iPhone 3GS Launch Day Details and AT&T Pricing

[MacVixen]

I'm going to kick myself for wading into this mess, but here goes...

Seriously what has not been "open and honest" about upgrade policies? The fact that you signed a 2 year contract? The fact that "upgrade" pricing applies to people who have finished their 2 year commitment? Just because an exception was made last year, does not mean than an exception MUST be made very year.

Do I want the new 3G S?? Yes I do!! BUT, I'm not eligible to upgrade until July 2010 (I purchased in November 2008) - oh well, them's the breaks. The only way I can see an early upgrade working is if 3G owners RETURNED their current phone to AT&T in exchange for the 3G S and signed a new contract. Personally, I would be willing to do that... but I'm guessing most on here would not be.

 

[TroyBoy30]

I'm going to kick myself for wading into this mess, but here goes...

Seriously what has not been "open and honest" about upgrade policies? The fact that you signed a 2 year contract? The fact that "upgrade" pricing applies to people who have finished their 2 year commitment? Just because an exception was made last year, does not mean than an exception MUST be made very year.

Do I want the new 3G S?? Yes I do!! BUT, I'm not eligible to upgrade until July 2010 (I purchased in November 2008) - oh well, them's the breaks. The only way I can see an early upgrade working is if 3G owners RETURNED their current phone to AT&T in exchange for the 3G S and signed a new contract. Personally, I would be willing to do that... but I'm guessing most on here would not be.

I agree. This upgrade policy is the same for every phone they sell. Why you think the iphone should be different is beyond me. HTC comes out with a new phone every year. I don't fuss abut not being able to upgrade for the cheaper price. If I want it I pay full price for it. Actually this iphon S will be the first phone I have signed a contract for in over 10 years. I always pay no contract price. Next year when the new one come out if I want it I wil pay for it.

 

[ShellyFM]

I'm going to kick myself for wading into this mess, but here goes...

Seriously what has not been "open and honest" about upgrade policies? The fact that you signed a 2 year contract? The fact that "upgrade" pricing applies to people who have finished their 2 year commitment? Just because an exception was made last year, does not mean than an exception MUST be made very year.

Do I want the new 3G S?? Yes I do!! BUT, I'm not eligible to upgrade until July 2010 (I purchased in November 2008) - oh well, them's the breaks. The only way I can see an early upgrade working is if 3G owners RETURNED their current phone to AT&T in exchange for the 3G S and signed a new contract. Personally, I would be willing to do that... but I'm guessing most on here would not be.

Upgrade pricing does NOT only apply to those who have finished their two year contract as is evident by the wide variety of eligibility dates assigned to each account. Read the rest of this forum thread and tell me if you still think the upgrade policy is open and honest! Open and honest would mean there's a clear set of rules about what determines an account's eligibility date and that those rules are officially provided by AT&T in an easily accessible, public manner. It would also mean that everyone inquiring from AT&T about what determines their date would get the same response.

 

[chr1s60]

I agree. This upgrade policy is the same for every phone they sell. Why you think the iphone should be different is beyond me. HTC comes out with a new phone every year. I don't fuss abut not being able to upgrade for the cheaper price. If I want it I pay full price for it. Actually this iphon S will be the first phone I have signed a contract for in over 10 years. I always pay no contract price. Next year when the new one come out if I want it I wil pay for it.

I look at it a different way. I think 2 year contracts are ridiculous simply because of the number of things that can change in someone's life over a 2 year period and because of cell phone plan pricing. To me, unless you are getting a phone for free, all contracts should be for a year. Cell phone companies already overprice all of their plans and the more features a customer wants, the more they are overcharged. Not to mention the outstanding rates that are charged if you go over minutes, data, or messages. Oh yeah, there are also upgrade fees and all type of other fees that come in along the way. Even in subsidizing any phone a few hundred dollars up to once a year, the company is going to make their money back and then some. The whole reason behind their 2 year contract is not to make up for the loss they took in the subsidized phone, but instead it is there just to make them even more money. Sorry, but a $60 a month plan is not costing AT&T or any other cell company anywhere near $60 to provide for that customer. Also, no cell phone company is paying the "unsubsidized" price on a per phone basis when getting them from a company like Motorola, Nokia, or Apple. The mandatory 2 year contract is nothing more than the providers wanting to make more and more money. Regardless of whether you are buying an iPhone, a blackberry, or a cheap $50 Nokia, I think the 2 year contract is a scam.

 

[diamond.g]

I look at it a different way. I think 2 year contracts are ridiculous simply because of the number of things that can change in someone's life over a 2 year period and because of cell phone plan pricing. To me, unless you are getting a phone for free, all contracts should be for a year. Cell phone companies already overprice all of their plans and the more features a customer wants, the more they are overcharged. Not to mention the outstanding rates that are charged if you go over minutes, data, or messages. Oh yeah, there are also upgrade fees and all type of other fees that come in along the way. Even in subsidizing any phone a few hundred dollars up to once a year, the company is going to make their money back and then some. The whole reason behind their 2 year contract is not to make up for the loss they took in the subsidized phone, but instead it is there just to make them even more money. Sorry, but a $60 a month plan is not costing AT&T or any other cell company anywhere near $60 to provide for that customer. Also, no cell phone company is paying the "unsubsidized" price on a per phone basis when getting them from a company like Motorola, Nokia, or Apple. The mandatory 2 year contract is nothing more than the providers wanting to make more and more money. Regardless of whether you are buying an iPhone, a blackberry, or a cheap $50 Nokia, I think the 2 year contract is a scam.

Contracts used to be 1 year. Then people started wanting cheaper phones. So the carriers made the phones cheaper, but the also extended the contract a year. If we weren't so bent on getting cheaper phones, maybe the service would be cheaper.

 

[ShellyFM]

I'm getting more upset by all of this as we get closer to launch day. I would like to get AT&T and Apple's attention. So, please read this blog post http://bit.ly/cLPFk and share it on your social networks if you feel the same.

 

[bytethese]

I'm getting more upset by all of this as we get closer to launch day. I would like to get AT&T and Apple's attention. So, please read this blog post http://bit.ly/cLPFk and share it on your social networks if you feel the same.

I'd share this it if I agreed with it, but it's just another whiny rant. There's been several GOOD explanations of why people have different eligibility dates.

 

[chapeth]

A New Kind of (AT&T) Hell

So let me tell you all about the hell I just went through at the AT&T store trying to pre-order my 3GS iphone(s). I'll start by saying that I still have a 4-gig original iphone and my wife has an 8-gig original (which has no bearing on this story but thought I'd share.)

I went in to the AT&T store 2 days ago to find out the details about pre-ordering, etc. Can I pre-order 2 phones? yes, they just have to be rung up separately. no problem. I learned I would have to prepay for them, no problem there, but payday wasn't until Friday (today) so had them verify my eligibility, etc and said, "see you Friday." no worries at this point.

I went in today after work, told the sales guy I wanted to pre-order the phones. "Great!" "I just need to let you know we're only taking orders on a credit card-credit card -- NOT a debit card even with a visa/mastercard logo (ran as credit), not a pre-paid credit card, not cash. Nothing other than an actual credit card. (I don't use these and refuse to pay interest on something because AT&T's systems suck, but I digress). I pressed a bit as to the "logic" behind this policy, which literally only applies to iphone pre-sales. He essentially said that last year there were so many issues because the funds are only held on the card until the order is shipped and THEN the charges are actually processed. He said debit cards and prepaid cards won't pend that long and are being cancelled by their (AT&T's) system within 48 hours of the pre-sell date. He also said something about not having this policy last year and tons of people got double charged because the hold was still on there and the sale went through separately.

I have to interrupt to tell you that I work in the visa disputes department for a HUGE bank and it's literally all I deal with all day -- visa disputes and transactions related to a debit card. I can say with 150% certainty that the information he was spouting about funds not being able to pend that long is incorrect (at least as far as Visa goes, which is what my debit card is -- mastercard may be slightly different, I don't work with mastercard, I don't know their systems or specifics, sorry.)

I pressed more (I was definitely the customer from hell, but this store manager was such a smug prick that I didn't even kind of feel bad.) He told me they've pre-sold around 50-60 phones and he's heard from about 6 people in the last day or two who received an email stating their orders were cancelled. I estimate that a percentage higher than 12% (6 out of 50) were run on a debit card vs a regular credit card, so I'm assuming/hoping those 6 people had some other issue on their debit cards or had mastercard debit cards (which only a small number of the banks here issue.)

I'm summing up, but after an hour+ (literally) of speaking to customer service, trying to get the district manager, etc we finally agreed to process the order anyway on my visa debit card and see what happens. All the while he's "certain" the order will get cancelled by the fulfillment department.

This policy is as incorrect as it is ludicrous. Im standing here trying to give you $500 and you won't take it anyway other than this?! "In these economic times?!" (hate to be THAT guy, but couldn't resist.)

Anyway, have any of you used a debit card (as credit) to pre-purchase your new iphones this year and/or been told this?

 

[zombilly]

Avoid AT&T at all cost

After being talked into waiting in line based on store employee information. What I experienced was on the verge of bait and switch. My wife and I who were second in line got 1 16g and then they tried to get us to pay them for another which may come in withen the next week. And I saw the guy who was first in line get nothing! No kiss my ass, nothing. Just a sorry sir but were out, please follow the security guard out the door no
w.

As opposed to apple was on the verge of unquarking the champaine bottle with ever new activation.

My advice is drive as far away from the AT&T store as you can, and towards the apple store.

 

[MatthewStorm]

I bought the original iphone in Oct of 2007. I bought the 3G on launch day in 2008. AT&T says I have to wait until July of 2010. Does sound correct? Is what other people's experience has been?

 

[chr1s60]

I bought the original iphone in Oct of 2007. I bought the 3G on launch day in 2008. AT&T says I have to wait until July of 2010. Does sound correct? Is what other people's experience has been?

It all depends on how much you pay per month on your plan, which is stupid if you ask me. I bought the original iPhone on launch day and I bought the 3G the day after it was launched. I am eligible in March of 2010. Your best bet is to call ATT to find out why your update isn't until July 2010.

 

[bidwalj]

This explains why my order with a debt card was canceled. I didnt even bother to call att and get an explanation. I simply just placed order with apple and have it shipped to my door.

So let me tell you all about the hell I just went through at the AT&T store trying to pre-order my 3GS iphone(s). I'll start by saying that I still have a 4-gig original iphone and my wife has an 8-gig original (which has no bearing on this story but thought I'd share.)

I went in to the AT&T store 2 days ago to find out the details about pre-ordering, etc. Can I pre-order 2 phones? yes, they just have to be rung up separately. no problem. I learned I would have to prepay for them, no problem there, but payday wasn't until Friday (today) so had them verify my eligibility, etc and said, "see you Friday." no worries at this point.

I went in today after work, told the sales guy I wanted to pre-order the phones. "Great!" "I just need to let you know we're only taking orders on a credit card-credit card -- NOT a debit card even with a visa/mastercard logo (ran as credit), not a pre-paid credit card, not cash. Nothing other than an actual credit card. (I don't use these and refuse to pay interest on something because AT&T's systems suck, but I digress). I pressed a bit as to the "logic" behind this policy, which literally only applies to iphone pre-sales. He essentially said that last year there were so many issues because the funds are only held on the card until the order is shipped and THEN the charges are actually processed. He said debit cards and prepaid cards won't pend that long and are being cancelled by their (AT&T's) system within 48 hours of the pre-sell date. He also said something about not having this policy last year and tons of people got double charged because the hold was still on there and the sale went through separately.

I have to interrupt to tell you that I work in the visa disputes department for a HUGE bank and it's literally all I deal with all day -- visa disputes and transactions related to a debit card. I can say with 150% certainty that the information he was spouting about funds not being able to pend that long is incorrect (at least as far as Visa goes, which is what my debit card is -- mastercard may be slightly different, I don't work with mastercard, I don't know their systems or specifics, sorry.)

I pressed more (I was definitely the customer from hell, but this store manager was such a smug prick that I didn't even kind of feel bad.) He told me they've pre-sold around 50-60 phones and he's heard from about 6 people in the last day or two who received an email stating their orders were cancelled. I estimate that a percentage higher than 12% (6 out of 50) were run on a debit card vs a regular credit card, so I'm assuming/hoping those 6 people had some other issue on their debit cards or had mastercard debit cards (which only a small number of the banks here issue.)

I'm summing up, but after an hour+ (literally) of speaking to customer service, trying to get the district manager, etc we finally agreed to process the order anyway on my visa debit card and see what happens. All the while he's "certain" the order will get cancelled by the fulfillment department.

This policy is as incorrect as it is ludicrous. Im standing here trying to give you $500 and you won't take it anyway other than this?! "In these economic times?!" (hate to be THAT guy, but couldn't resist.)

Anyway, have any of you used a debit card (as credit) to pre-purchase your new iphones this year and/or been told this?

 

[Mike Teezie]

[Snip]

Anyway, have any of you used a debit card (as credit) to pre-purchase your new iphones this year and/or been told this?

I used a Mastercard debit card to place my iPhone order with the Apple store, and all seems fine as of 6/15.

The less I have to deal with AT&T, the better.

 

[hawkk]

Hi,all.i'm not from the us but i'm going in the summer and i wanted to ask you if u know what the price of the new 3GS will be without a contract??
if someone knows please send me an e-mail marti_11@abv.bg or a PM
thanks

 

[frojive]

Why?

Ok I need help in explaining this.

Have been AT&T customer since 2007 received a subsidize phone then.

Bought Iphone 3G in June 2008 not subsidized paid $399 for 8gig.

They said I am not eligible for an upgrade until November this year.

I have never missed a payment have the best plan you can get, and have not received a subsidized phone since November 2007.

So tell me that AT&T is being fair.

Iphone and Apple are like that really cool hot chick that is dating that guy everyone thinks is a jerk. You cant wait until they break up. Come on Apple wise up get on Verizon! I would actually like to use my Iphone every were I go, Including the 9 hours I am at work.

 

[kassie67]

New to iphone/new to AT&T

Don't know if anyone noticed this or has posted but here goes: I went through the pre-order process on Apple.com. It said my verizon cell # couldn;t be ported. I used to live in NYC with that cell#, then moved to RI. just changed the billing address, no problem.
I called AT&T customer service about the message saying my # couldn't be ported to the iphone 3gs, and they said they couldn't port a NY number unless I lived in NY/still had my billing address there. Well, I live in RI, and want to keep my cell # because of all the things I have tied to it. Seems odd in this day and age that they can't port a number.
Then I called the store where I'd like to pick up a pre-order, and the woman there ran the number and said yes, it can be ported, no issues. (?!)

the other issue on the apple.com pre-order page was the price of the AT&T plans. The plan with 900 minutes/unlimited weekends, nights was $89.99 on apple's site, but to pre-order through AT&T, it was $59.99 for the same plan.
Is apple just adding in the data plan instead of breaking it out?

I plan to go to the AT&T store Friday. I'll be on vacation in a different state so didn;t want to chance having it pre-ordered, b/c AT&T can't guarantee the phone would be there. They told me a couple of days ago that it could take 7-14 days-no guarantees it would be in their store. I'm not in that area that long, so decided against the pre-order. Now it seems I should go to AT&T because of the phone number issue. sigh. I probably won;t get a phone Friday. Anyone have a guess as to how early i should be there at the store?

 

[rjohnstone]

Ok I need help in explaining this.

Have been AT&T customer since 2007 received a subsidize phone then.

Bought Iphone 3G in June 2008 not subsidized paid $399 for 8gig.

They said I am not eligible for an upgrade until November this year.

I have never missed a payment have the best plan you can get, and have not received a subsidized phone since November 2007.

So tell me that AT&T is being fair.

Iphone and Apple are like that really cool hot chick that is dating that guy everyone thinks is a jerk. You cant wait until they break up. Come on Apple wise up get on Verizon! I would actually like to use my Iphone every were I go, Including the 9 hours I am at work.

Your $399 3G iPhone was partially subsidized. If you had paid full retail, it would have cost you $699.
So yes, you are still under a subsidized contract. That is why you are not eligible until Nov. 2009.
And Verizon is just as bad as AT&T when it comes to subsidies.
Also, Apple will not make a CDMA iPhone... get over it already.

I don't know what it is with people who simply cannot understand the contracts they signed. You are not entitled to any special treatment because you own/want an iPhone.

Apple and AT&T are not in the charity business. They are in business to make money. Neither Apple nor AT&T are denying you the ability to purchase an iPhone.
You can always pay retail if you are not eligible for a subsidy.
Can't afford it... save up or wait.

 

[frojive]

Your $399 3G iPhone was partially subsidized. If you had paid full retail, it would have cost you $699.
So yes, you are still under a subsidized contract. That is why you are not eligible until Nov. 2009.
And Verizon is just as bad as AT&T when it comes to subsidies.
Also, Apple will not make a CDMA iPhone... get over it already.

When I talked to them they did not explain this to me. All I knew was that I paid more then new customers or people who qualified for a subsidized phone.

I have no problem with that if they just would have told me that I was at one time partially subsidized.

I like Verizon because I have had better reception in my home town with them then any other carrier. I had to go to ATT&T due to work contracts so I figured i might as well have an Iphone. ATT&T has very poor reception in my town.

 

[Blue Fox]

Last year, when the 3G came out, I didn't have a pre-order. I just walked into my local shopping mall (that had an AT&T kiosk) and got my 3G there (like at 2pm on launch day) No lines, no drama. In and out in less than 20 minutes. That's what I would recommend if you don't yet have a pre-order.