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Jesusrobles115

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 12, 2010
14
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I had a quick comment about my recent iPhone 4 purchase through AT&T. I was told by the sales associate that it is now mandatory to purchase AppleCare for the iPhone when buying a new iPhone 4. I protested but to no avail. Has anyone else gone through this?? And is this practice even legal?
 
I had a quick comment about my recent iPhone 4 purchase through AT&T. I was told by the sales associate that it is now mandatory to purchase AppleCare for the iPhone when buying a new iPhone 4. I protested but to no avail. Has anyone else gone through this?? And is this practice even legal?

First I've heard of this. They can't really force an optional add on warranty on you. My guess is it was the doing of some shady sales associate.
 
Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (iPhone; Opera Mini/5.0.019802/19.892; U; en) Presto/2.5.25)

That sales rep. who you dealt with lied to you. It is NOT maditory that you purchase an Apple care plan with your iPhone. I would go back to the store and ask to speak with the manager about this.
 
First I've heard of this. They can't really force an optional add on warranty on you. My guess is it was the doing of some shady sales associate.

sounds like some shady stuff. Maybe some apple stores try and push it more then others to make more profit. I would have told them fine keep the phone.
 
Yeah the sales rep was just bluffing hoping you wouldn't call him/her out on it. If I tried to pull the same stunt on someone at work (I sell tvs) I would get fired in a heartbeat. Long story short they can't make you purchase the optional warranty.
 
You should probably go get your money back and call AT&T.
 
Most definitely a bad apple in the store. :D

Do everyone a favor and call the store manager and share your experience. Or better still, fill up the survey and feedback email that Apple sends to you every time you purchase something in the store.

They will not likely fire him, unless he's been warned already for his shady behavior, but they will most certainly take this opportunity to remind him, and everyone in the store, that Apple has very strict business ethics practices and that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

That dude is very lucky he didn't try to pull that crap on me... very lucky indeed.
 
Do employees get commission for selling AppleCare or something? Don't see what he would get out of it.
 
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I don't understand this. How does AT&T benefit from pushing AppleCare?
 
Do employees get commission for selling AppleCare or something? Don't see what he would get out of it.

No doubt, they get commision on all sales.
And the AT&T salesman was shady and trying to scam you.
I'd go back there and talk to his manager and maybe inform the district manager also. They shouldnt get away with shady practices like that.
There was some other AT&T stores on launch day that wouldnt let you get a new iphone unless you bought a case from them also.
Thats unacceptable.
 
No doubt, they get commision on all sales.
And the AT&T salesman was shady and trying to scam you.
I'd go back there and talk to his manager and maybe inform the district manager also. They shouldnt get away with shady practices like that.
There was some other AT&T stores on launch day that wouldnt let you get a new iphone unless you bought a case from them also.
Thats unacceptable.

Heck, teh manager is probably pushing them to sign people up, so definitely take it higher than that.

AS far as the cases, they were actually doing people a favor keeping them from teh grip of death. ;)
 
Do employees get commission for selling AppleCare or something? Don't see what he would get out of it.

I was told by a couple of employees at an AT&T store that they do not make commission on the Apple Care stuff. Whether I was lied to is another matter.

Based on your story it's hard to say if he was trying to scam you or if he just didn't know better. Regardless you don't need it, and you'd be best served by going back and telling the manager what you were told when you get your refund.
 
I just got off the phone with the manager from the store and was told the following: "After all the issues with the antenna, we are selling the iphone 4 as part of a bundle with applecare IF the iphone is purchased in person at an ATT store. If it is bought on the internet it is sold without applecare. This is done as part of policy change by ATT in order to protect their costumers and address the antenna issues moving forward." Alas, no refund could be given. I also "heard" Radio Shack is forcing individuals into buying these "bundles" which could include a case or applecare. I also "heard" Best Buy is not selling iphones to "early upgrade" costumers. My concerns is: are these practices even legal?? what happened to the good old days when bulls*** walks and money talks?? Maybe for iphone 5 apple should just sell through the apple store instead of sending stock to these other electronic stores. I'm fairly certain they will stake make the some amount of profit. Anybody else here been part of a practice like this through any other store??
 
You need to go higher up the food chain until you get someone that is not in on this. Also go to the store and ask that the manager put this into writing.
 
I just got off the phone with the manager from the store and was told the following: "After all the issues with the antenna, we are selling the iphone 4 as part of a bundle with applecare IF the iphone is purchased in person at an ATT store. If it is bought on the internet it is sold without applecare. This is done as part of policy change by ATT in order to protect their costumers and address the antenna issues moving forward." Alas, no refund could be given. I also "heard" Radio Shack is forcing individuals into buying these "bundles" which could include a case or applecare. I also "heard" Best Buy is not selling iphones to "early upgrade" costumers. My concerns is: are these practices even legal?? what happened to the good old days when bulls*** walks and money talks?? Maybe for iphone 5 apple should just sell through the apple store instead of sending stock to these other electronic stores. I'm fairly certain they will stake make the some amount of profit. Anybody else here been part of a practice like this through any other store??

I got my iPhone 4 from radioshack (finally) last week. They offered AppleCare to me, but after I said no, they moved on. No pressure, no nothing.
 
This is done as part of policy change by ATT in order to protect their costumers and address the antenna issues moving forward.

Frankly it doesn't make any sense. The phone comes with a one year warranty. All Applecare gives you is a second year. If the is antenna is satisfactory for the first year, it's not going to change in the second.
 
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