iPhone Vent!!!!

[kpadalik]

Okay, I walk into my ATT store today to buy an iPhone. I literally walked in, said "I want the 16G 3GS". And whipped out my card. Easy sale, huh? Yeah right!!! They told me I'm not eligible for an upgrade until October! What????!!!! I'm wanting to buy a new phone and pay MORE every month and ATT is telling me no? I'm only 2 months away from then. There's got to be some way around this. This makes no logical sense to me whatsoever. I'm livid!!!!!!

 

[luke]

I believe that's pretty standard for every phone, it is over here in the uk anyway



EDIT - my DW is due her upgrade on Wednesday (she's just getting a normal new phone not an iPhone) which happens to be the day we fly to NYC. She asked if she could get it a day early and was told no.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm not sure why you called this "iphone Vent" because it really has nothing to do with the phone itself. This is a standard procedure with most (if not all) cell phone companies. It applies any time you want a different phone. When I wanted the Razr years ago, I had to wait until I was eligible for an upgrade from my Nokia. When I wanted the iPhone, I had to make sure I was eligible from the Razr. That is just how it works. It has nothing to do with the phone you are upgrading too.

Of course, you could technically get your iPhone now; you'd just have to pay a much higher price for it. If I were you, I'd just wait until October.

I'm sorry to hear that you were unfamiliar with how upgrades work.

 

[georgemoe]

Okay, I walk into my ATT store today to buy an iPhone. I literally walked in, said "I want the 16G 3GS". And whipped out my card. Easy sale, huh? Yeah right!!! They told me I'm not eligible for an upgrade until October! What????!!!! I'm wanting to buy a new phone and pay MORE every month and ATT is telling me no? I'm only 2 months away from then. There's got to be some way around this. This makes no logical sense to me whatsoever. I'm livid!!!!!!

There sure is. Pay the full hardware price.

 

[sau418]

That is crazy. I was not due for an upgrade until the end of July, but was able to get it with no problem in May. I have had ATT (formerly Cellular One) for nearly 10 years so I am not sure if that is why I was able to get it easily. They said as long as I was upgrading it was no problem.

 

[AnneR]

This is so true. I had a blackberry for work. When we switched over to iphones it cost us more for the phone because I had an existing plan and was not eligible until December. Thank God I have a great CFO who knew I was losing it with the blackberry. So we spent the extra $$ and I am a very happy camper.

 

[Bornteach]

AT& T is actually better than most as you only have to wait 18 months. Most are 21-24 months.

 

[mikelan6]

Call up AT&T and ask then what the procedure is to switch to another carrier because you're not happy with AT&T. They might offer you the opportunity to upgrade right then and there!

 

[Jaypd]

AT&T is not saying you can't have a Iphone. They are saying you can't have one for $199. You can pay full amount if you would like and I think its $599. They do this because when you pay $199 with a 2 year contract they pay the rest knowing they have you for two years.

As far as calling AT&T saying your not happy and going with another carrier they may say ok sorry to see you go but and by the way you owe us $200 for leaving your contract early.

Your best bet wait until Oct then get the phone.

 

[Gumbatman]

I haven't tried any of these (hopefully I never will) but here is a link to some "hacks" about getting out of contracts. http://consumerist.com/consumer/cel...cellphones-without-termination-fee-242852.php

Again, I have no idea if these work or even apply to you. Good luck!

 

[FireDancer]

This is more of an AT&T rant than an Apple rant. I am not a fan at all of Apple as a company but to be fair this isn't something they are doing to you.

In the U.S. phones are subsidized by the carriers so that they can get you to sign a contract and stay for 1, 2, or 3 years. They make their money on the service so in order to lock you in they will take a hit up front on the hardware and make it back on the service over the contract.

There are other countries where this isn't the way cell phone operators work, but you pay the full price for the hardware and go month to month on the service. You can pay full price for a new phone or wait for AT&T to let you buy one subsidized. They did relax the contract rules and extend a grace period for people who were expiring within a few months of the new iPhone.

 

[kpadalik]

I'm not sure why you called this "iphone Vent" because it really has nothing to do with the phone itself. This is a standard procedure with most (if not all) cell phone companies. It applies any time you want a different phone. When I wanted the Razr years ago, I had to wait until I was eligible for an upgrade from my Nokia. When I wanted the iPhone, I had to make sure I was eligible from the Razr. That is just how it works. It has nothing to do with the phone you are upgrading too.

Of course, you could technically get your iPhone now; you'd just have to pay a much higher price for it. If I were you, I'd just wait until October.

I'm sorry to hear that you were unfamiliar with how upgrades work.

Sorry, maybe I should have titled it AT&T and Apple Vent. And I've never had a problem with changing/upgrading phones and plans. I was an ATT customer for only 10 months and I got a new phone and lowered my minutes and I wasn't given any hassle. So, it doesn't work like that all the time. I know I could get the phone now, but I refuse to pay that much money when in 2 mos, I'll pay the "discounted" price. This was just a vent...I am just frustated that I have to wait 2 months.

There sure is. Pay the full hardware price.

I know I could get the phone now, but I refuse to pay that much money when in 2 mos, I'll pay the "discounted" price.

That is crazy. I was not due for an upgrade until the end of July, but was able to get it with no problem in May. I have had ATT (formerly Cellular One) for nearly 10 years so I am not sure if that is why I was able to get it easily. They said as long as I was upgrading it was no problem.

I agree. However, I think they changed their upgrade policy in June/July when the 3GS came out. Sure as heck is a stupid policy. And I don't even have an iPhone, so it's not like I'm upgrading from the 3G to the 3GS!

AT& T is actually better than most as you only have to wait 18 months. Most are 21-24 months.

They are telling me 21 months, which would be October. Do you know where you heard 18 mos from?

 

[kpadalik]

They did relax the contract rules and extend a grace period for people who were expiring within a few months of the new iPhone.

Thanks... I don't think they are relaxing the rules around here. I'm only 2 mos away from my "update eligibility" and they won't budge.

 

[FireDancer]

Thanks... I don't think they are relaxing the rules around here. I'm only 2 mos away from my "update eligibility" and they won't budge.

Here are some links on the upgrade paths. I have to admit I didn't follow it all that closely because I am not interested in an iPhone but I know they allowed people to push up a couple of months at the rollout. I don't know if it continues moving forward.

Link 1
Link 2

 

[sailors_wfe]

Something that you might consider is what I ended up having to do this weekend when I LOST my iphone 3G. We're not eligible for an upgrade until Dec and I knew I couldn't be without a phone for that long, but ATT wouldn't do anything "extra" for us... so we added on a line for $9.99 a month and got the 3GS for less then what I would have had to pay for a 3G to get a new one... just an idea if you really didn't want to wait the 2 months... then whenever your contract is up on your first line, you can cancel that and just have the 1 line.

 

[kpadalik]

Something that you might consider is what I ended up having to do this weekend when I LOST my iphone 3G. We're not eligible for an upgrade until Dec and I knew I couldn't be without a phone for that long, but ATT wouldn't do anything "extra" for us... so we added on a line for $9.99 a month and got the 3GS for less then what I would have had to pay for a 3G to get a new one... just an idea if you really didn't want to wait the 2 months... then whenever your contract is up on your first line, you can cancel that and just have the 1 line.

I'm so sorry you lost your iPhone. What a bummer

As for the tip on the add a line thing...that's a good idea. I may have to looke into that. Although, I don't know if I could transfer my current number to the iPhone. But I'll check into that. Thanks!

 

[sailors_wfe]

I'm so sorry you lost your iPhone. What a bummer

As for the tip on the add a line thing...that's a good idea. I may have to looke into that. Although, I don't know if I could transfer my current number to the iPhone. But I'll check into that. Thanks!

yeah.. DH says I'm not allowed to make work trips to Atlanta anymore... I keep loosing things when I go down

You're welcome... I thought of it, and the ATT reps thought it was a great idea LOL... they actually managed to "transfer" my # also... basically I THINK what they did was set up the new line with the new equipment, then transfer the new equipment to the old line (although i'm not positive about that LOL, but I have my same old #)

 

[denise]

When the newest iphone came out I called my corp ATT store (company owned) they said I could pay $75 for a early renewal fee. Not worth it.
I work for ATT (not in the cell phone group but in the landline group) all employees got emails at work that said we, the employees, should not buy the iphone just yet. We were to let "customers" get theirs first. I'm a customer, I think, at least the bill I pay monthly makes me feel like one.
We got the letter when the iphone first came out in 2007 and again when the newest one came out.
I do not have a iphone, yes I want one, but I bought a ipod touch instead. I am happy with my touch...I showed them didn't I???