I am in the same situation and did exactly the same as you from AT&T to T-Mobile. I am also concerned about how I am going to preorder this year with the Apple Upgrade Program. Hopefully someone has the answer for us.
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*pre orders* iPhone Upgrade Program
- Thread starter tyknep
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Preordering on the IUP with T-Mobile is only an issue if you're NEW to the program. If you're UPGRADING this year and need to trade in your phone, you will go through the reservation system just like last year. There was a preorder reservation system for IUP members where you just select the carrier and model you want, and select a time slot to reserve your phone. Then you show up at the store on launch day to pick it up.
Thanks. I really hope that this is correct. I am still worried that I won't be able to even pre order online with T-mobile. The reason is if you go to the IUP site now and try to upgrade (I am a member not new) it still says "T-mobile only in store".
Bad news friends.
Here is what i get when trying to upgrade with the IUP.
Upgrading with T-Mobile.
To upgrade with T-Mobile and continue with the program, bring your current iPhone to an Apple Store and check in with a Specialist.*
Find a Store
You can still buy a new iPhone online but if you do, you will be leaving the iPhone Upgrade Program and paying for your new iPhone in full. You will also need to send back your current iPhone to close the associated loan.
*Ability to upgrade in store is subject to iPhone availability.
Get help buying.
or call 1-800-MY-APPLE.
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What happens if you are new to the program? Last year I was with ATT- I used IUP to get a VZ phone (had the CDMA band) and worked like a charm but ended up paying cash at checkout so I'm not in the program. Will I be able to do the same thing this year with Tmobile?
I paid in full last year with AT&T but I am looking to join iUP this go around. What all information is needed at checkout come preorder night in order to join the program so that I can get through the preorder process as fast as possible in order to ensure quick order confirmation?
Anything you’d need for a credit check. Name, address, social, and government issued ID.
Ok so, if I'm reading this correctly. If you aren't currently a apple upgrade member but want to join the program on pre order night (and are on T-Mobile) it's best to just get a Verizon phone or even an att phone (they'll unlock it, just have to call) because new Apple upgrade members, that are on T-Mobile, can only get a phone in store?
Unfortunately, you can’t simply select a Verizon or AT&T phone. You have to have an account with those carriers in order to get one.
Sounds like T-Mobile customers are just plain screwed.
Oh that sucks.
Maybe I'll try to just pre order full price and swap for apple upgrade later.
Edit: I guess i can just use my girlfriend numberto pre order she's on Att
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This is a pretty good idea. I’ll certainly speak with some Apple reps in the day or two before the preorder window opens to ask more questions, but this sounds like a decent plan for now.
It’s just baffling to me that T-Mobile people can’t simply reserve the phone during the preorder period...especially when all of the AUP folks have to come into an Apple store regardless in order to get their phone. So weird.
Keep me updated as well please. I spoke to some Apple reps, but they were clueless.
Wouldn't it say the same thing for existing members with any other carrier? As far as I know, upgrading on the IUP means you have to go to a store no matter which carrier you have so you can trade it in for the new one. Hmm, now I'm really interested to see what that screen says if you're a Verizon, Sprint, or ATT customer.
EDIT - Nevermind, I found the info here:
https://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program/upgrade
I guess you can now upgrade online if you're with any other carrier. This essentially means that yes, T-Mobile customers on the IUP will be screwed in regards to preordering. Incredibly lame. It's T-Mobile's fault for having such ****** backend IT systems.
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I don’t mind going to a store to pick up my phone. What really rubs me the wrong way is the fact that T-Mobile users seemingly won’t even be allowed to preorder/reserve/hold a phone.
That's exactly right, I feel the same way. I had no issue at all with the previous system of reserving a phone online and trading it in at the store. Now I'll probably just sell this phone, pay off the IUP loan, and pre-order directly from T-Mobile. I had contemplated switching to Verizon but my whole family is on T-Mobile and if I just switch my single line over, my bill would be over 3x the price for my line.
Yea it seems challenging for T-Mobile users. I too am on T-Mobile, but I'm not too really tied to them or anything from a loyalty perspective. I decided to move my wife and I over to Verizon (before they just changed the unlimited plan - so I will at least have the prior plan). This way for Pre-Order, we'll upgrade using Verizon. Oh, just an FYI - when we signed up for IUP last year, they couldnt do the T-Mobile sign up in store for us (associate was completely confused) so I had actually signed up with Verizon (cancelled upon leaving the store) and used it on T-Mobile that afternoon.
Looks like I'm going back but plan to use it this time
Verizon does have the best signal in my area (over T-Mobile) so I am hoping to like that!I see lots of confusion on this thread.
1. It is now possible to upgrade your phone on iUP on Apple’s online store. They ship you a trade in kit once you receive the new device. Hopefully this stays this way once the devices are announced.
2. You CANNOT sign up or upgrade on iUP using Apple’s online store, if you are on T-Mobile. You can only do this in store. This was the case last launch as well. You WERE able to RESERVE a phone last year. The AppleCare rep in the Apple Support Chat above was speaking prematurely. Apple has not divulged it’s launch strategy to its employees yet for this year. They get all of that info the day of the announcement. So that AppleCare rep is doing their job poorly and breaking Apple’s policy about speculating with customers.
1. It is now possible to upgrade your phone on iUP on Apple’s online store. They ship you a trade in kit once you receive the new device. Hopefully this stays this way once the devices are announced.
2. You CANNOT sign up or upgrade on iUP using Apple’s online store, if you are on T-Mobile. You can only do this in store. This was the case last launch as well. You WERE able to RESERVE a phone last year. The AppleCare rep in the Apple Support Chat above was speaking prematurely. Apple has not divulged it’s launch strategy to its employees yet for this year. They get all of that info the day of the announcement. So that AppleCare rep is doing their job poorly and breaking Apple’s policy about speculating with customers.
So are you saying that T-Mobile customers can still reserve an iPhone when the preorder window opens, and can then upgrade via iUP once they arrive at an Apple store to pick up the reserved phone on launch day?
last year at least - i dont think you could reserve in store until quite a while.....the only link was IUP. you could then go to store and say - hey i dont want IUP and pay cash for it if you wanted. but there was no way to "reserve"
my memory could be wrong but pretty sure there was no way to do what you suggested last year at launch.
You have the same restrictions as all other T-Mobile customers. Apple sees you as a TMobile customer now and you won't be able to upgrade to an ATT model unless you have an active postpaid account with them.
This is all really unfortunate for t mobile customers. It makes me want to switch carriers just to avoid this hassle. It was EXTREMELY annoying last year to do IUP with t mobile.