I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the iPhone 4S being released on October 14 last year, and the iPhone 5 being shipped on September 21. (I think it actually ships on the 21st)
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AT&T Early Upgrade - iPhone 5
- Thread starter wakerider017
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I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the iPhone 4S being released on October 14 last year, and the iPhone 5 being shipped on September 21. (I think it actually ships on the 21st)
is AT&T denying iPhone 5 upgrade to eligible customers online?
I checked yesterday evening on apple site for upgrade eligibility for iPhone5 ; I was eligible to upgrade ( from AT&T iPhone 4) - and apple site did show iPhone 5 for $199. But right now iPhone 5 is missing from the list- only shows iPhone4s for $199, 4 for $99 and 3GS for $0!!!! Any one there... any idea???? Is AT&T trying to deny existing loyal customers the chance for pre-ordering??
message to *639# replied me that "As a valued customer we can offer you an upgrade with new 2-yr commitment and an $36 upgrade fee"
Is there any way to confirm iPhone $199 eligibility from mobile?
I checked yesterday evening on apple site for upgrade eligibility for iPhone5 ; I was eligible to upgrade ( from AT&T iPhone 4) - and apple site did show iPhone 5 for $199. But right now iPhone 5 is missing from the list- only shows iPhone4s for $199, 4 for $99 and 3GS for $0!!!! Any one there... any idea???? Is AT&T trying to deny existing loyal customers the chance for pre-ordering??
message to *639# replied me that "As a valued customer we can offer you an upgrade with new 2-yr commitment and an $36 upgrade fee"
Is there any way to confirm iPhone $199 eligibility from mobile?
Not sure... They won't say that I am eligible for the early upgrade either, but I believe it will be October 8, 2012... I might be able to wait two weeks if it means $450 vs $650... Just sucks, because I recall one year where Apple kind of made AT&T offer the iPhone for a reduced rate. This year, AT&T is not budging, no matter how much you threaten that you will leave for Big Red.
What are you thinking of doing?
I don't buy it. Apple has everything to gain to sell as many iPhones as possible as fast as it can and no matter if it was via an upgrade or not. AT&T not allowing 12 month upgrade cycles actually hurts Apple but it's out of Apple's hands. Apple doesn't dictate subsidies to carriers. Apple merely sells phones to them at FULL price. The carriers determine subsidy terms.
The sooner a carrier allows you to upgrade inside your 2yr contract the less they end up subsidizing the phone you want to upgrade from. This puts downward pressure on their profit margins especially when all the carriers are spending mad money by continually upgrading their networks.
12 Month Early Upgrade ($299 Subsidized iPhone)
$450 Subsidized over 20 Months = $22.50 per month
$450 Subsidized over 12 Months = $37.50 per month
How much per month can a carrier afford to subsidize an iPhone plan?
No one really knows but say the average iPhone customer's bill is
$100. With a 12 month upgrade cycle in this case 37.5% of the cost of
the monthly plan is being subsidized. Throw in capital expenditures for
maintaining and upgrading their network plus operational expenses and I would
bet the leftover profit margin isn't where they want it to be versus enforcing a hard 20 month upgrade cycle (22.5% of monthly plan). I'm not saying the carriers don't make a big profit just that they realize they can make more if they spread out their subsidies over a longer term.
What about competition driving down early upgrade cycles? Well, in my opinion there isn't enough competition. I'd argue all the major carriers practice "Monkey See Monkey Do". They all lightly compete with each other. Unno, don't rock the collusion boat, they all laughed taking voice rates, then txt rates, and now data rates to the bank.
My advice, keep your smartphone for 2-3yrs and during that time save up the cash to buy your next one unsubsidized. No contract obligation and less stressing about whether or not your upgradable.
So those with grandfather unlimited plans get to keep unlimited if they are eligible for upgrade?
about this early upgrade
my upgrade date is 5-15-2013.. what is an early upgrade? what do i need to get one and how much would an iphone 5 cost me? $199?
about this early upgrade
Early upgrade is usually around the 1 year mark... It is $449 US. So, if your two year contract expires in May 2013 like mine, $449 will be offered October 8, 2012.
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Called AT&T and I'm stuck paying $450 unless I want to wait until May.
Did you buy the 4S on October 7?
$650 most likely. Im thinking of taking my friends early upgrade for $450 but that means he will have to wait in line and have him with me. Ehh complicated lol
How do we both get the iPhone 4S on the same day, but for you the iPhone 5 costs $450 tomorrow and $650 for me? How the heck does that work?!
Interesting. By the way, I got the iPhone 4S at a full upgrade last year during the day of release, and I went to Apple's website and check the availability and the iPhone 5 isn't listed for me but my next full upgrade date is May 15. It was listed the other day. It says I can get the iPhone 4S at 449.
Thank goodness I have a line on my account eligible for a full upgrade that I will be using. If not, I'll be stuck paying full price for the iPhone 5.
Thank goodness I have a line on my account eligible for a full upgrade that I will be using. If not, I'll be stuck paying full price for the iPhone 5.
chuckle beats me.. i just used Apple's iphone app now and all thats listed is iphone 5.. it has the early upgrade price of 400-whatever and then said if i wait until 5-16-13 i get it for 199 etc...
in Oct i bought my iphone 4s right on release date i mean as soon as we could order.. oct 7? got it on the 14th?.. ordered online from apple.com (if that matters?)
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i dont know about that but read tonight that if you order online you lose yur unlimited plan...
Hmmm... this sounds like it may be a better deal than getting an early upgrade. Does this mean that your original upgrade date remains the same?
I suggest that everyone gets on AT&T Customer service and customer retention program and start harassing them. Apparently managers are making exceptions to wave the $250. So why not do it for everyone?
Seems kind of childish. They change a policy that makes you actually wait out the 2 year contract you sign and the reaction is to take your metaphorical ball and go across the street? C'mon man.
The carrier you go with should be based on one thing and one thing alone.....coverage in your area and any area where you travel frequently.
it's not childish, it's a principle of economics and contracts called efficient breach.
How efficient is it if you jump to an inferior carrier? Congrats....you saved $250 to get a phone that doesn't work nearly as well.
Just a bit of advice, AT&T doesn't have to offer us anything. EVERY OTHER phone is not given a good deal on even the early upgrade discount of $150. As far as I'm concerned, too many people are feeling ENTITLED to buying the new phone and think AT&T will give them a deal. Come on.
Also, there's no way I'm going to pay over $500 ($449 + tax + $36 upgrade fee) AND sign a NEW two year contract. Best just purchase the full $649 retail if you want the phone now.
Also, there's no way I'm going to pay over $500 ($449 + tax + $36 upgrade fee) AND sign a NEW two year contract. Best just purchase the full $649 retail if you want the phone now.
So, I'm eligible for the $450 price on October 8... What trick can I pull to have my phone in the store waiting for me on the 8th? Can I order it online for pickup in the store? Name on waiting list if they have it? Because come the 8th, if I wait until then to order, then it will probably be another 2-3 weeks from that date before I get it...
There's no trick. You can't order until the 8th. You should be able to go to the Apple store, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Radio Shack, etc and pick one up by then. Your wait may come in to play if you decide to order it online via Apple. Good luck.
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I agree
Expecting the carrier to eat a few hundred dollars of the cost of a new phone prior to the end of the 2 year contract, is indeed childish.
ATT will work with you
Ok, ATT will work with you...I just talk my way out of the $250 fee.
I had the +250 upgrade fee till 5/08/2013...(I'm the primary on a family plan).
I called the ATT sales representatives and kept asking them why I got the upgrade the last few years and not this year. Note, this was a "sales" representative, not a customer service rep (navigate to sales like you want to make a purchase and then hit 0 for the operator)...
At first I just got the usual line as everyone else but I kept pressing why I was not valued this year?
Then she talked to a manager and said she got codes to waive the $250 fee if I buy the upgrade from her over the phone then and there.
Which I did and now have the full discounted price. I can't go buy it on opening day, but it's definitely worth waiting a week for $250 in my pocket...
Thanks
Ok, ATT will work with you...I just talk my way out of the $250 fee.
I had the +250 upgrade fee till 5/08/2013...(I'm the primary on a family plan).
I called the ATT sales representatives and kept asking them why I got the upgrade the last few years and not this year. Note, this was a "sales" representative, not a customer service rep (navigate to sales like you want to make a purchase and then hit 0 for the operator)...
At first I just got the usual line as everyone else but I kept pressing why I was not valued this year?
Then she talked to a manager and said she got codes to waive the $250 fee if I buy the upgrade from her over the phone then and there.
Which I did and now have the full discounted price. I can't go buy it on opening day, but it's definitely worth waiting a week for $250 in my pocket...
Thanks
AT&T customer service comes through
I called AT&T today. I explained, nicely, that I had been an early adopter of every iPhone since the 3 and if there was anything they could do about the $250 fee. I got passed around to a few different people but after 30 minutes they told me that they would change my upgrade date to today. Given I purchased the 4s in October of last year I was surprised and pleased. $36 upgrade fee. There is much to be said for just being polite.
I called AT&T today. I explained, nicely, that I had been an early adopter of every iPhone since the 3 and if there was anything they could do about the $250 fee. I got passed around to a few different people but after 30 minutes they told me that they would change my upgrade date to today. Given I purchased the 4s in October of last year I was surprised and pleased. $36 upgrade fee. There is much to be said for just being polite.
Well I called this morning and ask to speak to a supervisor and he gave me the "because this is in pre order stage of the iPhone 5 the system will not let me upgrade you early". I told him that I was planning on upgrading another line to an iPhone from a crap phone and he was glad to waive that one cause they want the iPhone 4. Does anyone have advice for what I should try next I am calling back but I am going to wait a little so I don't get the same supervisor.