Apple Upgrade Program Disappointment

[MICHAELSD]

Apple Upgrade Program customers have gotten the short end of the stick since the program launched. Last year, supply was constrained and AUP users had to settle on color/storage availability in order to upgrade after 12 payments. Now, AUP users who upgrade annually at launch will have to make a total of 14 payments before they can even consider iPhone X, assuming supply is sufficient. (Sure, AUP users can upgrade to iPhone 8 but let's be honest: the majority of owners on this plan are after Apple's latest and greatest.)

I don't use AUP though I was considering joining this year. After seeing the frustration for users who want to use it as intended and upgrade every 12 months rather than making additional payments to wait for the iPhone they want to be made readily available I'll just stick to the freedom of buying the phone outright. Or, just start my plan in December so I can guarantee better availability every 12 months...

 

[leesweet]

I agree we need an answer to what happens when a new phone is delayed, as we are stuck paying to 'rent' the current phone, and then what happens next year when we are 'short'. (And it's the IUP, the iPhone Upgrade Program... .)

So far it's worked reasonably well for me, as I got the phone I wanted the first year and also last year (I did have to write to Apple; they seemed to straighten out the supply mess for people that let them know the stores didn't have them in stock immediately after 12:01 PT).

Not sure what the answer is for the late phone availability. Credit the new loan for extra payments on the old one? I'd think that would be a mess for Citizens One, since each loan is technically completely separate. Give us the discount on the new loan equal to the late period? Not sure that would work either.

 

[MICHAELSD]

I agree we need an answer to what happens when a new phone is delayed, as we are stuck paying to 'rent' the current phone, and then what happens next year when we are 'short'. (And it's the IUP, the iPhone Upgrade Program... .)

So far it's worked reasonably well for me, as I got the phone I wanted the first year and also last year (I did have to write to Apple; they seemed to straighten out the supply mess for people that let them know the stores didn't have them in stock immediately after 12:01 PT).

Not sure what the answer is for the late phone availability. Credit the new loan for extra payments on the old one? I'd think that would be a mess for Citizens One, since each loan is technically completely separate. Give us the discount on the new loan equal to the late period? Not sure that would work either.

Seeing as Apple raised the price of AppleCare for iPhone X to $199 so now payments total an extra $100 per year, and considering how I don't want or need AppleCare, I'm just going to skip iPhone Upgrade Program* altogether. It sounded perfect for people like me who want to upgrade every year but it's a disappointing program. You're right too -- if the next iPhone is released in September next year then you'll have to pay two months of payments to upgrade.

 

[Jvjlite]

*

 

[Tsuchiya]

I'm kind of wondering how this will pan out for those wanting the X.

I'd be a bit concerned about knocking my upgrade cycle out of sync with new releases.

 

[tekchic]

Yep - same here. Now I'm wondering if I just keep my perfectly wonderful 7+ 256 and sell it next year. Not very fond of making 14 payments when we're supposed to be eligible to upgrade after the 12. Then next year I'll be short (unless they move the release cycle now towards holidays).

 

[glindon]

You won’t get anything. You will just end up making 14 payments and then you start a new 24 month plan. So if the 11 gets released in September next year and you upgrade you will have only made 10 payments at that time and would have to pay off those 2 months before getting another 24 month plan.