Is a dummy line with AT&T the cheapest way to upgrade?

[ToroidalZeus]

I'm not mixing up anything. Even if the 1 year cost for the extra line is just $120, you're required to keep it for 2 years so your total cost for that line is $240. That's what people should look at. Sure, you can use your main line to upgrade in the 2nd year but you still need to keep paying $10 for that dummy line until the contract is over.

If you do the early upgrade, you just pay the slightly discounted rate of $450. There's no separate ETF but early upgrade does extend your contract by another 2 years.

You can sell your old phone regardless of whether or not you do the early upgrade or the dummy line.

EXACTLY, the main line becomes the "dummy" line that second year so the cost/math is exactly the same as the first year.

To RECAP

1st year
Line A monthly Fee ???
iPhone 1 being used

Line B added at 9.99 a month
iPhone 2 purchased at 300
iPhone 1 sold at 300

Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

2nd year
Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

iPhone 3 purchased (on line A) for 300
iPhone 2 sold for 300

Line A monthly fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 3

As you can see the payments are ALWAYS main line + 9.99 a month x 12. So your comparison of the 2 yr service cost (and inclusion of device cost) to the 1 year ETF skews the numbers because it doesn't show that you are over paying by 330 dollars each year.

Side-note, I have a feeling you have been overpaying for your iPhone each year.

 

[redsoxguy676]

EXACTLY, the main line becomes the "dummy" line that second year so the cost/math is exactly the same as the first year.

To RECAP

1st year
Line A monthly Fee ???
iPhone 1 being used

Line B added at 9.99 a month
iPhone 2 purchased at 300
iPhone 1 sold at 300

Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

2nd year
Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

iPhone 3 purchased (on line A) for 300
iPhone 2 sold for 300

Line A monthly fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 3

As you can see the payments are ALWAYS main line + 9.99 a month x 12. So your comparison of the 2 yr service cost (and inclusion of device cost) to the 1 year ETF skews the numbers because it doesn't show that you are over paying by 330 dollars each year.

Side-note, I have a feeling you have been overpaying for your iPhone each year.

I saw in this thread that the dummy line is no longer available so that idea kinda went to the wayside. Or so it seems.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

I saw in this thread that the dummy line is no longer available so that idea kinda went to the wayside. Or so it seems.

did you call att and ask if you could add a line?

 

[rui no onna]

EXACTLY, the main line becomes the "dummy" line that second year so the cost/math is exactly the same as the first year.

To RECAP

1st year
Line A monthly Fee ???
iPhone 1 being used

Line B added at 9.99 a month
iPhone 2 purchased at 300
iPhone 1 sold at 300

Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

2nd year
Line A Month Fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 2

iPhone 3 purchased (on line A) for 300
iPhone 2 sold for 300

Line A monthly fee ???
Line B 9.99 a month
iPhone 3

As you can see the payments are ALWAYS main line + 9.99 a month x 12. So your comparison of the 2 yr service cost (and inclusion of device cost) to the 1 year ETF skews the numbers because it doesn't show that you are over paying by 330 dollars each year.

Even looking at year over year, it's actually $150 (early upgrade) vs $120+taxes (dummy line).

Early Upgrade
Year 1
iPhone 1 selling price: $300
iPhone 2 buying price: $450
Extra service fees: $0
Net Cost: $150

Year 2
iPhone 2 selling price: $300
iPhone 3 buying price: $450
Extra service fees: $0
Net Cost: $150

Dummy Line
Year 1
iPhone 1 selling price: $300
iPhone 2 buying price: $300
Extra service fees: $120 + taxes
Net Cost: $120 + taxes

Year 2
iPhone 2 selling price: $300
iPhone 3 buying price: $300
Extra service fees: $120 + taxes
Net Cost: $120 + taxes

Side-note, I have a feeling you have been overpaying for your iPhone each year.

Not really. We have 4 lines on a family account so I always have lines available for upgrades whenever I wanted.

 

[redsoxguy676]

did you call att and ask if you could add a line?

No I have not gotten a chance to call AT&T about adding the line yet.

What exactly do I say? I'd like to add a second line for $10 and add an iphone to it? Wouldn't that add a lot to the cost and require me to use the new phone number with the new iphone?

 

[rui no onna]

No I have not gotten a chance to call AT&T about adding the line yet.

What exactly do I say? I'd like to add a second line for $10 and add an iphone to it? Wouldn't that add a lot to the cost?

Just ask if you can add a line and put a dumbphone on it. If they allow you to do that, come September 12, pre-order the iPhone 6 on the new line. Not sure if you still have to call in to do the cross upgrade to remove data on the 2nd line or if they've made things easier now.

 

[redsoxguy676]

Just ask if you can add a line and put a dumbphone on it. If they allow you to do that, come September 12, pre-order the iPhone 6 on the new line. Not sure if you still have to call in to do the cross upgrade to remove data on the 2nd line or if they've made things easier now.

The more and more I think about this it makes me want to switch to t mobile. But the network in some areas around me has yet to be fully refarmed from 2g to 4g lte

 

[karmatourer]

Not true.2 years ago when I added a 2nd line for $9.99,the sole reason to upgrade every year,I WAS on an individual plan and adding a dummy line was suggested by the AT&T employee. I was not on a Family Plan-just a single line.

This does not work when you're on an individual nation plan. People that used to do this were already on family plans. And now that those are gone, this method is no longer a viable option.

 

[redsoxguy676]

Not true.2 years ago when I added a 2nd line for $9.99,the sole reason to upgrade every year,I WAS on an individual plan and adding a dummy line was suggested by the AT&T employee. I was not on a Family Plan-just a single line.

Can you tell me what you said to the AT&T rep when you wanted to have this done? I feel like I would royally screw up the process and they would realize how I'm trying to cheat them or something

 

[beebo87]

Can you tell me what you said to the AT&T rep when you wanted to have this done? I feel like I would royally screw up the process and they would realize how I'm trying to cheat them or something

Every time i spoke to them they seem cool about it... The reps will sometimes suggest doing this themselves so you aren't really cheating them haha. From what I understand could be done, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but when you buy the new phone you buy it by adding a line to your account. Bring the new phone on the new number to a branch or call customer service and have them swap the new device to your old number, put the new number on a basic phone and then cancel the data plan.

 

[Slicktype]

This is interesting.... Just so I'm understanding this correct.
Step 1: call AT&T and tell them that I want to add a new number to my account (without buying a phone during this time).
Step 2: AT&T adds a new number to my plan
Step 3: wait till launch day (I want to play with both 6 & 6+ to see which works for me) and buy an iphone 6 at the subsidy price (<-- this is where I am not understanding. How do you buy a phone on subsidy when you already have a number I,E - NEW number activated on step 1) and have them add this to my NEW number.
Step 4: switch iphone 6 to my current number and keep the NEW number without a phone ?

Thanks

 

[RetiredInFl]

So, you pay another $10 or $120 a year to have that other line?

Plus taxes (about $5/month) + activation fee.
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[Slicktype]

Either this or going with the early upgrade will be my best bet. I just need clarification first.

 

[redsoxguy676]

This is interesting.... Just so I'm understanding this correct.
Step 1: call AT&T and tell them that I want to add a new number to my account (without buying a phone during this time).
Step 2: AT&T adds a new number to my plan
Step 3: wait till launch day (I want to play with both 6 & 6+ to see which works for me) and buy an iphone 6 at the subsidy price (<-- this is where I am not understanding. How do you buy a phone on subsidy when you already have a number I,E - NEW number activated on step 1) and have them add this to my NEW number.
Step 4: switch iphone 6 to my current number and keep the NEW number without a phone ?

Thanks

This is exactly what I am wondering!

Plus taxes (about $5/month) + activation fee.
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So would this be a cost effective option of going about doing the upgrade? 199.99 plus tax plus 40 dollar activation fee plus the 9.99 x 12 months plus tax on that?

am i correct in stating that it would be roughly 432 dollars to do it this way (that includes the tax on the phone, the 40 dollar fee and the 9.99 x 12 months and tax on that)

where as an early upgrade would be 449.99 plus tax plus the 40 dollar fee

 

[Slicktype]

This is exactly what I am wondering!


So would this be a cost effective option of going about doing the upgrade? 199.99 plus tax plus 40 dollar activation fee plus the 9.99 x 12 months plus tax on that?

am i correct in stating that it would be roughly 432 dollars to do it this way (that includes the tax on the phone, the 40 dollar fee and the 9.99 x 12 months and tax on that)

where as an early upgrade would be 449.99 plus tax plus the 40 dollar fee

One thing to keep I mind with your calculation. You are getting a NEW number on a TWO year contract if I'm correct.
That would be an additional $120 to your total.

Also, where did you find the cost to an early upgrade cost ? I searched everywhere and could not find this info. I am very interested in how much it would cost to do an early upgrade for the 6+ 64GB on AT&T.

Thanks

 

[redsoxguy676]

One thing to keep I mind with your calculation. You are getting a NEW number on a TWO year contract if I'm correct.
That would be an additional $120 to your total.

Also, where did you find the cost to an early upgrade cost ? I searched everywhere and could not find this info. I am very interested in how much it would cost to do an early upgrade for the 6+ 64GB on AT&T.

Thanks

the early upgrade cost is the subsidized price of the device plus a $250 early upgrade fee, so for the one you are looking for it would be $399 plus the $250 early upgrade fee which ould be $650.

i chatted with an at&t rep and i am not eligible to have a line added to my account

 

[beebo87]

This is interesting.... Just so I'm understanding this correct.
Step 1: call AT&T and tell them that I want to add a new number to my account (without buying a phone during this time).
Step 2: AT&T adds a new number to my plan
Step 3: wait till launch day (I want to play with both 6 & 6+ to see which works for me) and buy an iphone 6 at the subsidy price (<-- this is where I am not understanding. How do you buy a phone on subsidy when you already have a number I,E - NEW number activated on step 1) and have them add this to my NEW number.
Step 4: switch iphone 6 to my current number and keep the NEW number without a phone ?

Thanks

You don't add the line now, you add it when purchasing the phone. Just make sure you're still eligible to add lines to your plan.

 

[Slicktype]

the early upgrade cost is the subsidized price of the device plus a $250 early upgrade fee, so for the one you are looking for it would be $399 plus the $250 early upgrade fee which ould be $650.

i chatted with an at&t rep and i am not eligible to have a line added to my account

Not sure if I read it on this thread or another (too much research), but I remember reading that AT&T will give you a $200 discount on the early upgrade "if" buying the iphone 6 exactly one year from the date your iPhone 5s was purchased.
I'm i going crazy here or is this true ?

Thanks

 

[redsoxguy676]

Not sure if I read it on this thread or another (too much research), but I remember reading that AT&T will give you a $200 discount on the early upgrade "if" buying the iphone 6 exactly one year from the date your iPhone 5s was purchased.
I'm i going crazy here or is this true ?

Thanks

the rep i was just chatting with told me that even though it is a two day difference between my contract date of 9/21 and the release date of 9/19 your local store should still be able to do it for you

 

[beebo87]

the rep i was just chatting with told me that even though it is a two day difference between my contract date of 9/21 and the release date of 9/19 your local store should still be able to do it for you

I believe they would, but you would HAVE to do it at an AT&T store... your other option would be to buy the phone for full price, go back a few days later and price adjust (i.e. return the phone and re-buy it at the partially subsidized price.) That's what I did last year at least...

 

[Slicktype]

the rep i was just chatting with told me that even though it is a two day difference between my contract date of 9/21 and the release date of 9/19 your local store should still be able to do it for you

This is great, but did the rep mention anything about a $200 discount for doing the early upgrade ?

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I believe they would, but you would HAVE to do it at an AT&T store... your other option would be to buy the phone for full price, go back a few days later and price adjust (i.e. return the phone and re-buy it at the partially subsidized price.) That's what I did last year at least...

Interesting .....
What ended up being the partially subsidized price ? I never heard of anyone doing this.

 

[redsoxguy676]

This is great, but did the rep mention anything about a $200 discount for doing the early upgrade ?

----------



Interesting .....
What ended up being the partially subsidized price ? I never heard of anyone doing this.

Basically it works out to what i explained above, the subsidized price of the device you want plus a $250 fee for early upgrade.

 

[Rob9874]

If you're on the Value Shared Plan, like me (10GB), the cost of my line will increase $25/mo to get the subsidized price. $25 x 24 = $600. Plus $10 x 24 = $240 for the extra line. Plus $300 for the phone each year.

 

[redsoxguy676]

You don't add the line now, you add it when purchasing the phone. Just make sure you're still eligible to add lines to your plan.

if i change my plan to a value share plan can they add a line for 9.99 with that plan option?

 

[Rob9874]

if i change my plan to a value share plan can they add a line for 9.99 with that plan option?

No, with Value Shared, you pay $15 or $25 per line (depending if you have 6GB or less, or 10GB or more), for a NON-CONTRACT line. With the 2-yr agreement, and the discounted price, it's $40 per line.