I'm already an AT&T customer and I have a FAN discount through my employer. When I go through the motions of purchasing an iPhone online through AT&T, it applies the discount to my new data plan. I'd really, really prefer to buy it at the Apple store, but when I go through the motions using their "order it online and pick it up in the store" feature, it indicates I'll be paying full price for the data plan. Has anyone done this? Will AT&T pick up that I have a FAN and apply the discount anyway? If not, will there be any problem going back and having it applied again?
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Buying at Apple store vs AT&T - FAN account
- Thread starter tlbwriter
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I bought mine at the Apple store and they could not apply the discount at the store. I had to go to the AT&T store and show my work badge to get the discount applied. You could probably just call and get it added since you are an existing customer.
Go To The Apple Store!
I would buy at the Apple Store ATT gave me a very hard time buying it for $199 when I already had the 1st Gen Apple Store out in under 5 Mins!
I would buy at the Apple Store ATT gave me a very hard time buying it for $199 when I already had the 1st Gen Apple Store out in under 5 Mins!
They open the box and activate the phone. Then they hand it to you.
Granted, I bought mine at an Apple store, but I really don't see how the AT&T people can screw that up. I'm certain they can handle the task of handing you a phone without dropping it.
At least, I sure hope they can.
Their website says "An Apple Specialist will be ready to help you personalize your new iPhone 3G, make calls, browse the web, receive email, and more." Now, I don't need assistance for a most of that - I can figure out how to make a call
- but won't they at least transfer my contacts from my old phone?Thanks. I'm pretty sure I'll lose at least a month of discount if I have to de-FAN and then re-FAN, so I guess I'll see if there are any goodies available on Friday (I don't expect a discount on the phone, but a discount on accessories or a GWP would be nice) and then decide if it's worth it.
ETA... if I buy through AT&T, Apple will still handle any issues, right? I won't have to go to AT&T for repairs?
Of course, by that time, they'll be out of stock at AT&T...
Their website says "An Apple Specialist will be ready to help you personalize your new iPhone 3G, make calls, browse the web, receive email, and more." Now, I don't need assistance for a most of that - I can figure out how to make a call
I believe you can set up an appointment at your Apple store to do all of this stuff no matter where you bought the phone. The info seems to be different for each store, so check with your local one and set up an appointment for 1 hour after you're going to buy the phone.
As for number transfers, you have 2 options.
1 - I already had all my contacts in my computer's address book. I took the phone home and synced it with my computer, same as how I sync music and videos. The old phone wasn't involved at all.
2 - Save the numbers from your current phone to the sim card. AT&T can help you transfer the numbers to your iPhone using the SIM card. If you have to do this you'll eventually want to copy those back to a computer and start using method #1. That's the way you want to do it, long-term.
simple solution
Just buy the phone from AT&T. You will lose one or maybe two months of FAN discount I would be willing to bet if you cancel it, buy the phone at Apple, and then re-activate it. You may be able to call and get the discount set back up sooner, but it could take a bit to apply to the account. It's really a no-brainer. I initially thought the same thing as you and went to the Apple store to buy my 16GB. I didn't find the salesman very helpful at all and then their system could not process my account (I had an old AT&T account) and I ended up buying it at AT&T anyway. The salesman there was extremely helpful, transferred my contacts from my old SIM card, and showed me how to use some features of the phone. If you have further questions, just go to the Apple Store and get help there----it doesn't matter if you didn't buy it from there.
Just buy the phone from AT&T. You will lose one or maybe two months of FAN discount I would be willing to bet if you cancel it, buy the phone at Apple, and then re-activate it. You may be able to call and get the discount set back up sooner, but it could take a bit to apply to the account. It's really a no-brainer. I initially thought the same thing as you and went to the Apple store to buy my 16GB. I didn't find the salesman very helpful at all and then their system could not process my account (I had an old AT&T account) and I ended up buying it at AT&T anyway. The salesman there was extremely helpful, transferred my contacts from my old SIM card, and showed me how to use some features of the phone. If you have further questions, just go to the Apple Store and get help there----it doesn't matter if you didn't buy it from there.
I actually had Apple call AT&T to temporarily remove the discount so I could buy it at Apple. Then, I went over to AT&T to reinstate the discount. No real disruption to my bill, but it was just an extra drive to AT&T.
In the long run it's better to get it at Apple because if you have hardware problems AT&T will tell you to go to Apple anyway.
In the long run it's better to get it at Apple because if you have hardware problems AT&T will tell you to go to Apple anyway.
Correct, that is the best reason to get it at an apple store. My suggestion all the way.
The last time I went to the apple store...they told me that they had corrected the FAN problem...that they no longer needed to remove it from your account when you buy one there. I was buying a replacement for a lost iPhone and they activated it with no problem with FAN on my account. I later returned it since my lost iPhone was returned
My current phone is an ancient Sony Ericsson that doesn't communicate with my computer at all... there is no backup!
