Wow that’s crazy! Yeah, they probably make up in keeping you as a customer and all the new accessories you’re going to buy. Plus they can use these phones we are trading in to send as refurbished units to anyones who’s phone isn’t working. They’ve done the math…
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Deals: A Look at the iPhone 13 Sales Offered by AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Best Buy, and More
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AT&T
Shoppers should note that this offer is not an early upgrade program, and the trade in device can not be on an existing installment plan on AT&T. For existing customers looking to upgrade their iPhone, you can get up to $500 off the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro.
I can’t find a way to get the $500 off with no trade in. Is that what this is referring to?
or you can pay in full and get a $300 prepaid Visa card(existing customers, not sure about new customers). Paying in full is good if you want to upgrade sooner or get the phone unlocked.
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People taking advantage of the carrier 'deals' please note: Both AT&T and Verizon require you keep service with them for well over 2 years to get the full amount. AT&T is 36 months, Verizon is 30 I believe. Only T-Mobile offers 24 months, but of course you get less for your trade in. If you are someone who only upgrades your phone every 3 years, it's not a bad deal I guess. You're just locked into that carrier for 3 years.
Long story short, you're still better off (assuming you have credit to do this) buying the phone outright or at least without a trade in, then selling your old phone yourself. You often get double.
Long story short, you're still better off (assuming you have credit to do this) buying the phone outright or at least without a trade in, then selling your old phone yourself. You often get double.
We actually needed to replace my daughter's 8+ before she left for a semester abroad earlier this month, and the best deal I found at the time was getting an ATT installment deal on a 12 Pro Max (it was cheaper than getting her an SE at the time!). But we didn''t realize until it was too late that the phone is locked on ATT until the installments are done, so she couldn't get a local SIM card. The only option was a)to immediately pay off the balance of the phone (which was possible, so the answer to your question is yes), or b)go with ATT's international plan, which turns out to be $100 per month if you use it all month. We opted for the latter.
My other daughter has an 8+ as well and I am debating this ATT deal as well, but frankly all the credits, tracking the trade-in, etc drive me up a freaking wall.
Shoot, I might have paid in full if I had known that. I'm transferring from another carrier, and the following fine print led me to believe the $300 prepaid visa was only for existing customers:
You may be right. I was already a customer so did the paid in full and the visa cash card was in my cart with it. it may only be for existing customers.
Here’s one for the Aussie’s. I happened to browse Optus’ website and saw they had a trade in bonus for a range of iPhones. I couldn’t believe they gave me $300 for an iPhone 7 which I had as a back up phone. Given it’s in great condition but surprised I didn’t have to take an additional contract so I bought direct with apple. When I was considering a Samsung Fold they offered me $20.
Or 50% off if you are on the next up plan (an extra five dollars a month on top of the regular installment payment). And they still give you $500 off… If you upgrade on the next up plan which is what I did. (That obviously includes the trade-in)
but there is definitely some sneaky action going on. You used to be able to upgrade every 12 months. Then every 24. Last year they changed it to 30. This year it’s 36. So the payments are smaller but you’re paying for a lot longer. If you want to upgrade early, you will have only paid 33% of the phone. You will have to pay 27% of the cost next year to get up to the 50% threshold to be able to upgrade.
this year my cost was $200. Luckily they’re giving $500 in credits back so after a year and change it’s almost a wash. But if they don’t give credits back for next up upgrades, and they never have in the past this is brand new… You kind of forced to keep the phone for a year and a half at minimum to get your moneys worth before you can operate. It’s very tricky
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Yes you can pay off balance or any portion at any time
If I didn't have a "business" account I would have went that route. I put it in quotes because it's really a consumer account, but they won't convert it since I'm still getting a huge discount. Oh well. $800 from Apple it is.
Thanks. Did some more reading and found that info too. Also decided to bite the bullet and just go through with it. I mean, hell, it's a free 13 Pro, why not, lol. I figure even if I want out of it in 2 years, my normal upgrade timeframe, I'll just give it to my wife or kids and swap sims.
Guessing they are not selling out that quickly as I was able to order a graphite Pro\128GB just a few minutes ago. Set to arrive on the 24th.
Yes - I read the fine print and you can pay off the balance early but you won't get the remaining bill credits. Basically if you trade in an iPhone 11 and get the 13 Pro and keep it past the point where you would get $350.00 credit your are benefiting from the AT&T deal. So basically in about a year you would break even and the second year your recovering the cost of your 11.
Probably should read SE (2020) because I'm pretty sure AT&T isn't going to give me $350 credit for my 1st gen iPhone SE
Bill credits are how the carriers keep you on their service to reduce their churn
Basically if you:
1. Plan to stay with the same carrier for the next 2-3 years and
2. Don’t have a family member you want to hand your existing phone to
Then this is a good financial deal. They keep you as a customer by paying for your device (except tax) over the next 2-3 years and they get your trade-in phone to refurbish and resell.
1. Plan to stay with the same carrier for the next 2-3 years and
2. Don’t have a family member you want to hand your existing phone to
Then this is a good financial deal. They keep you as a customer by paying for your device (except tax) over the next 2-3 years and they get your trade-in phone to refurbish and resell.
Does anyone know what happens if I trade in my phone that has existing payments on it that I financed from T-mobile last year?
I still owe $406.25 on my 12Pro. I'm currently have 13 payments remaining of $31.25 and 13 bill credits of $17.30. So net, I'm paying 13.95 and would actually pay 181.35 over the next 13 months.
I'm actually considering a 13 mini and T-mobile is offering me $455 instant trade in and bill credits over 30 months to make the phone free except sales tax.
I'm wondering what happens with my current payment plan? Do they:
A) Forgive the balance due as part of the trade in? And then give me the new "free" deal on the new iPhone?
B) Bill me $406.25 when I trade in (and basically offset that with the $455 trade in?) Then do my remaining bill credits go away (to be replaced by the new ones on the new phone)?
Or something different? I'm guessing it's probably B....but the deal is really confusing to figure out how much I'd really be paying. I really kind of want the "mini" iPhone. Really like the smaller size and knowing this is probably the last year, I'd like to get one.
It's hard to figure out the real cost of doing the deal....doesn't seem like a bad deal now, but if I'm giving up 13 credits of $17.30, I'm actually giving up some of the tradein I did on my phone last year. I have a feeling I'd be getting tricked out of something, but can't really tell. I can probably make out an excel spreadsheet and try to figure this out, but am hoping someone here can just let me know where I'm getting hosed! LOL
I still owe $406.25 on my 12Pro. I'm currently have 13 payments remaining of $31.25 and 13 bill credits of $17.30. So net, I'm paying 13.95 and would actually pay 181.35 over the next 13 months.
I'm actually considering a 13 mini and T-mobile is offering me $455 instant trade in and bill credits over 30 months to make the phone free except sales tax.
I'm wondering what happens with my current payment plan? Do they:
A) Forgive the balance due as part of the trade in? And then give me the new "free" deal on the new iPhone?
B) Bill me $406.25 when I trade in (and basically offset that with the $455 trade in?) Then do my remaining bill credits go away (to be replaced by the new ones on the new phone)?
Or something different? I'm guessing it's probably B....but the deal is really confusing to figure out how much I'd really be paying. I really kind of want the "mini" iPhone. Really like the smaller size and knowing this is probably the last year, I'd like to get one.
It's hard to figure out the real cost of doing the deal....doesn't seem like a bad deal now, but if I'm giving up 13 credits of $17.30, I'm actually giving up some of the tradein I did on my phone last year. I have a feeling I'd be getting tricked out of something, but can't really tell. I can probably make out an excel spreadsheet and try to figure this out, but am hoping someone here can just let me know where I'm getting hosed! LOL
Typically, I'm not a big fan of the 36 month carrier trade in deals, but I went with the AT&T deal as I think a $1000 credit for an XS Max is worth it, that's basically $600 in credits since an XS is probably worth only about $400 at this point. Might as well take the credits, I can always opt to pay off early if needed, so I don't see the disadvantage vs buying outright.
Well, they got me.
Verizon wireless got me. I had no intention of upgrading my 12 Pro. But I can upgrade from my 12 Pro to a 13 Pro Max and my bill actually goes down a dollar a month.
Yeah yeah, I pay the fee for the activation. I get it. That's how they make their money. But I wanted a Max after I saw my buddies 12 Pro max.
So I'm basically getting the newest thing, a bigger phone, and my bill goes down a buck a month.
Who turns down what is essentially a free upgrade?
Now I have to justify it to Mrs. GS. I usually get myself a gift every year for being sober. Last year I went full mid life crisis and bought a new truck. I suppose this will be my gift to myself for this year.
Three years on the 9th of September....
Verizon wireless got me. I had no intention of upgrading my 12 Pro. But I can upgrade from my 12 Pro to a 13 Pro Max and my bill actually goes down a dollar a month.
Yeah yeah, I pay the fee for the activation. I get it. That's how they make their money. But I wanted a Max after I saw my buddies 12 Pro max.
So I'm basically getting the newest thing, a bigger phone, and my bill goes down a buck a month.
Who turns down what is essentially a free upgrade?
Now I have to justify it to Mrs. GS. I usually get myself a gift every year for being sober. Last year I went full mid life crisis and bought a new truck. I suppose this will be my gift to myself for this year.
Three years on the 9th of September....