iPhone Upgrade Program [MERGED]

[Shadowbech]

I'm not sure if anyone can answer this.

I'm pretty sure there will be 2 lines, one would obviously be a long line for those missed the pre-order and the other line is for those who made reservations. But now I think there is two different type of reservations. One is the reservation that paid the phone on the site and is just pick it up anytime, and the other type is reservation for pick up, pay at the store type. I wonder how they will handle that parts you are only given a 30 minute window??

 

[appygirl82]

Posted in the other Apple Upgrade program thread. My question that I still have is if you have to have an active upgrade available on your account. I ordered two 6s+ from AT&T with Next. I would much rather do the iPhone upgrade program. Do I have to cancel my two AT&T phones to restore my upgrade before I can purchase the phone from Apple?

I asked this exact question to an Apple Store employee last night. AT&T gave me a bunch of BS info....

No your financing the phone through Apple (Citizens Bank) and therefore you can use their upgrade program regardless of eligibility with your carrier. They will be completely separate from eachother

 

[appygirl82]

So if you are currently in the middle of a two year contract on Verizon, you should still be able to join the new upgrade program from Apple, no? It would be just like buying an unlocked phone and then activating it on your number I would assume.

Yes, correct. The Apple Upgrade Program is completely separate from your carrier.

AT&T tried to tell me yesterday that Apple will require an upgrade to be available. That is completely false. The phone is being financed from Apple not the carrier.

 

[incarnate]

They have have had a contract-free option on the site since 12:01 yesterday.

What is your point? I said unlocked sim-free, not contract free. Since nobody has one yet, we aren't sure if they are carrier locked still. Plus the AT&T and T-Mobile phones look to be different models this year, which is odd since they are both GSM. People who have Cricket, Straight Talk, Net 10, etc. are still stuck not knowing if the phones will work. Verizon's will be carrier unlocked due to the FCC, but you can't buy a Verizon one without a Verizon account on Apple's website currently. You also cannot buy an AT&T one, or Sprint one without an existing account. T- Mobile is the only one you can order without an existing T-Mobile account.

I'd love to order an at&t model, since I use Straight Talk with a SIM that uses AT&T's network, but I can't because it requires an AT&T account. I ordered a T-Mobile one for now, so hopefully that is unlocked and works on AT&T's network. It's still missing the new AT&T band 30, though.

 

[phpmaven]

What is your point? I said unlocked sim-free, not contract free. Since nobody has one yet, we aren't sure if they are carrier locked still. Plus the AT&T and T-Mobile phones look to be different models this year, which is odd since they are both GSM. People who have Cricket, Straight Talk, Net 10, etc. are still stuck not knowing if the phones will work. Verizon's will be carrier unlocked due to the FCC, but you can't buy a Verizon one without a Verizon account on Apple's website currently. You also cannot buy an AT&T one, or Sprint one without an existing account. T- Mobile is the only one you can order without an existing T-Mobile account.

I'd love to order an at&t model, since I use Straight Talk with a SIM that uses AT&T's network, but I can't because it requires an AT&T account. I ordered a T-Mobile one for now, so hopefully that is unlocked and works on AT&T's network. It's still missing the new AT&T band 30, though.

Every phone sold at full price on apple.com is unlocked, period. We have this debate every year.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

What is your point? I said unlocked sim-free, not contract free. Since nobody has one yet, we aren't sure if they are carrier locked still. Plus the AT&T and T-Mobile phones look to be different models this year, which is odd since they are both GSM. People who have Cricket, Straight Talk, Net 10, etc. are still stuck not knowing if the phones will work. Verizon's will be carrier unlocked due to the FCC, but you can't buy a Verizon one without a Verizon account on Apple's website currently. You also cannot buy an AT&T one, or Sprint one without an existing account. T- Mobile is the only one you can order without an existing T-Mobile account.

I'd love to order an at&t model, since I use Straight Talk with a SIM that uses AT&T's network, but I can't because it requires an AT&T account. I ordered a T-Mobile one for now, so hopefully that is unlocked and works on AT&T's network. It's still missing the new AT&T band 30, though.

See, this is the BS I don't like. People are quick to talk about how bad Tmobile service is but are quick to buy up all the Tmobile phones. Hopefully one day Apple will require a Tmobile account to buy a Tmobile phone like they do with the other carriers. Same thing happened last year as well and it was annoying.

 

[Oharsh1]

Why not? I "reserved" the full priced tmobile phone but fully expect to be able to switch to apple payment plan

I accidentally selected full price for my iPhone 6s plus and I called apple yesterday and they said as long as I got an in store reservation I could still get the Apple Upgrade Plan

Got the confirmation email but if I go into my reservations I do not see my reservation. Anyone able to see there reservation in the app?

i don't see my reservation either.

 

[Oharsh1]

I did the exact same thing! I didn't see the "Upgrade Program tab" on the App. I was looking for a selection to choose the Upgrade Program and then I saw "reserve in-store" selection and reserved my place for 8:30am. The confirm email looks like I'm paying full price so I hope I can choose the upgrade option when I go to pick up the phone!

I selected full price on accident and I spoke to apple yesterday and they said as long as I had an in store reservation I can change to the Apple Upgrade Program

 

[incarnate]

Every phone sold at full price on apple.com is unlocked, period. We have this debate every year.

You cannot buy an AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint iPhone 6s on apple.com currently without an account with the carrier. Period. You are not reading what I am posting. I use an MVNO. I don't get ripped off by the big carriers.

 

[Oharsh1]

How the hell do i cancel a reservation? I accidentally reserved it for a full price, not a iPhone upgrade and now they say I can't cancel? Huhh???

I did the same thing since it wasn't that easy of a process. Spoke to apple yesterday and they said you can change to the Applr Upgrade Program when you go into the store to pick up the phone

 

[incarnate]

See, this is the BS I don't like. People are quick to talk about how bad Tmobile service is but are quick to buy up all the Tmobile phones. Hopefully one day Apple will require a Tmobile account to buy a Tmobile phone like they do with the other carriers. Same thing happened last year as well and it was annoying.

Hopefully one day Apple won't require any carrier and just let you buy a #$%@@ phone on launch.

 

[Shadowbech]

How the hell do i cancel a reservation? I accidentally reserved it for a full price, not a iPhone upgrade and now they say I can't cancel? Huhh???

You can't, but when you go to the apple store for your pick up you tell them that you want to use the iPhone upgrade program. Reservation is just a reservation, you can always change your plan at the time of pick up. Reservation is just there so that apple store can hold the phone for you at the time you pick up. then they will go through how you want to pay for it.

 

[SisterBlue22]

You could pay it off in 2 months, 12 months, 22 months or anytime. Just pay the balance due and it is your iPhone.

This seems not to be true. Apple has been telling people that you have to make at least 6 payments before you have the option of paying it off in full.

 

[FelicityW]

I was looking for a spreadsheet that would make the answer evident, ended up making one myself and then laughed because the answer is ultimately, obvious. The Apple Upgrade Program is just like a car lease program.

If you can afford to buy the phone (or car) outright, it will be the least expensive way to go in the long run, offer the most flexibility, but after a year, you have a phone to dispose of which some may see as a hassle to sell and some may see as the best way to anoint Friends & Family with a gift phone.

The lowest upfront cost is the Apple Upgrade program. But like a car lease, at the end of the year, you may buy your phone outright for a pre-agreed upon amount of money, or just let 'er roll into a new phone, whereby you will have no phone to sell or gift. This will not be a great option for those who have the hand-me-down phone thing going. It will get exciting if Apple releases a new phone in less-than-a-year time frame, in which case there will probably be a balloon payment option so you can jump to the next one in less than a year, if you so choose.

The middle option is the pay-as-you-go carrier option, which is like a car loan. You make a down payment and then make monthly payments and at the end of the term (usually two years), you own the phone. The embedded payment is less than Apple's. I would also look to the carriers to have an annual option upgrade program ready before Sept 25, if they do not already. In that instance, I expect to see a hybrid model where they spiff you to stick with the same carrier, and allow you to upgrade every year, and you will not own the phone. Since Apple's upgrade program is carrier agnostic, I would expect a premium for that sort of flexibility.

 

[nrvna76]

I am not understanding how people are comparing the upgrade program to a car lease. It is a finance plan, it's your phone. You have the option to trade in for a specified amount after a year. But you can also buy out the payments and sell it if you want. Also, if it was a lease you'd only pay tax on the first 12 payments not the total cost of the phone.

 

[melman101]

What really confuses me is how much it makes sense on the 128gb Plus vs the 2 year contract subsidy.

1. Apple Upgrade Program for iPhone 6S Plus 128gb
$44.91 a month X 12 = $538 + $100 for tax ~ $638

And I have the option to get the new iPhone next year

2. 2 yr contract
$499.99 + (tax on $500 and not $1078) ~ $45 = $545
AppleCare + $129 + tax, let's say $10 = 139 let's say $140 = $685

and no option to get the new phone next year.

I guess where it really comes down is so you want to spend $638 a year, or $685 every other year or so.

Seems like if you want a new iPhone every year though, this plan is incredible.

Mel

 

[rog]

Complete mess. Confirmed a reservation for 9/25 in the Walnut Creek, CA twice, but no email. This is specifically for the upgrade program. Apple tells me to call the store. Took 10 attempts to actually talk to someone in store. They show no appointments at all for 9/25! They are baffled and have no way to even check it! All I have is a screen shot from my phone which just gives me the time and store details and says it's confirmed. Eventually the store rep, who was trying very hard was able to show there is a list of reservations for 9/25 but no way to check what the names are. By my Apple ID nothing shows, but I see others are having that issue but did get a confirmation email. I actually did it twice because I got no email the first time and wondered if it took. But didn't get an email after the 2nd time. Got transferred to the store and was disconnected. There was no way to tell the automated system it was about a reservation for the upgrade. Options were one to one, watch, and genius bar. Amazing they have basically done no prep for this.

 

[randian]

Hopefully one day Apple will require a Tmobile account to buy a Tmobile phone like they do with the other carriers.

I sure hope not. Hopefully one day Apple won't care about what carrier you use and just sell you whatever damn phone you want. I want Apple to stop kowtowing to the carriers entirely, they need Apple more than Apple needs them.

 

[FelicityW]

I am not understanding how people are comparing the upgrade program to a car lease. It is a finance plan, it's your phone. You have the option to trade in for a specified amount after a year. But you can also buy out the payments and sell it if you want. Also, if it was a lease you'd only pay tax on the first 12 payments not the total cost of the phone.

It's like a car lease because at the end of the term - 1 year - you do not own the phone. If you want to keep the phone, you will pay more, either by continuing to pay monthly, or paying a ballon buyout amount, basically the 'residual'. If you trade it in (or 'up' as it were), there is no additional cost, you get a new phone and keep paying approximately $32-42/month for evermore, until you get out of the program by continuing to pay until the phone is yours without taking the benefit of a new phone, or buy it out.

 

[nrvna76]

Still not a lease. Just 24 month financing with a guaranteed trade value. You aren't required to trade in.

 

[duaneu]

It's like a car lease because at the end of the term - 1 year - you do not own the phone. If you want to keep the phone, you will pay more, either by continuing to pay monthly, or paying a ballon buyout amount, basically the 'residual'. If you trade it in (or 'up' as it were), there is no additional cost, you get a new phone and keep paying approximately $32-42/month for evermore, until you get out of the program by continuing to pay until the phone is yours without taking the benefit of a new phone, or buy it out.

A car lease is secured by the vehicle. If you stop making payments, the bank will respossess the car. Nobody is going to repo your phone if you stop paying.

 

[randian]

A car lease is secured by the vehicle. If you stop making payments, the bank will respossess the car. Nobody is going to repo your phone if you stop paying.

I'm quite sure, legally speaking, Apple Upgrade is secured by your phone. They won't repo it because it's not worth it, not because they can't legally do it. Also, they'd have to remove it from your person or home to repo it, which could be construed as assault or burglary.

 

[FelicityW]

What really confuses me is how much it makes sense on the 128gb Plus vs the 2 year contract subsidy.

1. Apple Upgrade Program for iPhone 6S Plus 128gb
$44.91 a month X 12 = $538 + $100 for tax ~ $638

And I have the option to get the new iPhone next year

2. 2 yr contract
$499.99 + (tax on $500 and not $1078) ~ $45 = $545
AppleCare + $129 + tax, let's say $10 = 139 let's say $140 = $685

and no option to get the new phone next year.

I guess where it really comes down is so you want to spend $638 a year, or $685 every other year or so.

Seems like if you want a new iPhone every year though, this plan is incredible.

Mel

I think you are on the right track, but be careful because some states do charge tax on the full amount upfront. Other considerations: monthly carrier fees may vary whether or not you own the phone or it is one of theirs (option 1 vs. option 2), but this will make the upgrade program a better deal (at least currently, but who knows what the carriers will do). Also, at the end of the two years on option 2, you own a phone, at the end of two years on option 1, you have nothing tangible; some part of less than ½ a phone if you are willing to pay for the rest of it, but nothing tangible you could sell.

 

[bronzi]

A car lease is secured by the vehicle. If you stop making payments, the bank will respossess the car. Nobody is going to repo your phone if you stop paying.

It'll be bricke, BUT your payment is going to your CC so unless you willfully cxl that charge, at which point you are violating the terms & agreement you signed, they can take legal action and ruin your credit, if one cares

 

[FelicityW]

A car lease is secured by the vehicle. If you stop making payments, the bank will respossess the car. Nobody is going to repo your phone if you stop paying.

No, but you will destroy your credit! And don't plan on ever getting anything else from Apple without paying it off (or use cash and make a new user ID). And your phone will probably stop working; is it tied to an iTunes account? Kind of like a boot, or making your car stop working remotely. They can do that to your phone in a under a minute.
And if it ever needs service, well it will have to go to the backroom repair shop with unlicensed operators. And the carriers will all know, so don't plan on having cell service. Ever wonder why everything takes a social security number? Ultimately, it is a lease and to say that negates the analogy to a car lease is missing the point.