AT&T Offering $50 Bill Credit for iPhone Upgrades Made Through Apple Online and Retail Stores

[bpcookson]

Some bean-counter somewhere figured out they make more money through NEXT, so they try to entice 2-year contract holders to switch. They may be trying to get people off the old "unlimited" plans, too. I'm with you, though. It's just a big "F-U" to us who are on contract.

This sounds really weird to me. Do you realize that the whole 2yr contract thing was a huge "F-U" to the American consumers from day one? It created artificial carrier lock-in and drove service prices up. We all should be incredibly grateful that market pressures (ie T-Mobile) have forced the hands of the Big Duopoloy.

And for the record, Next is cheaper than a 2yr contract if you just keep the phone for 2 years to pay it off under free financing.

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128gb iPhone 6 full retail is $849.

On AT&T next it's $35.38/month for 24 months = $849.12

Not sure where Next is a bad deal?

Well, to be fair, it's a bad deal if you trade in the phone for the "free" early upgrade. To make Next work for you, you have to pay off the phone before upgrading so you can maximize your resale value.

 

[nikhsub1]

Next? No thank you.

Ignorance is bliss.

Out of curiosity, why? Next is basically 0% financing. With this deal you get an additional discount.

Exactly.

Have you done the math? Why would you think AT&T would be constantly encouraging users to sign up with NEXT?

Next is an interest and fee free loan.

With Next, you have to trade in your iPhone to AT&T so you've paid $849.12 and have nothing to show for it while the person who didn't use Next paid $849 but still has the iPhone and can sell it for hundreds.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rVpKsUjy7aQ

Couldn't be more incorrect. More ignorance peddling totally incorrect information.

 

[T5BRICK]

With Next, you have to trade in your iPhone to AT&T so you've paid $849.12 and have nothing to show for it while the person who didn't use Next paid $849 but still has the iPhone and can sell it for hundreds.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rVpKsUjy7aQ

Read the FAQ found on the link you posted and educate yourself.

Do I own the smartphone? Or is this a leasing offer?

The smartphone is yours, and you’re responsible for 30, 24, or 20 monthly installment payments. You’re also responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to the smartphone – both during the installment agreement period and afterward. We recommend you purchase the optional Mobile Insurance to protect your investment.

What if I don't want to trade in and upgrade my smartphone and I want to keep it?

You don’t have to trade in your smartphone. You can continue to make your monthly installment payments until your installment agreement is complete.

 

[Rogifan]

I just called AT&T about this and they had no idea what I was talking about. So I guess I'll wait and see if I get a $50 credit on my bill. I ordered over the phone as I was upgrading 2 months early.

 

[nikhsub1]

I just called AT&T about this and they had no idea what I was talking about. So I guess I'll wait and see if I get a $50 credit on my bill. I ordered over the phone as I was upgrading 2 months early.

Yeah AT&T has no ****ing clue about this 'promotion'. Wonder why NOT ONE article including the one here on MR links to an AT&T page... I don't think this promotion is active yet.

 

[Petey-Pete]

For those defending the At&t next program here's why many would never consider it.

1.You have to return the phone if you decided to "Upgrade" to another phone.
I like to sell my phone to cover the cost of my new phone.
2.For those of us that have unlimited data and don't want to use the mobile share plan it's a bad deal, as the subsidy price is already built into the cost of our plans.

I don't like the idea of "renting" a phone.

 

[tasset]

AT&T Offering $50 Bill Credit for iPhone Upgrades Made Through Apple Online a...

For those defending the At&t next program here's why many would never consider it.



1.You have to return the phone if you decided to "Upgrade" to another phone.

I like to sell my phone to cover the cost of my new phone.

2.For those of us that have unlimited data and don't want to use the mobile share plan it's a bad deal, as the subsidy price is already built into the cost of our plans.



I don't like the idea of "renting" a phone.

I understand your point of view completely, especially if you have some old lower rate plan that's grandfathered with unlimited data (albeit throttled). I will challenge you on the notion of "renting" your phone though. Unless you are truly keeping it for eternity, you are ALWAYS renting in the big picture. Things depreciate in value. Especially technology that outlives its usefulness. I remember reselling original iPhones and the iPhone 3G for several hundred dollars. Now you're lucky to get $30 out of one. Time marches on. Last year's iPhone 5S (I sold a gold one for $800 the week after it came out) now go for less than half. My point being that you (and lots of others) may have a false sense of value if the iPhone you paid $100 for and are reselling next year for $300, doesn't really mean all that much if you are paying for an inflated rate plan.

 

[unplugme71]

128gb iPhone 6 full retail is $849.

On AT&T next it's $35.38/month for 24 months = $849.12

Not sure where Next is a bad deal?

Plus you don't pay upgrade fee. You aren't stuck on a 2 year contract. And you can skip the 24 payments and trade in and upgrade early without having to deal with selling your device. You also get a device credit instead of paying more per month on your data plan.

I'm with you. How is NEXT so bad? If anything, you make out with the $50 credit.

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For those defending the At&t next program here's why many would never consider it.

1.You have to return the phone if you decided to "Upgrade" to another phone.
I like to sell my phone to cover the cost of my new phone.
2.For those of us that have unlimited data and don't want to use the mobile share plan it's a bad deal, as the subsidy price is already built into the cost of our plans.

I don't like the idea of "renting" a phone.

False, if you make all payments you don't have to turn in your phone. That's only if you upgrade "early". If you do the 18 month and pay 24 months, you keep it. If you do the 18 month and upgrade, you trade it in.


AT&T is pushing the Next for those who are smart. Those stubborn and stick with 2 year contract are just paying more per month/device. AT&T is basically SCREAMING to get you to switch to Next because its the better choice.

 

[anek007]

Nice try AT&T I'm not giving up my unlimited.

 

[jlgolson]

I just called AT&T about this and they had no idea what I was talking about. So I guess I'll wait and see if I get a $50 credit on my bill. I ordered over the phone as I was upgrading 2 months early.

Yeah AT&T has no ****ing clue about this 'promotion'. Wonder why NOT ONE article including the one here on MR links to an AT&T page... I don't think this promotion is active yet.

If you read the article, you'll note that you need to purchase through the Apple Online or Retail stores. Not through AT&T. It's active, go look.

store.apple.com, then go through and try to upgrade a line using Next.

 

[nikhsub1]

If you read the article, you'll note that you need to purchase through the Apple Online or Retail stores. Not through AT&T. It's active, go look.

store.apple.com, then go through and try to upgrade a line using Next.

Oh I thought this was for people who already bought via next and the apple store... I bought my phones on launch day - so this is only for purchasing as of today? They should be more clear.

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For those defending the At&t next program here's why many would never consider it.

1.You have to return the phone if you decided to "Upgrade" to another phone.
I like to sell my phone to cover the cost of my new phone.
2.For those of us that have unlimited data and don't want to use the mobile share plan it's a bad deal, as the subsidy price is already built into the cost of our plans.

I don't like the idea of "renting" a phone.

1. You CAN turn the phone in and get a new one every year, this is true. In that sense you could consider it renting but, you could also pay the phone off in full at any time, then sell it just as you normally would.

2. You have to do the math to see if next works with your current plan - the fact is that Next is an interest and fee free loan, it doesn't get much better than that. Typically anyone on a family share plan benefits with next over a subsidized phone.

 

[ronaldcastillo]

Ordered my 6 Plus on Oct. 22 but received/activated it today under the Next plan. Will I qualify for the $50 bill credit?

 

[fallenjt]

Yeah, I have done the math. It saves me and my family money but it may not for everyone else. I really only asked because statements like "Next? No thank you." are usually from folks who haven't done the math or don't consider other situations where it might actually be better.

Let me calculate for you: I had my 5S in November last year for $199 with my current plan. Now ATT allows me to upgrade to NEXT on that line. So I did upgrade to iPhone 6 and sold my 5S for $400 2 weeks ago. Look like I actually made $200 already.

 

[Rogifan]

If you read the article, you'll note that you need to purchase through the Apple Online or Retail stores. Not through AT&T. It's active, go look.

store.apple.com, then go through and try to upgrade a line using Next.

store.apple.com doesn't allow you to upgrade your Next plan.

I called AT&T. First they told me my order was too far along and it couldn't be canceled so all I could do was buy the device outright from Apple's website and then return the other phone after I received it. Of course I said no thanks and hung up. A few minutes later I get an email from AT&T saying that my order had been canceled. I called back to complain and then they asked me if I would be willing to go to an Apple store to buy the device. I complain further, they put me on hold for five minutes and then came back and said they would re-process my order on the phone and give me the $50 credit. I don't know who is behind this credit but clearly the sales reps at AT&T are clueless about it.

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Let me calculate for you: I had my 5S in November last year for $199 with my current plan. Now ATT allows me to upgrade to NEXT on that line. So I did upgrade to iPhone 6 and sold my 5S for $400 2 weeks ago. Look like I actually made $200 already.

Where did you get $400 for your 5s? Gazelle isn't quoting anything close to that. And of course if you upgrade early you have to return the phone to AT&T. They send you a box to ship it back to them.

 

[franpincho]

My plan:

Family: Unlimited data (throttled), 550 minutes and unlimited messages and 300mb on the second line (she doesn't use data at all)

Those 550 minutes are likely at 2500 right now thanks to rollover.

Sell my iPhone each year and get a new one, for the most part, zero $$$ out of pocket as iPhones hold their value.

$125 a month.

And people, the yearly $40 "upgrade" fee when on contract is (at least in my experience) 100% refundable. All you have to do is call and ask for it to be waived. Simple.

Next might be good for numerous families, but for two? Lol.

Unlimited for life. Throttled? Yeah, sucks. But u don't worry about overages, ever.

 

[malexandria]

NEXT Hatred

I understand ATT Hatred - believe me! But I don't understand the hatred for Next - I was skeptical at first, but it kind of seems like a wash to me. If you get a phone anywhere you HAVE to have service for it. So if you go the contract route you get stuck paying $300 or in my case I believe it's $499 for the 128 phone? UP FRONT and the monthly fee for 2 years verses NEXT which is Zero percent financing and no money up front.

Supposedly you can upgrade in a year - although I'm not clear on how that works because you have to pay for the phone for 18 Months so if you upgrade in 12 months does that mean it just rolls over for a new payment plan - extending it?

So I don't understand all the hatred for Next. And I always have the option to buy the phone outright - which I'll probably do early next year.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

They really really really want people off their unlimited data plans.

Are they really that afraid of losing their court case? I'm thinking 'Why Yes They Are'.

Which makes me wonder what they will do after losing the case to all of the people that freely were coerced out of their unlimited plans. Take away their 'promotional data caps'? Count on it?

 

[aristobrat]

Supposedly you can upgrade in a year - although I'm not clear on how that works because you have to pay for the phone for 18 Months so if you upgrade in 12 months does that mean it just rolls over for a new payment plan - extending it?

Like you said, Next is simply a $0 down/0% APR finance contract, with no penalties for late payments or paying it off early.

For folks that want to, it allows for early upgrades. You turn in your device, and they pay off the remaining balance that you owe on the account.

If you don't do an early upgrade, you keep your phone, just like everyone did with the old 2-year contracts.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I understand ATT Hatred - believe me! But I don't understand the hatred for Next - I was skeptical at first, but it kind of seems like a wash to me. If you get a phone anywhere you HAVE to have service for it. So if you go the contract route you get stuck paying $300 or in my case I believe it's $499 for the 128 phone? UP FRONT and the monthly fee for 2 years verses NEXT which is Zero percent financing and no money up front.

Supposedly you can upgrade in a year - although I'm not clear on how that works because you have to pay for the phone for 18 Months so if you upgrade in 12 months does that mean it just rolls over for a new payment plan - extending it?

So I don't understand all the hatred for Next. And I always have the option to buy the phone outright - which I'll probably do early next year.

My understanding is that Next is like a lease, where they own the phone when the contract is over, unless you keep it the entire time or pay it off over their 'lease to own' time.

So, AT&T gets to keep your phone at the end of 12 months to 'offset' the balance on the phone. Sounds like a good deal for AT&T...

They really want people off their unlimited plans too, so they are promising the moon, sun, and a whole bunch of stars to get you people to throw it away for a handful of beans.

America needs to go the European way and stop vendors from subsidizing devices. It's going that way with the iPads, except for AT&T which demands LOCKING EVERYTHING down like crazy...

 

[aristobrat]

They really really really want people off their unlimited data plans.

AFAIK, AT&T isn't "forced" to keep offering the unlimited contracts.

If they want people off of them, they shouldn't offer them. When people go to re-new, make them pick a new contract. If people don't like the new contracts, then they're free to take their business elsewhere.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

AFAIK, AT&T isn't "forced" to keep offering the unlimited contracts.

If they want people off of them, they shouldn't offer them. When people go to re-new, make them pick a new contract. If people don't like the new contracts, then they're free to take their business elsewhere.

No, they are dead, you can't get an 'unlimited' plan any more. You can get a high data cap plan for a hell of a lot more money than the old unlimited plans. And you still get throttled if you go over, and they also charge you a BOAT LOAD OF CASH if you do go over.

 

[aristobrat]

My understanding is that Next is like a lease, where they own the phone when the contract is over, unless you keep it the entire time or pay it off over their 'lease to own' time.

It sounds like you're combining "lease" (where you never own the product) and "rent to own" (where you can return it at anytime and stop the payments).

FWIW, Next is literally a 0% financing contract.

Here's a picture of what the contract looks like.

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No, they are dead, you can't get an 'unlimited' plan any more. You can get a high data cap plan for a hell of a lot more money than the old unlimited plans. And you still get throttled if you go over, and they also charge you a BOAT LOAD OF CASH if you do go over.

Aren't people on the unlimited plans still allowed to sign back up for new 2-year contracts (on their grandfathered unlimited plan) when they buy new phones?

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

Honestly. Tmobile is the way to go.

Until you leave the city or step into a building. T-Mobile is getting better, but it'll be a long while until they can keep up with the big boys.

 

[jlgolson]

store.apple.com doesn't allow you to upgrade your Next plan.

You can roll your eyes but you're misinformed. You CAN upgrade your Next plan on store.apple.com. I just did it. That's where the screenshot in the original post is from.

YOU may not be able to upgrade your Next plan because you already ordered a phone, but for anyone eligible, they can use Next to buy a phone on Apple's website.

America needs to go the European way and stop vendors from subsidizing devices. It's going that way with the iPads, except for AT&T which demands LOCKING EVERYTHING down like crazy...

You mean like how AT&T Next works, where the consumer pays for the whole device?

 

[giantfan1224]

So, AT&T gets to keep your phone at the end of 12 months to 'offset' the balance on the phone. Sounds like a good deal for AT&T...

They only get to keep your phone if you turn it in. It's like a closed end lease on a vehicle. If you think it's worth more on the open market, then pay off the remaining balance and keep it (or sell it yourself). This has been repeated several times on this thread. Why is it so hard to understand?