was I held hostage by At&T?

[vwlfan]

I thought I was pretty smart by going down to my local AT&T store last week to order an Iphone4S. Put the order in last Friday, paid in full and went to pick it up today. THEN I was told that I had to order two additional accessories in order to qualify for the purchase!

It was a take it or leave it premise. If I wanted what I paid for I had to buy two other accessories. That wouldn't have been so bad, after all, I knew I'd need a case and probably screen protector. BUT I promise you that they had maybe five cases and five screen protectors at ridiculous prices that I know I could have beat probably in any electronics store or online.

In the end my desire to have the phone forced me to get a case and a screen protector (this wound up being 88 bucks more because I bought screen protectors for my old 3GS that I was going to "bequeath" to my wife.

Naturally I asked if this were AT&T store "policy" and was told that it was!

Did this happen to anyone else who purchased their Iphones through AT&T instead of directly through Apple? Or was I the only fool in town?

 

[OKW Lover]

You were taken. This practice is often attempted but should not be allowed. I think its probably against the law and perhaps a complaint to your state AG is in order. At the very least, contact AT&T themselves (not the store) to complain about this practice.

 

[k5jm]

i am pretty sure the your Attorney General for your state would have a field day with that. Did you have them show you where you agreed to that? And if you paid in full, they were obligated to give you the product you paid for. They can not change the terms after the fact. I would contact your AG and then contact ATT. Then I would call the store manager and advice him of the steps you had taken.

Was this an Authorized ATT Agent or an actual ATT Store?

 

[Phoenixblue]

I have to agree - I don't think you should have had to buy anything.
I do know that our ATT stores were NOT preselling phones, they would help you preorder but then you had to wait the 1-2 weeks for it to be delivered, but to get one from the store, you had to go in today in person.

I would also report this to both ATT and AG. It sounds like a bait and switch to me... or they were trying to cover that they presold phones when they were not allowed to.

 

[dalt01]

not so fast oh guardians of the downtroden...............if this was stated out front (written) as a "condition of sale" it is very legal.....reference, "buy one get one free"...........or buy a slurpie and get 3 cents a gallon off your next fill up.............also it is in no way "bait and switch" that would be, for example, come in and get our free phone, and when you get there they say they have no more free phones but they have a beaut for just 179.00

 

[FrankieDplus3]

You were taken.

Even "if" AT&T stated it up front (a la fine print), it's still a scam. They are taking advantage of the hot item.

A quick google search shows reports from gizmodo.com that AT&T was doing this in multiple places. They are also reporting that AT&T is investigating the issue and say that you should be refunded.

http://gizmodo.com/274468/followup-att-offering-refunds-for-forced-iphone-accessory-bundles

 

[DisneyKevin]

if this was stated out front (written) as a "condition of sale" it is very legal

This is a big "if".

"If" it was not stated anywhere...it is illegal.

 

[dalt01]

This is a big "if".

"If" it was not stated anywhere...it is illegal.

i will try to make my IF'S bigger from now on

 

[vwlfan]

and will consider the AG too. I'll keep you posted thanks and I posted this issue in the first place hoping that others would contain be aware that these sorts of things are going on.

 

[kaligal]

I'd charge it back. If you signed for it, they'll produce proof that you agreed to the sale. If you didn't, you'll get your money back. I hope you win.


That's MHO. Take it or leave it.

 

[crazy4stitch]

I work for the wireline side for AT&T, if this was not stated or in written form when you ordered the phone then this is called cramming, and it is against company policy, I know this because we are required once a year to take a course on the companies "Code of Business Conduct" really boring stuff, but long story short, file an executive complaint with AT&T, it is not company practice

 

[crazy4stitch]

You just got someone trying to pad their numbers

 

[ToddyLu]

That is horrible. DH and I purchased two phones on 10/14 in person at our AT&T store...we had a 30 minute wait once in the door but she did not try to sell us other stuff.

 

[GAN]

Our contract with AT&T is up in 3 weeks -but this would be just another reason to switch for us.