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Apple iPhone Upgrade Program Bait and Switch Scam - BEWARE

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pokermanlv

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 10, 2015
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Got an email reservation after a few days of trying for an iPhone 6s Plus 64Gb Sim Free, went to the Apple store on time at Town Square, Las Vegas to pick up the phone and they wouldn't sell it under the upgrade plan. Told me Sim-free phones didn't qualify for the upgrade plan. Showed them my reservation receipt that clearly states "iphone 6s plus, sim free, $40.75/month". They said sorry can't help you, Apple made a mistake and they can't do anything. I told them this is bait and switch. Only reason I came down here was to pick up the phone and I want what it says here.

Ended up paying FULL price for the 6s plus and then also bought a verizon 6s on the upgrade plan because I was sure they would just say I just didn't qualify for upgrade plan. Senior store manager Tony told me I need to complain to Apple Care. I did complain to Apple care and after hours of back and forth and going to 2 different managers, the net result was they said go back to the Apple store and work it out. WTF?

Already took the Senior Manager's card (Tony) and he was the one that refused to sell it on the upgrade plan. Told him this was clearly illegal bait and switch getting customers in the door then giving them something else (conveniently 6s is ok on upgrade plan) or charging more (yes we will sell it to you full price no problem) but won't honor written reservation.

Went home and put the 6s sim into the 6s plus and it worked fine. I'm going to keep both phones for the 2 weeks while I keep trying to get Apple to do what is right and just honor the deal I got in writing.

Anyone else get screwed? Class action lawsuit?
 
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Not really a bait and switch. Doesn't the upgrade program have to be tied to a carrier? Isn't the Sim free iPhone untied to any carrier? So how is this supposed to work?
 
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All I wanted was the phone they promised me in the reservation on the upgrade plan. Manager at the apple store said this was Apple's bug in the software as there was no way to put the sim-free phone on the upgrade plan. I told them it's ok just give me a Verizon phone and they said this was the last one and they couldn't do anything.

Bait and switch is when they tell you something to get you in the store and then switch out the deal.

I read elsewhere the store managers just got a Verizon sim and put it in the phone and you were done. This store manager Tony at the Town Square Las Vegas clearly was not trained on what to do and lied to me.

All I want is the phone on the upgrade plan so I asked apple support if they could just hold a verizon phone for me and I just swap these back and they said I had to make the reservation AGAIN online and try to work it out with the store.

Bait and switch all day long.
 
pokermanlv said:
All I wanted was the phone they promised me in the reservation on the upgrade plan. Manager at the apple store said this was Apple's bug in the software as there was no way to put the sim-free phone on the upgrade plan. I told them it's ok just give me a Verizon phone and they said this was the last one and they couldn't do anything.

Bait and switch is when they tell you something to get you in the store and then switch out the deal.

I read elsewhere the store managers just got a Verizon sim and put it in the phone and you were done. This store manager Tony at the Town Square Las Vegas clearly was not trained on what to do and lied to me.

All I want is the phone on the upgrade plan so I asked apple support if they could just hold a verizon phone for me and I just swap these back and they said I had to make the reservation AGAIN online and try to work it out with the store.

Bait and switch all day long.
Click to expand...

They didn't stop you from buying the phone you wanted. This has nothing to do with the upgrade program. Here is what it says when you make a reservation. "The iPhone Upgrade Program is available in store. Talk to a Specialist to learn more."

So you go in store. You say tell me more...they say available only on carrier phones just like they advertised. You says..seems misleading on the website. They say..sorry..it wasn't meant to be... But the website only says "learn more" not your situation.

And then you say... Ohh makes sense... Move along. Have a nice day...

If your credit was denied ... Would you also call that bait and switch?
 
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They can put a Verizon SIM, but that doesn't make it a Verizon phone. It's still SIM free and therefore unable to be part of the iPhone Upgrade program. Also, you paid for the phone in full price already, so you want to pay another X amount per month to get a new phone next year? Sounds like more money for you. May as well return it and upgrade from through a carrier
 

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BTW this is all through this link: http://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program

If you aren't going to let people get the sim-free version:
1) don't put it on the iphone upgrade program link
2) don't send an email saying to come in the store and it will be ready to go on the upgrade program
3) do train your apple store "Senior Manager" properly so that you don't lie to your customers and screw them over
 
I really think you're one of those who are lawsuit trigger-happy type.

I guess this is how you plan to fund your retirement?

Poker gaming in Las Vegas isn't going too well for you?

I paid full price for mine on launch day. I just visited an Apple Store and ask them if they could unlock it for me so when I do travel, I can switch SIM. They told me it should function like unlock, there's no need to do anything. It was the T-Mobile SIM iPhone 6s, but they all should be unlocked already if you bought it at full price. This was said by two separate Apple Store employees. I would assume it's correct. I'll verify that soon.
 
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Wow, you filed a ftc complaint about this? I'm not sure what your issue is, you bought two phones, the verizon phone on the upgrade program, which is unlocked, same as the one you wanted.
 
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Unlocked is one thing but sim free phone gives you band 30 which gives you full speed on ATT: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2492848,00.asp

Guy at Apple also told me all full priced carrier phones are locked to the carrier and the only unlocked ones are the ones on the upgrade plan and the full price sim free ones.

Anyway, I'm doing plenty fine financially. I walked out with two phones, the full price phone and put the other one on the upgrade contract just to make a point when the FTC asks me for evidence. Some of you have plenty of time to sell used phones when you upgrade - not me. I'm done with the phone when I upgrade and might as well just throw my old one in the trash hence why I want the upgrade plan. No hassle like leasing a car, just bring it back and get another one. Again the bait part is promising something they clearly could not deliver to get me in the door.

Anyway they have laws and you can't just lie to people and do bait and switch. It's illegal for a reason so if you are a victim file the FTC complaint and hopefully they get enough of them to fix their act.

Wallabe said:
I really think you're one of those who are lawsuit trigger-happy type.

I guess this is how you plan to fund your retirement?

Poker gaming in Las Vegas isn't going too well for you?

I paid full price for mine on launch day. I just visited Apple Store and ask them if they could unlock it for me so when I do travel, I can switch SIM. They told me it should function like unlock, there's no need to do anything. It was the T-Mobile SIM iPhone 6s, but they all should be unlocked already if you bought it at full price. This was said by two separate Apple Store employees. I would assume it's correct. I'll verify that soon.
Click to expand...
 
Big problem OP is you didnt actually read the Apple Upgrade webpage for the terms clearly.

http://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program

  1. The iPhone Upgrade Program is available to qualified customers only with a valid U.S. personal credit card. Requires a 24-month installment loan with a 0% Annual Percentage Rate from Citizens Bank, N.A. (subject to any interest, fees, or other costs payable to the issuer of the credit card), purchase of AppleCare+, and iPhone activation with a national carrier — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon. Full terms apply.
 
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Honestly I'm not sure the upgrade plan makes any sense in the first place. You'll almost certainly be able to save more by selling your phone privately after a year. Perhaps a bit more hassle, but there really is no downside to paying "Full Price."
 
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