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Carrier For those with Grandfathered Data (at&t)
- Thread starter Four oF NINE
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I'm absolutely going to T-Mobile over ATT's actions on all this. I was with T-Mobile and happily switched to AT&T in 2007 for the original iPhone. Over time, my account expanded to three lines and the appropriate bill alongside that.
My gripe is they took away the third party ordering for contract phones. I want to buy from Apple.com, not ATT who will try to charge restocking fees, etc. if I'm unhappy with the phone.
Therefore, I'm hoping the T-Mobile phone will work on AT&T (while I get the accounts setup), not sure if it's locked. I'm ordering T-Mobile version of phone even if I have to wait on my T-Mobile sim to arrive, that will be fine.
I'm also going to pay $400 in ETFs for my other two lines, but since I can't even order a 2yr contract phone with Apple.com now, it's time. I haven't tested the network in my area, but I hear it's acceptable. The Mexico and Canada roaming included is great, though I will only use it maybe once every two years.
My gripe is they took away the third party ordering for contract phones. I want to buy from Apple.com, not ATT who will try to charge restocking fees, etc. if I'm unhappy with the phone.
Therefore, I'm hoping the T-Mobile phone will work on AT&T (while I get the accounts setup), not sure if it's locked. I'm ordering T-Mobile version of phone even if I have to wait on my T-Mobile sim to arrive, that will be fine.
I'm also going to pay $400 in ETFs for my other two lines, but since I can't even order a 2yr contract phone with Apple.com now, it's time. I haven't tested the network in my area, but I hear it's acceptable. The Mexico and Canada roaming included is great, though I will only use it maybe once every two years.
I am not that spoiled and resent your implication. I had a terrible experience preordering on ATT last year. I will admit that I am one of those people who like to get a new device every year and like to get it as close to launch as possible. Especially since I have already sold my phone and have to send it in by early next week. It took 5 weeks for all of the issues to be resolved and I ordered at 12:00 on the dot. They charged my card over $500 extra and overtime I would call to try to resolve the issue, it took 40 minutes overtime just for me to talk to someone in the premier dept and I was given the run around.
I was told that this would VERY LIKELY be the last year by a manager in AT&T's retention department.
I understand your reasoning.... however, I am financially responsible. I am planning on probably buying via next and walking in the next month and paying it off.
A manager at a retention department all can do is guess just like any of us unless its officially announced by AT&T.
I ordered many times via AT&T's site with no problems. You previous bad experience doesn't dictate how all future purchases with their site might go right?
Up to you what you decide to do though. Your money
Okay, so I've been trying to figure this out.
I don't think it makes any sense to go with the Next plans, or Apple's upgrade plan. Reason being, even if you go with one of those options, your AT&T bill will not go down since you're not moving to a plan that supports the incentive of the Next plan. Your cost will just stay the same. Then you're paying the same for your service, and an additional $30ish for the phone.
As for why it's so much better to order through Apple vs. AT&T, when the iPhone 5 came out, I ordered through AT&T's website the second it was on pre-order. No big issues there, until my shipping date slipped past the initial launch date because they couldn't fulfill all the orders fast enough. Not real happy, but fine. Then, I was angry to find I could walk into a store and they were selling the phones that day. Apparently AT&T doesn't understand what pre-order means, and that they should fill those orders before selling to walk-ins. I never ordered from AT&T from that point on.
I don't think it makes any sense to go with the Next plans, or Apple's upgrade plan. Reason being, even if you go with one of those options, your AT&T bill will not go down since you're not moving to a plan that supports the incentive of the Next plan. Your cost will just stay the same. Then you're paying the same for your service, and an additional $30ish for the phone.
As for why it's so much better to order through Apple vs. AT&T, when the iPhone 5 came out, I ordered through AT&T's website the second it was on pre-order. No big issues there, until my shipping date slipped past the initial launch date because they couldn't fulfill all the orders fast enough. Not real happy, but fine. Then, I was angry to find I could walk into a store and they were selling the phones that day. Apparently AT&T doesn't understand what pre-order means, and that they should fill those orders before selling to walk-ins. I never ordered from AT&T from that point on.
Exactly! That's the bottom line issue, and I just would prefer ordering from Apple because (no offense to anyone that works there) but at&t seems kind of clueless in terms of the customer experience.. If I call and complain about an issue, the customer reps I've dealt with have been very good, and work as long as it takes to resolve an issue, but most of these issues shouldn't be issues in the first place..
I suppose I could buy the phone from Apple unlocked, and simply continue my existing plan on a month to month basis, however, it's artificially higher because it's including payment for a phone that's already paid for, I can't get a comparable plan at reduced money.
Sprint seems to be the only one offering a better plan, ($60 a month unlimited data/text/voice) but the idea of switching carriers is kind of fraught as well, and Sprint uses a different technology phone compared to everyone else.. If you buy a Sprint phone, you're stuck with Sprint. And honestly, it's not much cheaper than what I'm already paying at at&t ($69 a month)
A manager at a retention department all can do is guess just like any of us unless its officially announced by AT&T.
I ordered many times via AT&T's site with no problems. You previous bad experience doesn't dictate how all future purchases with their site might go right?
Up to you what you decide to do though. Your money
You are absolutely right... And I hope you are correct that my previous experience won't dictate this year, but I can only surmise based upon the overwhelming reports of bad experiences in years past. That is great you had good experiences - from what I can see, you have been in the minority.
I doubt I'm in the minority.
Just because you hear about a bunch of people complaining online about their order it doesn't mean the millions of others that ordered from them all had issues.
I ordered online, I got my tracking number and phone arrived at home on time.
Every year with multiple iphone lines.
Again it's your money.
If I'm saving $450 using my subsidy and have to use AT&T to order I will instead of ordering via Apple and having to pay full price for the same phone. I dont care if I have to call customer service if there's an issue or wait a few more days to receive it.
Im going with AT&T cause I dont think the above issues that "might" arise is worth spending an additional $450 to me.
What if your device has a flaw or yellow screen, etc. out of the box? Those are my type of fears. Apple would give you a return label in 1 second on their website. ATT might ship one to you in the box with the phone which is nice, but aren't fees required to make returns at ATT, i.e. restocking fees? Convincing them of damage or a yellow screen would likely take a few days work.
What was the reason ATT removed the contract prices for stores like Apple.com and Best Buy?
Some years people actually order easier at ATT's website due to Apple being sluggish, but again, it's the "What if," I'm nervous about. Plus, to know going forward, I would always be locked into getting upgrades at ATT's site, doesn't sound fun. One year Apple's site was so slow I did order with AT&T and it worked out just fine, but I like to be covered.
This is why, despite the hassle and my like of ATT's network, I'm pretty sure I'll go to T-Mobile. I'll have to pay for my phones full price, but the bill will be $60 less per month for the data I need. $720 a year will make up my ETFs and future phone purchases plus make for easy Apple.com ordering.
All iphones no matter where purchased have a full 1 year applecare warranty. You can go to Apple and have them replaced as much as you want.
The reason AT&T removed all other options of purchasing via 2 year contract is to restrict those users still on those old plans and put pressure to make them switch. Its a game and they're trying to make it harder for us in order to just give in and switch to mobile share and next payment plans.
Of Course Apples site and many other retailers could process 2 year upgrades fine for many years. Now Apples site can only process AT&T devices bought using next. You get the scheme?
I'm with you on Tmobile too. If AT&T decides to get rid of subsidies all together to me its no point on staying with them if they don't pay for my 4 upgrades every 20 months. I'll switch too.
Almost the same thing happened to me except I pre ordered through Apple and did't make the launch date. Later I found them readily available at the AT&T store. Since Apple wouldn't let me cancel my pre order (tied to my phone number) I wasn't able to buy the phone at AT&T.
What did I learn? Toss a coin, the chances are random.
Yeah. I hear ya. Just seems like AT&T should finish fulfilling pre-orders before ever selling a single one in their stores. I'm almost tempted to not pre-order at all and take my chances showing up early that morning.
Just left the AT&T store. More than one rep chimed in on answers to my questions.
I think that they were just thrilled that one person came in to ask about the new iPhones,
One of them asked me about my Apple Watch.
Anyway, if I waited till launch day to get it at the AT&T store I'd encounter the lines plus would have no idea when those lines start to form. And the worst case scenario (happened to me at the Apple Store launch day) wait in line only to find they didn't have the model/color you wanted when you finally made it in. So, I'll probably just do the AT&T online pre order thing. I've never done it before so I can get an idea how well it works or not.
"Expect Nothing and Appreciate Everything"
I think that they were just thrilled that one person came in to ask about the new iPhones,
One of them asked me about my Apple Watch.
Anyway, if I waited till launch day to get it at the AT&T store I'd encounter the lines plus would have no idea when those lines start to form. And the worst case scenario (happened to me at the Apple Store launch day) wait in line only to find they didn't have the model/color you wanted when you finally made it in. So, I'll probably just do the AT&T online pre order thing. I've never done it before so I can get an idea how well it works or not.
"Expect Nothing and Appreciate Everything"
Here's the problem with that approach: IF you have a grandfathered unlimited data at&t plan, you are NOT allowed to buy a replacement EVEN AT AN AT&T STORE!
The ONLY path to another 2 year subsidized contract grandfathered unlimited data plan from at&t is via their corporate website ONLY..
There is no alternative, according to at&t rep.
It is illegal for companies to change your plan without consent. You're safe.No One knows but I really doubt they will forcefully switch you. They never did in the past and if they do they will lose many people.
That $30 a month unlimited talk, text and 10gb's of data from Tmobile looks better and better every day. If AT&T wants to drop my plan Im waiting for them to make their move if they want to play chicken
Guess it depends on who you talk to. Just left a (corporate) AT&T store and that's not what I was told. I also called they repeated all of the information I was told in the AT&T Store.
All iphones no matter where purchased have a full 1 year applecare warranty. You can go to Apple and have them replaced as much as you want.
The reason AT&T removed all other options of purchasing via 2 year contract is to restrict those users still on those old plans and put pressure to make them switch. Its a game and they're trying to make it harder for us in order to just give in and switch to mobile share and next payment plans.
Of Course Apples site and many other retailers could process 2 year upgrades fine for many years. Now Apples site can only process AT&T devices bought using next. You get the scheme?
I'm with you on Tmobile too. If AT&T decides to get rid of subsidies all together to me its no point on staying with them if they don't pay for my 4 upgrades every 20 months. I'll switch too.
Of course, all your points are valid. However, if I purchase a new phone, I want a new phone. I don't want to get a white box replacement on the same day my phone arrived and have it no longer match the fancy retail box. If my phone comes bad out of the box, I want another new one, but I'm probably in the very tiny minority on that.
And I absolutely get your point in regards to forcing us towards mobile share eplans and NEXT installment plans. That makes sense, and the "out" is for them to still offer the 2 year upgrades themselves, tucked away on their own website.
so....grandfathered plans can't pre-order through apple basically?
cause i can't upgrade until december through att
cause i can't upgrade until december through att
I was kinda torn between using my subsidy and ordering through ATT's website or paying full price through Apple's site which from experience has been nothing short of perfect as far as getting my pre-order in through easily and the phone being delivered on launch day. I've decided I might as well take the subsidy now and when next year comes and I have to buy full price for the next phone anyway I can sell the 6S+ and pay the difference. Probably splitting hairs as far as total cost anyway.
Worst case if ATT's site fails for me being able to get a launch day delivery, there is plenty of time to cancel the order and have the upgrade reversed and then I can have the manager at the ATT COR store I work at put a phone aside for me to buy on my lunch break. Our location is in a market which is still able to do 2-years(most still can but the push is for NEXT/MSV plans.
Worst case if ATT's site fails for me being able to get a launch day delivery, there is plenty of time to cancel the order and have the upgrade reversed and then I can have the manager at the ATT COR store I work at put a phone aside for me to buy on my lunch break. Our location is in a market which is still able to do 2-years(most still can but the push is for NEXT/MSV plans.
How does this sound to y'all:
I am trying to keep my unlimited data plan, but even though I am eligible for an upgrade, I am planning on purchasing a full retail 6S and selling my current 5S. I will take the upgrade and two year contract in 2016 in order to return to the non-S cycle when the 7 comes out (assuming they are still offering the 2 year deal and subsidy). So can I just buy my own full retail 6s and keep my unlimited data without a two year commitment for now? Also, some were saying that the apple app is the most efficient method of securing a phone come launch day... Any truth?
All contributions welcome...
Depends on the location.
Most places around here att stores only got 7-8 phones per location and those where gone within minutes. And then they didn't get any for weeks.
Either way I'm not that impatient. A week later won't kill me
Apple's new upgrade plan is welcome, it's literally the best of both concepts. The only thing that sucks is if we don't upgrade our phone using the 2 year agreement when it's due, they don't reduce our monthly bill. So in Light of this, I will be using Apple's upgrade plan but I will also get my new subsidized iPhone and just flip it the first chance I get. Definitely best of both worlds.