Anybody else have luck doing this? My 24 months isn't up until July. I'll wait until then to get a new iPhone, but my wife wants one now. I went to the store and they didn't know anything about this deal. I showed them a copy of the AppleInsider story, and it was news to them. They submitted it to AT&T to get an exception/waiver for me, and I haven't heard back yet.
I spoke with a really nice manager at a local retail store in GA. He said that he hadn't heard of any such deal, but did read the article and was curious himself. He took my information and said he would call me back. In the meantime, he sent this information up a level to a regional branch/division/manager(whatever you want to call it) to find out the validity of the "deal." The manager called me back after about two days and informed me that there was no information regarding such a deal, at least in this region, nor did he see one in the future. He was very honest about the whole situation and said that what he was told was that maybe someone was misinformed.
Although, I am bummed that no deal exists, at least as of right now, I must say that I am not surprised. If these phones are going to be quick sold for a new model, it does seems like it would be much later. Unfortunately, I don't have much patience.
Does anyone remember if there was a deal given last year in order to clear inventory for the 3g model?
The guys at the AT&T store when I was there specifically said they didn't remember a deal like this last year when the 3G came out. Of course, the original iPhone wasn't a subsidized purchase like the 3G is...
I am still curious though what happened with the old phones. I am sure that Apple/ATT didn't just through them away, plus it would be difficult to convince customers to buy the old model with a new model on the shelves....
at my AT&T Store, and they looked at me as if I had two heads. This is patently false, at least as of now. I'm 16-17 months into my current contract, have had a couple contracts with AT&T, and have NEVER been late on a payment.
They were eventually "gracious" enough to offer me the $399/$499 pricing, at which I said I'm not paying that. I told them I'd print this out and bring it to them, but I'm not going to bother, as somehow I don't think a report from a site called "AppleInsider" will carry much weight.
If they think they are going to move inventory of a soon-to-be-outdated model at those prices, they are sorely mistaken.
The stupidity of AT&T is also mind-boggling, as I'm in effect trying to allow AT&T to make more profit off me, yet AT&T refuses.
Same experience. 15 months into contract, and they won't do an early upgrade for me until 20 months in (which has always been the case). I printed the AI story and gave it to the salesman at the shop. He submitted an upgrade exception request for me with that printout, and it was denied. I can upgrade for $399/$499, but not $199.
Looks like this info was faulty, plain and simple.
My Blackberry battery is officially dead, so I could spend $50 on a new battery or I could upgrade to an iPhone. My phone is eligible for an upgrade in 6 days. I called three stores and ATT direct, and no one would play ball today and give me an upgrade for less than $300. I run a business and we have had 5+ phone lines with them for 5+ years. I am truly sick of ATT and their appalling customer service
Assuming the story is true, could there be any better way to insure customer disgruntlement and resentment then to offer a "silent" policy with no apparent criteria beyond the whim of a sales guy?
My Blackberry battery is officially dead, so I could spend $50 on a new battery or I could upgrade to an iPhone. My phone is eligible for an upgrade in 6 days. I called three stores and ATT direct, and no one would play ball today and give me an upgrade for less than $300. I run a business and we have had 5+ phone lines with them for 5+ years. I am truly sick of ATT and their appalling customer service
That does seem really poor, but I think you could do it if you spoke to a manager. The sales reps probably don't have the authority to do such things, even if you were a day away from being eligible. I would think they would have consulted a manager, perhaps they did, but if said no you should ask him to ask his higher up. You can even dial 611 and talk to a rep. The mention of losing your 5 lines should be enough to get it taken care of with apologizes for the inconvenience.
However, I would just get the new battery. It's only $50, it will act as a backup phone when one of your other phones break, get lost or stolen. And if you have other Blackberries of that model it can act as a spare battery. Plus, I don't recommend buying an iPhone now when all signs point to a much more advanced model coming in just a few months. Welcome to AI!
Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox
Assuming the story is true, could there be any better way to insure customer disgruntlement and resentment then to offer a "silent" policy with no apparent criteria beyond the whim of a sales guy?
No, I think that is about the highest level of poor customer service you can offer.
Assuming the story is true, could there be any better way to insure customer disgruntlement and resentment then to offer a "silent" policy with no apparent criteria beyond the whim of a sales guy?
Yeah....I'm definitely planning on buying an iPhone at the next opportunity that won't gouge the living crap out of me; I just wish it didn't have to be AT&T. Not that I really believe any of the other companies are somehow better, because I know they aren't - I would just do it for the sheer satisfaction of telling AT&T I'm closing my account with them.
I'm bummed, because I was all up for this deal. I'd be fine with the 16GB 3G as opposed to the apparent new 32GB model. I already have 3 iPods of various shapes and sizes; I don't really care to have my phone double as an iPod. Nor do I care about video or a 3.2mp camera. This kind of deal would have been tailor-made for someone like me.
Comments
Although, I am bummed that no deal exists, at least as of right now, I must say that I am not surprised. If these phones are going to be quick sold for a new model, it does seems like it would be much later. Unfortunately, I don't have much patience.
Does anyone remember if there was a deal given last year in order to clear inventory for the 3g model?
The guys at the AT&T store when I was there specifically said they didn't remember a deal like this last year when the 3G came out. Of course, the original iPhone wasn't a subsidized purchase like the 3G is...
They were eventually "gracious" enough to offer me the $399/$499 pricing, at which I said I'm not paying that. I told them I'd print this out and bring it to them, but I'm not going to bother, as somehow I don't think a report from a site called "AppleInsider" will carry much weight.
If they think they are going to move inventory of a soon-to-be-outdated model at those prices, they are sorely mistaken.
The stupidity of AT&T is also mind-boggling, as I'm in effect trying to allow AT&T to make more profit off me, yet AT&T refuses.
Looks like this info was faulty, plain and simple.
My Blackberry battery is officially dead, so I could spend $50 on a new battery or I could upgrade to an iPhone. My phone is eligible for an upgrade in 6 days. I called three stores and ATT direct, and no one would play ball today and give me an upgrade for less than $300. I run a business and we have had 5+ phone lines with them for 5+ years. I am truly sick of ATT and their appalling customer service
That does seem really poor, but I think you could do it if you spoke to a manager. The sales reps probably don't have the authority to do such things, even if you were a day away from being eligible. I would think they would have consulted a manager, perhaps they did, but if said no you should ask him to ask his higher up. You can even dial 611 and talk to a rep. The mention of losing your 5 lines should be enough to get it taken care of with apologizes for the inconvenience.
However, I would just get the new battery. It's only $50, it will act as a backup phone when one of your other phones break, get lost or stolen. And if you have other Blackberries of that model it can act as a spare battery. Plus, I don't recommend buying an iPhone now when all signs point to a much more advanced model coming in just a few months. Welcome to AI!
Assuming the story is true, could there be any better way to insure customer disgruntlement and resentment then to offer a "silent" policy with no apparent criteria beyond the whim of a sales guy?
No, I think that is about the highest level of poor customer service you can offer.
Assuming the story is true, could there be any better way to insure customer disgruntlement and resentment then to offer a "silent" policy with no apparent criteria beyond the whim of a sales guy?
Yeah....I'm definitely planning on buying an iPhone at the next opportunity that won't gouge the living crap out of me; I just wish it didn't have to be AT&T. Not that I really believe any of the other companies are somehow better, because I know they aren't - I would just do it for the sheer satisfaction of telling AT&T I'm closing my account with them.
I'm bummed, because I was all up for this deal. I'd be fine with the 16GB 3G as opposed to the apparent new 32GB model. I already have 3 iPods of various shapes and sizes; I don't really care to have my phone double as an iPod. Nor do I care about video or a 3.2mp camera. This kind of deal would have been tailor-made for someone like me.