Checking Upgrade Eligibility Ahead of Friday's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Pre-Orders

[zioxide]

AT&T used to be reasonable and give you the full discount every 2 years, and let you pay extra to upgrade in the off year. But now AT&T wants to screw me 3 years in a row. This means they are making more money off me than someone who waiting a full 2 years to upgrade. AND if I pay full price now, they will STILL lock me into another 2 year contract. So screw those *******s. It will cost me less to pay their ETF (which I shouldn't even have!) and go with someone else. So now which carrier is best?

AT&T Next is a ****ing joke for sucker who can't count.

The only joke is when you don't understand how the service works and then go off ranting with your misunderstanding.

I'm on a family plan with ATT Next, 4 lines + 10 gigs of data shared.

The base mobile share 10GB is $100 for us (thanks EDU discount).

If you have a 2 year contract and buy the subsidized phone for $299 or whatever, each line costs $40.

If you have AT&T Next, each line only costs $15 and then you pay the $25ish (depending on what model/size) for the phone.

The costs work out the same or cheaper for AT&T Next. You have to pay the monthly rate for the phone, but the line only costs $15 instead of $40 because they are no longer using that extra cost built into the line to subsidize the phone.

 

[ryanasimov]

If I'm already an ATT NEXT customer can I preorder through Apple and get the same contract pricing? I can't tell by the chart (attached).

 

[Moonlight]

And where can you find these? The only thing you can see from their website is that they are going to bill you monthly for the full cost of the phone eventually, and it looks like you have to turn in the phone. So I'm paying full price and I have to give it back?

AND you have to give them your current phone to start.

 

[brentsg]

Attached is for ATT if you are eligible 2 year contract price. I checked the site to confirm.
My original date was for the 15th of this month, so it looks like they backtracked it so I am eligible for preorder on the 12th, and I didn't even have to call and ask.

I'm still on the unlimited data plan.

I'm with Verizon and my date is October 5th, and they're not budging. I might switch carriers just for the hassle. That's what, 16 days? Ugh..

 

[Verita]

AT&T used to be reasonable and give you the full discount every 2 years, and let you pay extra to upgrade in the off year. But now AT&T wants to screw me 3 years in a row. This means they are making more money off me than someone who waiting a full 2 years to upgrade. AND if I pay full price now, they will STILL lock me into another 2 year contract. So screw those *******s. It will cost me less to pay their ETF (which I shouldn't even have!) and go with someone else. So now which carrier is best?

AT&T Next is a ****ing joke for sucker who can't count.

I agree, I used to be their victim until about a year ago. T-Mobile will continue to shake up the industry, their network will improve, and customer service is already top notch. There is no difficulty in the decision here!

 

[RubeHefner]

New & existing Verizon customers can get a free iPhone 4.7 (with a 2 year contract) by trading in your old iPhone. Nice

 

[Hotboyzz]

Godfather Unlimited Data AT&T Inc. (T)

Notice no mention of your Godfather?

Gone by by......

 

[Jovian9]

Whatever happened to early upgrades AT&T used to have ? You know.You get a phone on a 2-year contract then 12-18 months later you're eligible for an upgrade.

I got the 5S In Sept. 2013 and AT&T shows I'm eligible for an upgrade in Sept. 2015.

Yeah. I called them about that and was told they do not do that any longer. I used to get it every 18-20 months and now it's 24 months. I have to wait until early November for my upgrade b/c of this. He couldn't tell me why.

I did this check on 4 phone lines still under 2 yr. commitment. So not eligible for subsidy from AT&T.

My pricing was lower then what the initial post had. Can anyone tell me why that is?

Image

The difference is a new contract vs AT&T Next. AT&T Next is their attempt to get people to upgrade while still under contracts. This causes people to pay the full price of the phone (or a very small discount) but allows them to spread it out of the length of the 2-year contract. So you'd be paying a lot more for the phone, but not all at once. I also believe this moves you out of any other current plans you have an into the 'Next' plan. So if you have the original iPhone unlimited data plan (as we do), you'd have to give it up for Next.

When your 2-year contract ends (as mine does in November) AT&T gives a larger discount on a new phone to re-sign a new 2-year contract. That is when you get the biggest discounts. My iPhone 6+ 128gb will be $499 in November and my wife's iPhone 6 64gb will be $299. That's pretty much in line with all the pricing we've ever had for our iPhone upgrades (other than the initial iPhone gen 1 purchase which was just a flat $600 at the time when they first released).

 

[SPNarwhal]

Did I miss something here?
I thought the 6 was replacing the 5S's price points (199, 299, 399) and the plus was an additional 100 on those (299, 399, 499)?

So how is the 128gb iPhone 6 Plus coming up as 750?
Or another question
if the 64gb iPhone 5S is currently 750 off contract, and the 6 will replace that price (for the 128gb model since that's replacing the 3rd pricing option) then how isn't the iPhone 6 Plus 128gb only 850 off contract? (instead of the 950 that this quotes)?

Doesn't make sense to me.

EDIT--
Nevermind. Didn't realize the 5S price decrease already took effect.

 

[bigjnyc]

I got my iPhone 5S launch day last year also and I don't show eligible price.

What the heck is AT&T doing ? I'm confused now.

uh-oh, I feel like I'm the only one that doesn't have that Today column with the full price. This worries me.... The last thing I want to do is called AT&T and ask, their reps are frazzled and full of bad information around this time.

 

[jlake02]

I am not leasing a cell phone!!!!!!!!!!!

You kids get off my lawn!!!!!!

Haha, I too am an old timer protecting my lawn!

However, it's not a lease unless you get a new phone each year. You can consider it 0% financing for your phone PURCHASE.

 

[Wahlstrm]

Inc VAT the 6+ 128GB is about $1400 in Sweden..
A 128GB rMBP is $1500..

 

[Gjwilly]

If I'm already an ATT NEXT customer can I preorder through Apple and get the same contract pricing? I can't tell by the chart (attached).

Yes you can but if you're currently getting a discount for being on a non-contract plan you will lose the discount.

 

[QCassidy352]

I no longer use the carrier subsidies. This helps me save money in two ways: First, the total 2 year cost ends up lower (as has been spelled out in many previous threads on this forum).

But second, it makes me stop and think harder about whether I really need to upgrade. I am still on an iphone 5, and although I lust after the iphone 6, the reality is that it will be $750 (iphone 6 64 GB) + case + tax, and I'm looking at close to $900 when all is said and done.

Now, I could pay that $900 up front (without debt), but is it really worth that when my iphone 5 still works beautifully and is about to get even better with iOS 8? I'm not so sure. With the subsidy, the apparent cost is much lower, so I'd probably bite... but the key word there is apparent because I'd still end up paying the full price (more, actually) eventually.

So long story short, I'd encourage people to get off the subsidy train and buy your devices outright. It'll save you money in absolute terms, and it'll also make you really think about the full cost of the upgrade.

(and, full disclosure, I may well go for the new one... but if I do, it'll be with eyes wide open about just how much that shiny new toy cost me)

 

[archer75]

The only joke is when you don't understand how the service works and then go off ranting with your misunderstanding.

I'm on a family plan with ATT Next, 4 lines + 10 gigs of data shared.

The base mobile share 10GB is $100 for us (thanks EDU discount).

If you have a 2 year contract and buy the subsidized phone for $299 or whatever, each line costs $40.

If you have AT&T Next, each line only costs $15 and then you pay the $25ish (depending on what model/size) for the phone.

The costs work out the same or cheaper for AT&T Next. You have to pay the monthly rate for the phone, but the line only costs $15 instead of $40 because they are no longer using that extra cost built into the line to subsidize the phone.

The absolutely minimum cost for iPhone 6 on next is $32.45. Could go as high as $47.45/month. Making the 12 month cost of the phone a range from $389.40 to $569.40

Keep in mind your math only applies if a person chooses the 10gb/month plan.

You only pay $40/month on a 2 year upgrade plan if that's part of your particular plan. Prior to mobile share I NEVER paid $40/month for a line. In fact mobile share never reduced our bill. It just gave us a lot more data for the same cost.

 

[Padmini]

AT&T Next is a ****ing joke for sucker who can't count.

Uh, no actually its not. It is THE way to maintain upgrade eligibility every year, and results paying less than the contract free or discounted price of a phone, and only slightly more than a fully subsidized phone. Apparently it is you that can't count.

Maybe you're electing not to read the part about the MONTLY service discount you receive of 15-25 per month per device when using NEXT vs. any other purchase method.

 

[ugh]

The only joke is when you don't understand how the service works and then go off ranting with your misunderstanding.

My misunderstanding is only because AT&T refuses to make the total costs clear for a given plan. It's just bits of monthly charges, which will inevitably be added to other charges and fees. That's because they want to hide the true and final cost from their customers.

If you have AT&T Next, each line only costs $15 and then you pay the $25ish (depending on what model/size) for the phone.

The costs work out the same or cheaper for AT&T Next. You have to pay the monthly rate for the phone, but the line only costs $15 instead of $40 because they are no longer using that extra cost built into the line to subsidize the phone.

This means nothing. It doesn't tell me nearly what _my_ bill will be.

 

[Jazper]

Question for anyone who has preordered an iPhone before: is it possible to set a shipping address that's different than the address on my AT&T account? My AT&T account has a Maryland address, but I'm in Massachusetts now and would rather the phone get shipped straight to me...

Yes most likely if you do it through Apple - can't you just change your AT&T address though just to make 100% sure?

 

[ugh]

Maybe you're electing not to read the part about the MONTLY service discount you receive of 15-25 per month per device when using NEXT vs. any other purchase method.

I am reading that claim here, I'm not reading a hard number from AT&T.

 

[gugy]

You do know that you'll end up paying that and much more under contract right?

of course.
At the end of the day where i live there is not many options in terms of carriers. AT&T is the best for signal. I had Verizon and did not work well and T-Mobile I have never tried but I have not heard great things about them.

 

[archer75]

Yeah. I called them about that and was told they do not do that any longer. I used to get it every 18-20 months and now it's 24 months. I have to wait until early November for my upgrade b/c of this. He couldn't tell me why.





The difference is a new contract vs AT&T Next. AT&T Next is their attempt to get people to upgrade while still under contracts. This causes people to pay the full price of the phone (or a very small discount) but allows them to spread it out of the length of the 2-year contract. So you'd be paying a lot more for the phone, but not all at once. I also believe this moves you out of any other current plans you have an into the 'Next' plan. So if you have the original iPhone unlimited data plan (as we do), you'd have to give it up for Next.

When your 2-year contract ends (as mine does in November) AT&T gives a larger discount on a new phone to re-sign a new 2-year contract. That is when you get the biggest discounts. My iPhone 6+ 128gb will be $499 in November and my wife's iPhone 6 64gb will be $299. That's pretty much in line with all the pricing we've ever had for our iPhone upgrades (other than the initial iPhone gen 1 purchase which was just a flat $600 at the time when they first released).

Not entirely correct. You only end up paying full price if you keep the phone for the full 20 or 24 months. Keep in mind you can turn the phone in and upgrade after 12 or 18 months having never paid for the full price of the phone.

If you do the mobile share plan, which will likely save you money on your bill, then your only upgrade option is next or full price outright. But you'd have to do the math to see if this makes sense for you.

 

[Hotboyzz]

Pro vs Cons - AT$T vs Verizon Free IPhone 6

Since AT&T is dropping the Godfathered unlimited. Can you hear me now?
Might have to make the switch.

 

[refslady]

Verizon Edge?

I am on Verizon and figured I would switch from 2-year contract to Edge when I get the 6. My contract isn't up until November, and Verizon already told me if I'm not renewing the contract then the price for the 6 will be the same whether I do it now or wait, and my 4s has been on life support for months so it is too painful to wait another 60 days.

1. Is Verizon Edge available through Best Buy or the Apple store?

2. I see Verizon has carefully rephrased their Edge requirements for the new iPhone: they are using the term "well-qualified purchasers" - I wonder will that be all otherwise eligible Edge customers or if they are going to tier the pricing?

 

[Brettr1]

Does anyone have experience with preordering? When do you actually receive the phone?

I walked into att 5min before open time for the 5 and walked out 10min later with a shiney new phone. I'm thinking about doing that again.

Anytime I have preordered something from Apple I have received it on release day. But I am going to try the in store route this time.

 

[agsystems]

I wish Apple were more clear about the hardware differences between their models.

http://www.apple.com/iphone-6/specs/

Besides OIS and longer battery life they have the same feature set