Apple Upgrade program

[shareef777]

Any financing plan whether it be the upgrade program or financing with your carrier will make you pay the tax on the full price of the phone. The only real advantage of the upgrade program that I see is getting Apple care plus included in the price rather than paying full price upon purchasing the phone
[doublepost=1473409494][/doublepost]I am a current member of the program but decided to re enroll rather than use the upgrade option. I will use the money I get from selling this phone to pay off the remaining 12 months. Just seemed like a better option to me

You're paying for that AppleCare regardless. It's NOT included at no charge.
[doublepost=1473429035][/doublepost]

I didn't enroll in that program because to me it wasn't saying I was guaranteed an automatic upgrade annually. I still assumed I'd have to go through the same motions I went through tonight. I also didn't think the UP folks had priority over ordering. It seems this was a correct assumption. Sucks for folks who thought differently. I can almost see how Apple misleads people into thinking that every launch of a new phone is fairly secured if the customer wants it.


Why would it not be that way? Even with subsidized phones we paid tax outright on the cost of the phone each time we got a new phone.



That makes little sense. Why not pay off the phone you don't own with the money you got from the sale of said phone? Or are you paying interest on your new 7+?

Doesn't really make a difference. It's just less money out of my pocket upfront for the 7+. No interest on the 7+ as I plan on paying the credit card bill immediately and no interest in staying with the 6s payments (just means that the money I get for the 6s, which is more then what the balance is, can sit in my bank and pay-off that balance over time).

Though if I can get credit for the AppleCare on the 6s, then yes. I'll pay it off instead, but the way this program seems to be run by Apple, I won't get any answer on that till the iPhone 8 comes out!

 

[Morac]

I'm still confused on this, do you mean because the phone doesn't ship until October, that you will end up paying an extra month for the device payment? The iPhone upgrade program is interest free, so you aren't paying more than you would at full price.

In order to upgrade as part of the upgrade program, you need to go into the store. There is no shipping as you pick up the phone at that time. The problem is that Apple highly limited the number of phones available to the upgrade program. Seems like it was only a few per store.

Basically the problem is if you want to upgrade using the Apple iPhone upgrade program, you can't use shipping. You have to wait until they are available in store and you can't just show up, you need an appointment. Until you can get an appointment, you have to keep paying for the old phone.

The only upside I see here is that most phones I've looked at (except Jet Black) still show a ship time of 2 to 3 weeks, so hopefully it won't be months before upgrade program participants can actually upgrade.

None of this would be an issue if Apple didn't require upgraders to do so in store. That or Apple stopped requiring picking up carrier specific phones. There's no reason for that when the phone is unlocked.

 

[jmann]

In order to upgrade as part of the upgrade program, you need to go into the store. There is no shipping as you pick up the phone at that time. The problem is that Apple highly limited the number of phones available to the upgrade program. Seems like it was only a few per store.

Basically the problem is if you want to upgrade using the Apple iPhone upgrade program, you can't use shipping. You have to wait until they are available in store and you can't just show up, you need an appointment. Until you can get an appointment, you have to keep paying for the old phone.

The only upside I see here is that most phones I've looked at (except Jet Black) still show a ship time of 2 to 3 weeks, so hopefully it won't be months before upgrade program participants can actually upgrade.

None of this would be an issue if Apple didn't require upgraders to do so in store. That or Apple stopped requiring picking up carrier specific phones. There's no reason for that when the phone is unlocked.

What I really wish is if Apple offered us a preemptive opt-in to get the new phone, that way stock could be allocated to the appropriate store or shipped to us and we wouldn't have to go through the preorder rat race every year.

 

[iceman27]

The point of the upgrade program is get you a new phone every year and not have to sign a new 2-year contract anymore. How are you guys expecting to do an upgrade online when you have to trade-in a phone?

 

[mtcowdog]

I used the AUP to buy an iPhone 7. And the main reason is my interest in next year's 10th anniversary phone. Hit a home run Apple! Otherwise I will pay off and move on.

But I have to say the no interest AUP is quite nice. I am not tied to a carrier for the first time ever, and I can spread the cost over time. I don't need to do that, but why not in this case? I was ready for a phone upgrade, but not ready to commit all upfront or for a 2 year contract given what I hope for next year. Your move Apple.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Just signed up for the upgrade program and had no problem pre-ordering a 128 GB Jet Black iPhone 7 for launch day delivery, but can someone enlighten me exactly what problem(s) existing Apple Upgrade Program users encountered?

Edit: Never mind. Post #52 gave a nice explanation.

 

[ProMod]

In order to upgrade as part of the upgrade program, you need to go into the store. There is no shipping as you pick up the phone at that time. The problem is that Apple highly limited the number of phones available to the upgrade program. Seems like it was only a few per store.

Basically the problem is if you want to upgrade using the Apple iPhone upgrade program, you can't use shipping. You have to wait until they are available in store and you can't just show up, you need an appointment. Until you can get an appointment, you have to keep paying for the old phone.

The only upside I see here is that most phones I've looked at (except Jet Black) still show a ship time of 2 to 3 weeks, so hopefully it won't be months before upgrade program participants can actually upgrade.

None of this would be an issue if Apple didn't require upgraders to do so in store. That or Apple stopped requiring picking up carrier specific phones. There's no reason for that when the phone is unlocked.

This is dead on. It's almost as if they allocated the smallest amount of inventory for IUP upgraders. And why not, right? They're already getting our money no matter what. Shareholders, growth, profit. That's what Apple is all about these days, not customer experience or continually innovative products.

 

[sjsharks13]

You're paying for that AppleCare regardless. It's NOT included at no charge.
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My point was if you don't get the upgrade program and want apple care you have to pay for it all up front

 

[Dwalls90]

Has anyone ordered through AUP without selecting a carrier?

 

[Morac]

The point of the upgrade program is get you a new phone every year and not have to sign a new 2-year contract anymore. How are you guys expecting to do an upgrade online when you have to trade-in a phone?

I have no problem turning in the phone, but Apple should allow you to do that after the fact.

This is the way it should work:

1. Go online and order and chose to pay with the iPhone upgrade program and chose that you are already in it.

2. Just like with new sign-ups, Apple ships the phone to you and creates a new loan (something they will do anyway).

3. At that point you reserve an appointment to turn in your old phone to the store or mail it in.

Once Apple gets your phone, they will close out your old loan. If you don't return you old phone, Apple still makes out because you are paying for both the old and new phone.

This also would eliminate potential issues that would occur if your backup of the old phone is bad as once you trade that in, there's no way to get a new backup of it.

That's the way it should work, not the way it does now.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

In order to upgrade as part of the upgrade program, you need to go into the store. There is no shipping as you pick up the phone at that time. The problem is that Apple highly limited the number of phones available to the upgrade program. Seems like it was only a few per store.

Basically the problem is if you want to upgrade using the Apple iPhone upgrade program, you can't use shipping. You have to wait until they are available in store and you can't just show up, you need an appointment. Until you can get an appointment, you have to keep paying for the old phone.

The only upside I see here is that most phones I've looked at (except Jet Black) still show a ship time of 2 to 3 weeks, so hopefully it won't be months before upgrade program participants can actually upgrade.

None of this would be an issue if Apple didn't require upgraders to do so in store. That or Apple stopped requiring picking up carrier specific phones. There's no reason for that when the phone is unlocked.

Yeah, just signed up for the program and got launch day delivery, but I can see how that's a problem. Well, I guess next year I'll just beat Apple at their game. Pay off and sell it, and find a different route in order to get launch day delivery. I was going to pay full price anyway.

I have a question though. Is it unlocked from the beginning or they unlock it after paying it off?

 

[edlex]

The point of the upgrade program is get you a new phone every year and not have to sign a new 2-year contract anymore. How are you guys expecting to do an upgrade online when you have to trade-in a phone?

According to the FAQ you have 14 days to return the previously financed phone to have the original loan closed. So I guess eventually they will allow for the phone to be returned at our convenience. Just not this year.

 

[sjsharks13]

According to the FAQ you have 14 days to return the previously financed phone to have the original loan closed. So I guess eventually they will allow for the phone to be returned at our convenience. Just not this year.

What if you re enroll online and have the new phone shipped to you and have two phones financed by citizens. Couldn't you just take the old one in within 14 days to the Apple Store to close out the old loan?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

What if you re enroll online and have the new phone shipped to you and have two phones financed by citizens. Couldn't you just take the old one in within 14 days to the Apple Store to close out the old loan?

Is this even an option? I thought you can turn it in only if you're upgrading to the new iPhone.

Otherwise, just pay it off after one year and sell it. You can always find other means to get launch day delivery.

 

[Morac]

Apparently Apple Store will have a few days reserve for upgrade program users starting the 17th. After that all bets are off.

Even during those days supplies are limited so store managers are saying model, size or color. Pick two otherwise you'll wait.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...ants-complain-of-no-stock-scheduling-problems

I have a question though. Is it unlocked from the beginning or they unlock it after paying it off?

It's unlocked from the start.

 

[Chargr]

How does this work? You get the phone from apple, and lets say I choose Verizon, it will be pre-paid service?

 

[edlex]

What if you re enroll online and have the new phone shipped to you and have two phones financed by citizens. Couldn't you just take the old one in within 14 days to the Apple Store to close out the old loan?

It didn't give me that option when I chose to upgrade my AUP phone. Only gives you the option to make a store reservation with the phones that are available.

 

[KPOM]

Yeah, just signed up for the program and got launch day delivery, but I can see how that's a problem. Well, I guess next year I'll just beat Apple at their game. Pay off and sell it, and find a different route in order to get launch day delivery. I was going to pay full price anyway.

I have a question though. Is it unlocked from the beginning or they unlock it after paying it off?

Unlocked from the beginning. You are taking out a loan with Citizens Bank and buying the phone outright from Apple with an option to trade it in at a set price next year when the new phones come out.

 

[iceman27]

Regardless of all the new programs and carrier promos, if you want a new iphone at launch each year you have to pay full retail. Simple as that.

 

[Morac]

How does this work? You get the phone from apple, and lets say I choose Verizon, it will be pre-paid service?

It's the same as buying it from Verizon. They put you on a month to month post paid plan. The only difference is you can cancel service with Verizon at any time and switch carriers.

 

[Chargr]

It's the same as buying it from Verizon. They put you on a month to month post paid plan. The only difference is you can cancel service with Verizon at any time and switch carriers.

So you would still have to pay the line fees, and such? If i got for family plan?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

So you would still have to pay the line fees, and such? If i got for family plan?

Yes, if applicable. From FAQ:

Can I keep my current service plan if I choose the iPhone Upgrade Program?

Yes, in most cases. Your wireless carrier may charge a fee for activating your phone on its network. If your current phone does not have a data plan, you will need to change to a plan that does. Corporate, business, and prepaid service plans are not eligible. If you have any questions, you can speak to a Specialist at the Apple Store or .

 

[mixstar336]

FYI - I can go into the store right now through IUP and order a 7/7+ for pickup next friday. Verizon still has 128 GB black 7+'s...for those thinking they are locked out.

 

[redman042]

As I posted before, I switched to Apple Upgrade from AT&T Next, but after that I read this thread and realized what a mistake it was. I want to upgrade at launch each year, and do it from home. I want the best odds of getting a phone on launch day.

So at 2 am I managed to get an AT&T Next order in (mid October deliveries-not too bad), then cancelled my Apple orders this morning (thankfully that was easy).

What we've all learned here: Apple Upgrade Program is totally fine if you (1) really want AppleCare, (2) live near a store, (3) have time to go to the store, and (4) are fine upgrading about two months after launch each year, or later.

If you're a launch-day nut like all of us, forget about it. Stick with your carrier. Which is also hard, because their websites inevitably choke much harder on launch night, but it is what it is.

The other option is purchase outright and sell the old one on eBay, but I stopped doing that when Next came out for a reason. eBay takes time and has its own risks and hassles.

So I'll just stick with AT&T Next, suffer through their website issues each year (thankfully, they have improved a bit), and expect my phone about a month after launch on average.

 

[SisterBlue22]

My husband and I made a reservation for 9/16 at 8am. We are upgrading from using the upgrade program last year. It didn't ask us for a social so I'm confused when I read some of your posts. We have our confirmation emails that just say to bring the existing phone, ids, blah blah blah.

If you're already in the upgrade program from last year, Citizens already has your ss numbers. Only those signing up for the first time had to give it. This year, it seems you can initiate the upgrade program and credit check, etc online, instead of having to do it all in the store.