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iPhone Upgrade Program Causing Headaches for Some Launch Day Customers

Must be growing pains. I do not have flawless credit, but I signed up with my AMEX and was approved instantly. In fact the Apple store at The Grove in LA was really on it's game this morning. I had an appointment and breezed in and out in about 45 mins. The only delay was T-Mobile's antiquated system not recognizing the product codes on the box. T-Mobile isn't on EasyPay yet so the store employee couldn't just scan the box.
 
WowAppleWow said:
Why don't people just pay for the phone upfront? Knowing we upgrade every year.... buying the phone outright has been simple for us.
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I concur. These things only cost a few hundred dollars... why waste your time with a plan like this? The only things I've ever financed before was my wife's engagement ring and my house. I would consider financing a car, but never have.
 
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Just got my 6S. On the iPhone Upgrade Program. No issues whatsoever thankfully. In and out of the Apple Store within a half hour. 🙂
 
WowAppleWow said:
We pay $950 upfront then sell the old phones for $550. So we pay $400 per year and don't have to worry about these programs.
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If the loan is 0% interest, which this is, it's better to pay over time and not all up front if you have good fiscal responsibility. I only buy things like this (not a house or car) if I can purchase it outright but I'd rather pay over time so I keep the money earning interest (what little it is) or sitting in a money market account or mutual fund. It's great to not have monthly payments but if monthly payments have a 0% interest rate, why not pay over time?

Plus, some people would rather not deal with selling the phone. I don't mind so that's the route I go but it's not worth the time or hassle for some people.
 
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idrewpage said:
Wow, way to drop the ball Apple. They should have made sure that their finance company was ready, and well trained for problems. Seems like Apple should have had a great launch. Glad I went with AT&T Next again. Never any problems with that.
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You are drawing conclusions from a single thread on a rumor site that has less than one page of responses. You aren't hearing from those who had smooth transactions, because most likely they aren't posting.
 
l.w41sh said:
I will only pay $432 for the phone?
Not 800.
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Why pay $432? If I buy mine with subsidy one year and full price the next, I pay $1250 (64 GB Plus each time $400 + $850). Then I sell my old phones. If I get $475 each ( what I'm getting this time around) x 2= $950. So I'm only paying $300 total, or $150 each year. It's the cheapest way.

Even without the subsidy, paying full price for both I'd pay $1700. Subtract the $950 from sales again and I'm at $750 or $375 each year. Still cheaper.
 
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Yep. I saw this coming.

I was very excited about financing through Apple over AT&T NEXT, but when I called Apple to get more information about the program, the rep was very excited "Oh it is so great! You go to the store, apply for a personal loan from citizens bank, and if approved, you'll be on your way!"

I was like...no way am I going to bother with that, that sounds like a nightmare.

And here we are.

EDIT:

And for those saying you shouldn't finance a purchase...yes, you should! If you can finance something interest free, it is generally a good idea to do that, and invest your cash in something else that can get you a bigger return on your value.
 
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I had a different issue.

Apparently, because my AT&T account is bundled with Uverse and DirecTV, for SOME reason Apple's activation servers that ping ATT to make sure my account is eligible for a phone doesn't work. Apple sees my account but says my line isn't upgradeable.

Fortunately, there was an AT&T rep at the Apple Store today. She said she got an email earlier today stating that customers like me would not be able to get on the Upgrade Program today. My only option is to buy the phone outright, call AT&T and unbundle my account (which the AT&T rep did for me while I was in the store), wait 5ish days for the unbundling to happen, and go back into the Apple Store and sign up for the program by essentially returning my phone and repurchasing it on the upgrade program.

So that's what I did. Nearly $1000 out the door today and next week or the week after I'll head back to the Apple Store and go through all of that. Very frustrating.
 
neuropsychguy said:
If the loan is 0% interest, which this is, it's better to pay over time and not all up front if you have good fiscal responsibility. I only buy things like this (not a house or car) if I can purchase it outright but I'd rather pay over time so I keep the money earning interest (what little it is) or sitting in a money market account or mutual fund. It's great to not have monthly payments but if monthly payments have a 0% interest rate, why not pay over time?

Plus, some people would rather not deal with selling the phone. I don't mind so that's the route I go but it's not worth the time or hassle for some people.
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What you make in interest on 950 in one year is not worth the time of making a monthly payment. But thats just my opinion. Also if you have accounts that have a good rate of return.... a one time payment of 950 won't hurt you.
 
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WowAppleWow said:
A phone should be a tool not a frivolous purchase. If an Apple product will cause you to go into debt... don't buy one. The market is full of devices that don't cost $700 +
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Don't think for a moment that any iPhone isn't frivolous. Unless you are impaired, there is nothing an iPhone can do that is necessary for survival. Despite what Apple's brilliant marketing tells you, 3D Touch will not save your life.

As you implied, people who can't afford an iPhone, simply won't get an iPhone.

I don't intend to be insulting, though, I implore you to consider past your narrow vision of the conditions under which one should be able to make a purchase.
 
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WowAppleWow said:
We pay $950 upfront then sell the old phones for $550. So we pay $400 per year and don't have to worry about these programs.
Click to expand...

Actually, using these programs is financially more sound than your cash purchase choice. They're using other people's money, and you're letting someone use your money for a year...
 
I was at Apple Store Partridge Creek at around 1 PM EST and I overheard a few of the employees discussing that good chunk of the customers today were being declined. Come home to see this article. Very unfortunate to those wrongfully affected!

On a positive note, if you're around that area, they have *plenty* of 6S stock left. Even rose gold. Was witnessing lots of walk-in sales!
 
No issues here for me. Was the 3rd person in the store and the first one out with the new program, a new leather case and dock to boot!
 
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