They don't seem very competitive. Maybe if you have a ton of money and don't need any credit. The high end cards have always been nice.
But for anyone opening a credit card today as their first card, they all seem extremely predatory.
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Apple Card Monthly Financing No Longer Available for SIM-Free iPhones
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They don't seem very competitive. Maybe if you have a ton of money and don't need any credit. The high end cards have always been nice.
But for anyone opening a credit card today as their first card, they all seem extremely predatory.
Does Apple realize how this is bad timing? With the price increase on the iPhone 15 expected, don't expect a lot of users to immediately jump on upgrading.
This is my point. And people reply, well in Spain this or that happened and it was great. I said developing countries, and I get Spain as a result. People who don’t travel like and actually see the world aren’t going to realize or matter. But it sure does when you travel to developing countries.
I live part time in Thailand, and I got my eSIM there by going into a mall and having it “installed” by an actual person who knew less than me about it. That was less than a year ago. Luckily, I am able to transfer the eSIM from True in Thailand pretty easily from one iPhone to another.
In Malaysia, I went to four carriers and finally gave up. That was right after I bought the 14 PM so we are talking eleven months ago. I have since just learned to use an Android when traveling to the developing world. And I really love the way the Nothing Phone 1 feels and the way it looks without a big notch or “dynamic island.”
Being stuck in this ecosystem isn’t going to be worth it much longer… sad to say but true. As we keep getting screwed over by Apple, carriers, and financing, it just makes it simpler to grab back our freedom and leave the ecosystem. I love Apple, but since Steve passed, Tim has robbed every penny he can maximizing shareholder value now at the expense of the future. I truly believe that if Vision Pro isn’t the future, Apple will be done within 25 years. All that was built is being ruined by business decisions that make Timmy and the executives all wealthier and wealthier.
There’s a fine line between love and hate, and I think a lot of people will cross that line with Apple. All thanks to Tim’s terrible decisions to sell the future away to maximize his $100m in stock grants vesting annually.
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That rumor has been circulating for some time, but both Apple and AmEx have denied it...
I’m aware it was mentioned here on this site but you stated,“Apparently they are also changing to American Express”implying that this was already decided which it wasn’t, it was merely speculation.
Apple really shifting it's focus to the top 1%, huh? Makes those inclusive ads seem rather disingenuous.
They do not care about poor people, that much is obvious. Isn't there supposed to be a large faction of people who stand up against greedy corporationsike Apple? Even the ones that make that telephone you really like? Hmm.
They do not care about poor people, that much is obvious. Isn't there supposed to be a large faction of people who stand up against greedy corporationsike Apple? Even the ones that make that telephone you really like? Hmm.
I spoke to an Apple support rep. If you connect it to T-Mobile or Verizon, it will still be unlocked. You could theoretically just connect to a friend’s account and then pull it off with no repercussions. The Apple rep said it should work and that I shouldn’t haven’t any issues going down that route.
Makes no sense that the Macs are going to 12 months and only the iPhones are staying on the 24 months. Macs can literally be 10x more than an iPhone. I Imagine since the iPhone is their cash cow, they want it to be as accessible as possible. The carriers have already started nickel and diming on the financing front. It used to be I could upgrade every 12 months or finance the phone for the full 24 months. Now, if I want to upgrade every 12 months, I have to pay an additional $5 a month. Otherwise, the new standard is 30 month financing with no option to upgrade early outside of paying off the phone in full.
Tim Cook has an MBA degree (which, by the way, probably explains why he is so mediocre, but I digress). Most MBA students think the pinnacle of success is getting a job in management consulting or investment banking. Therefore, the two firms most worshipped by MBA students are McKinsey and Goldman Sachs. Since Cook has an MBA degree, it's no surprise that he is happy to jump in bed with Goldman Sachs by offering them more profits by denying low-income customers 0% interest monthly financing on SIM-free iPhones.
Considering billionaires become billionaires by using other peoples money…..seems like you aren’t thinking the right way about money. At least if he loses his job the worst thing he has is a non-payment strike on his credit for a few years. You should never tie up cash when the price to borrow money is $0. Just because you are afraid of debt doesn’t mean that’s the correct strategy. Money in the bank in hard times is the winner, not blowing it on a phone when the loan costs nothing. Heck….if he defaults chances are he’ll settle the debt for less anyway. They’ll want him back in the credit game asap!
I will not upgrade this year.
Apple today updated its U.S. Apple Card Monthly Installment plan to require those who use the feature to purchase an iPhone that is linked to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. With this change, the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan can no longer be used to purchase a SIM-free iPhone.
All iPhones purchased through the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan are unlocked so carrier switching is available at any point, but at purchase, customers will need to have a plan with a supported carrier. Buying a SIM-free iPhone and linking it to a carrier like Mint Mobile will no longer be possible using installments.
Apple announced these changes in an updated support document back in June, and the monthly installment plan has officially been updated. Prior to now, Apple Card installments could be used to purchase an iPhone online with the option to connect to a carrier at a later date, which allowed customers to buy an iPhone and then link it to any carrier of their choosing.
Apple already required customers using Apple Card installments to choose one of the main three carriers when in stores, and now the online policy matches the in-store policy.
With the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan, Apple Card holders can pay for their devices over a 24-month period with 0% APR and 3% Daily Cash back on payments.
Apple today is also changing the monthly installment term for the Apple Watch, and customers will be required to pay off the device over 12 months instead of 24 months. Apple now uses a 12-month term for Apple Watch, Macs, displays, and iPads, with the 24-month term limited to the iPhone.
Article Link: Apple Card Monthly Financing No Longer Available for SIM-Free iPhones
The Apple Faithful will always pay any price Apple sets and put up with any malfeasance Apple engages in no matter how badly they're gouged or how horribly treated they are.
This has been going on for nearly 50 years
I’ve been wondering about this, but I’ve always purchased unlocked so I’m fuzzy on the details. Right now I can nearly purchase an iPhone purchase with ACMI on T-mobile, without any account login and it says “T-mobile Terms: No Commitment”. Do you have to connect an account at some later point and presumably add a new line/transfer a number? Or is it merely a setup suggestion when you get the iPhone?
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Apple today updated its U.S. Apple Card Monthly Installment plan to require those who use the feature to purchase an iPhone that is linked to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. With this change, the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan can no longer be used to purchase a SIM-free iPhone.
All iPhones purchased through the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan are unlocked so carrier switching is available at any point, but at purchase, customers will need to have a plan with a supported carrier. Buying a SIM-free iPhone and linking it to a carrier like Mint Mobile will no longer be possible using installments.
Apple announced these changes in an updated support document back in June, and the monthly installment plan has officially been updated. Prior to now, Apple Card installments could be used to purchase an iPhone online with the option to connect to a carrier at a later date, which allowed customers to buy an iPhone and then link it to any carrier of their choosing.
Apple already required customers using Apple Card installments to choose one of the main three carriers when in stores, and now the online policy matches the in-store policy.
With the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan, Apple Card holders can pay for their devices over a 24-month period with 0% APR and 3% Daily Cash back on payments.
Apple today is also changing the monthly installment term for the Apple Watch, and customers will be required to pay off the device over 12 months instead of 24 months. Apple now uses a 12-month term for Apple Watch, Macs, displays, and iPads, with the 24-month term limited to the iPhone.
Article Link: Apple Card Monthly Financing No Longer Available for SIM-Free iPhones
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/15/apple-card-financing-no-sim-free-iphones/
Apple today updated its U.S. Apple Card Monthly Installment plan to require those who use the feature to purchase an iPhone that is linked to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. With this change, the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan can no longer be used to purchase a SIM-free iPhone.
All iPhones purchased through the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan are unlocked so carrier switching is available at any point, but at purchase, customers will need to have a plan with a supported carrier. Buying a SIM-free iPhone and linking it to a carrier like Mint Mobile will no longer be possible using installments.
Apple announced these changes in an updated support document back in June, and the monthly installment plan has officially been updated. Prior to now, Apple Card installments could be used to purchase an iPhone online with the option to connect to a carrier at a later date, which allowed customers to buy an iPhone and then link it to any carrier of their choosing.
Apple already required customers using Apple Card installments to choose one of the main three carriers when in stores, and now the online policy matches the in-store policy.
With the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan, Apple Card holders can pay for their devices over a 24-month period with 0% APR and 3% Daily Cash back on payments.
Apple today is also changing the monthly installment term for the Apple Watch, and customers will be required to pay off the device over 12 months instead of 24 months. Apple now uses a 12-month term for Apple Watch, Macs, displays, and iPads, with the 24-month term limited to the iPhone.
Article Link: Apple Card Monthly Financing No Longer Available for SIM-Free i
This day was coming anyways. Glad that i dodged the bullet by being not approved for the card.
Goldman is an old gal trying to play new games and tried to wear fancy pants: moving from their cash cow investing to retail consumer credit cards? C'mon. Apple used GS people's ego to make a new department but it ended up GS not being able to pull the credit card game like others do.
They went away and money with them as well. Apple chasing the greed now back on tracks to the roots, where first iphones were shipped with only big carriers.
Goldman is an old gal trying to play new games and tried to wear fancy pants: moving from their cash cow investing to retail consumer credit cards? C'mon. Apple used GS people's ego to make a new department but it ended up GS not being able to pull the credit card game like others do.
They went away and money with them as well. Apple chasing the greed now back on tracks to the roots, where first iphones were shipped with only big carriers.
Apple used "free someone's money" which was Goldman Sachs bank wanting to expand their business. Now they backed, apple has to pay for all those 0% financing or basically make and sell product you now and get paid later. While with GS, they got paid immediately.
I think the solution for many in the future will likely picking up a cheap Android which you can use as a mobile hotspot for your iPhone
Very disappointed with this. It was the main reason to get the Apple Card and take advantage of the offers.
I absolutely despise having any hardware tied to a carrier in anyway outside of them providing service to it.
I absolutely despise having any hardware tied to a carrier in anyway outside of them providing service to it.
True reason: Inflation, high interest rates, that $33 first payment is worth less at the end of the 24 months.
0% interest will all soon go the way of the Dodo bird.
I think all the network providers excluded from the ACMI list (Apple Card Monthly Installment) might have an anti competitive claim against Apple because whereas all network providers were allowed and the customer chose which network provider they wanted, now Apple is saying only 3 network providers are allowed to be used for ACMI (up to 24 months for iphones) but have to pay in full if wanting to use any network provider not on the ACMI list. This now means that all the other network providers are at a serious disadvantage because they no longer appear favorable, pay 12/24 months for one of the approved network providers or pay full price for not approved ones.
Yeah, it is, but what are you gonna do? But I see what Apple is doing. As others have said, they cracking down on foreigners buying phones here then reselling abroad. For me, it won't be a big deal if all I have to do is enter my phone number. Heck, I keep for my iPhones days for over half a decade (iPhone X). When I upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, Apple won't get access to my wallet until the end of the decade.