Apple Store. Very unprofessional! (Buying the iPhone w/o contract.)

[iDentist]

What's the deal with iPhone 4 no contract sale?

I called Apple Store a dozen times in past 2 months to check if they sell the iPhone without contract and if they have it in stock. Every time they told me that I can buy it, but it is out of stock. OK.

Finally the day when they had it in stock came, and I went on a 2 hour drive to the nearest Apple store.

Apple Store Westfarms
500 Westfarms MallFarmington, CT 06032(860) 521-7997

The welcome guy greets me, I explain what I want (iPhone 4 without a contract). He says no problem, $599, and stand in the line there.

While in line, another employee approached me. I explain the situation, and he says I will be next soon.

After 1h of waiting, it’s my turn. I say what I want again. He goes to the register, brings the iPhone, scans it with his device and denies me the sale!

With the bad attitude and an apology, that's all he had to say.

What is going on? What’s the deal? People are buying tit all over The States without a contract.

What do you think about this? And what do you do if you were me? Whom to complain?

 

[toss002]

What was the reason for the 'deny'? Did you ask to speak to the manager?

 

[iDentist]

"New rule." The other guys didn't even know that. He even didn't know that prior to scanning the box.

 

[jbyun04]

Call and complain. Doesn't hurt!

My friend ordered a MacBook Pro off the Apple Store and they don't display taxed prices on the order confirmation screen so when he got the bill for the order he called them and complained. They ended up knocking $150 off the bill

You might get somewhere, hopefully! Sucks that you got denied.. doesn't really make sense especially since it's advertised on their site.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...Apple said they made a new rule so you couldn't buy it without a contract at the apple store?

 

[jbyun04]

Well if you live in the USA don't you HAVE to buy an iPhone with an AT&T contract?

 

[TheConfuzed1]

Well if you live in the USA don't you HAVE to buy an iPhone with an AT&T contract?

Only if you want it at the subsidized price.

AT&T is the only official carrier though, and the only carrier period, I you want to use 3G on it.

 

[SpaceKitty]

Well if you live in the USA don't you HAVE to buy an iPhone with an AT&T contract?

So do you have a current AT&T line open to use the iPhone 4 on? They will not sell it to you without having a current line to use the phone on. If it's not an iPhone plan with a data plan already, it will be converted to one.

 

[marksman]

I don't understand this thread.

It seems like a few paragraphs or sentences or posts are missing from the OP.


What were you denied for? They do not sell phones in an Apple store without a contract?

Did a siren go off when he went to ring it? Did he place his palm outwards towards your face? Did he wag his finger like Dikembe in front of you?

 

[shotts56]

Ditto. When he said "no", did you not think to maybe then say "why?"

 

[Mr Bigs]

Hopefully this ends this !!!! You can't buy an unsubsidized iPhone anymore until Steve says so. In the beginning you could but you can't now.

 

[CalMin]

What is going on? What’s the deal? People are buying tit all over The States without a contract.

Actually, I think its only in Nevada.

 

[iDentist]

Ditto. When he said "no", did you not think to maybe then say "why?"

I asked and he started to be rude. He didn't know why and he's sorry.

You can't buy an unsubsidized iPhone anymore until Steve says so. In the beginning you could but you can't now.

Why am I being told repeatedly that it can be bought? Why are people still buying it w/o contract?

 

[Beligerent]

I work at an AT&T store and I can tell you that we wont sell an iPhone 4 to a non customer at full retail. If a current customer wants one for $599 different story. I think in our case its the international students. They come in 4 at a time, all buy iPhones at $599 then poof...right to Europe and Asia the phone goes meanwhile our actual customers have to wait cause we are out of stock now.

 

[iDentist]

In ATT store I was told tat you cannot buy it without a contract at all.

The price is high enough, so why do they care?

 

[acfusion29]

I work at an AT&T store and I can tell you that we wont sell an iPhone 4 to a non customer at full retail. If a current customer wants one for $599 different story. I think in our case its the international students. They come in 4 at a time, all buy iPhones at $599 then poof...right to Europe and Asia the phone goes meanwhile our actual customers have to wait cause we are out of stock now.

lol no.

they do that because your store gets more money if you make a customer sign a contract, or process a HUP.

it's sad, but the sales associates/store owners are greedy as ****.

 

[CalMin]

it's sad, but the sales associates/store owners are greedy as ****.

It's not greed. It's business.

 

[hollerz]

It's not greed. It's business.

They are interchangeable

 

[CW Jones]

To be honest.. They do seem pretty rude at that store (its about 5 minutes from me). They do know what they are talking about most times though.

 

[thelatinist]

OP: are you a current AT&T customer? While it is possible to purchase an iPhone 4 at the unsubsidized price (and thereby avoid renewing your contract for two years), it is my understanding that you can only do so if you are a current AT&T postpaid customer.

 

[fabian9]

I work at an AT&T store and I can tell you that we wont sell an iPhone 4 to a non customer at full retail. If a current customer wants one for $599 different story. I think in our case its the international students. They come in 4 at a time, all buy iPhones at $599 then poof...right to Europe and Asia the phone goes meanwhile our actual customers have to wait cause we are out of stock now.

damn foreigners eh?

 

[PNutts]

I don't understand this thread.

It seems like a few paragraphs or sentences or posts are missing from the OP.

Agreed. Without more information it isn't interesting.

 

[taran420]

you cant buy it w/o a contract because it is sold locked to AT&T in the states. Last year i bought a 3GS outright in canada, $699 and they asked for my number so they could activate it to rogers since its a locked phone.

Your story is missing a lot of details, i'm guessing they denied you the sale cause you dont have a AT&T account and they cant let you buy a phone w/o an account because it needs to be locked, no matter what the price is.

or you can get on in canada for the same price and it will be factory unlocked, sold to you with no questions asked

 

[iDentist]

There is nothing missing from the post.

It is locked to ATT but sold without a contract.

OP: are you a current AT&T customer? While it is possible to purchase an iPhone 4 at the unsubsidized price (and thereby avoid renewing your contract for two years), it is my understanding that you can only do so if you are a current AT&T postpaid customer.

I am not a ATT customer, but that doesn't matter. I was told repeatedly that I can but he phone w/o contract. Even in the NYC Apple store.

 

[Maccleduff]

I feel sorry for you guys in the US, here in the UK we can walk into any apple store and buy one off the shelf network unlocked to do as we please