Carrier What to Do? ATT Customer : Use Subsidized Pricing or Buy Full Price

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pat.micunnis

macrumors regular
I'm currently an AT&T customer with the grandfathered unlimited data plan.

I purchased my iPhone 5 last September. I used up my upgrade to buy it at the subsidized price ($299 for 32gb).

I'm interested in purchasing the iPhone 5s. I'm eligible for the "early upgrade" pricing ($200 off retail) -- e.g. $549 for 32gb.

I prefer not to sign up for another 2 years with AT&T.

I am leaning towards getting the Verizon version (full retail) but open to getting the AT&T model.

Any others facing my same dilemma? (Yes I know there are greater problems that folks are dealing with LOL)
 
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I was in the same boat and was going to just upgrade. My phone was stolen and I called to confirm prices, but the csr pushed both my lines to a full upgrade woohoo! Call again and see if they'll do that. I never even asked.
 
why do verizon version? they're all the same

pat.micunnis said:
I'm currently an AT&T customer with the grandfathered unlimited data plan.

I purchased my iPhone 5 last September. I used up my upgrade to buy it at the subsidized price ($299 for 32gb).

I'm interested in purchasing the iPhone 5s. I'm eligible for the "early upgrade" pricing ($200 off retail) -- e.g. $549 for 32gb.

I prefer not to sign up for another 2 years with AT&T.

I am leaning towards getting the Verizon version (full retail) but open to getting the AT&T model.

Any others facing my same dilemma? (Yes I know there are greater problems that folks are dealing with LOL)
Click to expand...
 
I upgraded to get the 5 last year and I was in the same situation as you. I could either do an early upgrade, or pay $200 more to get it at full price.

I ended up going for the full price option.

At the Apple store I got an AT&T iPhone 5S at full price and when I plugged it into iTunes and hit restore it stated that the device was unlocked.

The main reason that I paid full price, aside from getting an unlocked device, was so that I can upgrade next year for the iPhone 6 at the subsidized price.
 
I paid full price. I'd rather save my upgrade for next year, although I'll be likely just moving to tmobile or mvno
 
I paid full as well. My AT&T contract is up in December, and I'll probably switch to T-Mobile. I have the grandfathered unlimited on AT&T, but T-Mobile's pricing (especially their family plans) are very attractive, and also offer unlimited. Plus, here in LA, T-Mobile is doing quite well with their new LTE and HSPA networks. Full price will also make it much easier to sell when the 6 (and bigger screen, please oh FSM, please, give us a bigger screen) comes out.
 
kappakai said:
I paid full as well. My AT&T contract is up in December, and I'll probably switch to T-Mobile. I have the grandfathered unlimited on AT&T, but T-Mobile's pricing (especially their family plans) are very attractive, and also offer unlimited. Plus, here in LA, T-Mobile is doing quite well with their new LTE and HSPA networks. Full price will also make it much easier to sell when the 6 (and bigger screen, please oh FSM, please, give us a bigger screen) comes out.
Click to expand...

Did you buy AT&T or Verizon?
 
Same boat, but I just do early upgrade every year. It does not cost much in the end, especially if you sell your current phone.
 
pat.micunnis said:
I'm currently an AT&T customer with the grandfathered unlimited data plan.

I purchased my iPhone 5 last September. I used up my upgrade to buy it at the subsidized price ($299 for 32gb).

I'm interested in purchasing the iPhone 5s. I'm eligible for the "early upgrade" pricing ($200 off retail) -- e.g. $549 for 32gb.

I prefer not to sign up for another 2 years with AT&T.

I am leaning towards getting the Verizon version (full retail) but open to getting the AT&T model.

Any others facing my same dilemma? (Yes I know there are greater problems that folks are dealing with LOL)
Click to expand...

Yes I am. I can do an early upgrade for $49.99, pay for the phone on a 2 year contract- $329.99 and sell my iPhone 5 to make up the difference. Only catch is I wont be getting the same plan as I have now :( Its $15 more.

Oh and also I won't be able to get my hands on the iPhone 5s in my city for at least another month unless I start sleeping outside my stores when they re-stock.

All that hassle doesn't seem worth it to me, so I am left with the only option of buying it in November.

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solo118 said:
Same boat, but I just do early upgrade every year. It does not cost much in the end, especially if you sell your current phone.
Click to expand...

Your monthly plan doesn't sky rocket like mine does with an early upgrade?
 
You could always sell your phone for about $300 and use that towards the full retail price. It'll be like paying for an early upgrade without the contract part.
 
I'm now eligible for subsidized pricing!

A couple of weeks ago, I only qualified for the "early upgrade" price ($200 off retail).

Today, I checked my eligibility upgrade ... To my surprise, I now qualify for the true subsidized pricing of $450 off (e.g. $299 for 32 gb). I used my upgrade last year to buy the 5.

I only plan to keep the 5s for a year and then get the 6.

Any advice?
 
I used the subsidized early upgrade price. I am really happy with AT&T and my iPhone 5 will sell for more than the $449 it cost. I also called AT&T and complained about some misinformation they gave me and they gave me a healthy bill credit to make up for some of the difference. When the 6 comes out I'll probably do the same thing.
 
kappakai said:
I paid full as well. My AT&T contract is up in December, and I'll probably switch to T-Mobile. I have the grandfathered unlimited on AT&T, but T-Mobile's pricing (especially their family plans) are very attractive, and also offer unlimited. Plus, here in LA, T-Mobile is doing quite well with their new LTE and HSPA networks. Full price will also make it much easier to sell when the 6 (and bigger screen, please oh FSM, please, give us a bigger screen) comes out.
Click to expand...

Why don't you re-sign and then just pay the ETF in Dec? You end up saving 100 bucks... or am I wrong on this? 300 (for sub'd 32gb) + 305 (325 ETF - 20 for 2 months of service) = $605. Off contract= $700
 
If you qualify for the full upgrade price then take it! You are paying about $20/month for the phone whether you take it or not. :cool:
 
Givmeabrek said:
If you qualify for the full upgrade price then take it! You are paying about $20/month for the phone whether you take it or not. :cool:
Click to expand...

Could someone please explain this to me? My voice is $40, unlimited data is $30, and unlimited text is $10. Do you mean the $20 is built into the price of voice and data? Because as far as I know, the above prices were like that since the dawn of time.
 
pat.micunnis said:
A couple of weeks ago, I only qualified for the "early upgrade" price ($200 off retail).

Today, I checked my eligibility upgrade ... To my surprise, I now qualify for the true subsidized pricing of $450 off (e.g. $299 for 32 gb). I used my upgrade last year to buy the 5.

I only plan to keep the 5s for a year and then get the 6.

Any advice?
Click to expand...

You could sell your iPhone 5S next year and use the proceeds to subsidize the iPhone 6 :)

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Kendo said:
Could someone please explain this to me? My voice is $40, unlimited data is $30, and unlimited text is $10. Do you mean the $20 is built into the price of voice and data? Because as far as I know, the above prices were like that since the dawn of time.
Click to expand...

I think he or she means your monthly plans already has the subsidy cost built into. You pay the same monthly rate regardless of whether you get a new phone or not. It's not like T-Mobile where they give you $10 off monthly if you do not renew your contract.
 
sdsvtdriver said:
if you end up paying full price, get the verizon model. no reason not to and gives you more options.
Click to expand...



Subsidize for me....AT&T will give me 3 GB data plan for same price as Verizons 2 GB data plan. Seems like a no brainer. Only need to find out if AT&T coverage is same of better than Verizons in my area.
 
pat.micunnis said:
A couple of weeks ago, I only qualified for the "early upgrade" price ($200 off retail).

Today, I checked my eligibility upgrade ... To my surprise, I now qualify for the true subsidized pricing of $450 off (e.g. $299 for 32 gb). I used my upgrade last year to buy the 5.

I only plan to keep the 5s for a year and then get the 6.

Any advice?
Click to expand...

If u got iPhone 5 at subsidized price last year how are u getting full subsidy iPhone 5s pricing within 12 month?

Please clarify.
 
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