Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What's the difference between buying from Apple or AT&T?

M

mlpsponzischeme

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 16, 2009
121
25
What's the difference between buying your iPhone from AT&T or buying it directly from Apple? You're still covered under the 1 year warranty, aren't you? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Are there any advantages buying from one versus the other?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.
 
No bonus either way. The same warranty applies, as well as the same price and accessories. The only difference is that the transaction will be handled by an Apple employee, who in my experiences actually knows about the phone, but knows squat about the rate plans and service, and the exact opposite for buying from AT$T. I have done both and this is my experience. Also, when you have issues, AT$T will refer you to the Apple store or CSR anyway, they really don't support this device and you get the Apple store experience (which be something). When I bought from AT$T they did everything without concern for me, just getting the transaction completed, whereas the Apple employee, even asked me to cut the shrink wrap and open it myself, as he said some people get such a kick out of actually opening the package for the first time, just little considerations like that. Apple store will likely have more available as well. Now buy the accessories fro AT$T and they will warrant them for 1 year, whereas Apple will refer you to manufacturer for issues.
 
Apple tightly controls what they ship out to other resellers like AT&T. So to makes themselves look good Apple fills their orders first. At least that's my experience. I've ordered over five so far, from both sources.
 
mlpsponzischeme said:
What's the difference between buying your iPhone from AT&T or buying it directly from Apple? You're still covered under the 1 year warranty, aren't you? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Are there any advantages buying from one versus the other?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Click to expand...

If you are looking to save some money, Apple taxes on the full unsubsidized price of the phone, while att taxes on the subsidized (199 or 299) price on the phone. Therefore, you will sax some money on tax by going to att, at least this is how it was for me in Massachusetts...
 
wirelessmacuser said:
Apple tightly controls what they ship out to other resellers like AT&T. So to makes themselves look good Apple fills their orders first. At least that's my experience. I've ordered over five so far, from both sources.
Click to expand...

My experience is completely opposite. I ordered my 16GB phone online though ATT on 7/5 and received it in hand less than 48 hours later on 7/7. My workmate ordered her 16GB through Apple and it took approx two weeks( I don't know how many days exactly but she roughly ordered the week before me and received it a full week after). Also, mine was shipped from Texas and hers from China so don't know how many extra days that added.
 
roffir said:
If you are looking to save some money, Apple taxes on the full unsubsidized price of the phone, while att taxes on the subsidized (199 or 299) price on the phone. Therefore, you will sax some money on tax by going to att, at least this is how it was for me in Massachusetts...
Click to expand...

uhhh....no...this is not the truth at all...why'd you post this? this is easily debunked by calling this number 617-385-9400 (Boylston st. Apple store)
 
Weird...Googled that number and gave me three listings. AT$T store Boston, MA, Apple Store Boston, MA, and a place in Irvine, CA!! How does this happen???
 
just call em and ask if they apply a special tax on the iPhone...I was told that EVERYONE that officially is authorized to sell the iPhone must sell at the same price, and that "Apple will not be undersold on a proprietary product"
 
SAD*FACED*CLOWN said:
uhhh....no...this is not the truth at all...why'd you post this? this is easily debunked by calling this number 617-385-9400 (Boylston st. Apple store)
Click to expand...

uh?? I have 3 receipts from Apple Store with the full tax, and 1 from att with the less tax... I went back into apple and they explained that att can charge whatever they want for a phone, but apple can only sell it for the full price but then subsidize the price through att therefore apple can only take tax on the full price. Believe me I wish I was wrong, but I talked to the manager at the store in Natick and called apple and they all said the same thing...
If you need proof of the receipt i can give it...
 
roffir said:
uh?? I have 3 receipts from Apple Store with the full tax, and 1 from att with the less tax... I went back into apple and they explained that att can charge whatever they want for a phone, but apple can only sell it for the full price but then subsidize the price through att therefore apple can only take tax on the full price. Believe me I wish I was wrong, but I talked to the manager at the store in Natick and called apple and they all said the same thing...
If you need proof of the receipt i can give it...
Click to expand...

I just called the store in boston they said they don't apply a higher tax.... furthermore sales tax can only be a percentage of what you're spending not what it's worth to the seller...sales tax is 6.25% in massachusetts so 6.25% is added to the cost of a $199 phone making it 211.43...call AT&T in Boston you'll hear the same thing
 
roffir said:
uh?? I have 3 receipts from Apple Store with the full tax, and 1 from att with the less tax... I went back into apple and they explained that att can charge whatever they want for a phone, but apple can only sell it for the full price but then subsidize the price through att therefore apple can only take tax on the full price. Believe me I wish I was wrong, but I talked to the manager at the store in Natick and called apple and they all said the same thing...
If you need proof of the receipt i can give it...
Click to expand...
Perhaps, just maybe, who knows, but you might be in a state that requires tax on the full MSRP? California?

Most other states do not have this asinine, progressive, BS tax.
 
SAD*FACED*CLOWN said:
I just called the store in boston they said they don't apply a higher tax.... furthermore sales tax can only be a percentage of what you're spending not what it's worth to the seller...sales tax is 6.25% in massachusetts so 6.25% is added to the cost of a $199 phone making it 211.43...call AT&T in Boston you'll hear the same thing
Click to expand...

no. You're wrong... get your facts straight before you accuse people of lying.
4819567582_9d5e81b568_b.jpg


Look first at whats in the black box, then do the math.

4819566764_83ecc4bdd0_b.jpg
 
From the Apple web site:
In CA, MA, and RI, sales tax is collected on the unbundled price of iPhone.

In those three states the store is supposed to charge the sales tax on the full price of the phone, not the subsidized price.
 
nparmelee said:
From the Apple web site:
In CA, MA, and RI, sales tax is collected on the unbundled price of iPhone.

In those three states the store is supposed to charge the sales tax on the full price of the phone, not the subsidized price.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
I ordered my iPhone 4 on july 1st from AT&T and received it the 8th. That's a much shorter waiting time than people are getting from Apple. I know for a fact many people who ordered before from Apple had not even shipped yet.

Differences are nil in terms of any benefits from purchasing from either. Just very slight thinks like stated in this thread.
 
nparmelee said:
From the Apple web site:
In CA, MA, and RI, sales tax is collected on the unbundled price of iPhone.

In those three states the store is supposed to charge the sales tax on the full price of the phone, not the subsidized price.
Click to expand...

I heard though that WALMARTdoes not tax on the full price.:D
 
sorry to change the subject, but the ppl at the Apple store can handle all the stuff that at&t stores can do such as new contracts and porting numbers and etc? Just a dumb question.lol.
 
Techlover90 said:
sorry to change the subject, but the ppl at the Apple store can handle all the stuff that at&t stores can do such as new contracts and porting numbers and etc? Just a dumb question.lol.
Click to expand...

Yes they can do almost anything unless it's something weird that the person your talking to doesn't have knowledge about. I used someone elses upgrade to buy my phone and the person at apple did it wrong but then someone else that works at apple came an helped. So for the weird stuff it depends on the person but essentially they can do almost all things you need.
 
roffir said:
If you are looking to save some money, Apple taxes on the full unsubsidized price of the phone, while att taxes on the subsidized (199 or 299) price on the phone. Therefore, you will sax some money on tax by going to att, at least this is how it was for me in Massachusetts...
Click to expand...
That depends on your state tax laws. Not sure what state you are from but I know California is SUPPOSED to charge tax on the unsubsidized price. If Apple & AT&T are both doing it differently ONE OF THEM will have legal problems if the state finds out.

Here in NJ at any Apple or AT&T store the sales tax is only on what you paid for the phone and always has been that way at both places.
 
TB07-NJ said:
That depends on your state tax laws. Not sure what state you are from but I know California is SUPPOSED to charge tax on the unsubsidized price. If Apple & AT&T are both doing it differently ONE OF THEM will have legal problems if the state finds out.

Here in NJ at any Apple or AT&T store the sales tax is only on what you paid for the phone and always has been that way at both places.
Click to expand...

I got it from Massachusetts and in MA att, since it is their plan, can charge tax on any price they want, while apple can only charge on the unsubsidized price. Again this is what an Apple and AT&T rep told me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back