vB Easy Archive - Maximum for a retail priced 8gb iPhone 3g is $375 which is cheaper than 2g iPhone

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Maximum for a retail priced 8gb iPhone 3g is $375 which is cheaper than 2g iPhone
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Posted by: damnyooneek2

The 2g iphones were going for $400 so its not that bad buying the 3g iPhone retail priced. Just buy the iPhone and pay the ETF which is $175 so its comes out to $375. Just add the iPhone data plan which is $30 a month and you dont have a 2 year contract. Att knows this and will probably offer an option to buy it retail priced.

Posted by: goldsaint

whatever i read now on the 3G iphone Saga, makes me want to T.... Up.
Compare At&t miserable ''sales strategy'' to the Orange sales courtesy in europe :

AT&T = sell iphone exclusively with contracts, no possibility for a legal Apple unlocked iphone.

Orange = sell iphone with contract or without if you need it unlocked.

Posted by: samab

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldsaint

whatever i read now on the 3G iphone Saga, makes me want to T.... Up.
Compare At&t miserable ''sales strategy'' to the Orange sales courtesy in europe :

AT&T = sell iphone exclusively with contracts, no possibility for a legal Apple unlocked iphone.

Orange = sell iphone with contract or without if you need it unlocked.

A few thousand french man/woman bought the 2G iphone at 750 euro.

A hundred thousand french man/woman bought the 2G iphone at a price higher than the US iphone price and have to sign a contract that cost more than the US iphone plan.

Get your priority straight.

Posted by: ATT*Mark

you guys know you can do exception upgrades at at&t right? they just tack on 75 dollars to the upgrade price..

Posted by: tks989

i would do it.... but i'll feel like a fool doing it same time

Posted by: slycklink

What's "ETF"? Is it confirmed that it's $175 extra? Even for the 16GB?

Posted by: ATT*Mark

ETF = early termination fee

Posted by: slycklink

I see, thanks. I'll just stick with the first gen.

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnyooneek2

The 2g iphones were going for $400 so its not that bad buying the 3g iPhone retail priced. Just buy the iPhone and pay the ETF which is $175 so its comes out to $375. Just add the iPhone data plan which is $30 a month and you dont have a 2 year contract. Att knows this and will probably offer an option to buy it retail priced.

Another thread said that along with ETF, they will still charge for activation fee and thirty days of service even if you cancel service on the same day and keep the phone. Can anyone verify this? Refusing to refund the activation fee is standard with most carriers but charging for the whole month seems a little over the top. Also, will they refund the required 30.00 internet plan after cancellation?

Posted by: ATT*Mark

they charge the full 30 days after the first 3 days of activation.

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATT*Mark

they charge the full 30 days after the first 3 days of activation.

So if I cancel within 2 days, then it will just be 199.for phone,175 for ETF and 39. activation fee. for total of 413 + tax?

Posted by: damnyooneek2

Quote:

Originally Posted by slycklink

What's "ETF"? Is it confirmed that it's $175 extra? Even for the 16GB?

early termination fee. you sign up for a contract and cancel it while keeping the phone

Posted by: tks989

at&t sucks
do they offer 1 yr. contracts?

Posted by: ATT*Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xarlon

So if I cancel within 2 days, then it will just be 199.for phone,175 for ETF and 39. activation fee. for total of 413 + tax?

nono, you dont pay the activation fee or etf fee if within 3 days. only for the minute usage and data usage you use.

Posted by: faroqui

no, iphone = 2year. do they charge you for the first month or is that what the ETF takes care of?

Posted by: samab

Cancel within 3 days --- you don't have to pay $36 activation fee.

Cancel within 14 days --- you can return iphone without restocking fee.

Cancel with 30 days (I think) --- you can cancel contract without ETF.

But you have to get the iphone back to AT&T.

Posted by: damnyooneek2

Quote:

Originally Posted by samab

Cancel within 3 days --- you don't have to pay $36 activation fee.

Cancel within 14 days --- you can return iphone without restocking fee.

Cancel with 30 days (I think) --- you can cancel contract without ETF.

But you have to get the iphone back to AT&T.

cancel within a few days and dont give back the phone and pay the ETF

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATT*Mark

nono, you don't pay the activation fee or etf fee if within 3 days. only for the minute usage and data usage you use.

But if we keep the phone after canceling service on the next day, won't they charge all of those fees plus one month of service plus one month of internet?

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by faroqui

do they charge you for the first month or is that what the ETF takes care of?

That's what I thought as well, but a poster on another thread said that they charge for activation plus one month of service even if you cancel same day. (if keeping the phone)

Posted by: faroqui

Man, they just need to put the phone at a flat rate for those who dont wanna activate now lol.

Posted by: ATT*Mark

the new iPhone has a 30 day return policy. so you cannot cancel service on the 16th day and keep the iphone because it had a 14 day return policy.

in order to keep the phone you would have to cancel on the 31st day, I am assuming you cannot buy the phone on a 2 year, call in to customer service and just say you are canceling the line and will pay the etf. I dont think you can do that. but I am sure a loophole will be found.

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnyooneek2

cancel within a few days and dont give back the phone and pay the ETF

You're assuming that they'll allow you to keep the phone. I don't think that's an accurate assumption.

Posted by: damnyooneek2

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocheseUGA

You're assuming that they'll allow you to keep the phone. I don't think that's an accurate assumption.

when you pay the ETF the phone is yours. youre basically paying for whatever discount they were giving you for signing 2 years. there's no way they can force you to give back the phone.

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnyooneek2

when you pay the ETF the phone is yours. youre basically paying for whatever discount they were giving you for signing 2 years. there's no way they can force you to give back the phone.

Who says? They could write the contracts to say you are leasing the phone from them for the contract price, and not allow early termination.

Posted by: free_gas

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnyooneek2

when you pay the ETF the phone is yours. youre basically paying for whatever discount they were giving you for signing 2 years. there's no way they can force you to give back the phone.

a crew of apple nerds will raid your house, break into your car and bully you into finding it...

is there an ETF for the data plan also?

this works out to the same thing then.. sign a contract... abuse the phone for 30 days to make sure it is good, then cancel...

And you have 30 days to make sure there are no battery issues or screen problems... if so, just keep swapping until you are satisfied for 30 days... then cancel and say F U apple/att...

Posted by: usrbin

You: I would like to report a lost/stolen iphone 3G
CSR: You will have to pay full price for replacement
You: OK

Posted by: free_gas

Quote:

Originally Posted by usrbin

You: I would like to report a lost/stolen iphone 3G
CSR: You will have to pay full price for replacement
You: OK

you forgot 2 things...

step:3 , sell on e-bay/CL

step:4 , repeat 2 more times...

even better... walk into the att store, tell them "we can do this the hard way or the easy way..."

give me the phone, charge me the activation, 1 month service + etf...because in 1 hour from now the phone will be "stolen" from my car.. or I will get mugged... whatever is more believable...

Posted by: Xarlon

From AT&T wireless service agreement :

Quote:

If phone is returned within 3 days, activation fee will be refunded. If phone is returned within 30 days in like-new condition with all components, early termination fee will be waived. All other charges apply.

Quote:

if you cancel service you will remain responsible for any service fees and charges incurred

So the $30 required internet plan will also be charged whether you keep your phone or not. They don't prorate your last month so you will have to pay full price.

Posted by: JDub305

Quote:

Originally Posted by free_gas

so what's stopping customers with doing the above? If you report it stolen, you would only pay $199 for the replacement and I know you can get more than that on the street for a iPhone 3G. That means you profit from the sale and the person buying it from you wouldn't have to activate it in stores. Of course, whoever buys it from you would have to get it unlocked, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Posted by: slycklink

This is quite interesting. I may have to do this a few times if it works.

Posted by: ez2remember

I doubt the $175 ETF will work...

The could change the contract for the iPhone where you have to either return the phone or pay the full amount for the term of the contract, yes $1500 - 2000.

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by ez2remember

I doubt the $175 ETF will work...

The could change the contract for the iPhone where you have to either return the phone or pay the full amount for the term of the contract, yes $1500 - 2000.

Wow. That would be a first. But I'm guessing the threat of Class Action lawsuits would be more than they're willing to risk. Tmobile just lost a suit filed against them even though the contract was clear, the courts judged it as unfair...

Posted by: JDub305

Quote:

Originally Posted by slycklink

This is quite interesting. I may have to do this a few times if it works.

Report your iPhone 3G stolen twice and sell them each for $400 and you will have enough to buy a 3rd one as well as pay the ETF. You will then have a new, "free" iPhone 3G.

btw: I know this is pretty shady and is considered fraud, but I'm just giving examples of things that may happen because of their new policies. I would be hesitant to do this for concerns of being banned from ATT for life lol.

Posted by: Xarlon

The court system has set the precedent.The obligation to treat the customer in a fair manner and in good faith outweighs any arbitration or contractual agreement. The next step after the new admin takes office is to change the laws to force companies to offer unlocked devices.

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xarlon

T-Mobile - all plans, all devices

AT&T - one device, one plan

They wouldn't be denying service to people who wanted it, just those who wanted to abuse the system for one phone.

How is it unfair?

Posted by: XFF

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xarlon

The court system has set the precedent.The obligation to treat the customer in a fair manner and in good faith outweighs any arbitration or contractual agreement. The next step after the new admin takes office is to change the laws to force companies to offer unlocked devices.

And contract-free service. And unsubsidized phones. God don't I wish!

They (Apple and AT&T) had a decent model going with the first iPhone, now it seems it's gotten really complicated and convoluted. Can't they just sell a phone at full price and charge for service without a contract, just like I buy a TV at full price and pay for cable without a contract? What's so hard about that? Why do we have to jump through all those hoops? For what?

Posted by: Xarlon

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocheseUGA

They wouldn't be denying service to people who wanted it, just those who wanted to abuse the system for one phone.

All a matter of perspective I guess. Reseller's buying to turn profit would be abuse, but what about someone who just wants to buy a phone without having to sign a contract? They have to search Ebay and CL. So the the companies policies are creating the black market and allowing resellers to abuse the system. Perhaps we should lobby congress to have Ma Bell regroup and buy out all the land line and wireless companies to take back their monopoly, that way we wouldn't have to make any decisions. They would handle all the details and leave us alone peacefully in our ignorant bliss...

Posted by: tks989

hopefully AT&T reconsiders before the launch

Posted by: jvanbrecht

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xarlon

From AT&T wireless service agreement :

So the $30 required internet plan will also be charged whether you keep your phone or not. They don't prorate your last month so you will have to pay full price.

Stop thinking too hard into this.. if you cancel within the first 30 days and you chose to keep the phone, you get charged the 175 ETF, and a prorated charge on the services you used for the time you used it, not the full price of each service (ie 30 for internet 30 for voice etc etc)

Posted by: findkalvin

No, the maximum will be $199 + $175 ETF + $80 for first month's service-- see the official internal release from AT&T quoted below:

Quote:

3G Devices

The return policy for 3G is changing from 14 days to 30 days for both Apple and AT&T stores.

To cancel service within the first 30 days, the customer must return their equipment to the place of purchase (no exceptions).
If the customer cancels service after 30 days, they will be charged the ETF. The customer is not required to return the device to cancel after 30 days.

So that's about $450 (or $550 for the 16GB)

Edit: Oops, forgot the activation fee-- so that's $485 or $585. Not including tax on the phone, so really, $500 or $600.

Posted by: pathy5025

Quote:

Originally Posted by findkalvin

So that's about $450 (or $550 for the 16GB)

Exactly, they will have to have a "retail" price for lost/stolen/water damaged phones. They just won't offer it until they have to. Do you really think they are going to charge someone $1500 if they got their phone stolen? Yeah, that wouldn't make any headlines...