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I am elegigble for an upgrade in 2010 but I'm not an iPhone customer.

I think it's crap that the early discount is for iPhone users only. How about people with standard phones that want to upgrade for the first time? Where's the love for us? :(
 
"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and waive the $18 upgrade fee."

I have an iPhone 2g, and I cannot wait! :)
 
Mine says, "As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and waive the $18 upgrade fee."

Mind you I do not have any discount on the phone/line. It is the primary line on a family plan though.

My husband's says, "As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee."

EDIT: The AT&T website states that for an iPhone, I do have to pay the $18. However, there is another piece of writing that states they can offer me an additional $50 off and a waived $18 fee if I upgrade to a phone. This does not include all phones - especially the iPhone.
 
I am elegigble for an upgrade in 2010 but I'm not an iPhone customer.

I think it's crap that the early discount is for iPhone users only. How about people with standard phones that want to upgrade for the first time? Where's the love for us? :(

I would still think that you can get it at the discounted price...

It is not an early discount as I have an iPhone, but my commitment is up. It is the price for anyone who is completely eligible for an upgrade. The only thing that you would need an iPhone for to get this price is if you are eligible for a full upgrade by December 21st.
 
Let me get this straight, for $18 AT&T will let us cut our contract short by 6 months and start a new 2 year contract all over again, with the new early termination fee and data plan structure in place, calling it an upgrade.

And why are they charging us $18 to do this? AT&T.....Come on!
 
Mine says, "As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and waive the $18 upgrade fee."

Mind you I do not have any discount on the phone/line. It is the primary line on a family plan though.

My husband's says, "As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee."

EDIT: The AT&T website states that for an iPhone, I do have to pay the $18. However, there is another piece of writing that states they can offer me an additional $50 off and a waived $18 fee if I upgrade to a phone. This does not include all phones - especially the iPhone.

That $18 fee seems to be a complete mystery as to how it is applied. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. I started a thread on that the other day. Odd.
 
Let me get this straight, for $18 AT&T will let us cut our contract short by 6 months and start a new 2 year contract all over again, with the new early termination fee and data plan structure in place, calling it an upgrade.

And why are they charging us $18 to do this? AT&T.....Come on!

They have always been doing this. When you sign up, you are charged a $36 activation fee and when you upgrade, you are charged $18.

How else are they supposed to steal our money? They were not making any extra on the unlimited plans, and look how that ended up! :D
 
Here's what I got. Angry bunch. AT&T is.
 

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mine $18 fee is waived...

my discount with at&t is 30% (on monthly bill)

my fee is also waived if I break my contract (which that expired a few months ago, I hope it renews when I get the new phone)

I get 50% off all handsets...

and 30% off all non-apple accessories...
 
I am elegigble for an upgrade in 2010 but I'm not an iPhone customer.

I think it's crap that the early discount is for iPhone users only. How about people with standard phones that want to upgrade for the first time? Where's the love for us? :(

iPhone customers have a higher ARPU.
 
You know what really would have been "generous?" If they surprised and allowed everyone, no matter what point they are in their contract, to allow a completely subsidized iPhone 4 upgrade for all current customers. Seriously, how much would they "lose" money-wise, given that they've been "losing face" and gaining the worst reputation since they first got their hands on the iPhone (and maybe even before that).

If it comes as a total surprise on the 15th, no one would be taking advantage of it, and the people would bought any phone up to two weeks before the point of no return would be the lucky ones that they'd keep the extra phone - AT&T could keep that phone locked (assuming it's not an iPhone to begin with) and the enduser could sell it off, which could only grow their customer base.

If AT&T wanted to really turn themselves around, they could start by chiseling away little chunks at their quarterly multimillion dollar profits to give back to the customer. A little show of effort goes a long way.
 
You know what really would have been "generous?" If they surprised and allowed everyone, no matter what point they are in their contract, to allow a completely subsidized iPhone 4 upgrade for all current customers. Seriously, how much would they "lose" money-wise, given that they've been "losing face" and gaining the worst reputation since they first got their hands on the iPhone (and maybe even before that).

If it comes as a total surprise on the 15th, no one would be taking advantage of it, and the people would bought any phone up to two weeks before the point of no return would be the lucky ones that they'd keep the extra phone - AT&T could keep that phone locked (assuming it's not an iPhone to begin with) and the enduser could sell it off, which could only grow their customer base.

If AT&T wanted to really turn themselves around, they could start by chiseling away little chunks at their quarterly multimillion dollar profits to give back to the customer. A little show of effort goes a long way.

Yes, and because of their dicking around I am still seriously considering getting an Incredible even though I really like the new iPhone. I've been an AT&T customer now for 10 years. Why? I am starting to despise them as much as Dish Network. :D
 
Yes, and because of their dicking around I am still seriously considering getting an Incredible even though I really like the new iPhone. I've been an AT&T customer now for 10 years. Why? I am starting to despise them as much as Dish Network. :D

I posted a close paraphrase of my thoughts on AT&T's Facebook page and someone (likely from AT&T) posted their response:
Money lost: if all 6.4 million iPhone users in the U.S. were to upgrade their phones at the $199 price, which is $400 off of list price, that would result in an initial revenue loss of $2.56 billion, which isn't a small chunk of money. Granted, they make it back over the course of the contracts, but the loss takes time to recover. Also, they are a publicly traded company, and the revenue loss of the upgrade itself plus the revenue loss from not recovering all the cost of your previous phone wouldn't make their shareholders very happy.

I have some qualms about the "$400 off of list price"... we all know that the true price of the iPhone is not $599 and $699. That price is inflated to protect the wireless carriers. Also, he hit the nail on the head when he noted that shareholders are the highest priority - I just don't know exactly where customers are on that totem pole of hierarchy.
 
I posted a close paraphrase of my

I have some qualms about the "$400 off of list price"... we all know that the true price of the iPhone is not $599 and $699. That price is inflated to protect the wireless carriers. Also, he hit the nail on the head when he noted that shareholders are the highest priority - I just don't know exactly where customers are on that totem pole of hierarchy.

Interesting info. I have no issues with AT&T making a profit. I guess the issue I have is that some customers are offered a subsidized upgrade while other seemingly equal in eligibility customers are not.

I agree that AT&T can handle this as they wish and understand that their formula utilizes a number of different usage variables but as customers we have no way to know where we are on their eligibility scale (other than yes or no) and it seems illogical at times. Consumers expect fair and equitable pricing of a product and if there's exclusiveness involved it's good to know what it takes to become part of the elite group without a lot of drama. The way AT&T handles this is poor customer service and PR IMO.
 
The upgrade isn't supposed to be for current iPhone customers, it's supposed to be for everyone yet my account wont update.
 
"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee."
 
huh? and no, it (the fully subsidized pricing) is not supposed to be for everyone

The 6 months early.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/07/atandt-upgrade-to-iphone-4-up-to-six-months-early/

"Update: Good news, addicts! AT&T just pinged us to clarify that so long as your upgrade date is anytime in 2010, you're now eligible to spend an additional two years paying dues to AT&T. In other words, a fair amount of you will be able to buy one of these at contract price on day one. The full statement is after the break, along with AT&T's full pricing release."
 
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