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Not eligible for an AT&T handset upgrade? Here's how to avoid being overcharged
- Thread starter reub
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This is my situation. I was eligible for an upgrade a few months ago. I bought a refurbished Treo 750 so that used my upgrade. On May 31, I bought an iPhone at an AT&T store & activated it. So, I have purchased a subsidized phone within the last two years & I have purchased an iPhone. And that iPhone was purchased after May 27th
.Many apologies for two posts instead of one!
Anyone considered this...
I've been reading these threads and just had to put my two cents in. First off nothing is official yet, so no sense getting all worked up over it. Until it's on AT&T and/or Apple's websites it's all just theories and rumors.
Saying that, I am also in the ineligibility limbo like many people. Even if there is a non-subsidized price for us, I wonder if that would last. The 2G iphone had one price and that was it, so you had to buy it at that. Even then the price was eventually dropped to increase sales.
In the case of the 3G iphone, if there is a higher non-subsidized price, people know there is a cheaper price and that may effect sales. Sure there will be some people willing to pay anything just to get the 3G iphone, but I don't think that will be as high as with the 2G iphone. People may just wait for their eligibility or just skip the 3G iphone altogether. The psychological impact of having two different sets of prices may effect people's buying impulse.
If AT&T sees this happen, I think they would probably lower the price for ineligible customers as well. I mean they will still make more money over the length of the contract due to the increased price of the data plan and additional few for text messaging. Apple may even force or strenuously encourage AT&T to drop the price for ineligible customers just to boost sales.
It may take a few months after launch for that to happen, but that's what I foresee happening if there is an initial non-subsidized price for the 3G iphone.
I've been reading these threads and just had to put my two cents in. First off nothing is official yet, so no sense getting all worked up over it. Until it's on AT&T and/or Apple's websites it's all just theories and rumors.
Saying that, I am also in the ineligibility limbo like many people. Even if there is a non-subsidized price for us, I wonder if that would last. The 2G iphone had one price and that was it, so you had to buy it at that. Even then the price was eventually dropped to increase sales.
In the case of the 3G iphone, if there is a higher non-subsidized price, people know there is a cheaper price and that may effect sales. Sure there will be some people willing to pay anything just to get the 3G iphone, but I don't think that will be as high as with the 2G iphone. People may just wait for their eligibility or just skip the 3G iphone altogether. The psychological impact of having two different sets of prices may effect people's buying impulse.
If AT&T sees this happen, I think they would probably lower the price for ineligible customers as well. I mean they will still make more money over the length of the contract due to the increased price of the data plan and additional few for text messaging. Apple may even force or strenuously encourage AT&T to drop the price for ineligible customers just to boost sales.
It may take a few months after launch for that to happen, but that's what I foresee happening if there is an initial non-subsidized price for the 3G iphone.
So glad I finally found a forum with people who know what's going on with the iPhone! Have been receiving a lot of conflicting information (as has everyone else ) but I'm hoping that someone here might have a recommendation for me (especially saDeRmac).
I have been a customer with AT&T for quite a while, and my current contract is up as of 07/01/2008. However, because of my employer's arrangement with AT&T, I was previously able to order up to 4 phones per year without extending my contract. This policy was changed recently, so my records now indicate that I will not be eligible for an equipment upgrade until 2009.
So, here's my question: Can I cancel my contract on 07/10 and then walk into the AT&T store and get an iPhone 3G as a new customer on 7/11? Better yet, can I cancel/reapply in the store on 7/11? I wouldn't have to pay a penalty for cancelling, since my contract will have been over by then. One of the AT&T customer reps seemed to think this would be a good option for me, but I'm wondering if I need to be terminated for a certain period of time before they can consider me to be a "new" customer. (An earlier post seemed to indicate 3 months?)
Since my contract is over anyway, I can just as easily switch carriers now, so I'm hoping that AT&T has some sort of provision for people in my situation. I don't care about keeping my current phone number. I'd love to have the new iPhone, but I can't think of another solution that will allow me to get the new phone. Any suggestions would be most welcome... thanks!
) but I'm hoping that someone here might have a recommendation for me (especially saDeRmac).I have been a customer with AT&T for quite a while, and my current contract is up as of 07/01/2008. However, because of my employer's arrangement with AT&T, I was previously able to order up to 4 phones per year without extending my contract. This policy was changed recently, so my records now indicate that I will not be eligible for an equipment upgrade until 2009.
So, here's my question: Can I cancel my contract on 07/10 and then walk into the AT&T store and get an iPhone 3G as a new customer on 7/11? Better yet, can I cancel/reapply in the store on 7/11? I wouldn't have to pay a penalty for cancelling, since my contract will have been over by then. One of the AT&T customer reps seemed to think this would be a good option for me, but I'm wondering if I need to be terminated for a certain period of time before they can consider me to be a "new" customer. (An earlier post seemed to indicate 3 months?)
Since my contract is over anyway, I can just as easily switch carriers now, so I'm hoping that AT&T has some sort of provision for people in my situation. I don't care about keeping my current phone number. I'd love to have the new iPhone, but I can't think of another solution that will allow me to get the new phone. Any suggestions would be most welcome... thanks!
I was just thinking about this today. Good job on putting it into words. What if they put checks in though that can tell if you purchased it for your own account from AT&T or Apple? I hope this would work, I love stickin it to the man. Corporate jerks.
So glad I finally found a forum with people who know what's going on with the iPhone! Have been receiving a lot of conflicting information (as has everyone else
I have been a customer with AT&T for quite a while, and my current contract is up as of 07/01/2008. However, because of my employer's arrangement with AT&T, I was previously able to order up to 4 phones per year without extending my contract. This policy was changed recently, so my records now indicate that I will not be eligible for an equipment upgrade until 2009.
So, here's my question: Can I cancel my contract on 07/10 and then walk into the AT&T store and get an iPhone 3G as a new customer on 7/11? Better yet, can I cancel/reapply in the store on 7/11? I wouldn't have to pay a penalty for cancelling, since my contract will have been over by then. One of the AT&T customer reps seemed to think this would be a good option for me, but I'm wondering if I need to be terminated for a certain period of time before they can consider me to be a "new" customer. (An earlier post seemed to indicate 3 months?)
Since my contract is over anyway, I can just as easily switch carriers now, so I'm hoping that AT&T has some sort of provision for people in my situation. I don't care about keeping my current phone number. I'd love to have the new iPhone, but I can't think of another solution that will allow me to get the new phone. Any suggestions would be most welcome... thanks!
Followup:
Went to the AT&T store, and they let me sign up for a second account immediately; so I picked up a cheap phone, which I'll trade in for the iPhone on 7/11. Evidently AT&T has no concerns about setting up separate accounts, each of which has its own guidelines on phone upgrades. So, I currently have two phone numbers, and will be cancelling my existing account after 7/1, once the 2 years is up.
Sorry, probably not useful for the other members who have been looking for answers. I did find that the in-store reps seemed to have a much better sense of what the limits and guidelines are for the iPhones, so I'd recommend visiting the local stores rather than calling AT&T customer service wherever possible. Hope everyone is able to get their issues resolved...
the op procedure works!! According to my at&t account, i wasn't eligible for a headset upgrade until April 2009(got a free phone from at&t), which meant paying for the unsubsidized 3g iphone price.
what i did was borrowed a friends unlocked iphone(which i originally sold to) and locked it back up(go to hackthatphone.com for procedure), i activated the iphone with itunes under my account/phone number. when i was done, i logged back onto my at&t account, and checked my eligibility, which now says "This line is eligible for equipment discount pricing when you sign up for a 2-year service agreement."
if you can get a hold of an iphone, and you are not eligible for an upgrade, i recommend doing this to avoid paying the unsubsidized price....also dont forget to unlock it back up before returning the iphone to your friend
what i did was borrowed a friends unlocked iphone(which i originally sold to) and locked it back up(go to hackthatphone.com for procedure), i activated the iphone with itunes under my account/phone number. when i was done, i logged back onto my at&t account, and checked my eligibility, which now says "This line is eligible for equipment discount pricing when you sign up for a 2-year service agreement."
if you can get a hold of an iphone, and you are not eligible for an upgrade, i recommend doing this to avoid paying the unsubsidized price....also dont forget to unlock it back up before returning the iphone to your friend
the op procedure works!! According to my at&t account, i wasn't eligible for a headset upgrade until April 2009(got a free phone from at&t), which meant paying for the unsubsidized 3g iphone price.
what i did was borrowed a friends unlocked iphone(which i originally sold to) and locked it back up(go to hackthatphone.com for procedure), i activated the iphone with itunes under my account/phone number. when i was done, i logged back onto my at&t account, and checked my eligibility, which now says "This line is eligible for equipment discount pricing when you sign up for a 2-year service agreement."
if you can get a hold of an iphone, and you are not eligible for an upgrade, i recommend doing this to avoid paying the unsubsidized price....also dont forget to unlock it back up before returning the iphone to your friend
ctnguye3 - Thanks for verifying this! Please let us know after 7/11 if this allows you to purchase at the subsidized price.
Until then, given the uncertainty surrounding AT&T's pricing and business rules, I don't think we can claim victory.
From the horse's mouth means from an intranet site within at&t... I am not going to try to convince you that I'm legit because I do not like stalkers (lol)... I just hope that you believe me... (but if you would still like proof PM me and we'll talk)
Good stuff...
...Just to let you know... It might work but I dunno if the audit crew is gonna come back and see that you switched... I can't guarantee that its gonna work..the op procedure works!! According to my at&t account, i wasn't eligible for a headset upgrade until April 2009(got a free phone from at&t), which meant paying for the unsubsidized 3g iphone price.
what i did was borrowed a friends unlocked iphone(which i originally sold to) and locked it back up(go to hackthatphone.com for procedure), i activated the iphone with itunes under my account/phone number. when i was done, i logged back onto my at&t account, and checked my eligibility, which now says "This line is eligible for equipment discount pricing when you sign up for a 2-year service agreement."
if you can get a hold of an iphone, and you are not eligible for an upgrade, i recommend doing this to avoid paying the unsubsidized price....also dont forget to unlock it back up before returning the iphone to your friend
Right you are and I even work for the company...
Anyway guys... keep PMing me if you have any more questions... I'm gonna start checking them regularly... (the boss just started making the schedule tighter. I'm PT and I'm getting 40+ for the next couple of weeks). So thanks once again for being good sports and respecting my answers...
saDeR
I just wanted to report back that I had no problems getting my new iPhone 3G for the subsidized price, my only minor complaint is the iPhones 3G's LCD quality is not that great compare (to the 1st gen). It's hard to explain, but the LCD has a yellowish tint...Well I guess its better than having one with dead pixels, overall I'm happy and can't wait to play with the new apps
ctnguye3 - Thanks for checking back in.
I ended up not trying any of these schemes, but for some reason, they showed me as eligible anyway!!!
My only thought is that I had bought the original in April but returned it less than two weeks later to wait for the 3G. Maybe that tricked their systems.Anyways, Happy iPhone Day Everyone!!!
This is probably a really old post, but does the method listed in the beginning of the thread still work? @saDerMac I would have PMd for something like this, but being a new user, I can't do that so hopefully someone will see this post.