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AT&T Offers Walkthrough Videos for iPhone 3G Buying
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iPhone arrogance
The more I read about the iPhone, its pricing and the limits that are being placed on customers (only 1 each), the more I get the impression that the iPhone is an arrogant play by Apple and its partners and I will give it a miss. Sure, its a sweet device but they are a) pricing it out of the market, b) doing there best to make the whole buying experience a complete turn off. There is nothing worse that corporate arrogance and greed.
The more I read about the iPhone, its pricing and the limits that are being placed on customers (only 1 each), the more I get the impression that the iPhone is an arrogant play by Apple and its partners and I will give it a miss. Sure, its a sweet device but they are a) pricing it out of the market, b) doing there best to make the whole buying experience a complete turn off. There is nothing worse that corporate arrogance and greed.
And you expect that every single AT&T outlet uses the SAME credit bureau across the nation? What difference could it make which credit bureau AT&T uses for a credit check? Are you going to NOT buy an iPhone because AT&T uses Experian instead of TransUnion or Equifax to check your credit history? The last time I applied for credit, the person processing it said something like "Experian shows the account is delinquent, TransUnion shows it as current, and Equifax does not show it at all." So apparently their software pulled a report from all three bureaus. Either your credit report is good or is in need of your attention. Besides, if you are declined credit, you are entitled to a free copy of the credit report used in making that decision.
So what do you suggest ? Forcing a full line of people willing to comply to be held up by 1 person who wants to fight the system ?
If you want to fight it, go for it ... just please, don't do it with a full line of people, its not going to work and won't accomplish anything.
After watching the AT&T video I decided to go to their store during my lunch hour. I am going to be a new AT&T customer, so I thought I'd take the advise given in the video and fill out the credit check and any other advance paperwork so that when I show up on the 11th it will be quicker and smoother.
When I got there (Folsom, CA) they knew nothing of the video. I showed it to the girl helping me. She asked me to wait a minute and she went in the back room. When she came back she told me it's a fake and there isn't going to be any advance paperwork, just come in on the 11th. I can tell already if I buy my IPhone from my local AT&T store that it's going to be a mess. Today was a normal day for the store and there was a big line and it just wasn't organized.
Last year I waited in line at the Apple store for Leopard and I must say, it was well organized and the line went quickly. I may end up going to the Apple Store in Sacramento to get my IPhone. I was hoping to buy it at the local AT&T store as it's right down the street from my house.
When I got there (Folsom, CA) they knew nothing of the video. I showed it to the girl helping me. She asked me to wait a minute and she went in the back room. When she came back she told me it's a fake and there isn't going to be any advance paperwork, just come in on the 11th. I can tell already if I buy my IPhone from my local AT&T store that it's going to be a mess. Today was a normal day for the store and there was a big line and it just wasn't organized.
Last year I waited in line at the Apple store for Leopard and I must say, it was well organized and the line went quickly. I may end up going to the Apple Store in Sacramento to get my IPhone. I was hoping to buy it at the local AT&T store as it's right down the street from my house.
They still haven't answered my question:
I already have a voice plan, I am on a family plan but it is in my mom's name, so she pays the $39.99 for our plan, and I am added on for $9.99 a month. Neither of us have iPhones, but I want to upgrade to one, and I am eligible. Am I allowed to stay on the family plan we already have and just pay the $299 + $18 upgrade fee and then just add $30 every month to our plan? That's what would've happened with the old iPhone (just add $20 to the existing plan for the data package) will I still be able to do that?
I already have a voice plan, I am on a family plan but it is in my mom's name, so she pays the $39.99 for our plan, and I am added on for $9.99 a month. Neither of us have iPhones, but I want to upgrade to one, and I am eligible. Am I allowed to stay on the family plan we already have and just pay the $299 + $18 upgrade fee and then just add $30 every month to our plan? That's what would've happened with the old iPhone (just add $20 to the existing plan for the data package) will I still be able to do that?
I don't need to do it since I already did it. I refused to give them my SSN and told them I would not give it to them. The lady wanted me to switch to AT&T and so, she said she can do it without the SSN. That easy. And, it is the best time to insist on this when there is a huge line. So please, people, insist on what is right when there is a huge line. They will be less resistant.
The fact she called it a fake, would make me walk out of the store laughing. Hell, its on the press release page of the AT&T corporate site for crying out loud. *IF* it was a fake, it wouldn't be up there still.
I just got done calling an AT&T store local to me, and they said to come down to get my credit check done. They have had a large number of people doing it today.
(I am waiting till this weekend though)
ATT offers walk throughs
You are WRONG. I do this all the time with all sorts of companies. I have DONE it with both Verizon and AT&T in the past. Credit checks CAN be done without a SS#. All you have to do is stand up for your rights. If everyone refused they would stop asking. Remember it is ILLEGAL to force someone to give a SS#
You are WRONG. I do this all the time with all sorts of companies. I have DONE it with both Verizon and AT&T in the past. Credit checks CAN be done without a SS#. All you have to do is stand up for your rights. If everyone refused they would stop asking. Remember it is ILLEGAL to force someone to give a SS#
Like I said, in _rare_ cases you can do this. I have a friend of mine who pulls this crap all the time. I have watched him go from store to store for 2 weeks solid trying to get service without providing his SSN. After a certain point they will give in or fall for it not knowing the rules.
They can NOT perform a credit check without your SSN. Your only option would be to purchase a "prepaid account" which is going to cost you a lot. (Not totally sure if they are doing prepaid for the 3G)
Anyone who is seriously considering doing this, just think about how inconsiderate you are going to be to everyone around you. You are going to hold up the line for a long period of time and piss everyone off. If enough people do it, the reaction you will get will be them asking you to leave the store. You can only imagine where it will go from there.
Kind of reminds of the lady who thought she was hot sh** buying out the first place in line thinking she could buy the store out of iPhones. (What was it like $100k) Not only did she make an ass of her self, she walked out of the store empty handed.
Get your check done before hand, especially if you are going to act like a child in the store complaining about them asking for your SSN.
Good for you ... as long as you don't do it at launch day I am sure no one will care.
If everyone refused, there would just be a lot of people without phones. Simple as that.
According to the three reps I spoke to, including a manager...this seems right. I have a family plan and will be doing the same, hoping my 550 Nation Rollover plan will remain untouched.
Bottom Line: $399 for 8GB
This sucks. I got my wife a cheapo Razr at the same time as I got the iPhone last year. I can upgrade for $199+18 (what the heck is up with $18, anyway?), but I will be looking at full-boat $399 for her.
Or I can make her suffer for another 11 months. That won't fly.
I guess AT&T hasn't heard of the concept of pro-rated fees. I wouldn't mind a $100 penalty as much.
This sucks. I got my wife a cheapo Razr at the same time as I got the iPhone last year. I can upgrade for $199+18 (what the heck is up with $18, anyway?), but I will be looking at full-boat $399 for her.Or I can make her suffer for another 11 months. That won't fly.
I guess AT&T hasn't heard of the concept of pro-rated fees. I wouldn't mind a $100 penalty as much.
I just called the Folsom, CA store to complain and while waiting the recording was talking about being IReady, but they told me the video was a fake! I'm am mildly pissed!
If you think standing up for your rights is acting like a baby you are a fool. Identity theft starts with stolen SS#. And if you have suffered identity theft you know it is a huge deal and is becoming more common. It can cost you thousands of dollars and many many hours to get yourself back in the financial world. Instead of dismissing the idea give it some thought. Or are you happy with Big Brother watching everything you do???
Or I can make her suffer for another 11 months. That won't fly.
I guess AT&T hasn't heard of the concept of pro-rated fees. I wouldn't mind a $100 penalty as much.
Why don't you just pass your current iPhone down to your wife and sell the RAZR on ebay? Does she need blazing 3G speeds? Do you?
Good job leaping to a huge assumption. I want to know because I have my credit report locked at each bureau. It costs 10 bucks to unlock it in order for them to run a check. If I know which bureau they use I can unlock one instead of three thereby saving me 10 bucks.
and, yes, I would assume they all use the same bureau across the country. I wouldn't expect each store to contract with a different bureau.
Yes, I am not only very aware of how identify theft works ... I have had it happen to me. I am also very aware of how much it costs to repair. If you think this is the only way to get your SSN, you are sadly mistaken. There are countless ways to get someones SSN, protecting a few sources aren't going to do it. There has been more leakage of SSNs via stolen or lost backup tapes from banks and/or government agencies then private corporations. Go try to start a bank account without a SSN, let me know how it works out for ya.
Again, my point is that if you want to fight it I am all for that ... just don't delay _me_ when I am trying to get a 3G iPhone on launch day. Not respecting other people and seriously delaying them in a store trying to get your way is both selfish and childish.
I am simply asking anyone that who wants to do this respect other people when doing so.
No, do this on launch day.
If everyone refused to provide their SSN and AT&T would refuse to sell then AT&T and Apple will miss a lot of sales. Simple as that.
Why would you expect this of people who are protecting their rights and not of AT&T?
Sounds like total laziness to me.... maybe you should e-mail your experience to AT&T - not that they'd do anything about it, looks like they have your business anyways (it's not like T-Mobile will be selling these things also).
That makes me want to never switch to AT&T and continue using hacked phones on T-Mobile. T-Mobile's customer service has been great to me (at least).