AT&T.. 1 year discount after buying 5s isn't until 9/21.

[Tayloner]

I'm curious, are you on the old plans or Mobile Share? Also, do you have unlimited data? I think this might be a tactic to get people to switch plans. I'm on Mobile Share and 2 or our lines are already eligible for full subsidy despite a contract end date of 9/21/14.

In your case, the difference is that my contract actually ends 9/21/15, but AT&T pushes up the end of contract eligibility to the first of the month, i.e. I'll probably really be eligible 9/1/15. They do not do this for the early upgrade anymore, it stays as exactly 1 year from original purchase.

To answer your question, yes I'm on an old FamilyTalk plan with unlimited data, and yes this is 100% an attempt to push people to NEXT, the manager basically admitted as much to me.

 

[rui no onna]

In your case, the difference is that my contract actually ends 9/21/15, but AT&T pushes up the end of contract eligibility to the first of the month, i.e. I'll probably really be eligible 9/1/15. They do not do this for the early upgrade anymore, it stays as exactly 1 year from original purchase.

To answer your question, yes I'm on an old FamilyTalk plan with unlimited data, and yes this is 100% an attempt to push people to NEXT, the manager basically admitted as much to me.

Actually, I also have early upgrade on the other 2 lines (contract end 9/21/15) and it's showing I'm eligible for the $200 discounted pricing as of today. I think it was like that last week, too. I'm on the new Mobile Share Value Plans and have been paying the discounted rate of $160/mo for 4 lines. No current installment plans on the account.

I think this inflexibility is just on the old Family Talk plans, particularly those with unlimited data. I'm guessing AT&T desperately wants folks out of those plans.

----------

Do they offer all lines a partial upgrade after one year on contract or is it on a case by case basis?

I think it's standard. In the old days, I actually got the early upgrade offer within 6-8 months of contract signing.

 

[Tayloner]

I think this inflexibility is just on the old Family Talk plans, particularly those with unlimited data. I'm guessing AT&T desperately wants folks out of those plans.

Yep.

 

[richard371]

Att is creating extra work for everyone by not moving the date from the 21st.

But not changing the early upgrade from the 21 to the 12th Att is just creating extra work for themselves, Apple, and the customer. I will order it at full price then go to an Apple store on the 21st have them return it and resale it at the discounted price. My iPad line is eligible for the early upgrade now so I may use that line.

 

[ctbaz]

But not changing the early upgrade from the 21 to the 12th Att is just creating extra work for themselves, Apple, and the customer. I will order it at full price then go to an Apple store on the 21st have them return it and resale it at the discounted price. My iPad line is eligible for the early upgrade now so I may use that line.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[gugy]

So my 5S is 1 year on the 9/21. Is it worth to wait or jump on the Next program?

My iPhone is unlock by AT&T and I am wondering if I should sell it rather than trade in on the Next.

I see they give a $15 discount on my data plan. hummmm... not sure what to do.
Thanks for any feedback.

 

[dojoman]

Yeah. That's kinda unusual that it's not showing up for you. This is what I get.

Image

I'm seeing the same thing.

 

[Melodeath]

I am seeing the same thing as the OP. I got really excited my full upgrade price was so soon (Sept 21), and then I saw it was 2015, not 2014.

Anyway, I have a 5S, bought on launch day. According to my "eligibility," I can get an iPhone 6 64GB "Today" for $549. Is this an "early upgrade" price, or is that the normal, full price? Believe it or not, I'm having trouble finding the full, non-discounted price anywhere, and that's why I'm asking.

 

[richard371]

And why not?

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[mattcube64]

Same thing for me, OP. Called three times.

More I look into it, more I know I'm just going to buy it full price, and return it after the 21st and take the discount. So dumb.

 

[Steve686]

My plan on my second line expires on 9/16 this year. I already have the full subsidy upgrade option across the board.

Remember, there was something about minimum monthly service charges in the past that allowed you some leeway towards early upgrading.

 

[ctbaz]

And why not?

Are you really that naive?

 

[Steve686]

I am seeing the same thing as the OP. I got really excited my full upgrade price was so soon (Sept 21), and then I saw it was 2015, not 2014.



Anyway, I have a 5S, bought on launch day. According to my "eligibility," I can get an iPhone 6 64GB "Today" for $549. Is this an "early upgrade" price, or is that the normal, full price? Believe it or not, I'm having trouble finding the full, non-discounted price anywhere, and that's why I'm asking.

Check out the monthly payments quoted by Apple/ATT on the next program and multiply each by the payment term length. That is the full price for each model.

$549 is up front cost and you pay off the rest of your phone in the end with your monthly bill, even though it's not listed on your bill.

 

[ctbaz]

You guys just have to face all the cellular companies are going to be pushing people to the per month payment for phones. This is why ATT isn't budging this time around. Wait a week and a half or switch to NEXT.

 

[richard371]

Are you referring to upgrading my ipad line and getting the early upgrade or paying full price on my iphone line and going into Apple on the 21st to get it adjusted to the early upgrade price?

And why not?

 

[djransom]

Do they offer all lines a partial upgrade after one year on contract or is it on a case by case basis?

It's usually most, if not all, are eligible for a partial discount after a year. Someone can step in and correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Melodeath]

Check out the monthly payments quoted by Apple/ATT on the next program and multiply each by the payment term length. That is the full price for each model.

$549 is up front cost and you pay off the rest of your phone in the end with your monthly bill, even though it's not listed on your bill.

Gotcha. So full price is $749, and this "early upgrade" is $549. Do we have evidence the extra $200 is charged on monthly bill? That doesn't make much sense.

Also, why does my upgrade say $549 TODAY, and for example, the image on the macrumors story here (http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2014/09/upgradeeligibility.jpg) has it beginning on September 21st? I bought my 5S on launch day which was the 20th, I believe, with a 2-year contract extension.

 

[nostresshere]

Again, these numbers assume you stay on subsidized. If you move to a share plan, things change (like the rate goes way down for service for most folks)

You have to compare all the factors.

 

[Steve686]

Gotcha. So full price is $749, and this "early upgrade" is $549. Do we have evidence the extra $200 is charged on monthly bill? That doesn't make much sense.

Also, why does my upgrade say $549 TODAY, and for example, the image on the macrumors story here (http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2014/09/upgradeeligibility.jpg) has it beginning on September 21st? I bought my 5S on launch day which was the 20th, I believe, with a 2-year contract extension.

The evidence is that I pay $15/month per line on my NEXT associated bill. Before NEXT I paid about $40 a month per line. This is where they recoup the cost of the phone.

I went from about a $250 monthly bill, to a $145 monthly bill.

 

[DribbleCastle]

Hopefully they will change the systems tonight to allow early upgrade pricing for us 9/21/14 people. If not, I might just pay full MSRP this year and that way I get the deeper discount($450) next year. Basically just saving up my discount until next year.... when I hope I'm allowed to preorder the iPhone 6S without issue. I'm a sucker and get the new iPhone ever year. To me its easy to justify with how much you use the phone each day of your life.

I'm like 90% sure buying MSRP does not require a AT&T contract extension but can anyone confirm and make me feel good about it.

 

[Melodeath]

The evidence is that I pay $15/month per line on my NEXT associated bill. Before NEXT I paid about $40 a month per line. This is where they recoup the cost of the phone.

I went from about a $250 monthly bill, to a $145 monthly bill.

I was actually not talking about the NEXT plan at all

 

[Steve686]

I was actually not talking about the NEXT plan at all

I know you weren't.

The thing I was trying to point out is that you won't see the charges for the phone in a subsidized contract anywhere on your bill. The charge is buried in the $$ charged per line.

But, when you switch to next, they take the amount they would have charged for the phone and separate that from your $$ charged per line so that you see $15 charged per line.

 

[blco02]

I'm in the exact same boat guys. I talked to a couple att reps about moving up the date and they acted like I was a Martian. They had no clue what I meant.

I want to preorder tonight but I guess I should wait till 9/21 to save the $200

 

[DribbleCastle]

Well no magic change of dates as I assume you all know. I ended up buying a new device at MSRP, but was surprised this morning to find the iPhone 6 still in healthy stock. Thats pretty good news if you want to wait until 9/21 to buy a device in store or online. Means you might not have to wait weeks to get the device.

Come the end of next week I may even consider returning my unopneed MSRP model to see if I can buy one on Sunday (9/21) at discount. We shall see.