iPhone 12 Pro What Does AT&T Have Against Normal Orders?

[Seth Matthews]

It seems like AT&T is trying to screw over folks on multiple levels. I am a bit different...I am not eligible nor do I want AT&T's $800 dollar trade-in offer. I have my iPhone on the Next up trade-in plan after paying off half of the device. I am not going to change to an unlimited plan because it will raise my bill significantly and I don't care about 5g.

I just went through the process on Apple's website. They don't have an option for those of us who just want to trade-in and go like normal. The only AT&T payment option is the new deal I don't want. That is complete BS. Now, I will have to wait until my local AT&T store has stock and go in the old fashioned way.

 

[TonyC28]

AT&T is definitely weird, but can’t you just buy it from Apple?

 

[ssledoux]

Try going into a store. I always want to lose my MIND after trying to do stuff online (although I did my upgrade with no issue, but I’m not trading anything - just did a payment), but if I make an appt, I’m in and out of the store in no time.

 

[juswest]

You sure? I was definitely able to access a normal upgrade option in the app the other day.

 

[pbonitati]

Honestly, ATT is the worst. I have countless stories and encounters with them that are straight baffling. I dumped their a$$es a while back. I vowed to do all in my power never to give them a single penny of my money again

My most recent story however is this week. A friend of mine who has ATT drove from FL to RI. She told me she had 5G all the way up the coast (and it sucked). Now she isn't in the tech game and doesn't know what most of us do. She has an iPhone X. ATT's cheap marketing gimmick (5Ge) is still getting people. Makes me sick. Apple should have never allowed this update for the UI to show that symbol as well. The phone does not have a 5G radio. I don't care what the excuse or reasoning is. its pathetic.

 

[Seth Matthews]

You sure? I was definitely able to access a normal upgrade option in the app the other day.

I tried it this morning in Apple’s website. When you get to the point to select a payment option, the only AT&T option is the one for the $800 trade in deal.

 

[BrettDS]

I just tried this and it gave me the option to pay in full:

 

[Ortiz83]

Honestly, ATT is the worst. I have countless stories and encounters with them that are straight baffling. I dumped their a$$es a while back. I vowed to do all in my power never to give them a single penny of my money again

My most recent story however is this week. A friend of mine who has ATT drove from FL to RI. She told me she had 5G all the way up the coast (and it sucked). Now she isn't in the tech game and doesn't know what most of us do. She has an iPhone X. ATT's cheap marketing gimmick (5Ge) is still getting people. Makes me sick. Apple should have never allowed this update for the UI to show that symbol as well. The phone does not have a 5G radio. I don't care what the excuse or reasoning is. its pathetic.

I’ve never had a problem with them I. The whole 15 years I’ve been with them. But I don’t doubt at all that people have had bad encounters. I’ll consider myself lucky.

 

[Ladybug]

My problem with the ATT offering is I do not wish to trade in my old phone nor do I want to pay in full either. I was on the next up plan although my phone is 3 years old now. I’d rather pass my old phone down to my sister or keep it as a backup. I might just pay in full for a sim free phone this year.

 

[BrettDS]

My problem with the ATT offering is I do not wish to trade in my old phone nor do I want to pay in full either. I was on the next up plan although my phone is 3 years old now. I’d rather pass my old phone down to my sister or keep it as a backup. I might just pay in full for a sim free phone this year.

You aren’t required to trade in an old phone with ATT. You can still do the NEXT financing without trading in your phone.

But the thing is a three year old phone is really pretty perfect for this offer. If you have, say, an iPhone 8, then that’s worth maybe $150 or $200 at best in excellent condition, but AT&T is willing to give you $800 for it. I get that you want to help your sister, but is it worth leaving $600 on the table just so she can have a $200 phone? You could take the credit and then buy her a newer phone for $400. In the end she would have a better phone and you would still have $400 more in your pocket.

 

[Ladybug]

You aren’t required to trade in an old phone with ATT. You can still do the NEXT financing without trading in your phone.

But the thing is a three year old phone is really pretty perfect for this offer. If you have, say, an iPhone 8, then that’s worth maybe $150 or $200 at best in excellent condition, but AT&T is willing to give you $800 for it. I get that you want to help your sister, but is it worth leaving $600 on the table just so she can have a $200 phone? You could take the credit and then buy her a newer phone for $400. In the end she would have a better phone and you would still have $400 more in your pocket.

Well that does make a lot of sense. I never really thought of it this way. It is an iPhone 8 btw. Thanks

 

[Deinocheirus]

I tried it this morning in Apple’s website. When you get to the point to select a payment option, the only AT&T option is the one for the $800 trade in deal.

You're just not reading it clearly. The $800 trade in won't apply to you. They know what they're doing. The trade in is also entirely optional and processed after the sale, IF you trade something in. If you order to replace a device thats on Next Up and installments, you'll have to send them that device as usual.

 

[now i see it]

How about not getting locked into any "deal" and just buy a new phone full price in cash and sell it on Swappa the next time you buy a new one. In the end this is always the most frugal method that will save you the most money and you're free to do whatever you want and aren't shackled by the carrier or Apple

 

[LonestarOne]

Next Up is AT&T’s version of the Apple iPhone Upgrade Plan. It has nothing to do with Apple. If you’re on Next Up, you need to go through the AT&T website, not the Apple website.

 

[BrettDS]

How about not getting locked into any "deal" and just buy a new phone full price in cash and sell it on Swappa the next time you buy a new one. In the end this is always the most frugal method that will save you the most money and you're free to do whatever you want and aren't shackled by the carrier or Apple

I wholeheartedly agree that people who upgrade every year are much better off buying the phone outright and selling it for cash in a private sale than going with apple or one of the carrier‘s ‘upgrade’ every year options.

However, this $800 deal is an amazing deal for people who keep their phones for 2 or 3 years. If you have an iPhone 8 then you could sell it for maybe $200, but ATT will give you $800 for it, so you’ll come out $600 ahead. Of course this comes with the caveat that you’ll be stuck with that phone and ATT for 30 months, but again, if you’re an upgrade every 2 or 3 years type of person that’s not a huge inconvenience.

 

[Seth Matthews]

You're just not reading it clearly. The $800 trade in won't apply to you. They know what they're doing. The trade in is also entirely optional and processed after the sale, IF you trade something in. If you order to replace a device thats on Next Up and installments, you'll have to send them that device as usual.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.