I never have been on AT&T. I have never owned a credit card, thus my problem. Please, don't make an Ass out of yourself or I...
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Preordering iPhone 3GS on Apple.com
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I never have been on AT&T. I have never owned a credit card, thus my problem. Please, don't make an Ass out of yourself or I...
For what it's worth, I'll share my experience thus far.
My wife and I are currently on Sprint and we're switching to ATT for the iPhone 3GS. I can't do the family plan for two phones and have them both delivered to my home, because right now the Apple Online Store only allows one phone to be activated or something like that - they described it under an asterisk on the buyiphone Apple site.
So I called our local ATT store today, explained the situation and asked what my options are. The sales rep told me that we can come into the store tonight, order a phone for each of us, and then come in on the 19th when they open early. I asked him if there was a guarantee that we'd have our phones that day and he said that they could not guarantee everyone would get their phones on day one, but pre-ordering has a better chance rather than just waiting in line outside the store. They are going to open at 7:00 AM for people that pre-ordered. There will be a separate line outside the store for pre-orders, and another one for non-preorders. The pre-order line starts getting their phones at 7:00, while the other line waits until the store opens.
Phones are still first-come-first-serve, but there's a better chance of getting one by actually pre-ordering it. Either way if you pre-order you're guaranteed a phone, just not necessarily on day one. So my wife and I will plan on getting out to the store around 6:00 AM to see how bad the lines are, etc, and hope to get a phone that morning. If not, no biggie. We're just amped to get the phone at all!
This guy explains it pretty well, also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzI6KJyuV8
From the Macrumors front page.
My wife and I are currently on Sprint and we're switching to ATT for the iPhone 3GS. I can't do the family plan for two phones and have them both delivered to my home, because right now the Apple Online Store only allows one phone to be activated or something like that - they described it under an asterisk on the buyiphone Apple site.
So I called our local ATT store today, explained the situation and asked what my options are. The sales rep told me that we can come into the store tonight, order a phone for each of us, and then come in on the 19th when they open early. I asked him if there was a guarantee that we'd have our phones that day and he said that they could not guarantee everyone would get their phones on day one, but pre-ordering has a better chance rather than just waiting in line outside the store. They are going to open at 7:00 AM for people that pre-ordered. There will be a separate line outside the store for pre-orders, and another one for non-preorders. The pre-order line starts getting their phones at 7:00, while the other line waits until the store opens.
Phones are still first-come-first-serve, but there's a better chance of getting one by actually pre-ordering it. Either way if you pre-order you're guaranteed a phone, just not necessarily on day one. So my wife and I will plan on getting out to the store around 6:00 AM to see how bad the lines are, etc, and hope to get a phone that morning. If not, no biggie. We're just amped to get the phone at all!
This guy explains it pretty well, also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzI6KJyuV8
From the Macrumors front page.
That what I was thinking. I can't stand in line that day, I'll try going to the store during lunch, if they sold it, then I'm sol and I will be pretty hacked.
Using another line's upgrade...
I have seen this mentioned a couple of time in this thread. If it needs to be its own thread, I apologize. I don't want to hijack.
A couple of posters have mentioned that they have several lines on one account and that they will be using the available upgrade for one of the other lines to get the 3GS for use on a line that does not have an available upgrade.
I have two lines on my account. One is eligible for upgrade and the other is not. Neither line is currently an iPhone user. So, if I change my account to add a data plan and use the upgrade to get an iPhone, will I be able to use that phone on either line? The posts seem to suggest I would, but the CSR said otherwise.
I have seen this mentioned a couple of time in this thread. If it needs to be its own thread, I apologize. I don't want to hijack.
A couple of posters have mentioned that they have several lines on one account and that they will be using the available upgrade for one of the other lines to get the 3GS for use on a line that does not have an available upgrade.
I have two lines on my account. One is eligible for upgrade and the other is not. Neither line is currently an iPhone user. So, if I change my account to add a data plan and use the upgrade to get an iPhone, will I be able to use that phone on either line? The posts seem to suggest I would, but the CSR said otherwise.
I am in a similar boat. My situation is even stranger. Both of my lines are not eligible for an upgrade but my mothers line is. I am giving her my Samsung Eternity and I just pre-ordered the phone from Apple. Since the Iphone requires a special SIM chip, this will make things a bit confusing.
I will have to call Customer Care and activate my iphone on my line and then log into my mother's account and remove the data plan from their account. However, I am really curious if AT&T will even add the data plan to my mother's account unless I activate the phone. Seeing as it could be a gift, I don't think they will until I call in.
Right, the SIM cards are definitely interchangeable. So, for me the question gets back to whether the data plan applies specifically to one line on an account or all lines on that account. If it applies to only one line then I don't know if I can pull off the trick I mentioned above.
I am pretty sure you have to activate the iPhone on your mothers line or else after a certain amount of time they will bill you the nonsubsidiary pricing... Basically your best bet is to activate it on your mothers line, then just take the SIM out and put it into the Samsung... and you put yours into the iPhone. You can transfer the iPhone data plans he will acquire by activating it to your account and your set.
So uh. My two questions are still not answered:
1) Can I pre-order on www.apple.com/wireless.att.com and pick up in store?
2)If I pre-order on www.apple.com, will I receive my 3GS on June 19th, or will it ship (Ground probably :/) on the 19th?
1) Can I pre-order on www.apple.com/wireless.att.com and pick up in store?
2)If I pre-order on www.apple.com, will I receive my 3GS on June 19th, or will it ship (Ground probably :/) on the 19th?
Ahh, so basically one line can "gift" another a subsidized iPhone as long as the recipient assumes the contract. Is that accurate?
For what it's worth, I'll share my experience thus far.
My wife and I are currently on Sprint and we're switching to ATT for the iPhone 3GS. I can't do the family plan for two phones and have them both delivered to my home, because right now the Apple Online Store only allows one phone to be activated or something like that - they described it under an asterisk on the buyiphone Apple site.
So I called our local ATT store today, explained the situation and asked what my options are. The sales rep told me that we can come into the store tonight, order a phone for each of us, and then come in on the 19th when they open early. I asked him if there was a guarantee that we'd have our phones that day and he said that they could not guarantee everyone would get their phones on day one, but pre-ordering has a better chance rather than just waiting in line outside the store. They are going to open at 7:00 AM for people that pre-ordered. There will be a separate line outside the store for pre-orders, and another one for non-preorders. The pre-order line starts getting their phones at 7:00, while the other line waits until the store opens.
Phones are still first-come-first-serve, but there's a better chance of getting one by actually pre-ordering it. Either way if you pre-order you're guaranteed a phone, just not necessarily on day one. So my wife and I will plan on getting out to the store around 6:00 AM to see how bad the lines are, etc, and hope to get a phone that morning. If not, no biggie. We're just amped to get the phone at all!
This guy explains it pretty well, also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzI6KJyuV8
From the Macrumors front page.
Yea, that's the same thing I would do if I could actually get that day off work.
Instead I signed up for the pre-order last night and received my confirmation email and all. I'm still not satisfied though so I'm going to the Apple store tonight to see if I can go ahead and pay ahead of time and have it shipped to my house.
I've read where several of you have already purchased the iPhone for delivery to your doorstep on the 19th.
That's what I would like to do as well.
My wife and I are currently on T-Mobile and will be switching our service over to AT&T. I'm getting the 32GB 3GS and she is getting the $99 8GB.
So I should be able to order both of these phones for delivery to my home on the 19th correct?
I'm just worried with this whole pre-order mess that when I get off work on the 19th there will be no iPhone 3GS's left and then not another shipment until 10 days later or something like that.
In the end though, I am just happy as well to be getting one at all and fortunate enough to afford my wife one as well. I've waited 2 looooooong years for this.
So where do I order online to pay in full and be done with it until the mail comes?
Thank you and good luck everyone!
So um why not call Apple to find out?
I'm thinking you cannot now. As for receipt date, I bet you get it after the 19th.
Ok. Just to be sure I got this right:
-When I receive the phone, activate it on my mom's account by calling AT&T (do I need to do anything with Itunes?)
-Then put my sim card into the iphone and activate it on my account by calling AT&T
-Put my mom's sim card into my phone and call AT&T to remove the data plan
-anything else?
This is possible. Just got off the phone with ATT. It will take a little while to do this, but it is definitely possible.
Just an update:
I was able to purchase a 32 GB iPhone 3GS without any difficulty to-be-delivered on June 19th (or around there...) as an upgrade ($299) through AT&T's web page.
apple.com/buyiphone be damned!
Just to follow up on my experiences this afternoon:
My wife and I got to the AT&T store and pre-ordered two 16GB iPhones. Total with tax was $208.xx per phone (5% VA sales tax, on the subsidized price).
While our very attentive sales rep was entering the information I said "So I read online that the pre-orders here don't actually mean you're going to definitely get the phone on day one, right?" He said that basically the store stocks have not been determined yet, but what he has been told is that anyone who pre-orders will have their phone waiting for them at the AT&T store for pickup that day. Beyond that, they'll have some kind of arbitrary number (he said 50, but was just using that as an example) to provide to others who had not pre-ordered.
He seemed rather well-informed, and was rather adamant that we'd have our phones on launch day. He also mentioned that this particular store did not have set plans for an early launch. He said there would definitely be something, but they just need to finalize everything with scheduling and whatnot. So from what it sounds like, and what I experienced, going in to an AT&T store is a very painless way to get things done if you want two new iPhones on a family plan!
Big thanks to Sergio from AT&T for being a great CSR.
My wife and I got to the AT&T store and pre-ordered two 16GB iPhones. Total with tax was $208.xx per phone (5% VA sales tax, on the subsidized price).
While our very attentive sales rep was entering the information I said "So I read online that the pre-orders here don't actually mean you're going to definitely get the phone on day one, right?" He said that basically the store stocks have not been determined yet, but what he has been told is that anyone who pre-orders will have their phone waiting for them at the AT&T store for pickup that day. Beyond that, they'll have some kind of arbitrary number (he said 50, but was just using that as an example) to provide to others who had not pre-ordered.
He seemed rather well-informed, and was rather adamant that we'd have our phones on launch day. He also mentioned that this particular store did not have set plans for an early launch. He said there would definitely be something, but they just need to finalize everything with scheduling and whatnot. So from what it sounds like, and what I experienced, going in to an AT&T store is a very painless way to get things done if you want two new iPhones on a family plan!
Big thanks to Sergio from AT&T for being a great CSR.
I ordered one last night at apple
took a few tries to do it. I am currently with at&t out of contrat I had a 8gb 3g I bought from a friend sold it last night for $160 now I have to wait a little over a week to get the new phone. I got a conformation email from apple under it in small print was this so this means I might go to the apple store with no phone for me. come on Apple not cool. I might cancel and order though AT&T just ticks me off!
Dear DAVID,
Thanks for starting your iPhone purchase online.To finish the process, come to the store you selected and look for a Concierge in an orange shirt. We'll help you complete your purchase, activate your new iPhone, and set it up for you. Find a storeFind a store
Make sure to bring these items with you:
valid, government-issued photo ID
Your Social Security number
A debit or credit card
We look forward to seeing you.
The Apple Retail Store team
Here is what I am talking about!
Pre-authorization does not guarantee iPhone availability at an Apple Retail Store. iPhone is sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Copyright © 2009 Apple Inc. 1 Infinite Loop, MS 303-3DM, Cupertino, CA 95014.
All Rights Reserved / Keep Informed / Privacy Policy
took a few tries to do it. I am currently with at&t out of contrat I had a 8gb 3g I bought from a friend sold it last night for $160 now I have to wait a little over a week to get the new phone. I got a conformation email from apple under it in small print was this so this means I might go to the apple store with no phone for me. come on Apple not cool. I might cancel and order though AT&T just ticks me off!
Dear DAVID,
Thanks for starting your iPhone purchase online.To finish the process, come to the store you selected and look for a Concierge in an orange shirt. We'll help you complete your purchase, activate your new iPhone, and set it up for you. Find a storeFind a store
Make sure to bring these items with you:
valid, government-issued photo ID
Your Social Security number
A debit or credit card
We look forward to seeing you.
The Apple Retail Store team
Here is what I am talking about!
Pre-authorization does not guarantee iPhone availability at an Apple Retail Store. iPhone is sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Copyright © 2009 Apple Inc. 1 Infinite Loop, MS 303-3DM, Cupertino, CA 95014.
All Rights Reserved / Keep Informed / Privacy Policy
they've been answered over and over and over...
1) yes - see seperate 7AM store line threads
2) apple's website specifically says "delivered on 19th". this means it ships prior to the 19th, and is delivered to you (if you are home) on that day.
This is correct. I didn't believe the site at first either. I called Apple and they said that it will be delivered on the 19th. Someone needs to be there to sign for the package, but it will be delivered on the 19th. So, if you want to avoid waiting, just have it shipped. All Iphone 3Gs' will be shipped prior to the 19th so they arrive at their destinations ON the 19th.
Has anyone found out for sure if those of us who removed our shared texting on family plans on ATT(using Natasha's trick) to get through the apple website process, then put them back in on ATT's site... will still have them in place when we activate the new phones?