iPhone 3GS Pricing? Confused!

[thecoolone1]

Hello all!

I currently have an iPhone 3G which was purchased on October 21, 2009. I want to get the iPhone 3GS but it says the pricing is $599 (16 GB) & $699 (32 GB). Other people seem to get it at $399 I believe. The message I get when I go through all the steps are:

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 11/21/2009, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

$499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
$599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
$699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

My bills are always paid on time since I have automatic payments and what not. Also, if it does matter I did take advantage of the upgrade from the 2G to the 3G so I could get the 3G at $199 last year. I would just like to know why for me it starts at $599 and some may be getting it for $399. Also, what does "standard iPhone upgrade" mean?

 

[TheMBC]

You can get the iPhone 3G S for the subsidized price on November 21st, since you got a subsidized iPhone 3G in October of last year, you must wait until your subsidy is paid out in monthly bills until you get the cheaper pricing.

Why it's not the $399 price, I don't know... I have the $399 price on my upgrade.

 

[thecoolone1]

You can get the iPhone 3G S for the subsidized price on November 21st, since you got a subsidized iPhone 3G in October of last year, you must wait until your subsidy is paid out in monthly bills until you get the cheaper pricing.

Why it's not the $399 price, I don't know... I have the $399 price on my upgrade.

I know I may be stupid but what is subsidized? On Nov. 21 I pay $199? And I have no clue why I got the $599 price as well, most if not everyone seems to get $399.

 

[saDeRmac]

Hello all!

I currently have an iPhone 3G which was purchased on October 21, 2009. I want to get the iPhone 3GS but it says the pricing is $599 (16 GB) & $699 (32 GB). Other people seem to get it at $399 I believe. The message I get when I go through all the steps are:

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 11/21/2009, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

$499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
$599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
$699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

My bills are always paid on time since I have automatic payments and what not. Also, if it does matter I did take advantage of the upgrade from the 2G to the 3G so I could get the 3G at $199 last year. I would just like to know why for me it starts at $599 and some may be getting it for $399. Also, what does "standard iPhone upgrade" mean?

I would go in to a Store and talk to a rep b/c u should be able to get it at the 299/399/499 price right now at least. In Nov you will be able to get the regular subsidy price of 99/199/299. If you have any questions PM me.

 

[TheMBC]

I know I may be stupid but what is subsidized? On Nov. 21 I pay $199? And I have no clue why I got the $599 price as well, most if not everyone seems to get $399.

The iPhone's true price tag is like $500, but AT&T has paid $300 of that for you, and in turn, you signed a 2 year contract. That's why the iPhones are $200/$300. The reason why you must wait to upgrade to a new phone at the cheapest price is because AT&T wants to ensure that it receives those $300 that it paid for you, the way they get that money back is through monthly bills.

The higher your bill, the faster they make it back. But a lot goes into account for being able to upgrade earlier. Like FAN Accounts and such.

 

[Michael CM1]

I know I may be stupid but what is subsidized? On Nov. 21 I pay $199? And I have no clue why I got the $599 price as well, most if not everyone seems to get $399.

Subsidized means AT&T pays Apple an extra $400 or so to get you the phone at $199. They earn their money back on having you guaranteed on that contract for two years paying the monthly fees. For those of us that bought the first phone, there was no price discount from AT&T, so we can get the cheap price pretty much anytime.