AT&T SHAFTING current iPhone customers?!

[cpu killer]

Now this is seriously upsetting me. I got my iPhone back in December of last year, and was very happy with my purchase. Now, of course, the new iPhone 3g is coming out and I'd very much like to purchase it. So I call up AT&T to ask what my price/upgrade ability would be, and the lady tells me I am due for an upgrade. She goes on to tell me I'd have to pay an early upgrade price of $399/499, respectively, INSTEAD OF THE $199/299 for new customers.

How is this fair? I knew upgrades would have to pay a bit more, but a $200 premium? If this isn't shafting your customers, I don't know what is, and I'm surprised I don't see more people complaining. Honestly this has completely turned me off from upgrading my phone, it's a ridiculous price to pay. I already payed it once, and now new customers are getting it so much cheaper? Although I'd have to agree to another 2 years of bending over to AT&T's OUTRAGEOUS rate plans, I STILL don't get a cheaper price?

I'm just hoping there was some misunderstanding on the phone as she seemed to not be very well trained or know much of what she was saying. This is outrageous otherwise.

[JodyWatts]

it's a mistake. If you have a current iPhone and are in "good standings" (a.k.a - paid up and current AT&T customer) .. you are AUTOMATICALLY eligible for the $199 / $299 price. It is on AT&T official website. Forget what you heard from her.

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Proof #1

iPhone 3G will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following customers:

* iPhone customers who purchased before July 11

* Customers activating a new line with AT&T

* Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

Source: AT&T Corporate

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Proof #2

Watch THIS VIDEO also from AT&T Corporate.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Big_Daddy

[steelgineer]

So I call up AT&T to ask what my price/upgrade ability would be, and the lady tells me I am due for an upgrade. She goes on to tell me I'd have to pay an early upgrade price of $399/499, respectively, INSTEAD OF THE $199/299 for new customers.

My local store told me the same thing when I went there. I had to pull up AT&T's website on my iphone to show them that they were wrong.

[cpu killer]

Thank you! Appreciate it, this really helps a lot. So if I'm in good standing with them, when I show up on July 11th, they should give me the new 8gb model for $199 so long as I sign up for another 2 year contract? Great, I was feeling pretty injusticed, guess I'll be in line come July 11th!

[Hurmoth]

Not sure if this really fits your situation, I suspect it does, but I'd read this: http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks...hone-3g-upgrade

Also, make sure 3G is in your network for AT&T. If it isn't, you'll still have to have a 3G plan (if I'm not mistaken), which will cost an extra $10 on top of the current data plan you have. My local AT&T store told me that all of their 3G phones require a 3G plan even though my area doesn't have the 3G network, so I'm refusing to upgrade until this gets fixed.

[mrp04]

Only the 3G iPhone requires a more expensive plan then the 2G version. For all other phones its the same price for 2G or 3G.

Also, the $200 is the subsidized price. You should be able to get that if you never got a cheap phone when you got your iPhone (as some people did because the original iPhone was unsubsidized and they can use their subsidy on another phone).

If you DID buy a cheap phone, you used your subsidy and you can't get it at a cheap price.

[Hurmoth]

Only the 3G iPhone requires a more expensive plan then the 2G version. For all other phones its the same price for 2G or 3G.

Not anymore. From what I've read AT&T will be requiring the same plan for both the 1st Gen iPhone and the iPhone 3G.

(Make sure you don't get these things confused. There is no 2G phone, the Edge network is 2.75G technically speaking.)

I was at an AT&T store over the weekend and they told me that if a customer comes in with a 1st Gen iPhone, they'll have to sign up for the exact same plan as iPhone 3G customers.

[sweetsam]

I just don't understand how people can signup with a company like ATT. I have had nothing but bad experiences with them not once not twice three times. I have had many of my friends complain about them.

[Volatile]

I just don't understand how people can signup with a company like ATT. I have had nothing but bad experiences with them not once not twice three times. I have had many of my friends complain about them.

It's so random.. incidents where you just can't please everyone. I too am disappointed at the new customer vs upgrade option but with the blackberry. I was eligible for an upgrade and new customers could get a curve for $99, but the upgrade was more than that. I've had AT&T for at least 5 years and since being with Nextel, Sprint, Alltel, and Verizon.. they have treated me the best and had the best coverage.