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My call to AT&T
- Thread starter WannaApple?
- Start date
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What's wrong with a 2 yr agreement? It's standard in the wireless industry with any company. It's not that I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate but I see no reason not to sign a new agreement (especially with the new prorated ETF). at&t has great customer service. I had them for 5 years before I decided to join the company ranks.
We'll see
Oh, and don't try to flatter yourself...I guarantee that I am older than probably 80-90% of the people on this board, have been a business owner for nearly 10 years now and have way more "real world experience".
Earlier this week, I had asked my local AT&T store about upgrading to the iPhone when it is released. I am currently a Verizon customer, and Inquired exactly how I would be able to get cheaper phones for the other four lines on my family plan and replace a fifth one with the iPhone on July 11.
The manager there said that it is not officially allowed, but that that particular store would make an exception to ensure that they gain me as an AT&T customer. The only condition is that we must wait in line on launch day and be covered under the 30 day return policy for us to get the new iPhone.
I don't know how helpful this will be, but it's just what I've experienced in my dealings with AT&T.
The manager there said that it is not officially allowed, but that that particular store would make an exception to ensure that they gain me as an AT&T customer. The only condition is that we must wait in line on launch day and be covered under the 30 day return policy for us to get the new iPhone.
I don't know how helpful this will be, but it's just what I've experienced in my dealings with AT&T.
...... Well I am a current ATT member , who has not renewed my contract for more than five years now due to the fact I refuse to give up my dinosaur plan , not willing to pay more for less , so I use to buy my phones cash up from and hope I can do the same when this new iphone comes out . Dont need the data plan home and work is WiFi .
Everything is wrong with a 2 year agreement. No one should be locked in to a credit-affecting contract just to operate a mobile phone. Its a joke.
Pre-paid is the way to go and the way I and about a million other US iPhone users will continue to operate. With no contracts, affordable monthly bill, and the same device as the suckers with contracts.
And by the way, nothing you've written on here so far corresponds to any AT&T documents available anywhere on their site. Interesting eh?
If you're paying the full price, you should not have to sign a 2 year agreement. The agreement is there so AT&T gets the subsidy back. If I'm going to sign yet another 2 year agreement, I deserve a subsidy.
AT&T may be losing out on a lot of business if this proves to be true.
I just spoke with ATT for the last 30 mins and this is what they told me:
-Everyone can go in to ATT or Apple on July 11th and buy the iPhone at $199/$299 pice. There is no upgrade requirement. Just sign the 2 year contract from data of purchase.
-I have an upgrade in August; I would keep this and could upgrade to a new phone. So yes, you could upgrade to a blackberry at the discounted price and flip it on Craigslist/Ebay. (I specifically asked that question and the lady told me, "yes, in theory")
-Works under my current Family Plan so I just add data/text.
-Everyone can go in to ATT or Apple on July 11th and buy the iPhone at $199/$299 pice. There is no upgrade requirement. Just sign the 2 year contract from data of purchase.
-I have an upgrade in August; I would keep this and could upgrade to a new phone. So yes, you could upgrade to a blackberry at the discounted price and flip it on Craigslist/Ebay. (I specifically asked that question and the lady told me, "yes, in theory")
-Works under my current Family Plan so I just add data/text.
The idea of waiting for a 3G phone then opting out of the data plan seems rather silly, any smart phone without a data plan seems silly.
Personally, I have so far not been really interested in the 3G iphone as the $10 extra does not seem with it for 3G over EDGE.
I just spoke with Apple today and the rep told me everyone will be eligible for the 199/299 deal no matter what...
What I find truly baffling is people inability to understand this.
iPhone 3G Price is 8GB $199 black only/16GB $299 comes in white and black.
The prices seem pretty black and white to me.
Why is this so complicated.
Jobs said it and AT&T have said it. All devices require a 2 yr agreement.
There will not be a "NON COMMITMENT PRICE"
iPhone 3G Price is 8GB $199 black only/16GB $299 comes in white and black.
The prices seem pretty black and white to me.
Why is this so complicated.
Jobs said it and AT&T have said it. All devices require a 2 yr agreement.
There will not be a "NON COMMITMENT PRICE"
Well, I still am thinking that if AT&T sticks to their guns about this, and only eligible people can upgrade for that price, and people currently on the iphone pick- your-plan are cut off from the new phone unless they're now eligible for the postpaid, they're going to have a nice little percentage of ticked off people.
Now I'm not going to make a scene in the store, I know it's not the clerk's fault what the policies are. But I will be writing letters to corporate, and also commiserating with the others in this situation, and trying to spread word of the experience online. I'm sure the change in policies will be picked up as a sideline story by some local media, so I'm sure AT&T will have to put out some kind of statement in the few days following the release explaining the reasoning.
Why don't we start a support thread around the time of the release for those of us turned down for the iPhone 3G upgrade (or i guess i should say "virtually turned down" due to being quoted an unbelievable cost to obtain it)?
Now I'm not going to make a scene in the store, I know it's not the clerk's fault what the policies are. But I will be writing letters to corporate, and also commiserating with the others in this situation, and trying to spread word of the experience online. I'm sure the change in policies will be picked up as a sideline story by some local media, so I'm sure AT&T will have to put out some kind of statement in the few days following the release explaining the reasoning.
Why don't we start a support thread around the time of the release for those of us turned down for the iPhone 3G upgrade (or i guess i should say "virtually turned down" due to being quoted an unbelievable cost to obtain it)?
According to the ATT rep I spoke with today, everyone is eligible for the $199 price regardless of upgrade or not.
Where? All I read was "*Qualified customers only. 2 year contract required." at the bottom of the page. That still doesn't tell us anything. Qualified could mean if they approve you're credit. If you notice it does say "2 year contract required". Why the hell do I have to pay full price for the phone and also sign up for a new contract? The whole point of paying full price for a phone is so you don't have extend you're contract.
Yeah they were wrong.
There is no evidence right now that anyone is paying less than $199/$299.
In fact an AT&T Spokesperson has specifically said that nobody is going to pay less than $199.
$199 is the qualified price. For people who are not qualified, the price will be more. It may be $200 more, it may be $400 more, it may be whatever number more they decide to make it.
What it won't be is $199/$299 or any number below that.
As it stands right now, everyone with an active iPhone Data Plan on their account will be eligible for the upgraded price. All NEW AT&T customers will be eligible for the upgraded price. All AT&T customers whose current contract status allows them to get a phone upgrade on July 11th, will get the upgraded price.
Everyone else will have to pay some higher price.
Yes the guy with the HTC Touch 6 months in will NOT be eligible for the $199/$299 pricing. It is all well and good that they want everyone to get an iPhone, but that is not AT&T's main objective. AT&T has lots of phones. The guy with the THC Touch still owes them 12-18 more months of service to pay for their phone. If they let them switch, then the eat the cost of the HTC phone with they also subsidized. It is not going to happen.
The ONLY reason why legacy iPhone customers are having their eligibility activated is because the original iPhone was not subsidized. If and when a 3rd gen iPhone comes out next year, 3G iPhone users will not be eligible to upgrade at that time, I will guarantee you on that.
So people under contract for other phones will NOT be eligible for the $199/$299 pricing, unless they are eligible for an upgrade.
I am also going to be interested to see how they treat people who bought phones to resell on E-bay and then got an iPhone the next day. I wonder if they will hold them to the original contract in terms of upgradibility. They still owe for their original phone.
Sure they will. The same way they do it now. The first go around with the iPhone they did things Apple's way. This time it is AT&T's way. This is how cell phone companies do business here, by getting people into long term contracts.
Well they are still an A&T customer paying all along the way. Apple has to worry about capturing that sale in 18 months when that customer is eligible.
I explained why it is not going to happen.
That would be my first guess too, but seeing the prices around the world, I suspect it will be more than that.
I think he's referring more to the fact that he has to pay the higher price AND get a new contract. Most people expect no commitment with the higher price. This is AT&T's/Apple's way of making sure no one can jump ship without paying a good chunk of change to get out of their contract first.
ATT Convo
As I told this forum already, I spoke to an apple rep yesterday about the 3g iphone pricing and release date. Here are the responses that I got from him.
Qualified costumers: People who have good credit and who pay their wireless bill on time.
Internet release date: They havent heard anything about purchasing a 3G iphone on Apples or ATT website yet, but dont expect it on July 11th.
199/299 for everyone: For those who Qualify (see above) this is the price that people wanted and Apple is giving this price to sell more iphones.
Will there be a shortage of iphones: There shouldnt be, the reason why they didnt launch the new iphone off the bat was so each store meet the needs of each costumer. With this being said you can expect to see long lines on 7-11-08 at 6 p.m.
Hope this helps...
As I told this forum already, I spoke to an apple rep yesterday about the 3g iphone pricing and release date. Here are the responses that I got from him.
Qualified costumers: People who have good credit and who pay their wireless bill on time.
Internet release date: They havent heard anything about purchasing a 3G iphone on Apples or ATT website yet, but dont expect it on July 11th.
199/299 for everyone: For those who Qualify (see above) this is the price that people wanted and Apple is giving this price to sell more iphones.
Will there be a shortage of iphones: There shouldnt be, the reason why they didnt launch the new iphone off the bat was so each store meet the needs of each costumer. With this being said you can expect to see long lines on 7-11-08 at 6 p.m.
Hope this helps...
199/299 is for EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT
What is so confusing about this? Multiple, multiple people have confirmed that 199/299 for everyone, no matter what.
Yes, if you bought an HTC touch 6 months ago subsidized w. 2 yr agreement, you can still get the iPhone for 199 and sign another 2 yr agreement, AT&T does not normally do this, for obvious reasons, but apparently they are making an exception for the iPhone
What is so confusing about this? Multiple, multiple people have confirmed that 199/299 for everyone, no matter what.
Yes, if you bought an HTC touch 6 months ago subsidized w. 2 yr agreement, you can still get the iPhone for 199 and sign another 2 yr agreement, AT&T does not normally do this, for obvious reasons, but apparently they are making an exception for the iPhone
well keep in mind that it's also very possible that at&t and apple have gotten the iphone production price down to 299/399 (cheaper components, mass production, lack of a dock, etc etc.
So if at&t is only taking a $100 hit a phone, that's pretty much nothing to them when you factor in MOST of the people will buying a data plan for the first time (at 30-45 a person!).
Too much conflicting info right now though...