If buying iPhone at AT&T store, beware!!

[Collin789]

So today I waited in line for the first time to grab the new 5s. Once I finally got to speak with a rep at the AT&T store, they were trying to tell me that that I HAD get the new AT&T Next plan in order to get the new phone because I still had a couple of months left on my current 2 year contract. I proceeded to tell him that its basically a rip off in my opinion and I just wanted to sign a new 2 year contract like I always do each year when I get my new phones. He then said that they were trying to phase out of the 2 year contracts and get everyone on the AT&T next plan (w/e!!) I then rambled on about how I knew you could still sign a new contract and the phone for the $200 price like I alwayssss do. He than again said that it doesn't work that way anymore. THEN, I showed it on AT&Ts own website that there's still the option to sign a new contract. FINALLY, he said he'd have to get a manager to "override" it so I could sign a new contract. (By the way which a manager never came over to "override it."

I'm not just telling everyone this because I thought it was crazy - which it was - but more importantly because I don't want anyone to get scammed into thinking they have to sign up for this BS, AT&T Next program.

 

[user-name-here]

Certain sales reps are lying SOB's. Gotta know that going in to buy any sort of high price product (cars, smartphones, house, etc).

Glad it worked out for you nonetheless

 

[Applejuiced]

So in other words you were not eligible for an upgrade yet but you went there anyway waiting in line expecting to pay the $200 and you said you usually do that every year?
That doesn't make any sense. I'm surprised they didn't kick you out and make you wait till you could actually upgrade without having anyone to override anything on your account.

 

[Southernboyj]

He was trying to force that on you because it makes him more commission.

Last year when the iPhone 5 was extremely hard to find.. I located 3 of them at Verizon/RadioShack. All of the refused to sell me it at full price ($649). They knew it was a hot item and they wanted as many new activations as possible to boost revenue.

I finally found a Verizon that would sell it outright *IF* I bought $75 worth of accessories with it. I bought the and returned them later that day.

RadioShack gave me a real hassle, to which I contacted Customer Relations and after about 15 emails, my local RadioShack district manager gave me a $50 gift card.

 

[stephen1108]

Yeah that rep lied, my friend works at AT&T, and he said the managers are pushing them to get like 40-60% of their upgrades and new lines to be Next.

 

[Lamarak]

I used the next upgrade option but plan on paying it off in a year, i dont mind renew contract cause been with ATT for 10 years and happy with them. Wife and I always have an upgrade and I get the new phone she gets last years. Im spoliec.

Next not bad option if know can pay it off before the year up

 

[darkgoob]

People who work at AT&T stores are all greazes. My rep signed me up for a protection plan without my consent. That's how they get their spiff. Same if they sign you up for "Next" -- it's a huge spiff to them if they sign u up.

Greazes. AT&T sucks SO BAD. I almost left them today.

 

[Collin789]

So in other words you were not eligible for an upgrade yet but you went there anyway waiting in line expecting to pay the $200 and you said you usually do that every year?
That doesn't make any sense. I'm surprised they didn't kick you out and make you wait till you could actually upgrade without having anyone to override anything on your account.

Sorry I should have added that I WAS eligible for a full upgrade at the full discount price. My contract just wasn't over yet.

 

[dasams]

and I just wanted to sign a new 2 year contract like I always do each year when I get my new phones. /QUOTE]

you get a new phone every year by signing a new 2 year contract

 

[Applejuiced]

Sorry I should have added that I WAS eligible for a full upgrade at the full discount price.

Oh ok.
I wonder why he said he needed to override anything and that you had 2 more months.
All you were doing was a simple 2 year contract renewal.
Many stores are slimy like that though in general near release date. They want you to buy cases, charges and accessories that you may not want or need in order to even sell you the phone.

 

[Collin789]

People who work at AT&T stores are all greazes. My rep signed me up for a protection plan without my consent. That's how they get their spiff. Same if they sign you up for "Next" -- it's a huge spiff to them if they sign u up.

Greazes. AT&T sucks SO BAD. I almost left them today.

They do the same BS to me EVERY year when I get a new phone (add that protection to the account without asking).

 

[leftywamumonkey]

and I just wanted to sign a new 2 year contract like I always do each year when I get my new phones. /QUOTE]

you get a new phone every year by signing a new 2 year contract

He probably has two lines that end on different years.

 

[Collin789]

and I just wanted to sign a new 2 year contract like I always do each year when I get my new phones. /QUOTE]

you get a new phone every year by signing a new 2 year contract

I'm on a family plan with 4 lines on it with a family of people who really don't care about new phones. And I don't plan on leaving AT&T anytime soon.

 

[saving107]

I'm only 1 year into my 2 year contract and 3 AT&T reps on the phone all confirmed to me and noted my account that I they will let me upgrade today at the upgrade price ($299 for 32GB) but it had to be done over the phone, not in person.

Anyways, I called this morning and was told they were not allowing phone orders and so I would have to wait until they do to process my order.

After work today I passed by an AT&T store and the rep looked at my account, read the notes and said "oh you can upgrade now but it has to be the NEXT plan, thats what the notes say"

I said "no it doesn't, I was getting a full upgrade now", she needed to speak to her manager and then returned and said "oh yeah, the notes state you can get a full upgrade now". the order wait time was 28 days, so I'm going to wait and try going in a few days when they get a new shipment.

I'm sure they hate online geeks like us that question them.

 

[Gjwilly]

I'm only 1 year into my 2 year contract and 3 AT&T reps on the phone all confirmed to me and noted my account that I they will let me upgrade today at the upgrade price ($299 for 32GB) but it had to be done over the phone, not in person.

This borders on totally unbelievable.
Why in the world would they do this for you when everyone else has to wait 2-years?
Have you got blackmail pictures or something?

 

[kevintech]

had an ATT rep tell me today that i can't do early upgrades in store, and could only do them online.

is this TRUE?

 

[richard371]

Nope they lied to you. I went to one and got the same bs then went to another and they said it's not true at all and they apologized to me for the bs and i got a phone using early upgrade. They make more off new lines of service.

had an ATT rep tell me today that i can't do early upgrades in store, and could only do them online.

is this TRUE?

 

[saving107]

This borders on totally unbelievable.
Why in the world would they do this for you when everyone else has to wait 2-years?
Have you got blackmail pictures or something?

(hopefully you understand memes )

 

[zipster]

A simple Google search tells you NEXT is a scam.

I mean, 2 year contracts are scams, as well. But, it's the unfortunate nature of the beast in the US.

I'd switch to MetroPCS if I could. IDGAF.

 

[yanki01]

no problem here. ordered the future wife a gold iPhone 5s at the att store. should be here in a few weeks. offered the next plan and politely declined along with the other products they were trying to sell, smooth transaction & happy fiancé = good life.

 

[PNutts]

A simple Google search tells you NEXT is a scam.

I wouldn't call it a scam but I imagine it makes AT&T a lot of revenue. It's an option for someone who wants a new phone every year and isn't worried about the total cost of ownership. If I have the numbers correct it's cheaper yearly than paying the early upgrade / activation fees as long as you stay in the program and get new phones. But if you decide to get off the merry go round and not get a new phone the cost of the equipment is crazy expensive. Like payday loan expensive.

AT&T is simply dumbing it down like car salesmen do. It's not about how much it costs, it's about how much it costs per month. And I'm sure a lot of people just want to make the same payment every month with no surprises and hand over their phone to get a new one every year. No hassle with extra fees and then selling it on eBay / Craigslist.

 

[webberade]

At least he didn't try to sell you a home land line or AT&T U-Verse. They always try and up-sell random services and make it seem necessary whenever they can.

 

[kevintech]

Dang it I got hustled. So if I walk in and they tell me the same stuff, should I just ask to speak to a manager

 

[CallOfDuty]

He was trying to force that on you because it makes him more commission.

Last year when the iPhone 5 was extremely hard to find.. I located 3 of them at Verizon/RadioShack. All of the refused to sell me it at full price ($649). They knew it was a hot item and they wanted as many new activations as possible to boost revenue.

I finally found a Verizon that would sell it outright *IF* I bought $75 worth of accessories with it. I bought the and returned them later that day.

RadioShack gave me a real hassle, to which I contacted Customer Relations and after about 15 emails, my local RadioShack district manager gave me a $50 gift card.

What... I would say your a pretty hard customer to please Not saying that you should not demand for what you like, but personally as a customer I knew my limits as a customer. While it is always right to demand rights as a customer, but I always remember that there are employees that were just trrying to do their jobs, and companies who are just trying to maximize profits. And then theres me. I always thought that ultimately I had to spend my money anyway.

 

[Southernboyj]

What... I would say your a pretty hard customer to please Not saying that you should not demand for what you like, but personally as a customer I knew my limits as a customer. While it is always right to demand rights as a customer, but I always remember that there are employees that were just trrying to do their jobs, and companies who are just trying to maximize profits. And then theres me. I always thought that ultimately I had to spend my money anyway.

All I wanted to do was buy an iPhone at full price.

The reason I was so irritated with RadioShack is because the only one with an iPhone 5 in stock at the time was 70 miles away. So I called before going, and even stated I wanted to buy it outright. They said they'd hold it for me.

I immediately drove 70 miles over there only to be rejected. That's a 140 mile trip. My car gets 15 mpg, so I used $25 in gas alone for it.