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Do you think AT&T are greedy slimeballs?

  • Yes

    Votes: 74 92.5%
  • No

    Votes: 6 7.5%

  • Total voters
    80

Hal~9000

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2014
2,184
2,183
att-activation-fee-changes-1.jpg

http://crackberry.com/att-said-be-i...d-byod-customers-raising-upgrade-fee-august-1

Guess the $3.2 billion in net profit last quarter just wasn't enough for AT&T eh? :rolleyes:
 
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Jessica instead of being calm and level-headed I need MOAR hatred and overreaction please! :p

800px-simpsons_angry_mob.png

OMG!!!! Now I won't be able to afford that skinny caramel latte I was going to buy after getting my hands on the rose gold 128GB iPhone 6S Plus!!!!

Just kidding...

Lattes are so overrated, it's all about that extra strong black coffee!

:p
 
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After using AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon I find AT&T my clear choice. It's personal preference, none are "bargains" but AT&T serves my needs best. Great service, connectivity, a very accurate mobile app, and they've consistently provided a cash credit above and beyond when they've made a mistake. I pay Apples premium pricing, AT&T's no different.
 
Is $5-15 REALLY going to eat into our pockets though? :rolleyes:
Yes.

Especially when it was $18 to upgrade. Than $36. Than $40. Now $45.

All within the past 24-30 months.

That's almost a 300% jacking up of fees to upgrade.

And remember ATT's next advertising. "No activation fee".

Just a load of crap.

I hope there is enough backlash on this. Like when Verizon tried to sneak a $2 payment fee even with web credit card payment. Verizon got hosed in the media and quickly retreated.
 
After using AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon I find AT&T my clear choice. It's personal preference, none are "bargains" but AT&T serves my needs best. Great service, connectivity, a very accurate mobile app, and they've consistently provided a cash credit above and beyond when they've made a mistake. I pay Apples premium pricing, AT&T's no different.

Same here.

I'm just happy that over the years the initial cost has gotten cheaper for me. My 8 GB iPhone 2G cost me $399, my 16 GB iPhone 4 $199, and my 64 GB iPhone 5S $70.

Tacking on a tax doesn't bother me at all. It's no different to the cost of food/living.

But I'm also the kind of person who keeps their devices until they break. I'm just boring like that.
 
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t-mo has vowifi, nation volte, free Canada and Mexico, 120 countries free 2g internet and sms, 20 cents minute. Att has pay-per-upgrade. Fare, very fare!
 
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Love how some of you are making excuses for them and act like its ok to keep paying more money for a nonsense fee such as this.
I order my phone, it arrives to my home and I plug it to itunes and activate it myself within minutes. But I have to pay AT&T $45 for what?
Of Course they are greedy slimeballs.
Am I reading this right? They will also charge you $15 if you bring your own device? So you buy a used iphone and want to use it on your account they will charge you even though you signed no contract or used a next plan with them? WTF kinda scam is that? They're coming up with more ways to nickel and dime their customers.
With 4 lines on my account that's $180. If the retentions dept wont waive those fee's I'd waive goodbye to them.
 
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Wait till iPhone 6S time and Apple stores don't offer renewals of 2 year contracts only AT&T stores, thats when you'll see Kaos galore. Because we all know that ATT stores aren't getting serious stock for at least a month. Many people want their iPhone 6S or 6S plus at launch not a month later.
 
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Wait till iPhone 6S time and Apple stores don't offer renewals of 2 year contracts only AT&T stores, thats when you'll see Kaos galore. Because we all know that ATT stores aren't getting serious stock for at least a month. Many people want their iPhone 6S or 6S plus at launch not a month later.

That's going to be lots of fun.
All the crying and complaining :D
 
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Love how some of you are making excuses for them and act like its ok to keep paying more money for a nonsense fee such as this.
I order my phone, it arrives to my home and I plug it to itunes and activate it myself within minutes. But I have to pay AT&T $45 for what?
Of Course they are greedy slimeballs.
Am I reading this right? They will also charge you $15 if you bring your own device? So you buy a used iphone and want to use it on your account they will charge you even though you signed no contract or used a next plan with them? WTF kinda scam is that? They're coming up with more ways to nickel and dime their customers.
With 4 lines on my account that's $180. If the retentions dept wont waive those fee's I'd waive goodbye to them.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson to customers:

Y7GYsEj.jpg
 
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AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson to customers:

Y7GYsEj.jpg

Why settle for $3.2b profit, when we could aim for $4b.

In all seriousness I am happy that AT&T has started off contract pricing (with and/or without NEXT). I have never been a fan of activation fee, especially when all it is is a sim card, and often it can just be taken from an old phone and put in new (unless sometimes a newer version of the sim is required for some features). I know there is some material cost of a sim and some minor labor cost for an employee or two for new lines. Personally I think a standard $5 or $10 should cover it and then some.
 
That pisses me off because one of the big selling points for next was no BS activation fee.

What the hell are they activating exactly?

It's just another way to create some sort revenue for them pegging it as "Administrative & other Cost."

I cannot wait until T-Mobile gets ahold of this and put them on their heels again. But I'll be sure to get this waved...
 
Wait till iPhone 6S time and Apple stores don't offer renewals of 2 year contracts only AT&T stores, thats when you'll see Kaos galore. Because we all know that ATT stores aren't getting serious stock for at least a month. Many people want their iPhone 6S or 6S plus at launch not a month later.
Wait, you mean you can no longer buy AT&T iPhones at Apple Stores that are under a 2-year contract? Apple's systems will just charge you the full price (even though you are eligible for an upgrade)?

And does AT&T stores really not get the newest models of the iPhone for a month? Heard launch day was one of the best to get models from their stores, actually. If so, what are my options? I'm on a 5 and will be halfway eligible by September/October, and definitely want to get the 6s (even though I'd only be getting a partial discount).
 
Really hope Apple releases factory unlocked, SIM-free iPhones from the get go. I'm guessing doing a SIM-swap yourself would bypass the unnecessary $15 fee.

AT&T is not paying Apple full MSRP for their devices so they're already making money off device sales via Next. Based on ASPs from SEC filings, carriers are likely getting $100+ discount off MSRP. At $100 discount for an iPhone 6 16GB, that's the equivalent of ~9% APY (or 18% for the 2 years). Tacking on an additional $15 fee for Next/BYOD activations and upgrades is just plain annoying.
 
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After using AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon I find AT&T my clear choice. It's personal preference, none are "bargains" but AT&T serves my needs best. Great service, connectivity, a very accurate mobile app, and they've consistently provided a cash credit above and beyond when they've made a mistake. I pay Apples premium pricing, AT&T's no different.

There is a reason for the cash credit.

When they wrote their billing software - they never did put in any code that would allow them to correct a mistake on the part of ATT - just the customer.

That is what the lowest bidder gets you.....
 
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Really hope Apple releases factory unlocked, SIM-free iPhones from the get go. I'm guessing doing a SIM-swap yourself would bypass the unnecessary $15 fee.

AT&T is not paying Apple full MSRP for their devices so they're already making money off device sales via Next. Based on ASPs from SEC filings, carriers are likely getting $100+ discount off MSRP. At $100 discount for an iPhone 6 16GB, that's the equivalent of ~9% APY (or 18% for the 2 years). Tacking on an additional $15 fee for Next/BYOD activations and upgrades is just plain annoying.
They do, its called the Verizon model.
 
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