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Carrier Will AT&T move upgrade dates if they're close to a iPhone release?

AJsAWiz said:
Okay, then why is AT&T working so hard to get people off of the unlimited data? They either try to switch you to the mobile share or that crappy NEXT plan where you pay full price for an iPhone in installments. It happens every time I walk into an AT&T store or talk to them on the phone.
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I know exactly what you mean there. Last time I upgraded when I went from 4S to my 5S, I started the interaction by explicitly stating "I do not want to change my plan I am keeping it the same as it is - I am just upgrading" and they still tried sales pitching Next to me no fewer than 3 times during the process. I basically had to say what part of "I am keeping my plan how it is" do you not understand!?

After a minute, the AT&T rep finally just handed me the iPad she was using and told me to check everything to make sure my plan features were how I wanted it. I made sure all my grandfathered stuff was there and was like OK thanks!

That was back in 2013 though and I'm sure it will be more of the same in a few weeks when I go for a 6S Plus. Kinda makes me wish I could upgrade at an Apple store where you don't get any of that. But oh well.
 
TWD98j said:
I know exactly what you mean there. Last time I upgraded when I went from 4S to my 5S, I started the interaction by explicitly stating "I do not want to change my plan I am keeping it the same as it is - I am just upgrading" and they still tried sales pitching Next to me no fewer than 3 times during the process. I basically had to say what part of "I am keeping my plan how it is" do you not understand!?

After a minute, the AT&T rep finally just handed me the iPad she was using and told me to check everything to make sure my plan features were how I wanted it. I made sure all my grandfathered stuff was there and was like OK thanks!

That was back in 2013 though and I'm sure it will be more of the same in a few weeks when I go for a 6S Plus. Kinda makes me wish I could upgrade at an Apple store where you don't get any of that. But oh well.
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Oh yeah, AT&T tries to push the grandfathered people through that one way revolving door big time. It makes me suspect whether there is a bounty on our heads and AT&T reps get some sort of bonus for switching us over. The tactics they employ give the term high pressure sales a new meaning. I should wear a shirt every time I go in there that says "I like my plan; not switching; don't ask".

I'm concerned (since Apple isn't offering the contracts now) about getting my 6S Plus at the AT&T Store because of supply constraints. I suspect, as in the past, that the AT&T stores won't get nearly the same model variety selection as what will be available at the Apple Store. For now, I should just consider myself fortunate to be able to keep my plan and that AT&T, hopefully, won't do a last minute switch before the release of the iPhones and ditch the 2 year contracts. I know I don't want to go below the 64 gb model I have now and I suspect that it will be the 64 gb and 128 gb in short supply in AT&T Stores. That has been my experience in the past.
 
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I lucked out last year, ordered through ATT, and didn't have to wait. Just had to fight an overloaded web site.

I ordered through ATT because ATT allowed me to ship it to my work address. I think Apple will only ship to billing address.

Though I learned later I could have cheated. Changed my billing address to work long enough to make the order. But just simpler.

Next year, I just don't know. I may want the flexibility of having an unlocked phone. Potentially try out Verizon or TMobile. Though if I don't hand my iPhone 6 off to extended family member when I upgrade to the 7, I could just use the 6 on my overseas vacation.
 
It's an option to upgrade through Apple.com when you're currently on an next plan right? I've never done it before and I'm curious as I plan to upgrade through Apple on their app. I'm assuming Apple sends a box that is postmarked to At&t to send my current device in.
 
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AJsAWiz said:
Okay, then why is AT&T working so hard to get people off of the unlimited data? They either try to switch you to the mobile share or that crappy NEXT plan where you pay full price for an iPhone in installments. It happens every time I walk into an AT&T store or talk to them on the phone.
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You have 200 messages and no texting on the other line, this is why your bill is so cheap.
 
Didn't read the entire thread.

In the past, AT&T has allowed upgrades for anyone in the calendar month that their upgrade is due - for example, if your upgrade is due any time in September, they allowed you to upgrade on or after September 1.

Don't know if that's changed at all, but it's how it used to work.
 
AJsAWiz said:
Oh yeah, AT&T tries to push the grandfathered people through that one way revolving door big time. It makes me suspect whether there is a bounty on our heads and AT&T reps get some sort of bonus for switching us over. The tactics they employ give the term high pressure sales a new meaning. I should wear a shirt every time I go in there that says "I like my plan; not switching; don't ask".

I'm concerned (since Apple isn't offering the contracts now) about getting my 6S Plus at the AT&T Store because of supply constraints. I suspect, as in the past, that the AT&T stores won't get nearly the same model variety selection as what will be available at the Apple Store. For now, I should just consider myself fortunate to be able to keep my plan and that AT&T, hopefully, won't do a last minute switch before the release of the iPhones and ditch the 2 year contracts. I know I don't want to go below the 64 gb model I have now and I suspect that it will be the 64 gb and 128 gb in short supply in AT&T Stores. That has been my experience in the past.
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I like the shirt idea!! The prospect of a bounty on heads' of grandfathered people sounds interesting. I'm sure the sales reps do get some sort of spiff for signing people up for Next. I'm also certain that if they get caught not pitching Next to everyone they come across that they probably get written up for it.

As far as the supply thing goes, yeah I know what you mean. When I went to get my 5S on launch day in 2013 from my local AT&T store, they only had the space gray available - no silver or gold. Personally I didn't really care as long as I got 64GB since that was the largest storage option for the 5S.

I also hope that AT&T doesn't ditch the 2 year contracts. For what it's worth, prior to the 5S release, I asked 3 different AT&T reps - in store, online chat, and called AT&T directly - and asked if I could keep my grandfathered stuff when I upgraded. All 3 said I may keep it for life and that they "will never take that away". Granted that was 2 years ago and I know that such things can change in a heartbeat. Actually, I think I will do the same thing again this time around and ask some different AT&T sources like a day or 2 after Apple's event.

If for some ungodly reason they won't allow me to upgrade on another 2 year contract with subsidy, I would just buy the phone up front and be month-to-month to keep current plan. Hopefully it doesn't come to that though.
 
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Does anyone know how this works with Verizon? If your upgrade is ready sometime in September, can you upgrade any day in September?
 
Speedman100 said:
Does anyone know how this works with Verizon? If your upgrade is ready sometime in September, can you upgrade any day in September?
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I've had about ten people assure me that that's the case, so I'm assuming they're right.
 
Since the announcement is on the 9th, I am assuming that it will be available for preorder on the 11th and be delivered by the 18th?

Anyhow, my grandfathered ATT plan is not eligible for a full subsidized upgrade until the 21st. Is there anyway ATT would let me upgrade early for a full subsidized price? and if so, would I have to request the 11th since that's when the preorder will be available?

Anybody had any experience? I remember seeing those posts before, but never had the problem myself.
 
As a rep at AT&T, i will tell you that there is no way we can upgrade. Especailly since you re grandfathered in. If you want to do an early upgrade, we could possibly let you upgrae early using AT&T NEXT, but that's a completely different story. But, I wouldnt be able to upgrade you at all on a 2 year agreement or even pre order the device before your upgrade date.
 
xaqt93 said:
As a rep at AT&T, i will tell you that there is no way we can upgrade. Especailly since you re grandfathered in. If you want to do an early upgrade, we could possibly let you upgrae early using AT&T NEXT, but that's a completely different story. But, I wouldnt be able to upgrade you at all on a 2 year agreement or even pre order the device before your upgrade date.
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Yea I called AT&T. They said they couldn't change my date.

I guess it won't be the worst thing not to get it on launch. I waited a month for my apple watch.
 
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ATT will allow you to upgrade earlier, but only by way of their NEXT program. ATT is more resistant to allow people early upgrades via subsidized pricing when they can get you to finance the entire cost of the phone with their NEXT program
 
jamesryanbell said:
Back when the 4S was released, my upgrade date was 3 weeks after the launch. I knew this when the event was happening, but when I checked (just to do it) eligibility when orders were available, the date had changed. Not sure if this was random or not, but it happened.

My upgrade date is Sept 21st, and by then the 6S will be backordered like crazy. Have any of you who are AT&T customers had any success in the past with having them move the date back a couple of weeks? I have a feeling they're just going to say "you ARE eligible....for AT&T Next". Not what I want to hear.

Anyway, just getting some feedback before I call later. Am I wasting my time calling? Can they even do that?
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What type of account do you have? Contract, edge, UDP, etc.?
 
maflynn said:
ATT will allow you to upgrade earlier, but only by way of their NEXT program. ATT is more resistant to allow people early upgrades via subsidized pricing when they can get you to finance the entire cost of the phone with their NEXT program
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Or a partial upgrade which is +$250.
 
Bako-MacAddict said:
Those who are buying it straight up with no contract , are we going to see an option to pre order at apple.com or AT&T.com or do we have to go to the store at launch to pick a phone up ?
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Last year the t-mobile variant was the only phone you could buy online without a contract for full retail (through apple). It is GSM unlocked though. I waited until I could walk into the Apple Store and purchased the verizon model. The official SIM unlocked iPhone did not show up until many many months after launch.

I went with the verizon model b.c it is GSM unlocked and will also work on verizon. It tends to carry a higher resale value.
 
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Well now I'm confused... The earlier posts on this thread implied that att will in fact allow an upgrade at launch as long as you become eligible later in the calendar month, but the latter posts suggest you can't or that the only way would be to switch to next. Does having a grandfathered UDP factor in here? (I have one btw and want to keep it)
 
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tecnho said:
Well now I'm confused... The earlier posts on this thread implied that att will in fact allow an upgrade at launch as long as you become eligible later in the calendar month, but the latter posts suggest you can't. Does having a grandfathered UDP factor in here? (I have one btw and want to keep it)
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Two threads discussing the same info (with conflicting answers) were merged. Both had ATT reps weighing in. The consensus seems to be that it was ok in the past with speculation that it could also be now SO LONG AS YOU'RE NOT on a UDP.
 
willmtaylor said:
Two threads discussing the same info (with conflicting answers) were merged. Both had ATT reps weighing in. The consensus seems to be that it was ok in the past with speculation that it could also be now SO LONG AS YOU'RE NOT on a UDP.
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Ahhh interesting thank you. Not to completely derail the thread but since you seem to have a handle on some of the details here I will ask you a follow up that was not answered on a different thread:
I have a udp and am looking to upgrade to a subsidized 2 year contract and keep my plan, will I be able to pre-order and keep my plan using att online (I am aware the option to secure a subsidized phone might no longer be available through the Apple store). Thanks again
 
tecnho said:
Ahhh interesting thank you. Not to completely derail the thread but since you seem to have a handle on some of the details here I will ask you a follow up that was not answered on a different thread:
I have a udp and am looking to upgrade to a subsidized 2 year contract and keep my plan, will I be able to pre-order and keep my plan using att online (I am aware the option to secure a subsidized phone might no longer be available through the Apple store). Thanks again
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That, I don't know, as I'm OT on a UDP and don't have ATT. There are those on here who do though. Try a forum search for UDP. Sorry I'm not of more help.
 
As an AT&T employee I will tell you all that there is no benefit to us how you upgrade. You can do NEXT on your unlimited plan. The reason we won't move your upgrade for a two year contract is because you have a option to upgrade on NEXT. Yes it makes your UDP more expensive monthly, but you can have the phone when you want. If you are on a 10GB data plan or higher, no matter how you run the numbers you save about $180 on average if you utilize NEXT vs a 2-year contract. Most carriers will get rid of the 2 year option eventually. Verizon already has. I'm sure AT&T won't be far behind.
 
AJsAWiz said:
What kind of data plan do you have with T Mobile and how is their (cellular) coverage where you live?
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I have the 3GB data plan. My first month is about to be complete and I have only used 1.09GB so far. Turning on Wi-Fi at work and at Home makes a huge difference. With data rollover i'll have more data next month. Potentially 4.5 if I stay under 1.5 this month.

I live in Atlanta so my service is pretty good. At home I get 3 bars and at work I have full bars. Around Atlanta I get 2 to 4 bars. In a couple stores I normally go to I do notice that I lose service. When I had AT&T I did have service anywhere I went. However, download speeds are unreal. Even with 1 or 2 bars LTE on T-Mobile I get download speeds way way better than I ever did on AT&T. At my parents house its a dead zone. No service no matter what. It's been like that for a good 15 years for some reason. My brother had T-Mobile for short time and switched back to AT&T many years ago and then switch back again to T-Mobile a couple years ago. With an iPhone 6 Plus it has Wi-Fi calling so once I get on Wi-Fi it doesn't matter at my parents house.

If you are having second thoughts do a T-Mobile test drive.
 
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