Yeah right.
If they did that, in another 12 months you'd want the latest iPhone in exchange for another 24 months on your contract, taking you up to 50 months. Then 12 months after that you'd want the next iPhone....
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Contract and Subsidy Issues for iPhone Users Looking to Upgrade to iPhone 3G S
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Yeah right.
If they did that, in another 12 months you'd want the latest iPhone in exchange for another 24 months on your contract, taking you up to 50 months. Then 12 months after that you'd want the next iPhone....
You didn't read my post carefully. Correct the one date was 7/26/08. I said I dont mind paying the early term cancellation price of $399/$499. I don't plan on receiving the $199/$299 price - never have.
The price I am being quoted for upgrade is the full $599/$699 price. I currently have one phone in contract - the one I purchased for the subsidized price on 7/26/08. When it was stolen, the replacement was $538.62 on 8/7/08 - and was unsubsidized due to the price.
The problem is that despite the fact that I paid full price for the phone, AT&T counted it as an early upgrade - even though it was only 10 days or so after the original purchase. This means I am not eligible for early upgrade pricing now ($399/$499).
As I clearly stated - I'm not expecting the $199/$299 pricing - what I am expecting is the early update price of $399/$499 (half subsidized) and what I am also NOT expecting is what I am quoted, which is $599/$699.
At this point - my early termination cost is $120. It would make sense to activate a shiny new 3GS at the $299 price, then pay the $120 and cancel the other one.
What I am pointing out is that the upgrade pricing doesn't make sense - nor does the process. What I am also pointing out is that I purchased the phone on the same day as two of my other friends - and they are offered the $399/$499 pricing. What I am pointing out as well is that despite paying full price for a replacement phone, the crooks at AT&T are considering it an early upgrade, when they didn't upgrade squat.
Now, if you still think I'm out of line - that's great, but you're still not getting it. 😉
12 month contracts are probably the best solution, even if they cost more monthly. That would more closely follow Apple's release cycle.
I think there is a different attitude for the Iphone buyer, its more of a handheld computer than a phone , but its in infancy.. fixes and upgrades come more frequently.
after seeing the keynote, I suspect the iphone is closer to a star trek tricoder or a PADD than a phone.
So I guess some kind of one year contract would make sense, but I don't pretend to have an idea what that would look like.
"As a valued AT&T customer, AT&T can offer you an early iPhone upgrade with
-------------------------------
a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 03/15/2010."
Har, har, har, har, har, har, har, har.....
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a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 03/15/2010."
Har, har, har, har, har, har, har, har.....
BearsFan34
macrumors regular
Good to know, but...since the family talk plan phone I'd be using to get the iPhone 3GS as an upgrade isn't an iPhone data line, I would then have TWO iPhone data plans within my AT&T account...and don't WANT to pay for two (the primary line on the account is my iPhone 3G, bought late July '08), just want to use the non-iPhone line in order to get the subsidized iPhone 3GS price.
How soon after getting the iPhone 3GS would I be able to swap SIM cards with my 3G and then DOWNGRADE the plan to a normal phone line? Wouldn't AT&T get suspicious if one-two days after "activating" a 3GS the line is being downgraded? I don't want to swap phone numbers just to get the 3GS...and if I would have to, I'll just pass on the 3GS altogether or wait until Jan. 2010 to get it.
For a long time 12 month contracts were the norm in the UK, its was only about 18 months ago that longer contracts took over. With the speed the technology improves anything longer than 12 months gets things seriously out of sync.
No upgrade on unsubsidized phones
My first iPhone was the 3G. When I bought it I was not upgrade eligible so I paid the fully UNsubsidized price. Today I went to ATT website and it said I'm still not eligible for the subsidized 3G S. I thought this was bizarre because the people that bought the 2G phone got upgraded after only 1 year because their phones were not subsidized. I called ATT and they wouldn't budge. He told me to go back to the retail store where I purchased the phone. My response was why would I go leave the house to talk to ATT when I have them on the phone. His response. "We don't deal with iPhones". Great customer service.
Now if I got the subsidized price on my 3G I wouldn't complain. But, I paid full price. It doesn't make sense. I'm trying to give them an extra $200 before my contract is up and effectively extend my contract another year and they won't take my money.
My wife is eligible for an upgrade but I think I'm moving to the Palm Pre for her. I've had it with ATT.
My first iPhone was the 3G. When I bought it I was not upgrade eligible so I paid the fully UNsubsidized price. Today I went to ATT website and it said I'm still not eligible for the subsidized 3G S. I thought this was bizarre because the people that bought the 2G phone got upgraded after only 1 year because their phones were not subsidized. I called ATT and they wouldn't budge. He told me to go back to the retail store where I purchased the phone. My response was why would I go leave the house to talk to ATT when I have them on the phone. His response. "We don't deal with iPhones". Great customer service.
Now if I got the subsidized price on my 3G I wouldn't complain. But, I paid full price. It doesn't make sense. I'm trying to give them an extra $200 before my contract is up and effectively extend my contract another year and they won't take my money.
My wife is eligible for an upgrade but I think I'm moving to the Palm Pre for her. I've had it with ATT.
Yes, but while extending your contract another two years will help AT&T recoup their loss from subsidizing your new phone, it does nothing to help recover the loss they have not yet made up on the phone you currently have.
Once you've paid the subsidized amount by fullfilling your contract, you can upgrade.
It's the same as every other phone with every other carrier. Do you think anyone with a Touch Pro expeects HTC or their carrier to just add two years to their contract and give them a new phone because HTC released the Touch Pro 2?
Yes...
Did that with Sprint... once you get a cs on the line you can make all kind of deals.
seriously. why is it so hard for people?
He're my other thought. ATT takes iphone and rigorously test it. If it works, then offers 1-200 credit. This is the old car-trade-in game. If they were smart they would do this.
$100-$200 used/refurb w/ no contract or free-$100 w/ 2 yr contract. Come on ATT, that's smart business.
You got yours for FREE! That is a far cry from $299 + $150 a month. Even if I bought the unsubsidized version, it would be $699 and still have to go with AT&T. I don't get a break on service either. What is really the difference here? They get there money anyway, with or without a contract. You have no choice!
Why didn't you get a subsidised price for the 3G? Was it because you were already with ATT and already had a phone that they had subsidised? If so, that is the reason and it makes sense - they have to make their money back on any phones they subsidise.
Maybe I'm not getting it, but your contract is what covers the original subsidy which won't be until next year. If you bought out of your contract and signed a new one instead of just replacing the phone, then I'd wonder what AT&T's problem is. I don't know who gets what share for in-store unsubsidized sales to know if you'd deserve a smaller price break. Could be the local store and Apple gets most.
It was only the 8Gb 3G model that you got for free from O2 with a £45 / 18 month contract - the 16Gb model cost just under £60 on the same plan. Don't worry about being left out, O2 are making up for it by increasing prices substantially for the 3GS. On the same tariff the 16Gb 3GS is £88 and the 32Gb £176. Which in effect are price increases of £88 and £120 respectively.
Wow , all these posts for what is a no-win situation. I always believed in the quote, "you fight the battles you know you can win". Iphone users this is a lost cause.
I've come to terms with that.
One thing I will mention, ATT's ugrade cycles appear to be based on how much you spend were other carriers seem to use a formula of years of service / payment history.
And people like you are why the prices are so high? 🙂
I couldn't care less whos fault it is, but you get ripped off far more by being a 'loyal customer' - these companies are all uselessly run, disorganised and desperate for new customers.
I doubt it's much different in the US, but here it's easy to talk to a few people with contract phones, and see pricing varying from like £5 a month to £70 a month for the EXACT same service - they're also all probably think that they're getting ok value and "that's what it costs to have a phone"
freedevil
macrumors 6502a
The problem is this will count as an upgrade for you at unsubsidized price. What will you do when the next Iphone comes?
we have Sprint and ATT, when the Iphone came out , Sprint retention would of offered you just about any reasonable deal you could come up with.
Its pretty much the same here in the US.
Have you looked at alternatives like adding a line, when I looked at the family talk plan and compared it to Sprint and verizon , it really doesn't seem like a bad deal. And you get the good upgrade plus you have two phones on different upgrade cycles.
alphatectz
macrumors 6502a
So I pre-ordered the 32gb 3gs but my so call subsidized prices is 499 plus the 30 early upgrade fee, now I figured that I'll be paying 530 and change but then there's the tax which I guess will run my total amount is most likely 600. (damit 🙁 )
Now if I somehow manage to sell my 16gb white 3g for about 400 hopefully 500 then I'll be fine. Other then that I'm screwed so I don't know if I should bother to pick it up or not.
Now if I somehow manage to sell my 16gb white 3g for about 400 hopefully 500 then I'll be fine. Other then that I'm screwed so I don't know if I should bother to pick it up or not.
I can't believe some of the immature posts many of you have made. Let's be clear here, Apple and AT&T are corporations whose sole purpose is to make money. We, the consumers, are not going to be given benefits that would result in loss of revenue. Apple creates great products, but lets be honest, they are going to be releasing minor enhancements to the iphone every year for the sole purpose of gaining a greater market share, not necessarily maintaining the customers they have now because they know that those customers will continue to buy apple products. Are you guys seriously gonna be blaming AT&T (and I realize their service isn't the best) every single year when Apple announces a minor improvement and you want to spend your money as soon as possible to enjoy them? A contract is a contract. You guys aren't any different than any other person who has another phone under a contract. Having a cool, hip iphone doesn't make you special, please remember that.
faster, but lets not fall for that marketing BS of a lot faster 🙄
better camera, still a POS camera. Get a DSLR + a quality lens if you want clear pics.
voice commands, if you like it, more power to you
You know sometimes its in the presentation and Apple is good at that.
I wonder if there would be less ill feelings if Apple had announced the price as 399.00, but also stated that you carrier has the option to give you a better price.