you paid and the retail cost. There is no published "Retail" for the iPhone 3G and that means there is no "No Commitment" price. Just understand that you will be paying all of the other fees and including service until the contract is terminated and you pay the ETF.

The other post is thinking about other Authorized Agents that further subsidized the phone (think Amazon, Wirefly, Letstalk) and require you to stay in contract for 181 days. Best Buy is not doing this since they can't discount the iPhone price. It is just like buying it at AT&T or Apple or now even Wal*mart.

Dave

 

[bozeefus]

No you will not be billed the difference between what you paid and the retail cost. There is no published "Retail" for the iPhone 3G and that means there is no "No Commitment" price. Just understand that you will be paying all of the other fees and including service until the contract is terminated and you pay the ETF.


Dave

Yes, as Dave has said nice and concisely.

In addition, I started a thread to list the cost of getting the iPhone after canceling service, paying the early termination fee to use the iPhone elsewhere (T-mobile)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/657146/

i would appreciate it if people could provide feedback/input on other misc. fees I didn't make note of. there's tax when u buy the iphone and all those federal/state taxes that come with your monthly phone bill

 

[KUKitch]

Folks, this is not rocket science.

Everyone can purchase the iPhone 3G. You just have to understand a few basic rules and the basic pricing.

New Customer or new line of servce or upgrade eligible = $199/$299
(Note: new two year service commitment required and a deposit may be required)

Exiting customer that is "Early Upgrade Eligible" = $399/$499
(Note: new two year service commitment required)

Existing customer that is Not "Early Upgrade Eligible", pay your outstanding bill to bring your account current and you will be able to purchase "Early Upgrade Eligible" = $399/$499 (Note: new two year service commitment required)

Dave

Huh, that's interesting to me, and not difficult to understand. I must admit I didn't know much about upgrading without being eligible as I've never been in that situation, nor have I really read much of the fine print I must admit. So you have to pay your current monthly bill before you can have the pleasure of paying full retail price, that's somewhat absurd to me but whatever. I wouldn't think they would ever bar people from paying them for a phone, but it seems like you never know with AT&T, at least that's for sure not the case I guess.

 

[-amy-]

arrgh. I am upgrade eligible on March 8, so of course this sale ends Feb 28.

 

[Rayfire]

Huh, that's interesting to me, and not difficult to understand. I must admit I didn't know much about upgrading without being eligible as I've never been in that situation, nor have I really read much of the fine print I must admit. So you have to pay your current monthly bill before you can have the pleasure of paying full retail price, that's somewhat absurd to me but whatever. I wouldn't think they would ever bar people from paying them for a phone, but it seems like you never know with AT&T, at least that's for sure not the case I guess.

I was part of those not eligible for an (early) upgrade and most likely I think they just want that your outstanding balance on your account is 0. I think that's what he meant by paying your outstanding bill. Never paid anything when I got my iPhone 3G on its first day.

 

[dave006]

Huh, that's interesting to me, and not difficult to understand. I must admit I didn't know much about upgrading without being eligible as I've never been in that situation, nor have I really read much of the fine print I must admit. So you have to pay your current monthly bill before you can have the pleasure of paying full retail price, that's somewhat absurd to me but whatever. I wouldn't think they would ever bar people from paying them for a phone, but it seems like you never know with AT&T, at least that's for sure not the case I guess.

I was part of those not eligible for an (early) upgrade and most likely I think they just want that your outstanding balance on your account is 0. I think that's what he meant by paying your outstanding bill. Never paid anything when I got my iPhone 3G on its first day.

No you don't have to pay your monthly service payment early. I hope you were joking.

The statement says: pay your outstanding bill to bring your account current. Current means just that, if your bill date is not today or earlier then it is not "due"!

There are situations where customers are behind one or more payments. If you are behind in your monthly payment or have an outstanding balance that has already passed the due date. In this case you would not be Upgrade Eligible until you pay off the balance and bring your account current.

Dave

 

[MacHound]

Does anyone know if this is right? Does buying it at Best Buy somehow, not subsidize it nor require that you connect to AT&T? Could I buy one for $99 and turn around and sell it for $400? Or could I use the new one and sell my old one for $400?

I thought no matter if you bought at AT&T, WalMart, Best Buy, or Apple that you were getting an AT&T subsidized phone??? So, according to KuKitch, I can buy this for $99 and not have it alter or affect my current AT&T plan... and when the new iPhone is released in a month or two, I can still be eligible for an upgrade price?

Doesn't seem right to me???

Yes - if you are a CURRENT iPhone user, whenever Apple comes out with another, you are ALWAYS eligible for an upgrade. Unlike with other phones, you have to wait forever to become eligible, Apple has made it so that if they release a new iPhone say, every month... you'd be eligible every month. So don't get in a pickle about whether or not you should buy one for $99 at Best Buy because you are worried about the one coming out in June --- you'll be eligible then too!

And, for what it's worth, for $15 (you can cancel ANYTIME) at Best Buy, your phone is insured for everything......EVERYTHING folks - trust me, I asked every question in the book. So if you drop it and it shatters the day the new ones are released in June, it will be replaced. Go ask the SA at Best Buy all about it. My customer service today was top notch. I am loving the 3G ... my 2G was truly a lemon......

 

[MacHound]

arrgh. I am upgrade eligible on March 8, so of course this sale ends Feb 28.

If you have an iPhone now, you are eligible