Is Apple mandating AppleCare with new iPhone 4 purchase?

[Mike84]

Name, location, phone number and names of both AT&T employees please?

 

[RetiredInFl]

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??

My local Worst Buy wouldn't sell me an "early upgrade" 32gig iPhone 4. They just say "we don't." 3rd party sellers can do what they want (like selling a Wii only if you buy 3 games when it was a hot item). Apple company stores certainly can't do that, not sure about CORPORATE AT&T but I would assume they can do what they want. Certainly AT&T "independent" or franchise dealers can do whatever they want. Just like you can sell a $199 iPhone for $800 on eBay.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I would definitely send those employees' names up the food chain.

 

[Warbrain]

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 could go higher up or you could go and complain in person. Force their hand. Record it.

 

[tpabrad]

Was it a ATT Owned store cause i know here in NY alot of places look like they are owned by ATT but actually are just a reseller of ATT phones ?

If you look up on the ATT website it shows only the actual stores carry the iPhones. It looks like the reseller stores dont get that inventory.

 

[Jesusrobles115]

that's insane, has anyone had any experience similar to being told that you need to buy a hot gadget in a bundle?

 

[Rajani Isa]

that's insane, has anyone had any experience similar to being told that you need to buy a hot gadget in a bundle?

Any instance like that, it's all one package. This, though.. is wrong!

 

[mzri]

A radioshack in queens told me when they called me to pick up my iphone 4 that Applecare was mandatory. I was so excited to get the phone that I didn't care, but it was stupid. There's no way I'm going to have this phone for 3 years! But I guess it's good, whoever I sell it to next june will have a warranty

 

[Jesusrobles115]

Wow, another store in Queens, is apple even checking in on 3rd party stores???

 

[Jesusrobles115]

Se my only question to this practice is: what exactly is mandating applecare meant to do for radioshack or att or BB??

 

[renewed]

Se my only question to this practice is: what exactly is mandating applecare meant to do for radioshack or att or BB??

Most likely get a kickback for selling it. It's like car dealerships selling extended warranties.

You don't have to buy it. If they try to make you then walk out. They know the desperation people have to get an iPhone 4 and they are exploiting it.

I'd also report it to Apple.

 

[Cyan76]

that's insane, has anyone had any experience similar to being told that you need to buy a hot gadget in a bundle?

They were doing this with the Wii a few x-mas seasons back when it was hard to find. Only way you could buy one was in bundles with a bunch of crappy games no one wanted.

Quick Google search brought up this old arstechnica article about the practice and their suggestions in those particular cases.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/...nst-forced-wii-bundles-heres-how-you-help.ars