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Who else has to pay 399 for 16gb Iphone 3GS

F

FerraraZ

Senior member
I was there in line to get the 3G and now I want the 3GS and they are forcing me to pay 399 AND an 18 dollar upgrade fee. I'm furious, I hope this is inaccurate but does anyone else feel my pain 🙁
 
I checked the apple website what it would cost to upgrade to the 3GS and I was told the same thing. Kind of crappy of AT&T to do this to current customers.
 
Not to be a jerk, but has there ever been a cell provider in the history of cell phones who didn't make you pay a premium for getting the latest and greatest before you're eligible for a discounted upgrade? In this case I have a bit of sympathy in that Apple is (amazingly) able to sell these phones at a profit even with an AT&T "discount" for new users, but this is pretty much par for the course, and it beats the hell of out my having paid $400 for a Razr back in the day . . .
 
$18 only? I had to pay two different $18 activations for my 3Gs online earlier today.

The lack of upgrade pricing just goes to show that what AT&T did with the 3g was a rare occurrence.
 
Originally posted by: FerraraZ
I was there in line to get the 3G and now I want the 3GS and they are forcing me to pay 399 AND an 18 dollar upgrade fee. I'm furious, I hope this is inaccurate but does anyone else feel my pain 🙁
Click to expand...

What phone do you currently have, and are you currently eligible for an upgrade?

If you have a 3G iPhone now, then you haven't had the phone for a year yet. Be thankful that they are giving you a discount at all.
 
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: FerraraZ
I was there in line to get the 3G and now I want the 3GS and they are forcing me to pay 399 AND an 18 dollar upgrade fee. I'm furious, I hope this is inaccurate but does anyone else feel my pain 🙁
Click to expand...

What phone do you currently have, and are you currently eligible for an upgrade?

If you have a 3G iPhone now, then you haven't had the phone for a year yet. Be thankful that they are giving you a discount at all.
Click to expand...

Thankful for a discount? What does it cost like 120 to even manufacture the 3G? Its not rare to have people complain about having to pay a premium to upgrade to a product shortly after they made their initial purchase.
 
Originally posted by: FerraraZ

Thankful for a discount? What does it cost like 120 to even manufacture the 3G? Its not rare to have people complain about having to pay a premium to upgrade to a product shortly after they made their initial purchase.
Click to expand...

At least you didn't pay $600 for a first-gen iPhone . . .

Honestly, you knew this would happen (as did I - I bought a 3G in July 2008). Those are the breaks. I am actually surprised they're not charging more - I think it's just that they've built a business model meant to encourage frequent upgrading. Personally I don't find the 3GS feature set so compelling that I would seriously entertain upgrading, but enjoy your new phone if you do!
 
Yeah I suppose this is just an out cry. Maybe my jailbroken iphone 3g could sell on ebay for 400!!!! haha
 
I don't think you guys understand how the pricing works.

AT&T is subsidizing the cost of every iPhone sold to Apple upfront to make back a profit on the back-end with the contract.

When you don't fulfill your full iPhone contract term, they lose a certain amount of expected profit.

AT&T isn't a charity; they are a business. Stick to your current iPhone 3G contract until you are eligible for the lower cost upgrade.

FYI, this is how cellular providers offer every phone at a reduced cost; they subsidize the lower retail price by their back-end profit on the contract.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton
I don't think you guys understand how the pricing works.

AT&T is subsidizing the cost of every iPhone sold to Apple upfront to make back a profit on the back-end with the contract.

When you don't fulfill your full iPhone contract term, they lose a certain amount of expected profit.

AT&T isn't a charity; they are a business. Stick to your current iPhone 3G contract until you are eligible for the lower cost upgrade.

FYI, this is how cellular providers offer every phone at a reduced cost; they subsidize the lower retail price by their back-end profit.
Click to expand...

Exactly!:thumbsup:
 
No one is forcing you to pay anything. JPeyton hit the nail on the head. Sorry, but I don't feel your pain at all.
 
I still have a 2G iPhone that I bought in March '08. I know that they let people with 2G phones upgrade to the 3G just by signing up for another 2 years. Does anyone know if the same thing applies to the 3GS for 2G iPhone owners?
 
Originally posted by: Tyranicus
I still have a 2G iPhone that I bought in March '08. I know that they let people with 2G phones upgrade to the 3G just by signing up for another 2 years. Does anyone know if the same thing applies to the 3GS for 2G iPhone owners?
Click to expand...

If you log into the at&t site, it will tell you.
 
Originally posted by: Tyranicus
I still have a 2G iPhone that I bought in March '08. I know that they let people with 2G phones upgrade to the 3G just by signing up for another 2 years. Does anyone know if the same thing applies to the 3GS for 2G iPhone owners?
Click to expand...

The difference is the 2G was not subsidized, hence cost $500 or whatever to buy.
 
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: jpeyton
I don't think you guys understand how the pricing works.

AT&T is subsidizing the cost of every iPhone sold to Apple upfront to make back a profit on the back-end with the contract.

When you don't fulfill your full iPhone contract term, they lose a certain amount of expected profit.

AT&T isn't a charity; they are a business. Stick to your current iPhone 3G contract until you are eligible for the lower cost upgrade.

FYI, this is how cellular providers offer every phone at a reduced cost; they subsidize the lower retail price by their back-end profit.
Click to expand...

Exactly!:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Not to mention, that AFAIK AT&T is on the whole 18 months = upgrade eligibility, so I think you can upgrade pricing in Decemberish if you bought the 3G on launch day...hardly the end of the world.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton
I don't think you guys understand how the pricing works.

AT&T is subsidizing the cost of every iPhone sold to Apple upfront to make back a profit on the back-end with the contract.

When you don't fulfill your full iPhone contract term, they lose a certain amount of expected profit.

AT&T isn't a charity; they are a business. Stick to your current iPhone 3G contract until you are eligible for the lower cost upgrade.

FYI, this is how cellular providers offer every phone at a reduced cost; they subsidize the lower retail price by their back-end profit on the contract.
Click to expand...
Heh, the whining has reached Slashdot where the crybabies are getting promptly smacked down.:laugh:
 
Originally posted by: mchammer187
cant you just cancel for $175 - $5 * month into your contract and then buy a new iphone?
Click to expand...
Yep. Absolutely. You may not be able to port your number though, someone would have to check on that.
 
people in my office got all upset today saying how much it sucked that it would them $$ to upgrade to the new iphone 3gs. First off, you dont need to upgrade for a few extra features, and the premium to upgrade if you are already in contract in ridiculous. Its a cool gadget like most apple stuff, but seriously, its not the big a deal. The technology will only get smaller, better, and much cooler. Keep what you got, and when your done with your current contract then upgrade, there will always be something better done the round. Plus, this is an absolutely new luxury to have, so expect to pay some big bucks for the latest and greatest, and ATT is well within means to charge you a premium even if you are a current customer. There are not a small mom and pop shop; they are a business with contracts and rules and if you are past the contract date to upgrade, well, open that wallet up if you want the latest and greatest.
 
I'm lucky, my wife wants my current iphone. So she is going to switch from verizon to ATT and get a new iPhone, then we are going to switch phones.
 
Can someone check this with their account:

ATT says I'm eliglgbe for a "Discounted Phone" on 7/19/2009.
Apple say " You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 07/20/2009."

Am I looking at a $299 32gb or a $499?
 
I understand the pricing, I don't like it but it is what it is (currently). I will tell you this however, they lost any revenue they would/could of had if they had offered it at the new contract selling price to us indentured contract servants. At least from me. The new features don't justify the cost for me to 'upgrade' the only thing that really pisses me off at this point is the fact that the 3Gs has voice command, something the 3G is fully capable of in software yet apple has not allowed the 3g to have it...that I think is pure bullshit.

I qualify for an upgrade price on 1/20/2010. But if I wait for my contract to expire it will be right after WWDC 2010 😉 w00t I get new hardware 😀 (hopefully on verizon's boat too!)
 
Originally posted by: ric1287
Can someone check this with their account:

ATT says I'm eliglgbe for a "Discounted Phone" on 7/19/2009.
Apple say " You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 07/20/2009."

Am I looking at a $299 32gb or a $499?
Click to expand...

How are u eligable to upgrade at that day? I bought the iphone 3G launch day and it says 12/12/09 for me. Is this some kind of issue with the apple store?
 
Originally posted by: FerraraZ
Originally posted by: ric1287
Can someone check this with their account:

ATT says I'm eliglgbe for a "Discounted Phone" on 7/19/2009.
Apple say " You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 07/20/2009."

Am I looking at a $299 32gb or a $499?
Click to expand...

How are u eligable to upgrade at that day? I bought the iphone 3G launch day and it says 12/12/09 for me. Is this some kind of issue with the apple store?
Click to expand...
A 12/12/09 date for eligibility for a fully-subsidized (standard) upgrade appears to be correct for all launch-day owners. Otherwise they can get the early upgrade immediately.

I'm not sure why ric is seeing two dates so close together though.
 
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