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

[pat.micunnis]

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

Please clarify.

I have no idea... I assume it maybe due to how much my monthly bill is (if > $100, then it speeds up your eligibility. Though I though AT&T extended this to 24 months in March.

 

[MrXiro]

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 have an iPhone 5 and an upgrade but I'm going to leave At&t so I'm waiting for the iPhone 6. The only thing I care about on the 5S is the camera and even that I've read is a very incremental upgrade.

 

[aneftp]

I have no idea... I assume it maybe due to how much my monthly bill is (if > $100, then it speeds up your eligibility. Though I though AT&T extended this to 24 months in March.

They stopped the >$100 primary line 12 month upgrade in Spring 2011.

I pretty much know all of ATT's unofficial rules since I have been with them close to 10 years.

Did U sign up for uverse?

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I have an iPhone 5 and an upgrade but I'm going to leave At&t so I'm waiting for the iPhone 6. The only thing I care about on the 5S is the camera and even that I've read is a very incremental upgrade.

Camera is a huge upgrade. 4s-5 camera was very minor. But I can already tell difference in 5s camera cause I have young kids and it's easier to take moving pictures of them that are not blurry.

 

[pat.micunnis]

They stopped the >$100 primary line 12 month upgrade in Spring 2011.

I pretty much know all of ATT's unofficial rules since I have been with them close to 10 years.

Did U sign up for uverse?

Nope - I just have AT&T wireless.

 

[MrXiro]

They stopped the >$100 primary line 12 month upgrade in Spring 2011.

I pretty much know all of ATT's unofficial rules since I have been with them close to 10 years.

Did U sign up for uverse?

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Camera is a huge upgrade. 4s-5 camera was very minor. But I can already tell difference in 5s camera cause I have young kids and it's easier to take moving pictures of them that are not blurry.

Blur because you have shaky hands (anti-shake) or blurry because kids run around like crazy? The biggest problem I've had with the 5's camera is that I can't take clear pictures of moving objects.

 

[applegeek25]

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.

If you're eligible for a full upgrade, I can only think of one reason why you'd want to pay full retail price: You will be moving abroad within the next 24 months. That's the only reason I can think of as to why you'd pay full retail price for a device AND stay with your current AT&T plan. Most of us know that whether it's AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, they all build a subsidy recovery model into their rate plans. Analysts seem to think it's at least $20 a month on top of the cost/profit of the monthly rate.

Whatever you do....God help you if you do this too....DO NOT SIGN UP FOR AT&T NEXT.

 

[pat.micunnis]

I have no idea... I assume it maybe due to how much my monthly bill is (if > $100, then it speeds up your eligibility. Though I though AT&T extended this to 24 months in March.

I just got an email that my phone is "paid" off (after just less than 12 months). And they're able to unlock it!

 

[pat.micunnis]

Thanks everyone ... I will upgrade to AT&T -- then pay the ETF.

 

[Col Ronson]

buy full price from apple store. I'm not sure why you would buy the Verizon one if you have AT&T. there's no advantage unless you want to switch to verizon in the future.

I suppose it would help the resale value if somebody in the future who bought it from you had Verizon, but meh.