Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

[Merged] AT&T / USA iPhone upgrade eligibility questions

Might want to add this in addition to 199/299, 399,499.
There is a chance that some 3GS owners might have to pay 599/699 no-commitment price if you check eligibility online. This was what I got.

"As a valued AT&T customer, you may be eligible for an upgrade on this line, with no-commit equipment pricing and without signing a 2-year commitment. Click 'Upgrade Eligibility' to view your upgrade options."
 
I bought my iPhone 3GS with a full upgrade discount on July 19, 2009. I pay about $96/ month to AT&T.

A coupla weeks ago my *639# told me I would be eligible for an upgrade in December 2010, however the last few times I've called *639# it shows I AM eligible with a new 2 year contract and an $18 upgrade fee.

FWIW
 
Why aren't ALL iPhone owners eligible for early upgrade pricing?

I used an early upgrade to get my 3GS last August (had the 3G).

I wan't to upgrade to iPhone 4, but I'm not eligible for early upgrade (399/499) pricing.

Why?

I know there are many who were NEW to AT&T when the 3GS launch, pay less than $100 a month (I pay $95), and are already eligible for a FULL subsidy on the 4. I'd be perfectly happy with early upgrade pricing.

I tried calling AT&T. They said they never had heard of early upgrades.
I tried emailing AT&T. They said that do to high demand my only option is full, no commitment pricing (nice try).

I'm not trying to be cheap, but I just don't understand why I'm not eligible? I know there are some others in the same boat as me.

Heres what I get when checking my eligibility.

Text: "You may select equipment at our full retail pricing. An upgrade may be available on 01/16/2011."

Online: iPhone Upgrade
You can take advantage of our no commitment pricing at a participating retail sales location. You may qualify for a full discount on a standard iPhone upgrade on 01/16/2011 *
 
dmx said:
I used an early upgrade to get my 3GS last August (had the 3G).

I wan't to upgrade to iPhone 4, but I'm not eligible for early upgrade (399/499) pricing.

Why?

I know there are many who were NEW to AT&T when the 3GS launch, pay less than $100 a month (I pay $95), and are already eligible for a FULL subsidy on the 4. I'd be perfectly happy with early upgrade pricing.

I tried calling AT&T. They said they never had heard of early upgrades.
I tried emailing AT&T. They said that do to high demand my only option is full, no commitment pricing (nice try).

I'm not trying to be cheap, but I just don't understand why I'm not eligible? I know there are some others in the same boat as me.

Heres what I get when checking my eligibility.

Text: "You may select equipment at our full retail pricing. An upgrade may be available on 01/16/2011."

Online: iPhone Upgrade
You can take advantage of our no commitment pricing at a participating retail sales location. You may qualify for a full discount on a standard iPhone upgrade on 01/16/2011 *
Click to expand...

Becauise those are the rules. THEY can set the terms and conditions.

You knew, going into it, that it was a 2-year commitment, with an 18-month early upgrade. Why should they HAVE to give you an even earlier upgrade?

I purchased the 3G in December 08. I was not eligible for the subsidized rate when the 3GS came out. I accepted that.

ATT is a business.
 
because you have only been paying att for your 3gs since august. They have to recoup some of their money before that can subsidize another phone.

More importantly, there are 30 other threads on this same subject so you should try to search first.
 
Built said:
Becauise those are the rules. THEY can set the terms and conditions.

You knew, going into it, that it was a 2-year commitment, with an 18-month early upgrade. Why should they HAVE to give you an even earlier upgrade?

I purchased the 3G in December 08. I was not eligible for the subsidized rate when the 3GS came out. I accepted that.

ATT is a business.
Click to expand...

This is blunter than I usually am inclined to be, but someone's gotta pay full price, no?

I think because you're not even a year into your new contract and don't qualify for the $100/line "clause," you won't get an upgrade. I'm puzzled as to why the others that you talk about got an upgrade.
 
You are eligible... just once it hits 01/16/2011. You signed the contract, you play by the rules. All these post about "why not me?" lately have reminded me of the pelicans in the movie Finding Nemo... every word being "mine, mine, mine, mine..."
 
zacharace said:
This is blunter than I usually am inclined to be, but someone's gotta pay full price, no?

I think because you're not even a year into your new contract and don't qualify for the $100/line "clause," you won't get an upgrade. I'm puzzled as to why the others that you talk about got an upgrade.
Click to expand...

Why are you addressing this to me???? My point is the same as yours.

Who are you trying to convince? Certainly not me, as I made the same point before you.
 
I'm not sure why you aren't eligible.

I bought my 3GS June 19 last year. Just one month later (!!) I was eligible to buy a new iPhone at $399 or $499. All five of the lines on my family plan (3 iPhone, 2 not) are eligible for $399/$499.
 
I hate to sound harsh but you must have known that apple was going to release another version of their phone last year as they seem to do this every year at the same time.

You agreed like all of us, to a two year contract. Its not like AT&T is getting the iPhones for next to nothing, they require a 2 year contract to recoup the discount they gave you.

Why are they bumping up the upgrade dates for some but not others? I don't know. I mean is that I don't know what logic, or rules that were in place to dictate who gets it and who doesn't.

Either way, like any contract, you agreed to the terms.
 
Yeah I know its a business and I signed the contract. But I payed $400 for the 3GS and about $90 for the past 8 months.

But if those who bought the iPhone 3GS at launch are eligible 1 year later, shouldn't I be eligible 1 year later? (Aug 2010)
 
It seems that some of the "higher revenue" customers are getting the earlier upgrades first.

It's just like any other business.
 
dmx said:
Yeah I know its a business and I signed the contract. But I payed $400 for the 3GS and about $90 for the past 8 months.

But if those who bought the iPhone 3GS at launch are eligible 1 year later, shouldn't I be eligible 1 year later? (Aug 2010)
Click to expand...

And you would have paid $600 or $700 without that contract. Napster (the original) and Bit Torrent has ruined every kid in America into thinking they should get what they want for little to nothing.
 
dmx said:
Yeah I know its a business and I signed the contract. But I payed $400 for the 3GS and about $90 for the past 8 months.

But if those who bought the iPhone 3GS at launch are eligible 1 year later, shouldn't I be eligible 1 year later? (Aug 2010)
Click to expand...

If you had bought it right at launch, you would be eligible now. Those people got their upgrade dates moved up 6 months making them eligible. Your upgrade date is in Jan 2011, meaning you just missed the 6 month cut off
 
But shouldn't I be eligible for early upgrade pricing at some point before 1/16/10, when I am eligible for a full subsidy?
 
-aggie- said:
I'm waiting for the "Why can't I upgrade for $299 if I bought the 3GS two weeks ago" thread.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Actually IIRC AT&T is offering an exchange program for those that did.

Someone posted an apparent internal AT&T document that states this.
 
^ That link says the exact opposite of what the OP is seeing. FTA:
* If you wouldn’t have become eligible until 2011, AT&T is once again offering its “early upgrade” program. That is, no matter how long you’ve had your older iPhone, you can upgrade to the new one for $400—even if you just got the iPhone last month. That $200 surcharge takes care of whatever you still “owe” on your old iPhone.
Click to expand...
So where is the OP's early upgrade?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back