Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Store vs AT&T Store for iPhone purchase ?

S

Sounds Good

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
1,692
57
Hi guys,

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to buying an iPhone from an AT&T Store vs buying from an Apple Store?

Likewise, are there any advantages or disadvantages to buying an iPhone from an Apple Store vs buying from an AT&T Store?

Thanks!
 
Sounds Good said:
Hi guys,

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to buying an iPhone from an AT&T Store vs buying from an Apple Store?

Likewise, are there any advantages or disadvantages to buying an iPhone from an Apple Store vs buying from an AT&T Store?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

no
 
Same product, same price, same warranty. If you're going to port a number over from another carrier go to the AT&T store, Apple store sometimes doesn't get the process right (or so I've been told)

SLC
 
SLC Flyfishing said:
If you're going to port a number over from another carrier go to the AT&T store, Apple store sometimes doesn't get the process right (or so I've been told)
Click to expand...
I'll be upgrading from an original iPhone (2G) to the iPhone 4. Will I be better off at the AT&T store?
 
if you purchase through AT&T and it is billed for on your AT&T bill instead of a direct purchase on your credit card you would lose any purchase protection your credit card may offer.
 
DeuxIt said:
if you purchase through AT&T and it is billed for on your AT&T bill instead of a direct purchase on your credit card you would lose any purchase protection your credit card may offer.
Click to expand...
Hmm, good point. Thanks.

By the way, THIS is the kind of info I was asking about. I know that the phone is the same and the price is the same. I just figured there might be SOME advantage to buying from one place over the other.
 
Sounds Good said:
I'll be upgrading from an original iPhone (2G) to the iPhone 4. Will I be better off at the AT&T store?
Click to expand...

Has your contract expired?

If so, you may have an advantage at an AT&T store. Our contract expired last week. My husband and I went to an AT&T store on Monday and when he suggested we check out Verizon before signing a new contract, they offered to waive the activation fee, free cases and free screen protectors. They even put the screen protectors on for us. I don't think we would have gotten the same deal at an Apple store.

We paid with a credit card with purchase protection, so that wasn't an issue.
 
DeuxIt said:
if you purchase through AT&T and it is billed for on your AT&T bill instead of a direct purchase on your credit card you would lose any purchase protection your credit card may offer.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that you can get billed for any phone purchase via AT&T? I thought all upgraded phones had to be paid upon time of purchase?

Marc
 
mpossoff said:
I thought all upgraded phones had to be paid upon time of purchase?
Click to expand...
I'd actually prefer to put it on a card, so this is a good thing.

sectime said:
People and atmosphere plus you can but a nice Ipad to go with your new phone:)
Click to expand...
To be honest, I'm very tempted to get an iPad. :) These rumors of a new one coming out before Xmas have me hesitating, though.
 
pilotkid said:
Personally I go to the Apple store. Why? Because its more fun. :D
Click to expand...

I agree--the Apple Store is a much more pleasant experience than an AT&T store. At AT&T, you will just wait for a long time and the only thing to do is mess with all the phones you're NOT buying. (While I was waiting for my iPhone 4 to come in, I went to an AT&T store one night just to mess with the display model and they had sold it.)

At the Apple Store, I can mess with everything they sell while I wait.

Surprisingly, I am a former Apple hater. Crazy.
 
iBaloney said:
can anyone else vouch for this? im porting over 2 numbers next month
Click to expand...

I mention it because I went to the Apple store to get my iP4, but at the last minute decided to head up to the AT&T store because I figured I'd have a much better shot at getting things like the activation fee waived etc. When I was there I was waffling back and forth between the 16 and the 32 GB models, and the 32 was only available downstairs at the apple store at the moment. Still, the AT&T store attendant suggested that since I was porting over a verizon number, if I was going to buy the 32 GB that she could call the apple store and get me the contract price, but have them release it to me unactivated so I could come up and have her do it. She said that a lot of people who had been porting numbers at the apple store had come up to her store and had to have the AT&T staff fix incorrectly ported numbers.

It may have something to do with our local apple store, but when you're counting on cancelling your other service, I tend to think it's best to let the cell-phone professionals do the dirty work.

SLC
 
Sounds Good said:
I'll be upgrading from an original iPhone (2G) to the iPhone 4. Will I be better off at the AT&T store?
Click to expand...

If you're already on AT&T then I don't think there will be a lick of difference where you go, who's toys do you want to play with while you wait? Which is closer etc, that's the only real consideration you should need to worry about.

SLC
 
SLC Flyfishing said:
I mention it because I went to the Apple store to get my iP4, but at the last minute decided to head up to the AT&T store because I figured I'd have a much better shot at getting things like the activation fee waived etc. When I was there I was waffling back and forth between the 16 and the 32 GB models, and the 32 was only available downstairs at the apple store at the moment. Still, the AT&T store attendant suggested that since I was porting over a verizon number, if I was going to buy the 32 GB that she could call the apple store and get me the contract price, but have them release it to me unactivated so I could come up and have her do it. She said that a lot of people who had been porting numbers at the apple store had come up to her store and had to have the AT&T staff fix incorrectly ported numbers.

It may have something to do with our local apple store, but when you're counting on cancelling your other service, I tend to think it's best to let the cell-phone professionals do the dirty work.

SLC
Click to expand...

i see, thanks for your input dude. has anyone had a bad experience porting their number through the apple store? especially numbers from verizon?
 
Is AT&T still advising customers that they have to wait 10-14 days for the iPhone to arrive at the store? If so, then you may have better luck at an Apple Store. Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back