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Does AT&T offer test drives?

2A Batterie

2A Batterie

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 9, 2004
622
0
Out of a Suitcase, USA
I used to work on a marketing program for Verizon and the BlackBerry Storm and loved the fact that VzW offered new customers a 30 day test drive... if someone purchased a new phone and a new contract they had 30 days to return and cancel with no charge if they didn't like it. I really want to buy an iPhone, but I'm afraid that I may not like the device or the wireless coverage. I'd get one this weekend if AT&T offered something similar to VzW's "worry-free guarantee". Does anyone have any knowledge of AT&T doing this, or am I locked in as soon as I purchase a phone and sign a contract?
 
Pretty much all cell carriers in the US have a standard 30 day trial period. AT&T has it too, so you'll be fine.
 
remember you'll have to pay the data/voice charges if you cancel within the 30 day mark
 
2A Batterie said:
I would return the phone if I canceled my contract. I'm fairly sure that is a given. I'm just worried about AT&T sticking it to me somehow.
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They won't. If you return it and cancel within 30 days, you're done. I did it once a couple years ago. Retuning and canceling was a painless process.
 
2A Batterie said:
See, that's why At&T scares me. Verizon doesn't charge for ANYTHING if you return within 30 days. Grr... decisions , decisions.
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I don't get what there is to be scared about.

Also: when I canceled my first go-round, the "first and final" bill I got from AT&T was $0, even though I made calls.

Here's what you should do: go to an AT&T store and talk to a rep. Ask him or her all the questions you need to get the information you want. And then make your decision.

There's no need to be scared. Frankly, AT&T is no more or less "evil" or "scary" than Verizon is. If you've dealt with Verizon, you can deal with AT&T.
 
To the OP- I'm in the exact same boat. My Verizon contract is currently up on January 21st. I want to get the iPhone, but I don't want to make the 2-year plunge into ATT before I am sure I like it, and the iPhone itself.

So, here's what I'm thinking of doing...I am going to get the iPhone today or tomorrow, and get it with a new (or temporary) number.

I will tell all my close friends my "new" number, or people that text or call me often, so that when they call me I can get a feel for the iPhone and how ATT's network is. Meanwhile, I'll carry around 2 phones for a bit.

Like I said, my Verizon contract is up on the 21st. If I decide to make the commitment to ATT before that date, I'll be able to switch my Verizon number to the iPhone, and thus end my Verizon contract.

If I need more time to decide, I'll extend my Verizon service with a pre-paid plan so I can keep my number and service but still test-drive the iPhone.

If I don't like ATT, I can cancel within 30 days, pay for what I used, and continue my service with Verizon.

I have thought about: If they come out with a 32GB model and the 16GB becomes $199 within my 30 days, can I cancel everything and then go to a different ATT store and do everything over again?
 
MacFan782040 said:
I have thought about: If they come out with a 32GB model and the 16GB becomes $199 within my 30 days, can I cancel everything and then go to a different ATT store and do everything over again?
Click to expand...

Yes that's what I did (well not from an iPhone 16GB to 32GB) but from a Nokia to iPhone 16GB, as long as you're within the 30 days you can cancel everything and that includes returning the phone you used, then re-do it using a different phone, in your assumption the iPhone 32GB.
 
2A Batterie said:
I used to work on a marketing program for Verizon and the BlackBerry Storm and loved the fact that VzW offered new customers a 30 day test drive... if someone purchased a new phone and a new contract they had 30 days to return and cancel with no charge if they didn't like it. I really want to buy an iPhone, but I'm afraid that I may not like the device or the wireless coverage. I'd get one this weekend if AT&T offered something similar to VzW's "worry-free guarantee". Does anyone have any knowledge of AT&T doing this, or am I locked in as soon as I purchase a phone and sign a contract?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Verizon advertises a 30 day test drive, but when I tried out a phone for 2 weeks and then canceled, they kept sending me bills, then sent it to collections. I called and complained to about 4 people and they said it would be taken care of, then I kept getting more bills and collections notices. I had to call again, and they finally got it taken care of.
 
sergiuria said:
So, you could browse the web all day, call 5 hours to Singapur, text back and forth to Spain, and you wouldn't get charged a dime?

Highly unlikely
Click to expand...

The point is that Verizon offers it and AT&T does not. I've also had friends who had to make a deposit when buying an iPhone, which AT&T keeps EVERY SINGLE PENNY OF if you have one late payment in your contract. I'm not a fan of cell phone companies in general, but AT&T really scares me. I've heard so many horror stories about them.
 
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