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Starting on Monday, October 23, iPhone Upgrade Program customers will be able to get a "head start" on the iPhone X pre-order process by getting pre-approved for an iPhone Upgrade Program loan.

Apple started notifying customers about the option this morning through its website and via a notice in the Apple Store app.

iphoneupgradeprogramheadstart.jpg

Customers will need to download the Apple Store app and choose their preferred iPhone X model to get pre-approved for a loan ahead of the launch of iPhone X pre-orders. Apple says this process, which was also offered for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, will let customers "speed through checkout on 10/27."

Once approved for a loan on a device, customers can use the Apple Store app when iPhone X pre-orders kick off to complete the purchase, making the pre-order process faster for iPhone Upgrade customers as no approval will need to be completed at the time orders are placed.

Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program is designed to allow customers to upgrade to a new iPhone after at least 12 payments have been made towards an existing iPhone. The Upgrade Program, which includes AppleCare+, requires customers to trade-in their current phones to get a new phone. Customers can choose to make payments for 24 months and keep their devices, however.

iPhone Upgrade Program members are able to use a Trade-in Kit this year to return their existing devices to Apple, alleviating the need to visit an Apple Store to purchase a new device.

Apple has made marked improvements to the iPhone Upgrade Program since last year. In 2016, new customers were forced to reserve an iPhone from a local Apple retail store due to in-store trade-in requirements, which left upgrade customers with limited stock to choose from.

A smooth and quick pre-order process for iPhone Upgrade customers will be important when it comes to the iPhone X, as rumors have suggested supplies are heavily constrained. It's likely available stock will sell out quickly, so it could be difficult to get an iPhone X for the remainder of the year.

Article Link: Apple Allowing iPhone Upgrade Program Customers to Get a 'Head Start' on iPhone X Upgrade
[doublepost=1508668518][/doublepost]This phone launch will be a lackluster introduction. Too expensive and being the first generation you can guess that there will be many issues and bugs to work out.
 
If you want to pay the full wack up front and can afford it. good on you.
If you want to spread the cost over an interest free loan, good on you. Do either of these options and get a cheap sim.

My plan is to buy the phone from a third party retailer using an 8% percent discount i have and then paying around £10 per month for my sim. There is cheaper out there

You can also use Quidco in the UK to get brilliant cash back deals on sim only plans.

Both options are better that paying a carrier over £70 a month and costing yourself a fortune over the 2 years.
 
So I presume this also saves the IUP customer from a carrier check during preorders too? Effectively they become cleared without having to go through the two bottlenecks of 1) carrier approval and 2) loan/financial approval when it gets to crunchtime 10/27?

Correct.... part of the preorder process is providing your carrier information so all that is done ahead of order time. I recall having to provide the PIN for my Verizon account.
 
One CA seller on eBay has sold 19 of them for $2K each. Apple has created monsters with the "me first" gimmicks.
 
If you need a loan to get a phone, maybe you shouldn't be getting it in the first place. I know I sound like an elitist or something, but still....

I don’t “need” a loan to get the X. But zero interest is zero interest. Why wouldn’t u? It’s free money. Paying the full amount up front because u “can” is silly. And since I upgrade every year, the phone is only costing me $500. The other $500 is in my bank acct. I have no interest in paying full price for a phone that I’d have to sell next year anyway.
 
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How is this process going to work for T-Mobile customers? Will we be allowed to reserve a phone for in store pickup since it will have to be activated in store? Can someone please let me know. Thank you!

I would like to know the same. If you are a T-Mobile customer (currently eligible to upgrade)... can you fill out the paper work on 10/23 or you will need to go to the store... anyone?
 
You're right, but people will defend and try to justify their position "leasing" a phone to the death so it's a moot point to bring it up.
I don’t understand why u think people need to defend this. It’s FREE money. And if u upgrade every year, its the only way it should be done. I’m only paying $500 for the X, and Apple is allowing me to spread it out over 12 months FOR FREE. So all that money stays in MY acct collecting interest. And next year I don’t have the hassle of trying to sell my phone. I just trade it in. I think the people that post these comments saying anyone using the IUP can’t really afford the phone...either don’t understand or have bad credit.
 
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Problem is that with these Zero interest loans soon people get themselves into a situation where they cannot make repayments (multiple loans)

Best advice in my books is always use cash, you have it or you don't, it's the ultimate safety, getting into loans is a risk, you cannot predict your financial situation 3, 6 or 12 months in the future.

There is no “problem” with zero interest loans. Whether people take on too much debt is a “problem” with the individual, not the loan.
 
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How is this process going to work for T-Mobile customers? Will we be allowed to reserve a phone for in store pickup since it will have to be activated in store? Can someone please let me know. Thank you!

I would like to know the same. How is this process working for T-mobile customers: If you are currently on the Apple Upgrade programs and eligible to upgrade.... can you fill out the paper work on 10/23 or you will need to do it at the store.
 
There is no “problem” with zero interest loans. Whether people take on too much debt is a “problem” with the individual, not the loan.

Goes back to live within your means right. The fact remains is that credit debt is a major issue in society - not sure how you can actually ignore the actual "cause" that leads to the the "problem". The premise of these loans is to lure you in , trust me banks , lending societies are making huge money of this. Very bad advice to tell people to sign upto then.

Your example is very different to that of your average consumer . You are in fact using the loan for tax benefits .
 
A bit too optimistic. Will be 6-8 in a blink of an eye, and stay there through 2018 Q2. :apple:
that’s interesting.... if i wasn’t able to get it by the end of q1, I wouldn’t bother... although it would probably do wonders for my focus on the more important things in life if I just settled for buying things 6 months after they were released hahahaha. hmmmm.
 
You're right, but people will defend and try to justify their position "leasing" a phone to the death so it's a moot point to bring it up.
Financing or leasing a product is only looked down upon when you're paying interest on the loan, as you would end up paying more in the long run than if you were to just pay-in-full. This is a 0% finance, which means you pay no interest and literally has no downside. Speak to any financial professional and they'd tell you that you'd be stupid not to take advantage of this program. Always take advantage when debt is cheap, and in this case it's very cheap.
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If you need a loan to get a phone, maybe you shouldn't be getting it in the first place. I know I sound like an elitist or something, but still....
It sounds very elitist, you clearly don't understand how smartphone financing works.

I have NEVER in my life seen a person pay-in-full for a smartphone, and I live in a fairly affluent community. Even back in the day, smartphones were subsidized by your carrier and we only payed a fraction of the cost. The financing programs today are simply too good to pass up, at 0% interest there's literally no downside (provided you can actually afford the payments). Everyone from the cellphone carriers to Apple offer 0% interest, no money down financing options, and some cellphone carriers even give you discounts on your phone bill if you finance through them. It's actually less financially responsible to pay-in-full in this situation; remember, today's money is worth more than tomorrow's.

Smartphone financing has nothing to do with a NEED for the loan, but rather getting a loan is the smartest option for purchasing a smartphone (now that subsidizing smartphones through your carrier is no longer a thing). If you prefer to pay $700-$1000 up front be my guest, it's your money. But know there's a better way to purchase that iPhone.
 
I will be signing up for iUP, for the first time, on the 27th and I'm currently enrollled in AT&T's Unlimited plan.

What info will I need at the ready and how long should I expect the approval process to take (second, minutes, hours)? Is there anything else I can do, in advance, to ensure as efficient a preordering process as possible?

Wondering if even the smoothest of new iUP member preorders can expect a device before 2018...
 
I will be signing up for iUP, for the first time, on the 27th and I'm currently enrollled in AT&T's Unlimited plan.

What info will I need at the ready and how long should I expect the approval process to take (second, minutes, hours)? Is there anything else I can do, in advance, to ensure as efficient a preordering process as possible?

Wondering if even the smoothest of new iUP member preorders can expect a device before 2018...
I second this what is in the actual application.
 
Upgrade program should have perks.
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Sound logic if you have a full time job and are within means to make repayments.

Also sound logic if a person is financially responsible .

Problem is that with these Zero interest loans soon people get themselves into a situation where they cannot make repayments (multiple loans)

Best advice in my books is always use cash, you have it or you don't, it's the ultimate safety, getting into loans is a risk, you cannot predict your financial situation 3, 6 or 12 months in the future.

Look back to when you were young , zero interest loans were a very very bad idea , cause if you missed the repayments you got yourself into real trouble , with many having unethical interest rates.

All loans if you replay them as Intended are fine. The huge problem is when you don't..... the risk is too high !

Agreed that some people who take out loans for purchases end up in a hole, whether it's because their financial situation changes or because they make poor decisions to begin with. But using cash for every purchase doesn't make sense to me, either. If you can earn more by investing the funds, it pays to use the loan. With 0% interest, as in the IUP, it's an easy choice, assuming that the required AppleCare is something you'd get anyway.

As for IUP perks, I don't think that there are any, and I'm OK with that. As I understand it, the pre-approval process will just make the pre-order checkout take less time than it otherwise would, but I won't get preferential treatment.
 
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Upgrade program should have perks.
[doublepost=1508666396][/doublepost]

Sound logic if you have a full time job and are within means to make repayments.

Also sound logic if a person is financially responsible .

Problem is that with these Zero interest loans soon people get themselves into a situation where they cannot make repayments (multiple loans)

Best advice in my books is always use cash, you have it or you don't, it's the ultimate safety, getting into loans is a risk, you cannot predict your financial situation 3, 6 or 12 months in the future.

Look back to when you were young , zero interest loans were a very very bad idea , cause if you missed the repayments you got yourself into real trouble , with many having unethical interest rates.

All loans if you replay them as Intended are fine. The huge problem is when you don't..... the risk is too high !
But this comes down to the core issue, people buying things that they ultimately cannot afford. The issue is not purchasing it with a loan, at that point the issue is you literally cannot afford an iPhone. If you can afford an iPhone it makes sense to finance it. If you simply cannot afford an iPhone, that it doesn't matter your means of payment, it's still a poor decision.

the loan is fine, it's your decision making that needs to be changed.
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I will be signing up for iUP, for the first time, on the 27th and I'm currently enrollled in AT&T's Unlimited plan.

What info will I need at the ready and how long should I expect the approval process to take (second, minutes, hours)? Is there anything else I can do, in advance, to ensure as efficient a preordering process as possible?

Wondering if even the smoothest of new iUP member preorders can expect a device before 2018...
It's really unfortunate that they do not offer pre-approval for people who want to join the program for the first time. It almost encourages people who want the X on day one not to join IUP because of the extra risk that the process may take longer than normal. I, for one, would like to join IUP, but not enough to take the risk waiting weeks to get the phone. For that reason, I'm sticking with the AT&T Next plan.
 
I will be signing up for iUP, for the first time, on the 27th and I'm currently enrollled in AT&T's Unlimited plan.

What info will I need at the ready and how long should I expect the approval process to take (second, minutes, hours)? Is there anything else I can do, in advance, to ensure as efficient a preordering process as possible?

Wondering if even the smoothest of new iUP member preorders can expect a device before 2018...

When I did it last year, it had to be in store.

The only problem is you’ll be applying and then have to wait to put the order in for the phone...at which time you’ll be looking at 6-8 weeks to get the device.
 
Let's assume you signup for this program, pre-order on October 27th, and get the phone on November 3rd.

The program requirements are that you have to wait 12 months before trading up to the next iPhone.

So, this time NEXT YEAR, will people in this program be able to preorder and be one of the first to get the next iPhone?

If the pre-order date is October 26, 2018, are you screwed?
 
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Let's assume you signup for this program, pre-order on October 27th, and get the phone on November 3rd.

The program requirements are that you have to wait 12 months before trading up to the next iPhone.

So, this time NEXT YEAR, will people in this program be able to preorder and be one of the first to get the next iPhone?

If the pre-order date is October 26, 2018, are you screwed?

They don't process the first payment until about the time you get the phone. In my case with an iPhone 7 last year and iPhone 8 this year, the first payment went through my CC one week after I submitted the order.

So let's say your first payment is Nov. 2 or 3.

It is actually twelve payments and not twelve months. So you will have made your twelfth payment on Oct. 2, 2018 and could order a new phone anytime after that.

With my iPhone 7, by the time I got the 8 and sent the 7 back to Apple and they got it processed, a 13th payment had been processed, but they reversed it without me calling or anything.
 
Lots of people are quoting you, giving insight as to how idiotic they think your post is.

Just want to say yes, you are right. Whether it's a no interest loan or a whatever, if you need a loan to get this particular phone, GROW THE F UP AND STICK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE A PERFECTLY WORKING PHONE DON'T YOU?

Deepest apologies to anyone triggered by the the all caps/try-living-within-your-means comment.

I’m so confused. Majority of people you’re talking about don’t “NEED” a loan for the phone, they would just prefer to pay for it thru Apple instead of the carrier.

Whether you’re financing thru Apple or a carrier it’s still financing. Who cares?

If people want to pay monthly then so be it.
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Let's assume you signup for this program, pre-order on October 27th, and get the phone on November 3rd.

The program requirements are that you have to wait 12 months before trading up to the next iPhone.

So, this time NEXT YEAR, will people in this program be able to preorder and be one of the first to get the next iPhone?

If the pre-order date is October 26, 2018, are you screwed?

You can upgrade after 6 months. You just will be asked to pay up to 12 months. So if a phone comes out in September next year and you got the X on launch day, you’ll just be asked to make another payment or 2 to get to 12 and you can upgrade.
 
Nice. Now all those people buying to sell at a higher price point will get them even faster. :)

These are folks on payment plans that required a credit check. If they tried to get multiple devices on that plan, specially the 100 a model they need for it to make business sense, it would get rejected by the system cause 100 credit checks in a short time is a big fraud flag, especially after the whole Equifax thing
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If you need a loan to get a phone, maybe you shouldn't be getting it in the first place. I know I sound like an elitist or something, but still....

We used to do it all the time. Only the ‘loan’ was via the cell service carriers
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I don’t get why anyone has anything bad to say about these plans outside of the fact you don’t get discounts anymore for contracts.

But you never got discounts for being on contract. You had less you had to pay out of pocket at the start but that’s it. You paid the rest a little each month. The carriers even admitted it, using it to justify restricting when you could upgrade etc, and then they didn’t give you a discount if you went over 24 months so if anything you you spent more
 
What a sh!it show this thread is. Why can't people just keep to themselves. I want one, I can afford it, I don't need to finance it, but I certainly will take free money when it is offered. This thinking is probably one of the reasons why I have the finances to support my Apple new toy habit. It may suck balls, oh well. Jeesh.

Now, I just want to know, has anyone got this email or Apple Store notification about pre-work tomorrow? I am personally pumped for the X. Why? I'm bored with the 6/7/8.
 
There was also an extra month this year due to the late release so we all really paid 13 months, not 12.
this is why i upgraded to the 8 and not the X this time, the extra month (or months waiting for them to catch up with demand) The financing doesn't make sense if you keep it over the 12 months you have to. Ill upgrade hopefully to the Xs or whatever next septembers version will be.
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What a sh!it show this thread is. Why can't people just keep to themselves. I want one, I can afford it, I don't need to finance it, but I certainly will take free money when it is offered. This thinking is probably one of the reasons why I have the finances to support my Apple new toy habit. It may suck balls, oh well. Jeesh.

Now, I just want to know, has anyone got this email or Apple Store notification about pre-work tomorrow? I am personally pumped for the X. Why? I'm bored with the 6/7/8.
No its not that thinking that can afford you one its the late 2011 MacBook pro that you are still rocking that does that!
 
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