Carrier iPhone 7 Pre-Ordering: AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint vs Apple

[ggibson913]

I was going to order through Apple through the Apple Upgrade program, I wanted to do that so next year I can get the new iPhone 8 if I wanted it. But AT&T will allow me to put money down on the new phone thus lowering my payment so not sure which way to go. It will be interesting to see how many people who went with the Apple Upgrade Program are able to get a new phone and how smoothly that process goes.

 

[NewdestinyX]

I just went to AT&T's website - logged in and clicked on Upgrade Eligibility for my phone. It showed my 'ownership completion date' of June 2017... I'm on Next 12 and started last year at preorder time with my 6SPlus. Clicked on Upgrade options and next window revealed two options..
1) Pay remainder of installments totaling $85 to upgrade now.
2) Pay $407 to own phone..

So I think that answers our question. At PreOrder this year we'll be given the option to pay off remaining installments. And then our pre order should go thru. I'm sure they'll make us sign an agreement in the transaction to mail the old phone to them within a certain period of time or be charged the difference between $407 and $85.

Sound logical?

 

[DNichter]

I spoke with a Verizon specialist last week as this is my first year ordering through a carrier website. I signed up for the upgrade every year plan where you pay monthly, similar to Apples. They explained that when it comes time to preorder, select the phone you want and pay only the sales tax on the phone. Once you receive the phone, you will have a packing slip to send back your existing phone. Send that back right away to be charged in full for that phone. Seems simple enough, hopefully it goes that way. I have always ordered through Apple.

 

[TechnicallyTee]

Yeah im pretty sure the process is that you have to trade your old iPhone in once you get the new phone in hand and activated. Thats when your window to trade in the phone begins.

 

[AustinIllini]

I hope Apple paid you well for this misinformation.

Pre Ordering a minimum of four new iPhones for the family each year, since the original model, I order one from Verizon, two from AT&T and one from T-Mobile... our carrier's. Each have arrived the morning of launch day as promised. I don't mind that they're locked , it's simply no big deal.

The fact that it's locked decreases its value. You're paying the same amount for a device that is less valuable.
[doublepost=1472652542][/doublepost]

I too am a seasoned pro at clicking buttons on a computer to buy stuff and I agree with this.

You just joined, so I'll cut you some slack, but when the 6 and 6+ launched, this place blew up with people who tried to buy from the carriers and got stuck in a big mess and got their devices severely delayed.

It's not as simple as clicking "buy". It's getting up in the middle of the night, dealing with heavy traffic on all the major websites, and understanding that for the plus devices being 15 minutes late can knock your ship date back 2 to 4 weeks. People get disappointed EVERY year.

 

[MsRandall]

Im using the Verizon site -last year I ordered late but years before that my device was delivered on the launch date

 

[Juansito]

I just went to AT&T's website - logged in and clicked on Upgrade Eligibility for my phone. It showed my 'ownership completion date' of June 2017... I'm on Next 12 and started last year at preorder time with my 6SPlus. Clicked on Upgrade options and next window revealed two options..
1) Pay remainder of installments totaling $85 to upgrade now.
2) Pay $407 to own phone..

So I think that answers our question. At PreOrder this year we'll be given the option to pay off remaining installments. And then our pre order should go thru. I'm sure they'll make us sign an agreement in the transaction to mail the old phone to them within a certain period of time or be charged the difference between $407 and $85.

Sound logical?

ATT NEXT user here.... You pay that balance off then they give you time to send in your old device -- after the pay off is complete your free to upgrade via att or Apple. I went through att last year and ended up getting my phone like 2 weeks late... so I'm going with Apple this time... Judging from last year they always get phones out on time reguardless what the site says.

 

[DadBod630]

You just joined, so I'll cut you some slack, but when the 6 and 6+ launched, this place blew up with people who tried to buy from the carriers and got stuck in a big mess and got their devices severely delayed.

It's not as simple as clicking "buy". It's getting up in the middle of the night, dealing with heavy traffic on all the major websites, and understanding that for the plus devices being 15 minutes late can knock your ship date back 2 to 4 weeks. People get disappointed EVERY year.

Thank you for your service. I don't know where we'd be as iPhone consumers if not for brave seasoned pros such as yourself staying up past your bedtime to mash refresh on six different browser windows to buy overpriced technology.

 

[NewdestinyX]

ATT NEXT user here.... You pay that balance off then they give you time to send in your old device -- after the pay off is complete your free to upgrade via att or Apple. I went through att last year and ended up getting my phone like 2 weeks late... so I'm going with Apple this time... Judging from last year they always get phones out on time reguardless what the site says.

The only area I think you're wrong is that I have to send my phone in FIRST before I can upgrade on PreOrder night. There's no way AT&T would create a scenario where a person has to be without their phone for any period of time. And I also don't believe AT&T will disallow the whole preorder process from people who are in NEXT12. I think what I said before is the way it will be. But I'll get on Customer Service chat and ask and report back..

 

[AustinIllini]

Thank you for your service. I don't know where we'd be as iPhone consumers if not for brave seasoned pros such as yourself staying up past your bedtime to mash refresh on six different browser windows to buy overpriced technology.

You don't want my advice? Don't take it. Don't come to an Apple forum and not expect feedback.

Also, are you kidding me? Apple is all about premium/luxury technology. If you have a problem with the price, you're barking up the wrong tree.

 

[penajmz]

Always straight from Apple. Is your best bet.

 

[appygirl82]

Direct from Apple is the way to go! Just hoping the Apple Upgrade Program continues to be online and the phone can be shipped to my house

 

[lsh]

ATT NEXT user here.... You pay that balance off then they give you time to send in your old device -- after the pay off is complete your free to upgrade via att or Apple. I went through att last year and ended up getting my phone like 2 weeks late... so I'm going with Apple this time... Judging from last year they always get phones out on time reguardless what the site says.

So can you 'upgrade' thru the Apple site or will I need t go thru AT&T site? I'm on NEXT 12

Last year I decided to keep my phone so I paid off the full balance and ordered thru Apple.

This year I might trade it in. But I'm not sure how that will work?

 

[appygirl82]

So can you 'upgrade' thru the Apple site or will I need t go thru AT&T site? I'm on NEXT 12

Last year I decided to keep my phone so I paid off the full balance and ordered thru Apple.

This year I might trade it in. But I'm not sure how that will work?

Even though I am not doing the NEXT program anymore (switching over to the Apple Upgrade)....per AT&T reps, yes you can get your phone direct through Apple (using NEXT) as long as your line is eligible!

 

[Juansito]

The only area I think you're wrong is that I have to send my phone in FIRST before I can upgrade on PreOrder night. There's no way AT&T would create a scenario where a person has to be without their phone for any period of time. And I also don't believe AT&T will disallow the whole preorder process from people who are in NEXT12. I think what I said before is the way it will be. But I'll get on Customer Service chat and ask and report back..

Never said you would be phone less they give you time to send in your phone. Contact att they will tell you the same thing... I did it last year lol
[doublepost=1472669670][/doublepost]

Even though I am not doing the NEXT program anymore (switching over to the Apple Upgrade)....per AT&T reps, yes you can get your phone direct through Apple (using NEXT) as long as your line is eligible!

So can you 'upgrade' thru the Apple site or will I need t go thru AT&T site? I'm on NEXT 12

Last year I decided to keep my phone so I paid off the full balance and ordered thru Apple.

This year I might trade it in. But I'm not sure how that will work?

Correct... When you go to upgrade on att you can see the upgrade balance -- After you pay off the balance you can upgrade on Apple via next -- right now if you go to apple and try to upgrade it will say you can't until your upgrade payoff date (the date after you reached 12 months).

Mine is November cause I got my phone late I have to pay off 112$ or something to upgrade but that will drop to $85ish? after my next payment.

 

[NewdestinyX]

Correct... When you go to upgrade on att you can see the upgrade balance -- After you pay off the balance you can upgrade on Apple via next -- right now if you go to apple and try to upgrade it will say you can't until your upgrade payoff date (the date after you reached 12 months).

Mine is November cause I got my phone late I have to pay off 112$ or something to upgrade but that will drop to $85ish? after my next payment.

Great! So can I go into my upgrade window on AT&T app - like tonight - and pay the $85 withOUT purchasing anything right now? Then waiting till preorder night and order from Apple? It will show me as clean with ATT?

As others have said - it'll all about timing on PreOrder night. The difference between an order at 12:00 midnight and 12:04, for the new style (color) Plus Phone, could be a 2-3 weeks difference in delivery day. Hence why I'd like to pay off ATT for my NEXT12 tonight and not have an extra transaction to do in the order process on PreOrder night.

 

[thegrants82]

I'm always up at 3 AM on pre-order night… And always have my order completed by 3:01 at the latest. Last year the Verizon site especially the business enterprise site was clogged up for a couple hours. Apple site and the AT&T site were moving along pretty well.

The AT&T site was actually opened at 2:51 AM. My order was completed by 2:53 AM

And I always order the next morning and get it the same time that you do....

 

[titans1127]

For the iPhone 6 Plus I ordered through Apples website and paid full price since I still had time left on my ATT contract. Last year I ordered directly through ATT since I was eligible for an upgrade with a 2 year contract.

This year I will again be ordering through Apple at full price. Never had an issue using either site outside of them being slow due to all the traffic.

 

[NewdestinyX]

And I always order the next morning and get it the same time that you do....

Not a Plus sized, 64/128GB phone of the newest color - you don't!
They sell out at all online carriers and Apple within the first 10 minutes to an hour. Every year for last 2 years.

 

[batristain]

Okay.. So for those of us with AT&T on NEXT already and this is our first year we will get to turn our phone in for a new one How will AT&T handle that on preorder night? Will they just expect us to eventually mail our phones back to them or they'll charge us for it?

This will be my first year doing this as well - I did some research and you can still pre-order your phone from the Apple App (this has been the only way I"ve been able to get through on pre-order nights on any iOS launch) and AT&T gives you 10 days once you receive your new phone to mail your old phone back to them.

Cheers,
Bobbie

 

[NewdestinyX]

This will be my first year doing this as well - I did some research and you can still pre-order your phone from the Apple App (this has been the only way I"ve been able to get through on pre-order nights on any iOS launch) and AT&T gives you 10 days once you receive your new phone to mail your old phone back to them.

Cheers,
Bobbie

Thanks for the research.. As to preorder night experience - I think your data is 2 years old. Last year the Apple servers were down for the first 10-15 minutes. AT&T app was open at 11:51 PDT and we were the first to report launch day shipping dates. Apple app people eventually had success too but it didn't beat the ATT app by a mile.

You're remembering the 6/6+ year 2014. That was an ATT nightmare. Apple app was a champ that year. But not last year.

 

[lsh]

Even though I am not doing the NEXT program anymore (switching over to the Apple Upgrade)....per AT&T reps, yes you can get your phone direct through Apple (using NEXT) as long as your line is eligible!

Thanks. I've decided to switch to apple too. I paid mine off and will hand down to my daughter. Trade in values seem low so the Apple plan that lets me trade up after 12 months for lower cost might be a better option for me.

 

[tkukoc]

Man, I was looking forward to not having to deal with this preorder nonsense this year because I'm not even interested in the new device.. but as of this week for some unknown reason by 6s Plus is having issues making phone calls. I took it into the Apple Store and they said they'll just outright replace it.. which I figured would happen considering my Apple Care and having no prior issues with devices. So now I have a 6s Plus sitting in a box and I'll probably sell it on ebay or give it to a family member and pick up 7 Plus. So getting back on topic here.. I'll preorder through Apple simply because of the unlock sim is just easy! I tried previously through At&t and it ended up making a completely separate phone line on my account, good thing I caught that before the bill came. Plus the Apple Store app is super quick, no hassle and I can pick up accessories at the exact same time along with Apple Care.

 

[comptr]

So I logged into my Verizon account and it says now that I have a early upgrade but I wonder if that early upgrade is only threw Verizon or if I can use it at apple ?

 

[NewdestinyX]

So I logged into my Verizon account and it says now that I have a early upgrade but I wonder if that early upgrade is only threw Verizon or if I can use it at apple ?

Apple isn't a Carrier. So you will always be specifying a Carrier at Apple's site on preOrder night unless you're buying phone factory unlocked. Apple's servers that night will know you're upgrade certified.