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ATT upgrade eligibility moved up
- Thread starter jblock
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So what will you do when you sign a new, two-year contract with Verizon and new iPhone comes out before you're eligible for an upgrade (again)?
I probably will. The lady I spoke to said she could not do it especially for an iPhone.
I'll deal with that when the time comes. My concern now is not having to wait another four months to upgrade. If I upgrade now I'll be four month into my 24-month commitment...vs. waiting till Feb. 2012. So that ought to ease those concerns...
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I guess you got the RIGHT lady...I didn't. I'll try again once the Rreorder starts to see if AT&T changes their eligibily dates for early adoptors like myself.
In the past I've sold my old iHones on eBay and made out well. On the Verizon website they are offering trade-in for even AT&T customers. I was offered $202 for my trade-in. I know Apple announced the same tradein program and AT&T probably will have the same deal.
But if AT&T won't give me the early eligibility now then I'll go with $399(64GB)-$202(trade-in)=$197 now with Verizon.
Wish you would have got her dicerct extension because I had no luck at all. It seems like when I call I get the person who has absolutely no idea as to what is going on. Frustrating knowing some are getting bumped up when they call and others are getting refused.
Two calls to AT&T... two answers.
I was told if I go to an AT&T store they will allow be to upgrade at the $199/$299/$399 price points. Even though it states I am not eligible until February 2012.
Earlier today I was told to cal back on Friday and as to speak to someone "with approval rights" and they would see I should in fact be eligible.
We'll see!
I was told if I go to an AT&T store they will allow be to upgrade at the $199/$299/$399 price points. Even though it states I am not eligible until February 2012.
Earlier today I was told to cal back on Friday and as to speak to someone "with approval rights" and they would see I should in fact be eligible.
We'll see!
Obviously there is a lot of confusion at AT&T right now on how they are going to handle this. Hopefully in the next 24-hours a company-wide decision will be made on what their uniform policy will be for early adopters.
I'd can't go stand in line at the Apple Store hoping they will give me the early eligibility rates...
I'd can't go stand in line at the Apple Store hoping they will give me the early eligibility rates...
Most people that answer the 611 phone line have no idea what they are doing. The lady that helped me acted like this was a promotion AT&T was offering to iPhone 4 customers that wanted to get the new iPhone 4S. She said that you had to call though as they were not promoting it. I think her name was Danielle if that helps.
When I called they said no one there could help me (Got iPhone 3Gs on Day one, and then upgraded to iPhone 4 on day one, with a Nov 25 2011 upgrade date). Then he tried to sell it to me! Seriously!
He started spouting off "when you become eligible it will be 199 for this one, 299 for that one.. it has 7x faster graphics..." and I just had to stop him.
I know buddy, I know. I probably know more about it than you do.
This is freakin' lame. I mean I know... middle class problems right? Why should I be pissed like they actually owe me anything... but this is pretty lame.
He started spouting off "when you become eligible it will be 199 for this one, 299 for that one.. it has 7x faster graphics..." and I just had to stop him.
I know buddy, I know. I probably know more about it than you do.
This is freakin' lame. I mean I know... middle class problems right? Why should I be pissed like they actually owe me anything... but this is pretty lame.
Same reason other companies make phones once a month, twice a month, etc. Just because you're not eligible doesn't mean someone isn't. At the end of the day Apple is business and the purpose of a business is to turn a profit.
I am also getting an upgrade date of Feb 25. I bought my phones (Wife and I) on June 24th, 2010 (Launch Day).
I called AT&T and was told that they are not upgrading eligibility. I asked if I was to purchase a 16GB for $449, what would they do if I spent $200 more for an Unlocked version at the Apple store and eventually got all of my lines off the contract?
They put me through 4 people and 3 were "Customer Retention" people.
I am thinking that AT&T will come to their senses and stop blaming Apple for their contracts being strange.
AT&T is claiming that the eligibility dates are coming from Apple? This could not be the case as I remember being told that Apple receives a Subsidy of $400 on every iPhone they sell from AT&T or Verizon.
Apple is getting paid for every iPhone sold.
So if they had any control over what the eligibility dates would be, Apple would make the dates ASAP for everyone, because last time I checked, Apple is in the business of selling devices.
Anyone else agree?
Samsung, Rim, HTC and many others bring out several phone models each year...reason? To make money. They know you can't upgrade for each model but they are looking for the people who can upgrade or who are looking for a new phone.
Technically you can buy one every year, you just can't get one at the fully subsidized price every year... at least theoretically.
But more to your point some people stick to a two year upgrade cycle and also the market is constantly evolving so Apple can't stand totally still.
I'd agree with that.
It comes down to a business/economics decision for me. I understand AT&T need to recoop costs for discounted iPhones but on the flip side...they have a serious issue...in that a lot of customers that upgraded to the iPhone 4 in June 2010 could jump ship to Sprint &/or Verizon and save a lot of $$$$ if they want a 4S NOW!!!
It almost clarifies buying the Unlocked version at $649/$749?/$849 and then going to Verizon or Sprint (Unlimited Data) when I choose.
I have 5 iPhones on my plan. I really hope AT&T comes to their senses!
I called AT&T and they would not move my upgrade what so ever. My wife's either. They said they could not move the date.
I'm stuck with my phone until the end of March. I had to wait a couple months after iPhone 4 release to get it and now ATT still has me in same holding pattern.
The biggest holdup on the 4 was I was eligible about 1.5 months after, but... had to order through ATT store as there were no phones anywhere and wait to get it.
I did find out what does it though. My wife works for Bank of America and we get a employee discount of 15% off a month on our bill and we both have iPhones. If you get aNY type of discount you are ineligible for early upgrades. Geez... how nice. We signed up for discount and never knew it would be used against us.
I'm stuck with my phone until the end of March. I had to wait a couple months after iPhone 4 release to get it and now ATT still has me in same holding pattern.
The biggest holdup on the 4 was I was eligible about 1.5 months after, but... had to order through ATT store as there were no phones anywhere and wait to get it.
I did find out what does it though. My wife works for Bank of America and we get a employee discount of 15% off a month on our bill and we both have iPhones. If you get aNY type of discount you are ineligible for early upgrades. Geez... how nice. We signed up for discount and never knew it would be used against us.
Full price U.S. iPhones are not factory unlocked, they are just "no contract." However, they are still carrier specific. You can't take a Verizon iPhone to Sprint or vice versa or an ATT to T-Mob. You'd have to go to Europe to find a factory unlocked iPhone.
True, but I don't see how they save any $ as they have to pay the ETF fee and if you have a grandfathered data or SMS plan you lose it which costs you in the long term.
That bites! My family plan is also on a discounted plan as I work for General Motors. I am gonna call AT&T back tomorrow and find out what the hell is going on? This is nuts!
Discounts have nothing to do with it. My husband and I have a 25% discount on our account, and it doesn't affect being able to upgrade every year.