I guess the only way we will know for sure will be to give it a whirl at 3AM EDT...provided the AT&T site works.
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Carrier Tips for preordering via AT&T?
- Thread starter Nikos
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When I was checking the AT&T site earlier...doing a dry run...I couldn't find an option to set-up an express checkout. Is this something that exists on their site or will I have to enter my payment info manually?
No this is normal. It means that you can use Next, a new 2-yr agreement with a subsidy if you are a new customer or eligible for a full subsidy or an early upgrade if you purchased last year ( a reduced subsidy ). The full price is normally only available if you don't qualify for a subsidy 2-yr agreement, and also don't want to go to a Next plan. The good news is that if you are forced to pay full price, you can then get it unlocked right away.
Dave
No this is normal. It means that you can use Next, a new 2-yr agreement with a subsidy if you are a new customer or eligible for a full subsidy or an early upgrade if you purchased last year ( a reduced subsidy ). The full price is normally only available if you don't qualify for a subsidy 2-yr agreement, and also don't want to go to a Next plan. The good news is that if you are forced to pay full price, you can then get it unlocked right away.
Dave
I was referring more to the other users who spoke with AT&T chat reps who told them they would only be able to preorder with a Next plan and that 2-yr subsidized wouldn't be available tonight.
Wow, so many contradicting explanations by the AT&T reps.
Here's to hoping the subsidized price is available for pre-order tonight. Aiming for the space gray 64 gb plus!
Here's to hoping the subsidized price is available for pre-order tonight. Aiming for the space gray 64 gb plus!
Just at note to everyone: The chat reps are not the final say on the ordering process, so don't bet you life an anything they say in the AT&T chat. This also applies to the other Carriers and even Apple chat.
Dave
Very true, however I wonder if AT&T will honor things chat reps tell us if we save the transcript, and/or if they make notes on our account. Some of us were told we can make plan changes after ordering a phone through Apple, and I'm probably going to bank on that.
This is probably stupid, but is there a difference between ordering the iphone with ATT Next on their website versus the Apple Appstore app?
I'm banking on them being wrong! Otherwise, I'm going to be quite grouchy come 3 AM. lol
If you're ordering under the Next plan, the only difference I can think of would be ease/stability of the ordering process. From past experience, the Apple Store App is much more stable than the AT&T site.
As far as your plan goes, no, but I'd trust Apple over AT&T any day.
The premier thing always confused me. It's usually business accounts or if you have a Gov discount etc. everytime I order I get sent through the premier site but I can't explain why other than a contractual discount.
If you're ordering a phone on next/subsidy through at&t, I can PROMISE you that you cannot make any rate plan changes that effect that line in any way, shape, or form until you get that device and it's activated.
I want to order via Apple on a Next (12 month) plan, then call AT&T to change it to Next + Down Payment (12 month). I want to make that down payment to reduce monthly device costs. I spoke to a few different representatives, and haven't got a clear answer on whether it's possible, however one said he made a note on my account to allow it. I have the transcript. Hope it's true.
You'll only be able to do that if you order THROUGH at&t. If you order through APPLE, and try to do the switch, I believe you'll have a very hard time. Reason being is because the device you are ordering originally will not be in at&t's billing system. In order for at&t to switch to Nxt /dp / 12mo, they need to "return" your phone, and "resell" it to take payment for the 30% down. The device being sent from apple will not reside in at&t's billing system. That's the same for if someone goes to best buy RIGHT NOW and get's an iphone 6 on next 12, and walks across the street to an at&t COR store to do the same thing. The cor store would revert back to best buy for it to be done.
The only exception for this is if someone orders through at&t telesales or online, and then wants to go to a COR store (or back through telesales) to do that switch.
I'm willing to bet there was a bit of misunderstanding if they were telling you this could be done.
Yeah, I believe I'm going to have a really hard time with this. My options are to order via Apple and possibly end up with a higher monthly payment, or order through AT&T and risk not getting the phone on release.
I'm hoping the chat transcript + note on my account are enough to get AT&T to honor it. I think I was pretty clear about what I want to do.
AT&T : Hello! My name is ***. How may I help you today?
Me : Hi ***.
Me : I will be upgrading to a Next plan with the new iPhone. I understand you offer Next + Down Payment but only directly through AT&T. Will I be able to order with Next via Apple, then change my plan to Next + Down Payment with AT&T immediately after?
AT&T : That is a good question allow me to check that one for you, rest assured that I will be here to assist you with all the information that you will be needing before pre ordering the device
Me : Thank you.
AT&T : You are so welcome!
Me : I have spoken to a couple of representatives over the phone but they were unsure.
AT&T : I see, as I have checked here yes you will be able to pre order via apple
AT&T : Then after that, all you need to do is to contact att to make sure that your rate plan will be changed as well
Me : So I can preorder via Apple on a Next plan. Then I can call AT&T to arrange the down payment and reduce monthly device costs?
AT&T : That is correct, rest assured that I will be posting a note on your account for documentation purposes of what we have discussed / Processed today.
Me : Thank you very much, I really appreciate it.
AT&T : You are so welcome!
AT&T : Now that we are able to check if you will be able to do the pre order via apple as well as have all the information that they will be needing noted on your account, would there be anything else that I can do to make your experience even better?
Me : That's everything, thank you.
AT&T : You are so welcome!
AT&T : Perfect!
AT&T : Awesome!
AT&T : Thanks for choosing AT&T! We really appreciate your continued business and I am glad we got you taken care of today! and you do have a great day!
Me : You too!
I'm not trying to be a debbie downer or ruin your hopes and dreams, but I'm talking to you about this from experience. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY doubt you'll be able to do this. I'm saying this because I've tried to process this before.... for a customer (hint hint). They were forced to go back through Apple to process the change. There was no way for the billing/inventory system for the carrier to process that change since the IMEI didn't originate in the carrier inventory.
This is all so confusing... but that is only talking about Next. Check this line:
"Customers have three options to pay for their iPhone: through AT&T Next, a 2-year agreement or at full price."
The bolded part is what we care about. I think the subsidy will be available, they just aren't making a point to let us know.
I really appreciate your response. I trust and believe you. If (when) this doesn't work out, I'd probably have to return the phone at Apple and purchase it again through AT&T with the down payment option, correct? Or would I be able to go back to Apple and somehow add the down payment?
I wonder if I can sort it all out at the Apple Store, if there's an in-store pickup option available this year. Last year, there were AT&T representatives at the store that activated the phone for me.
No problem. That's most likely what will happen. I'm personally unsure/unaware if Apple will have access to a N12/dp option, and it didn't seem readily available on their website.
This is personal opinion, but if I were in your shoes (again, personal opinion), I would process the order as you are going to. Definitely try to talk to at&t care and see if there is ANYTHING they can do (doubtful but may as well finish the work you started). Don't waste too much time on that. If you can get into an apple store on launch day (hopefully an at&t rep is there), try that as your 2nd resort. If that doesn't work... your only two options would be to remain on the regular next program or return the phone and order through at&t (which the latter would be realistically a bad bad bad option obviously).
Option B) to all of this is order on at&t tonight, however I personally can see your wish to order through apple. I'm doing this same thing, even though... you know... about me (hint hint)... I trust Apple's app a bit more.
Thanks man, much appreciated! Yeah, if there's a store pickup option with AT&T reps in the store again, I will definitely speak to them about setting up the down payment. Worst case scenario, hopefully AT&T will have phones in stock within 14 days and I can re-purchase through them.
I was hoping you'd give me some faith in option B, but it seems I shouldn't take my chances. LOL
Thanks man, much appreciated! Yeah, if there's a store pickup option with AT&T reps in the store again, I will definitely speak to them about setting up the down payment. Worst case scenario, hopefully AT&T will have phones in stock within 14 days and I can re-purchase through them.
I was hoping you'd give me some faith in option B, but it seems I shouldn't take my chances. LOL
Be sure to let me know what happens.