New iphone drama....
 

So I am so into (in my definition) technology... so I thought I would finally get an iphone. So I have been paying attention to the news etc before Steve Job made an announcement. I even watched his conference video.. (like 2 hours?) to get tuned to this new technology. I was very excited... I was ready to get it.

So I would have liked to line up at 8 a.m on July 11th. I couldn't because of my work. So as soon as I got out, my bf and I called different places to see how long is the wait. Then we decided to head to a mall that is 20 miles away. So we got on the line.... we were told that the wait is 1.5 hour. We chatted people in front of us and back... for 4 Hours Yes 4 hours. I finally stepped to the store.. and waited for another 30 minutes or so. Then my bf was listening to the salesperson... going through stuff.. Then he tells us that the iphone is $299 because we weren't eligible for discount... I am like "what"? So he decided to buy it because it was only $100 difference.. so they activated his new iphone... and he was ready to pay for it. Then they said $399. We were like "what? you told us $299." Then they tell us that we cannot cancel this because to cancel this, we had to go to AT &T. But we cannot open the phone if we are canceling and couldn't use his blackberry any more. So he ended up taking his new iphone. His eligibility for discount is next year in March. Mine is end of October this year. I didn't get it, but he got it. I definitely would buy it when October comes, but I would buy for 16 G then.

The thing is.. when we were waiting for 4 hours. The salesperson came to talk to everyone of us about what we need and all kinds of stuff.. but never mentioned about existing customer eligibility. For me I think this is really messed up customer service for existing customer.. but I understand that they have given us the discount a year ago. But then why don't you display the actual price too then? I got upset because we waited for 4 hours... But it is okay now.. We decided that we would buy a Macbook instead for my birthday in August then iphone in end of October.

So I played with my bf's iphone. It's awesome! I love it! I can wait for 3 MORE months.. I can I can I can.. (I am telling myself...) I truly understand the concept even I don't agree, but I wish they would have been more open about the actual price and list it at store or announcement. They talk about "economically affordable" or whatever it was... but the fact is... the phone actually costs as much as before... AT &T must be paying for the discount.

Anyway.. those of you who have iphone.. I envy you :)

That's just crazy! I would think that would be illegal. Sort of a bait and switch?

Hey, if it makes you feel better, all I have is a pink Sprint Fusik my son bought for me. ;)

That sucks, that doesn't sound right, I probably would've threw a fit but I'm a big baby. I don't have the iphone though, I'm sticking with my BlackBerry, I can't be a trader haha!

I want the BlackBerry Bold when it comes out :rolleyes:

With AT&T there is a way you can get the discount even if your not eligble yet, you have to add something else onto your phone, like the unlimited internet, or text messaging, for atleast a month I believe. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I have AT&T and I wanted a new phone before I could get the discount and that's what they explained to me. I'm sure you can ask any AT&T rep about it. I don't get why they didn't look up his information from the beginning though to see his prices:confused: They can't tell you it'd be one price, then charge you another!

We called AT & T so many times... They don't give it! I think they are being strict for iphone.. BUt I have been AT&T customers and spend a lot of money with Blackberry plan.... It is really bummer. Like when they sell their phone they have original price then price after signing 2 years contract etc.. they should have done that. WHo knew that iphone costs $399 for 8G when they are advertising it as $199. Steve Job said that it is affordable.. Guess Not! I heard about eligibility.. but I never thought I wouldn't be eligible.. because I have automatic payment.. good credits... and have been using Blackberry plan and paying them on time! But I am not qualified because I am a good customer. I understand that my blackberry was cheaper when I signed the contract but still!!!!

I hate this whole thing.. but I love Mac.. what can I say? I will wait for 3 months.

commission
 

Because the salespersons commission would have been decreased so he didn't tell you so he got his full commission. I hate salesman I do not know personally.

AT&T has deceptive business practices anyway. Have for a long time. I had a tremendous issue with them a few years ago because they had been charging our account over ten dollars a month and they were NOT our provider.

After many long discussions with them, they pretty much said too bad. They had found an incoming 'collect' call that was from an AT&T pay phone somewhere during the time they had been erroneously charging us. I asked how were we supposed to control what kind of phone was being used for a collect call? Mercy!

Needless to say....they wouldn't do a thing. I called the utility commission and filed a formal complaint. After that, AT&T called me and said the most they would do was give us back 65 dollars. Excuse me? You charged us for three years at over ten a month, and now you just want to give 65? I wouldn't settle for that and so, actually never received a thing.

Yesterday, in the newspaper I saw that there is a class action suit against them by people who were also NOT their customers, for charging them 3.95 a month for some special service that they never received. They are crooks on a very high level.

I am not surprised in the least with how they treated you.

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Husband and me went yesterday to the apple store and the line wasn't really bad. Of course we went when it was almost time to close. there was a line, but we only waited like 40 minutes. He has discount through work, they told him to call AT & T, he did and that was it they apply the discount. I guess we were lucky.