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AT&T trying to talk me out of iphone, why?

Every single AT&T sales rep I've ever had to put up with for 4 years has been anti-iPhone. This persistence is a tad suspicious when you consider that until earlier this year, AT&T could claim to be the only carrier for such a popular phone.

I think what it comes down to is reduced incentives. The iPhone probably gives sales reps a very low or possibly no commission. It's also more difficult to sell high profit extended warranties and accessories in an AT&T store because people like visiting the Apple Store for those things.

That's just my take on this; I can't confirm its accuracy.

For my money, the fact that the iPhone is the only smartphone left that isn't the size of a bus makes it difficult to even consider other options.
 
Just finished the deal. Me and my folks are now iphone users with 2 free iphone 3g's, and one iphone 4s for myself. Although I have to wait until they actually get an iphone 4s in. Mean time I am using my old Blackberry. I think I made the right choice for sure. I'm really looking forward to using Nanostudio, and imaschine with the iphone.

Thanks for all the generous reply's. :)
 
I don't even know how people still compare iOS vs Android. They're two different animals.
 
Cicatrix said:
I went in to AT&T yesterday to discuss plans, and look at the iphone 4s, and Galaxy S2. I was leaning towards the iphone 4s but as soon as I mentioned that to the salesman it's like he went ballistic, and raged on it. It was quite peculiar. It's like vengeance was his against the iphone or something. He was coming up with all sorts of lies and misinformation about both phones. Maybe he was a used car salesman in disguise I don't know. Any way, we left and went to another more reputable AT&T store and got a better low down between both the iphone 4s, and Galaxy S2. They both seem to be almost equal with unique perks. Like the Galaxy S2 has a bigger screen that's more vivid, but the iphone screen is noticeably sharper. The iphone 4s feels better built. It feels like an expensive piece of gear where as the Galaxy S2 feels sort of cheap. As far as speed, I really haven't played with them enough to notice a difference. I think they are both really good phones and I am really sort of torn between which to get. I have been reading and comparing the two relentlessly. I will be going down to AT&T today to go into a family plan and we will all be choosing new phones. So I have still yet come to a decision.
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They get more money selling android phones.
 
Being a salesperson does not preclude you from being a fanboy/girl, Android, Apple or otherwise.

You have already invested in the Apple ecosystem, the 4S is almost a no-brainer for you, everything will work seamlessly together....unless you want to experiment with Android as well, in which case a SG2S may not be a bad choice.

I know I really enjoyed having a WP7 phone along with my iPad 2, best of both worlds, and WP7 is a great OS that really deserves to succeed. However, I felt had to return to iOS/4S full time, too much $$ invested in the apps, and am really enjoying the overall quality and content a 4S offers over any other smartphone right now.
 
I never think the salesmen at either the Verizon or AT&T stores seem to really know what they're talking about when it comes to smartphones for the most part. You're better off researching online at something like CNet for reviews so you'll have a good idea of each model's features/benefits/drawbacks before you ever actually go shopping. Ask around with friends who have owned each model for awhile and get their opinions, too. Apple seems to have a superior customer retention rate with the iPhone. I know I want nothing else but not everyone agrees.;)
 
Why would you rely on a sales person to help you make the decision? Basically who cares what he/she has to say? Get what you want not what your wife, girlfriend, mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, roomate, drinking buddy, pope, plice man on the corner ect ect thinks you should get.
 
as others have said, it was more than likely someone ill-informed. i've been to an orange store (uk) and a salesman refused to sell my friend a 3GS because the little town we live in does not have full 3g signal. his words? "we cant sell you it because your 3G coverage isn't good enough, its a 3g phone and requires a 3g signal. when you take it home with no 3g it wont work." We tried to argue with him about it but my example of an O2 3GS working fine and dropping to edge/gps when out of 3g coverage had no impact. he just refused to sell the phone. we went to the next closest orange store and he bought his phone no problem. some salesmen just don't know the facts, so they spout their opinion as fact instead. i find it's always better to do your homework and make your mind up before you even get to the store.
 
This is why you should never go to an AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile/etc. retail store.

The reps there have ONE goal - to manipulate your decisions into what they want to sell you and to upsell you with overpriced accessories.

There is only ever one reason to go into a network retail store IMHO - to test out phones you're interested in.

Otherwise, buy online, do your research online, and get customer support either online or by phone. There is nothing you can learn in a store from a rep that you can't learn online.
 
same experience!

I had the same experience! Two years ago (as a 16-year-old) I went into the AT&T store with all my money saved up to buy the brand new iPhone 4. I was SO excited. My previous phone was stolen, and after working hard for three months to save up enough money (phoneless for those three months!) I had finally saved enough. But when I went in, the man behind the desk immediately went into a pro-Android rant when I told him I wanted the iPhone 4. Now, I was young and naiive at this point, and the fact that buying a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 would save me $100 along with his 15 minute rant convinced me that the Xperia was the right phone for me. I could not have been more wrong. It was absolutely awful. It was slow, unreliable service, and had so many problems that Sony Ericsson refused to help me with. In fact, when I had to order a replacement for my broken phone they told me they don't even sell the phone anymore due to too many complaints. So I stuck it out with my crappy Android replacement for two long years.

I just purchased the iPhone 4S and could not be happier. It's perfect for me, and I know that buying it was the right decision. But my point is, that no matter what they do to try and convince you to buy another phone, if you believe that the iPhone is the right phone for you, stick to your gut! You'll save yourself a lot of aggrivation, believe me :)

Also, Apple gets a portion of whatever the profit AT&T gets from each iPhone sold. From what I understand, Apple's cut is much larger than say, Samsung's or Sony's. This could also be why AT&T salesmen hate selling iPhones.
 
Android has better margins then iPhone but there are always lots of boxes just sitting in the back.

The latest android anything flyers off the shelf while the others sit looking for a home.

When something like the new s3 shows up All the others will start to grow hair.

When that happens the sales push is on.
You couldn't possible want an iPhone. What you really need is _________ fill in the android blank.
Then the 49.99, 1 cent, and two for one, etc. start to show up.

at&t stores have no problem getting rid of iPhones.
Whatever stock they receive they sell. Even with all the sales steering to the contrary.
 
I also suspect carriers like ATT and Verizon have some financial incentive to sell Android phones.

When I was shopping for a phone on Verizon, between the 4 and the Droid Charge, they kept pushing the Droid Charge (bragging about 4G LTE, etc.) It definitely felt like the salesman had a financial incentive as opposed to just offering his opinion.

Could be kickbacks, manufacturer rebates, etc.
 
They probably get bored of selling iphones. For android phones and windows phones, they probably have to get rid of inventory. Salesmen and Saleswomen probably like when they can convince people to buy a phone they didn't know about before.
 
falconeight said:
I didn't know AT&T was a salesperson at your store.
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Yeah I hate the title of this thread. The salesperson had an inherent bias, and salespeople in general are untrustworthy drones.

SGMD1 said:
This is why you should never go to an AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile/etc. retail store.
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This x infinity.

Carriers are scum. Pure scum. Especially in the US. I avoid them at all costs. I buy direct from the manufacturer and use an MVNO.
 
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Why are carriers scum?

My company is scum, they promised raises each year and we only get a 2% raise every 3rd year, not even enough to keep up with inflation.

Calidude said:
Yeah I hate the title of this thread. The salesperson had an inherent bias.


This x infinity.

Carriers are scum. Pure scum. Especially in the US. I avoid them at all costs. I buy direct from the manufacturer and use an MVNO.
Click to expand...
 
vistadude said:
Why are carriers scum?
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They are part of an industry that is very specialized and built upon infrastructure that is hard for just anybody to create and thus they can easily have a stranglehold over a market and nearly always take advantage of that.

They are the definition of the evils of government-corporate cronyism and do nothing but suck the lifeblood of any community they have a presence in. They're among the first corporations that should be punished for their lobbying and relieved of their corporate personhood and the government bureaucrat traitors who help them should be jailed for their treason against the people of the US.
 
Was in the Sprint store playing with the new Evo and the rep there refused to let a person pay for an iPhone with cash, and said the iPhone was credit or debit only. If they wanted to pay cash, they had to get an android phone...

And to quote him "Android phones are bigger, so you know they are better"

I wish I was joking. Mind you, the customers didn't speak English well and it seemed like he was trying to exploit them.
 
If you are taking advice from a carrier store, you are already lost. Their advice is based on personal and/or corporate values, not yours. When you return with a problem they will pretend they never saw you before or it's just a "policy" issue beyond their local control. They will never identify whomever the policy czar is....cause there ain't one, at least that will talk to you, a stupid customer!

Is an Apple store prejudiced...certainly...but then there is an Apple store and it is dedicated to your success. Where is the Sammy store? Oh yeah..at the carrier store...that's all you need to know
 
yes the sales reps in the carrier stores do get some piddly commissions on each sale be it phones or the other crap they carry, got my phones and they wanted to sell me equipment not related to phones, if it wanted a bluetooth boombox i wouldn't buy from them...
they wanted to show me every phone except the iphone until i started talking techie to the guy, then he shut up and sold me my phones...cash!

(only reason i had to go to carrier store is nearest apple store or big electronics stores are over 2 hours away)
 
DroidRules said:
Why would you rely on a sales person to help you make the decision? Basically who cares what he/she has to say? Get what you want not what your wife, girlfriend, mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, roomate, drinking buddy, pope, plice man on the corner ect ect thinks you should get.
Click to expand...

Agree with above. Your question "AT&T trying to talk me out of iphone, why?" You are asking the wrong people on this forum. You should have asked the salesperson, not us since we don't have a clue or can crawl into the sales persons head. Make up your own mind. Unless you are so very young and need assistance from an adult, then ask the parents. ;)
 
Rely on any sales rep (regardless of the product, company, etc) over your own research and due diligence and you get what you deserve, IMO.
 
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