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Special class they take in treating customers like crap.

Must have detected your Apple Bad Karma stamp when you came through the door. ;)
 
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jbyun04 said:
Well if you live in the USA don't you HAVE to buy an iPhone with an AT&T contract?

No, you do not. I live in the US, and was able to purchase my 32GB iPhone 4 from my local AT&T store without a contract.

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PBF said:
Just wait till it goes to T-mobile on 19th November 2010 and to Verizon on 28th January 2011.

Didn't you set your alarm clock this morning? Because it appears to me that you are still dreaming here. ;)
 
^^^ Learn how to multi-quote.



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.

I think that it does matter. I think that you have to be a current AT&T customer in order to buy an unsubsidized iPhone.

Are you sure they didn't tell you that and you are (selectively) forgetting that detail?
 
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iDentist said:
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.

Oh but it does matter. You do need to be a customer of AT&T before they would sell you an iPhone 4 at the full retail price.
 
What's the deal with iPhone 4 no contract sale?
What is going on? What’s the deal? People are buying tit all over The States without a contract.

I didn't know you could buy tit with a contract.

I guess you learn something everyday...
 
There is nothing missing from the post.

It is locked to ATT but sold without a contract.



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.

It sounds like you were told correctly--you can by a phone without extending/renewing a contract, but you can't buy it if you're not an AT&T customer at all.

That's my Apple store as well, now that I've moved to CT.
 
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.

But you were told wrong. It very much does matter whether you are an AT&T customer. You must be an AT&T customer in order to purchase an iPhone 4, even unsubsidized. The unsubsidized price is for AT&T customers who wish to purchase an iPhone but do not wish to extend their contract; it is not for those wishing to buy an iPhone for use on another carrier. It is unfair, but it is a fact.

I would like to add that if your attitude in the store was anything like your attitude in this thread, it is no wonder you received a cold response from the Apple store employee you talked to. That does not excuse rudeness, but it certainly goes a long way toward explaining it.
 
1- Did you know you have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for a California driver's license?


2- The employee told the OP he didn't know why he couldn't sell him the iPhone, probably because, well, he didn't.
He also apologized.

How was that being rude?
 
I had no problems buying a iPhone 4 at an Apple Store without contract. And I'm not an AT&T customer. I bought it no questions asked. Unless they changed their policy, I don't see a reason why they wouldn't.
 
^^^ Learn how to multi-quote.





I think that it does matter. I think that you have to be a current AT&T customer in order to buy an unsubsidized iPhone.

Are you sure they didn't tell you that and you are (selectively) forgetting that detail?

+3. Clearly he is selectively leaving that out. I could have sworn I read multiple places over the last few weeks that you can no longer buy an iP4 in the US if you aren't an AT&T customer.
 
You should be able to buy it without a contract nor have to have ATT service. Say, it's a gift.

From the US iphone Buy Now page in the fine print:

For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).
 
You should be able to buy it without a contract nor have to have ATT service. Say, it's a gift.

From the US iphone Buy Now page in the fine print:

For those who are not eligible for an early upgrade or who wish to buy iPhone as a gift, the prices are $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).

Good angle to try but they will probably ask you for the person you are buying it for's AT&T phone/account number.
 
Good angle to try but they will probably ask you for the person you are buying it for's AT&T phone/account number.

I purchased a no-committment 3GS as a gift and needed both the person’s AT&T phone number and the account holder’s SS number (last 4 digits).
 
I purchased a no-committment 3GS as a gift and needed both the person’s AT&T phone number and the account holder’s SS number (last 4 digits).

yeah, they have to do it this way, since they have a contract w/ AT&T on selling phones in the US only for people w/ AT&T (even no commitment price). If they don't do this you would see people buying them in quantities to sell to another country these AT&T specifically approved iPhones which would mean that :apple: was clearly breaking the AT&T contract. The phone # and SSN are used for control only so that AT&T can't complain, I don't think that you would need to use the same account once you buy it, it's just to keep taps of quantities and who's buying them for control of sales...
 
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.

Perhaps, but only on a very small scale given that they are carrier locked and need to be jailbroken to be unlocked. In Singapore and Hong Kong, the phones are unlocked to begin with. Also in UK, Belgium and France. So why anyone would be buying carrier locked phones in the US to sell abroad in these regions when it is just not worth it.

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 :p

Clearly, you don't live in London! :D
 
The original poster should have simply purchased a contract and walked out of the store. The next day call AT&T, cancel the contract and keep the phone. No early termination fees because it is an unsubsidized phone.

The store loses their commission because the contract is canceled. The buyer loses $36 they paid for the original activation and a prorated amount for any minutes used while the phone was activated.

A smart Apple store manager will not play games like this as it is a waste of time. They will simply sell the phone at full price and move on.
 
I would like to add that if your attitude in the store was anything like your attitude in this thread, it is no wonder you received a cold response from the Apple store employee you talked to. That does not excuse rudeness, but it certainly goes a long way toward explaining it.

From the lips of angels.... :)

Guessing he is one of those at the Danberry Fair Mall that I ran in to many years ago.... :(
 
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