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? How to buy an iPhone at Full Retail

Wicked1

Wicked1

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2009
3,283
14
New Jersey
I was thinking of getting the new iPhone 4 in White 16GB model, but if I go to AT&T and buy one, they reduce the price from $699.00 to $499.00 so I save only 4200 and that puts me in a new contract for 2 years?

I thought you could buy a phone out of contract at full retail???
 
Wicked1 said:
I was thinking of getting the new iPhone 4 in White 16GB model, but if I go to AT&T and buy one, they reduce the price from $699.00 to $499.00 so I save only 4200 and that puts me in a new contract for 2 years?

I thought you could buy a phone out of contract at full retail???
Click to expand...

what are you saying? they wont sell you one for $699 out of contract?
 
I'm not sure about buying from AT&T but I know you can buy an iPhone without contract direct from Apple. My parents got my brother an iPhone 4 for Christmas last year and he was between upgrades.
 
Wicked1 said:
I was thinking of getting the new iPhone 4 in White 16GB model, but if I go to AT&T and buy one, they reduce the price from $699.00 to $499.00 so I save only 4200 and that puts me in a new contract for 2 years?

I thought you could buy a phone out of contract at full retail???
Click to expand...

They are applying early upgrade pricing to you if they are giving you that deal.

Go to Apple and tell them you want to buy an iPhone 4 without upgrading your contract.
 
iFiend said:
They are applying early upgrade pricing to you if they are giving you that deal.

Go to Apple and tell them you want to buy an iPhone 4 without upgrading your contract.
Click to expand...

you are supposed to be able to that anywhere that sells iphones... go to another att store if possible
 
Carl G35c said:
you are supposed to be able to that anywhere that sells iphones... go to another att store if possible
Click to expand...

I work for AT&T and I can sell we do NOT sell iPhones without a contract. There is actually policy regarding that.

The OP will need to goto an Apple store to buy it out right.
 
Just go to Apple or Best buy and tell them you want to buy the phone without contract. 16GB is $599. Interestedly enough, I went to AT&T and they were going to charge me $649 for one with no contract. Go figure...
 
MaskedCarrot said:
I work for AT&T and I can sell we do NOT sell iPhones without a contract. There is actually policy regarding that.

The OP will need to goto an Apple store to buy it out right.
Click to expand...

This.

That's why I said go to Apple. They'll have zero problems taking your cash ;)
 
Or tell AT&T you lost your old phone, and then they will sell you one without touching your contract.
 
All you have to do is go in to ATT and say you would like to buy an iPhone as a gift. They will discourage you because the price will be ridiculous out of contract but you say you don't care and BLAM there is your new phone.
 
mltaylor said:
All you have to do is go in to ATT and say you would like to buy an iPhone as a gift. They will discourage you because the price will be ridiculous out of contract but you say you don't care and BLAM there is your new phone.
Click to expand...

Or, as I said several times, go to Apple, and save yourself $50
 
iFiend said:
Or, as I said several times, go to Apple, and save yourself $50
Click to expand...

This assumes OP is close to an Apple store, depending on how far an AT&T store is vs an Apple store, OP may be better off paying $50 offset time, gas, etc. Either way works, though.
 
EvoKnvl said:
Just go to Apple or Best buy and tell them you want to buy the phone without contract. 16GB is $599. Interestedly enough, I went to AT&T and they were going to charge me $649 for one with no contract. Go figure...
Click to expand...

Was that price with tax?
 
I think you can buy a contract-free iPhone at full retail price from just about anywhere except for AT&T. Go to Apple, Best Buy, Fry's, pretty much any store that carry's the iPhone should sell it to you.

But then again.. don't quote me on that, I've never actually tried it. It's just what I've heard from many people.
 
ann713 said:
The only store that will permit you to buy the phone, with absolutely no obligations, is the Apple store.
Click to expand...

This is not so. I've purchased phones at full retail many times in the past with NO obligations straight from Verizon. VZW has no problem selling phones without contract at full retail. :)
 
Hanwei said:
This is not so. I've purchased phones at full retail many times in the past with NO obligations straight from Verizon. VZW has no problem selling phones without contract at full retail. :)
Click to expand...

We are still talking about the iPhone right? I guess you were in luck. I tried Best Buy, Target and numerous of times at ATT to no avail.
 
If you go to a corporate AT&T store they will sell you a iPhone 4 at the non-commit price IF and only IF you have a current account with them.
 
ann713 said:
We are still talking about the iPhone right? I guess you were in luck. I tried Best Buy, Target and numerous of times at ATT to no avail.
Click to expand...

I don't know about third party shops, but read above as ATT will sell you one as well.
 
I work for Best Buy Mobile, and I can tell you unequivocally that you CAN buy any phone you want for the outright price, including the iPhone 3gs and 4 ($549,$599,$699 respectively).
 
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