Apple Allowing iPhone Upgrade Program Customers to Get a 'Head Start' on iPhone X Upgrade

[rjjacobson]

I'm looking to upgrade my iPhone 6 to an iPhone X and wish to do so via iUP.

Anyone know if this pre-approval option is only for existing iUP members or would this also extend to new members like myself?

Cheers.

For existing iUP members only who have paid at least 12 months of the 24 months in the installment plan. I think if you are off by month or so they also give option to pay the difference at that point. Mine is already at 13 months so I am good to go waiting for Monday the 23rd to setup my pre approval stuff.

 

[Ckenng]

0% interest in Apple installment is deceiving. You are force to pay $199 Apple care+ which you don’t need, as Apple already have one year warrant and most credit cards give you one year warranty extension. So the $199 actually is “interest” payment and nearly 20%, higher than most credit card interest.

 

[rjjacobson]

I’m an optimistic kind of guy, I think most who order within the first hour will see a phone in 2017... definitely not November 3rd, but if you order at 3:13AM instead of 3:01AM, it might be 3 or 4 weeks... and so what?

Yep that is not a problem would be nice to get it November 3 but sure is acceptable if it takes that long.

 

[mmm1345]

Depends if you want to have Apple care

You'd be a fool to have a $900+ phone and not have protection with it.

 

[Hoyboy]

You'd be a fool to have a $900+ phone and not have protection with it.

A case has been perfectly adequate for me over the last 7 years worth of iPhones. Each to their own though.

 

[lazyrighteye]

For existing iUP members only who have paid at least 12 months of the 24 months in the installment plan. I think if you are off by month or so they also give option to pay the difference at that point. Mine is already at 13 months so I am good to go waiting for Monday the 23rd to setup my pre approval stuff.

Ah thanks. I missed that piece of the puzzle.

About how much time does the iUP approval process require (are we talking a handful of seconds, minutes, hours) and does that experience remain within the AppleStore app environment?

 

[dancefreak]

0% interest in Apple installment is deceiving. You are force to pay $199 Apple care+ which you don’t need, as Apple already have one year warrant and most credit cards give you one year warranty extension. So the $199 actually is “interest” payment and nearly 20%, higher than most credit card interest.

You’re only paying $100 of the AppleCare if you trade in the phone after 12 months. It’s baked into the monthly cost. AC is insurance for drops more than anything else. That warranty doesn’t help with a cracked screen.

 

[Mr D]

Carriers add a premium on 24 month contracts compared to paying outright and getting a sim only deal. That’s how it is in the U.K. anyway

Unfortunate. Not how it works in USA.

 

[StarShot]

Nice. Now all those people buying to sell at a higher price point will get them even faster.

IF you get a loan or get a no interest contract, I assume the phone would be locked until the loan/contract is paid off. Might put a damper on selling it immediately for a small profit. NOT a way to build wealth.

 

[mikefla]

Wondering if anybody can answer this question. I use crappy 'ol Tmo for personal use and have a Verizon work phone. I plan to purchase iPhone X at full cost (no upgrade) from Apple directly. But I want to purchase the Verizon version since it comes with the Qualcomm modem which I believe in general will work better with Tmo's crappy network and also make the phone more valuable when the time comes to get rid of it a year later. First question is I'm assuming the Verizon phone will be unlocked and I can just throw in my existing iphone 7 plus SIM (assuming it uses the same type of SIM), is that the case? And as far as placing the order I'm assuming the apple won't ask for much info besides maybe the verizon cell number since I'm purchasing it at full cost and not upgrading. Anybody that has done a similar purchase in the past foresee any issues? Thanks.

-Mike

 

[StarShot]

Nice. Now all those people buying to sell at a higher price point will get them even faster.

IF you get a loan or get a no interest contract, I assume the phone would be locked until the loan/contract is paid off. Might put a damper on selling it immediately for a small profit. NOT a way to build wealth.

 

[bopajuice]

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....

and... they are making it easier...

Does not sound elitist at all. I have busted my ass to have good credit, pay off my debt, and live within my means. For me, spending a grand plus on a phone is being irresponsible with your money. If your phone costs more that you make in a week I’d think twice. Think about it. A quarter to a third of your monthly salary to buy a phone! Gee... do I pay my rent or mortgage or do I buy a phone?

You know why rich people have money? They don’t spend it.

 

[Mizouse]

"In 2016, new customers were forced to reserve an iPhone from a local Apple retail store"

Not true on new IUP customers having to goto an Apple Store to reserve one in 2016.

I was a new IUP customer in 2016 for the iPhone 7 Plus. Everything was done online and the phone was shipped to my house. I ordered mine on the day the phone became available too.

 

[viachicago22]

Can someone explain to me the math? For the 64gb X monthly payments are $49.91 so 12 payments equal $598.92. So you have to pay $98.92 more than half the cost of the phone? Is that for AppleCare or what?

 

[bopajuice]

Interesting to read about ways people are scheming in order to get an expensive phone. Is this part of the evolution of the smartphone? Figuring out ways to pay for it?

 

[otozuz]

Do you think if that it will be possible to sign up for the Upgrade Program in advance too?

I don't have it but I want to start.

 

[michael31986]

"In 2016, new customers were forced to reserve an iPhone from a local Apple retail store"

Not true on new IUP customers having to goto an Apple Store to reserve one in 2016.

I was a new IUP customer in 2016 for the iPhone 7 Plus. Everything was done online and the phone was shipped to my house. I ordered mine on the day the phone became available too.

Was your shipment date locked in while you waited for approval? Did you order at midnight?

 

[macfacts]

It’s a 0% finance, so even if you can afford to buy immediately, you’d be better off getting the finance and putting the $1000 in an interest earning bank account.

I don't like being up sold, no need for extended warranty. With cash, you aren't forced with the extended warranty.

 

[pcorrado]

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. Same thing as people who lease cars.. they can't afford to buy it.

It’s not a lease - these words have legal meaning and important differences.

A lease transfers no ownership interest merely the possibly interest in property for some payment. In the case of an apartment for occupying a space you pay the owner of the property a fee that covers the overhead and usually includes a profit. For a car you pay the value of the depreciation (plus some sort of interest/fee) of the term you are contracted to use the car. You can also surrender a lease in some cases but merely turning over the property and owe no money. The reason why car leases are so affordable is because they are based on depreciation over a time period which is far less than price over a equivalent time. In some cases leases do make sense - I personally like to own a car.

These are unsecured loans - you are obtaining credit from an institution to purchase a product. You own the phone - neither Apple nor citizens (or Verizon, etc.) have any interest in the phone. Their only legal recourse is go after personal assets (no repossession so it’s not even like car or house loan). The loan is a contracts with a special option to “upgrade” - basically Apple is assigning a value to your phone (assuming it’s in certain condition) that they will guarantee as a trade in so you can buy (own) a new model in exchange for Apple paying off the balance of the loan. Note, the financing company does nothing with your phone. Apple essentially acts as sort of a surety in this scenario.

But to your point - yes people take advantage of financing to purchase things they can’t afford. It’s really not always negative thing - leveraging debt can be a smart strategy to live a more comfortable life without draining liquid assets. The problem comes in with people allowing it to over extend their financial capabilities (a little here and there can add up) - but that’s not my problem.

For me personally - I like the program for one reason: I don’t have to deal with selling a phone I plan on upgrading every year. That and in the case of the x. It’s pricy - I can afford it but why outlay the cash in something that guarantees no return when I can get in a program that does guarantee a return.
[doublepost=1508549362][/doublepost]

I've seen this posted by various tech sites and it is HIGHLY misleading. They are not "giving iphone upgrade members a head start/advantage". Not that MR worded it that way but I've seen it worded INCREDIBLY deceptively and misleading.

The IUP requires a credit check unlike carrier installments since the carrier already has your financial info; there is no additional credit check. This is giving the IUP people a chance to get the eligibility and credit check done early others dont have; then on equal footing hitting checkout and paying tax etc at 12:01.

There is no special treatment for IUP people. Some tech sites have dangerously implied IUP people are getting an advantage with this causing a frenzy.

I think it also helps take loads off the server. Which is crucial. It was store pick up last year probably for the same reason

 

[scrapesleon]

loan ??? haha broke people really don't know when something just not for them

 

[dfnj123]

Yes. It is a fixed loan via Citizen's as well but no early upgrade option. Go to apple's website and it will show you the options.

I realize the option for a Citizen's One loan is possible without AppleCare. I did so for the an iPhone last year.

What I'm wondering is if it's also possible to be pre-approved for an iPhone X purchase through a Citizen's One loan without AppleCare before the preorder date, as this thread is implying will be possible for iPhone Upgrade Program customers.

If it is not possible I guess it's not the end of the world. I understand why Apple would want to prioritize people on the iPUP given the higher loans. Guess I'll just need to prepare for racing through the pre-order process as soon as it opens up.

 

[sfwalter]

They'd better address the real issue here namely the shortages at release date. With this move they just made all types of customers equally unhappy about the ridiculous stampede on the launch day.

If the latest rumors of only 2-3 million units why on earth are they launching in 55 countries? Just think that 2-3 million needs to split up by carrier, color, and memory size.

 

[mmm1345]

A case has been perfectly adequate for me over the last 7 years worth of iPhones. Each to their own though.

I have a case and had two simple accidents where the phone basically fell out of my car and hit the concrete - not exactly big drops and shattered the phone. I had insurance through my phone company and they just gave me whatever the latest phone was at the time and really until those two incidents I NEVER dropped my phone but I was glad I had insurance. I actually didn't want the latest phone, I loved my 4S and I specifically didn't want a 5s because I didn't want to have to upgrade all my accessories to lightening and then I dropped the 5s a few years later and got stuck with the 6s when I preferred the 5s. However if I didn't have the insurance I would have had to pay full price for both phones. So don't be stupid, get insurance.

 

[Joe h]

Don’t do it!

 

[dfnj123]

loan ??? haha broke people really don't know when something just not for them

Zero interest loans are a no brainer. Why would I want to pay $1000+ upfront when I can pay the same amount over an extended period of time instead. I'm already going to have the phone for year or two, so it just seems to make sense.

If there were interest fees I'd feel completely different.