Upgrading to AT&T Next - Can you go to an Apple store?

[roxics]

I chatted with an AT&T rep online and still came out confused.

I have three questions basically.

1. I'm on a two year contract currently. I want to switch to NEXT and I'm eligible. Can I wait in line at an Apple store overnight and upgrade my plan to NEXT for the iPhone 6 at the Apple store itself or do I have to go to an AT&T store or AT&T website to get the phone and switch my plan?

2. If I can't upgrade my plan at an Apple store, can I upgrade plan and then wait in line overnight and get my actual physical phone at the Apple store?

3. What about next year? If I've already been an NEXT customer for a year and my 12 months are up and I'm allowed to upgrade, can I wait in line at an Apple store and get my phone there or do I have to do it at the AT&T store?

I'm just trying to figure out if I can show up on day 1 to an Apple store and do everything there or not. I can do that with a two year contract if my contract is up. I can reup my two year contract and get a new discounted phone. Basically do everything at the Apple store. But does the same apply to NEXT?

I don't want to wait in line on day 1 at an Apple store and then have Apple employess tell me I can't switch my plan there. That instead I have to go to an AT&T store for that.

 

[jlake02]

I'm not certain either way but my advice is to upgrade with AT&T over the phone. Then you can go to an Apple store and get your device with NEXT.

I'm not confident Apple can upgrade or change your plan, but I could be wrong.

 

[Shockwave78]

I chatted with an AT&T rep online and still came out confused.

I have three questions basically.

1. I'm on a two year contract currently. I want to switch to NEXT and I'm eligible. Can I wait in line at an Apple store overnight and upgrade my plan to NEXT for the iPhone 6 at the Apple store itself or do I have to go to an AT&T store or AT&T website to get the phone and switch my plan?

2. If I can't upgrade my plan at an Apple store, can I upgrade plan and then wait in line overnight and get my actual physical phone at the Apple store?

3. What about next year? If I've already been an NEXT customer for a year and my 12 months are up and I'm allowed to upgrade, can I wait in line at an Apple store and get my phone there or do I have to do it at the AT&T store?

I'm just trying to figure out if I can show up on day 1 to an Apple store and do everything there or not.

- You can upgrade AND add lines via the AT&T NEXT program at the Apple store only

- You can ONLY upgrade your existing lines with the AT&T NEXT program on the Apple website.

- You can eligible for a new NEXT installment plan immediately once your previous one is paid off. It does not matter if you pay it off early. This was one of my concerns as i plan on paying off all 3 phones i order within a month or two. You can upgrade at 12 months but you have to trade your phone in if your current phone is not paid off yet...That is a complete ripoff, if it comes down to it just sell yours and pay it off. Never trade in your phone.


I confirmed all this through 3 different reps over the last two weeks as i had the same questions as you sort of.

 

[roxics]

See the lady on the chat confused me, because she made it sound like NEXT only applies to devices and that you couldn't switch to NEXT unless you were ready to walk out with a new device right then and there upon switching. So it sounds like you can't just switch your plan ahead of time and then later go get your phone.

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I'm still confused. Someone make it simple for me.

Can I walk into the Apple store with my 5C in hand and say "hey I want an iPhone 6 and I want to switch to NEXT to get it."?

 

[Ashtar]

You can ONLY upgrade your existing lines with the AT&T NEXT program on the Apple website.

Wait, you mean you can't do this on AT&T's website? Only Apple? That doesn't make any sense. Next is an AT&T service, not Apple. Why would you only be able to do this on the Apple website?

 

[miamialley]

- You can upgrade AND add lines via the AT&T NEXT program at the Apple store only

- You can ONLY upgrade your existing lines with the AT&T NEXT program on the Apple website.

- You can eligible for a new NEXT installment plan immediately once your previous one is paid off. It does not matter if you pay it off early. This was one of my concerns as i plan on paying off all 3 phones i order within a month or two. You can upgrade at 12 months but you have to trade your phone in if your current phone is not paid off yet...That is a complete ripoff, if it comes down to it just sell yours and pay it off. Never trade in your phone.


I confirmed all this through 3 different reps over the last two weeks as i had the same questions as you sort of.

The first bullet says you can upgrade existing lines using NEXT at Apple Store. The second bullet says you can only do it on the Apple web site.

Contradictory.

And why would you only be able to upgrade ATT NEXT on an Apple site or store. Makes no sense.

OP: I have no idea (and neither does this guy), but I'm curious how it works also.

 

[gdjsnyder]

It means the following:

At an Apple retail store you can sign up for new AT&T service with Next, upgrade a current line on your AT&T plan that's not on Next to a Next plan or add a new line to your AT&T account with a Next plan.

On Apple's online store you have to be an existing customer and upgrade a currently eligible line to do the next plan. You can not be signing up for AT&T service for the first time or add a new line through the apple online store.

You can do all of this via AT&T's website or their own stores. The poster was being specific to what you can do at Apple retail stores and the Apple online store.

 

[oldwren]

The poster was being specific to what you can do at Apple retail stores and the Apple online store.

+1 for reading.

 

[Steve686]

It has been done at Apple stores before....

 

[butters13]

Does anyone know if you can get AppleCare with the Next plan? What happens if the phone breaks?

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Does anyone know if you can get AppleCare with the Next plan? What happens if the phone breaks?

You sure can.

 

[got2go]

so i can go to the Apple Store on Friday and sign up for a new AT&T mobile share line and get the phone under the Next payment program?

If you don't mind me asking who did you confirm this through?

 

[hbenitez09]

Let me put some miss info to rest. At the apple store both online and in store you can do next as an upgrade to an existing line. You won't be able to add a line on next at the apple store only as a 2 year. If you currently have next and want to upgrade with apple they will direct you to an Att store. At the store you would only pay for taxes.

so i can go to the Apple Store on Friday and sign up for a new AT&T mobile share line and get the phone under the Next payment program?

If you don't mind me asking who did you confirm this through?

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You can get next and apple care. If the device breaks you pay apple a fee to fix the device or replace it. I would recommend insurance because if you lose the device and have next then you are responsible for the remaining payments as well as paying for your new device.

Does anyone know if you can get AppleCare with the Next plan? What happens if the phone breaks?

 

[bigthanbigger]

your way is same as mine , i do samething , wait in line on friday and bring this paper print from apple.com show to them ,

 

[got2go]

Let me put some miss info to rest. At the apple store both online and in store you can do next as an upgrade to an existing line. You won't be able to add a line on next at the apple store only as a 2 year. If you currently have next and want to upgrade with apple they will direct you to an Att store. At the store you would only pay for taxes.





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You can get next and apple care. If the device breaks you pay apple a fee to fix the device or replace it. I would recommend insurance because if you lose the device and have next then you are responsible for the remaining payments as well as paying for your new device.

so the info that shockwave got from 3 different reps was wrong? where did you get your information from?

 

[derekgroves]

so the info that shockwave got from 3 different reps was wrong? where did you get your information from?

Yeah I'm going to need him to state sources for this.

It's completely contradicting what I've gotten from Apple chat reps as well as calling the Apple store.

Both told me Next can be handled in store. If there are all of these caveats to what "kind" of Next you can do, they need to get on the ball and clarify. New Next people only? Existing customers wanting to Next one of their lines? These are important details for someone who's going to camp 24 hours just to get up to the register and find out there's some sort of stipulation as to just which Next Apple stores can process.

 

[hbenitez09]

I'm an Att sales manager that will be a lead at an apple store in my city over the weekend. We were just communicating back and forth what apple and Att would be okay with doing at their locations. Next at apple is brand new with this device.

Apple will have line management asking people what device, service, and how they are upgrading or if they are adding a line. Sending people to their local Att store for things they won't be able to do. Believe the new lines on next are because of strict credit requirements. All existing lines can upgrade to next without a credit check.

Try to add a line to an Att account on apple's website through next. It won't give you the option.

so the info that shockwave got from 3 different reps was wrong? where did you get your information from?

 

[Steve686]

I'm an Att sales manager that will be a lead at an apple store in my city over the weekend. We were just communicating back and forth what apple and Att would be okay with doing at their locations. Next at apple is brand new with this device.

Apple will have line management asking people what device, service, and how they are upgrading or if they are adding a line. Sending people to their local Att store for things they won't be able to do. Believe the new lines on next are because of strict credit requirements. All existing lines can upgrade to next without a credit check.

Try to add a line to an Att account on apple's website through next. It won't give you the option.

Next at Apple was done with the 5s. It's not brand new with the 6 series. I have done it at Apple when they didn't even know what it was, and had to go up the chain to figure out exactly what to do.

 

[hbenitez09]

Answered within the questions

I chatted with an AT&T rep online and still came out confused.

I have three questions basically.

1. I'm on a two year contract currently. I want to switch to NEXT and I'm eligible. Can I wait in line at an Apple store overnight and upgrade my plan to NEXT for the iPhone 6 at the Apple store itself or do I have to go to an AT&T store or AT&T website to get the phone and switch my plan? You can upgrade onto next at the apple store. You won't be able to switch the plan at the apple store for a family plan they can update plan for one line. Att employees are expected to be at all apple stores to assist in plan changes. They might recommend you make the plan change online.

2. If I can't upgrade my plan at an Apple store, can I upgrade plan and then wait in line overnight and get my actual physical phone at the Apple store? You can change your plan at any point. Before or after.

3. What about next year? If I've already been an NEXT customer for a year and my 12 months are up and I'm allowed to upgrade, can I wait in line at an Apple store and get my phone there or do I have to do it at the AT&T store? As functionality currently exist you wouldn't be able to upgrade at the apple store once you are already on next. Apple wants nothing to do with trading in and managing devices for apple. Might change in the future.

I'm just trying to figure out if I can show up on day 1 to an Apple store and do everything there or not. I can do that with a two year contract if my contract is up. I can reup my two year contract and get a new discounted phone. Basically do everything at the Apple store. But does the same apply to NEXT?

I don't want to wait in line on day 1 at an Apple store and then have Apple employess tell me I can't switch my plan there. That instead I have to go to an AT&T store for that.

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The key to what you said was that you went out of your way to have them escalate the issue. Att next hasn't been an offering at apple till just last month. This is the first time an iPhone launches with the capability of doing it.

Next at Apple was done with the 5s. It's not brand new with the 6 series. I have done it at Apple when they didn't even know what it was, and had to go up the chain to figure out exactly what to do.

 

[derekgroves]

I'm an Att sales manager that will be a lead at an apple store in my city over the weekend. We were just communicating back and forth what apple and Att would be okay with doing at their locations. Next at apple is brand new with this device.

Apple will have line management asking people what device, service, and how they are upgrading or if they are adding a line. Sending people to their local Att store for things they won't be able to do. Believe the new lines on next are because of strict credit requirements. All existing lines can upgrade to next without a credit check.

Try to add a line to an Att account on apple's website through next. It won't give you the option.

So i'f I'm reading you correctly- anyone who currently shows line(s) eligible for Next on AT&T's own website, would be ok for a Next upgrade in store at Apple?

It's just those *adding* lines that may face complications and require a visit to the AT&T corp store?

 

[hbenitez09]

That's correct

So i'f I'm reading you correctly- anyone who currently shows line(s) eligible for Next on AT&T's own website, would be ok for a Next upgrade in store at Apple?

It's just those *adding* lines that may face complications and require a visit to the AT&T corp store?

 

[got2go]

I'm an Att sales manager that will be a lead at an apple store in my city over the weekend. We were just communicating back and forth what apple and Att would be okay with doing at their locations. Next at apple is brand new with this device.

Apple will have line management asking people what device, service, and how they are upgrading or if they are adding a line. Sending people to their local Att store for things they won't be able to do. Believe the new lines on next are because of strict credit requirements. All existing lines can upgrade to next without a credit check.

Try to add a line to an Att account on apple's website through next. It won't give you the option.

Thanks for the help, looks like I'm going to my local att corporate store on Friday and lining up instead of the Apple Store.

 

[Steve686]

Answered within the questions




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The key to what you said was that you went out of your way to have them escalate the issue. Att next hasn't been an offering at apple till just last month. This is the first time an iPhone launches with the capability of doing it.

Out of my way consisted of asking the sales floor employee to ask a manager, who then asked another manager who had the capability. Not toooooo bad.

 

[burgman]

so the info that shockwave got from 3 different reps was wrong? where did you get your information from?

If you don't believe him, go to the app, go through the order process until the last step. At that point it clearly says no personal pickup in store for ATT next.

I called and was told the warning message was correct shipping only no personal pickup with Next. We shall see on Friday.

 

[eastamherstbias]

This NEXT thing is a mess. At 4am on preorder. I got three phones but upon checkout it refused to do NEXT because I am in NY and I said "WTF". Why is this always so difficult. So I bought the 3 iPhones at all different rates 299/549/749.I called my apple store where I am picking them up at and they had no clue what I was talking about. I told them what happened and they said I should "think things through a little better" (which was slightly annoying). I told him how I was told previous years by an Apple Rep that the important thing is that you have a phone for pick up and then they can clean up the plans on site. He said there would be AT&T reps on site to look at potential issues but the odds are they are all going to have to be returned since New York State does not have NEXT. I don't want to pay $1700 up front for phones so they will go back if no one can use common sense.