ATT Trade in woes for iPhone

[StringHawk]

This has been lingering in my mind all night. People in the thread have called these programs are rip off and saying they’re worthless. I’m going to be upgrading soon and it will be early. I will end up losing about six months worth of credits. But I still received credits for 2 1/2 years.

I’m not understanding how people could say that programs like this are a rip off. Peoples say that they are buying your phone outright, but they’re paying full price. Sure they could leave their carrier anytime that they want, but so could I. I might not get the full $1000 credit, but I’ll still get the majority of it.

 

[wickedrm]

StringHawk, you’re 100% correct. People that are against this deal are having trouble with some basic math. I’ll break it down one more time for them: $0 < $1000 😀

 

[wickedrm]

Are there any carrier deals for 24 months ?

I usually upgrade at 2 years.

I don’t know of any but you can always do what StringHawk just said and upgrade early. You’ll just lose out on another $333 but you’ll have banked $666. Not a bad discount at all.

 

[webkit]

Are there any carrier deals for 24 months ?

I usually upgrade at 2 years.

Bill credits for T-Mobile deals are 24 months.

 

[onenorth]

I don’t know of any but you can always do what StringHawk just said and upgrade early. You’ll just lose out on another $333 but you’ll have banked $666. Not a bad discount at all.

I've done this too. Because $333 < $1000. Even $666 is less than $1000 if you trade after 12 months.

Also the ability to finance the purchase over three years for 0% interest means that I don't have to part with all of my money at once and can use it for other things in the meantime. I know some people are adverse to financing but if it is zero percent interest you could buy some short term treasury bills and make some money on it rather than forking it all over to the carrier at once.

 

[StringHawk]

Exactly, 0% finances are definitely a good idea. Even if you’re not specifically investing that money elsewhere at the time, it’s still better to pay an even amount monthly instead of taking one large lump sum out of your bank account. The fact that the monthly fee is being paid for by a monthly credit makes it even better. Which is why I simply can’t understand how anyone could say this is a rip off or a bad idea.

 

[cousintim]

And as established, not overpriced.

That's not been established. You've just convinced yourself that it's true.

 

[StringHawk]

That's not been established. You've just convinced yourself that it's true.

Well we are all ears. Please explain how it’s not true.

I have the same plan that I’ve always had, and I just looked and that plan is eligible for the $1000 credit if I was to upgrade to the 15 Pro Max right now.

And again, even if we didn’t like the plan, we could leave it any time. There’s no contract. We still made all of the money on all of the prior credits that we received.

 

[wickedrm]

That's not been established. You've just convinced yourself that it's true.

$30 is overpriced for ATT? Wow, someone should have told me sooner instead of convincing myself all this time.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

I have no plans to leave Verizon unless they kicked me off my grandfathered Get More 5G plan which has perks that I use and don’t have to pay extra for, which the new plans do. If Apple were to come out with a Rose Gold Pro Max this year, I was going to upgrade through Verizon, but the 36 month device payments leave a bad taste in my mouth. 24 months is easier to deal with, but 36 months is not feasible for me, so I guess I’ll be holding onto my 15PM for another year and save biweekly for the 17PM.

 

[TgeekB]

I’m interested to see how many more days the bickering back and forth continues despite it not changing anyone’s mind. Let me grab some popcorn….

 

[blairh]

I like being able to choose when I buy a newer model iPhone. I learned the hard way not to (again) fall victim to a great "trade in" program with a phone carrier (mine is ATT). They offered 1000 dollars off or approx in my case. This really translates to paying all the taxes for it and a new connection fee and other small amounts then the "discount" is not exactly that - the carrier will supposedly discount. your bills over the many months to cover that trade in discount (the 1000 dollars or so). Any past programs you have with discounts get voided. I did the trade in, paid out the cash and my bill ends up about 4 dollars less than before. 4 x 36 months ...well not quite 1000. Seems that my program costs more now so they discounted from a higher amount than I was paying before. Messy, hard to follow, and definitely not what I was told at the carrier's store front.

My next iPhone will likely be an iPhone 18 if they get there or 19 as I am stuck for 3 years unless I want to pay off the phone outright which is more than the discount of course.

Anyone else run into this type of scenario? When my time is up with this carrier, I'll buy a phone outright and switch carriers pronto.

I have the AT&T Value Plus VL Plan. My bill is $51 a month before taxes and fees. This plan is not eligible for trade-in deals on newer smartphones.

When I want a new iPhone, I simply purchase it from Apple and trade-in my current iPhone.

This also allows me to use an unlocked iPhone in case I ever want to use a local eSIM while traveling abroad.

 

[The1Biz]

I have the AT&T Value Plus VL Plan. My bill is $51 a month before taxes and fees. This plan is not eligible for trade-in deals on newer smartphones.

When I want a new iPhone, I simply purchase it from Apple and trade-in my current iPhone.

This also allows me to use an unlocked iPhone in case I ever want to use a local eSIM while traveling abroad.

Exactly. I pay $35 unlimited a month on a split T-Mobile postpaid plan that isn't tied to a work discount and I don't have to have like 6 or 7 members on the plan to get that price. I can do what I want from the get go as I buy my phones, never tied to a fine print legalese contract or even a carrier so I never have to deal with unlocking issues on vacation overseas. Even their prepaid or Connect plans are cheaper than AT&T with no restrictions, and it's not even a "sketchy" MVNO.

I got tired of Verizon years ago, AT&T is greatly overpriced even with my corporate discount. I really can't support a crappy company that is so desperate they have to give away phones to justify their overpriced plans and then use contracts to hold customers hostage to lower their churn rate. Their pushing of their TV service was really annoying too.

 

[blkjedi954]

Consider switching to T-Mobile; when I did the switch they paid off my family’s phones to Verizon. I think it was up to $800 per, though we didn’t owe that much.

T-Mobile (used to be Sprint) has gotten me killer deals. i remember getting an iphone 11 pro max 512gb for cost of iphone 11 pro max 64gb variant. paid taxes upfront and monthly payments totaled that of 64gb variant. Also upgraded 3 XR 64gb for 3 iphone 13 256gb - trade in value was 700 each. The XR only cost me 749 each. They’ve done wizardry for me in the past. Paid taxes upfront and total monthly payments matched. That’s why i’m still with them. i have all my contracts printed out for my records and they have been solid with me. Probably cause i have 7 lines through them w/60gb hotspot on each line...lol. Can’t complain.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

T-Mobile (used to be Sprint) has gotten me killer deals. i remember getting an iphone 11 pro max 512gb for cost of iphone 11 pro max 64gb variant. paid taxes upfront and monthly payments totaled that of 64gb variant. Also upgraded 3 XR 64gb for 3 iphone 13 256gb - trade in value was 700 each. The XR only cost me 749 each. They’ve done wizardry for me in the past. Paid taxes upfront and total monthly payments matched. That’s why i’m still with them. i have all my contracts printed out for my records and they have been solid with me. Probably cause i have 7 lines through them w/60gb hotspot on each line...lol. Can’t complain.

I left them 4 years ago, because they always wanted a large down payment when it came time to preorder. It started with the iPhone X, and I was preordering every year with T-Mobile. I had to put down $750 for the iPhone X and XS Max. After that I paid off my XS Max and switched to Verizon and waited for the 12PM and started buying outright with Apple from that point on.

 

[sp44]

Exactly. I pay $35 unlimited a month on a split T-Mobile postpaid plan that isn't tied to a work discount and I don't have to have like 6 or 7 members on the plan to get that price. I can do what I want from the get go as I buy my phones, never tied to a fine print legalese contract or even a carrier so I never have to deal with unlocking issues on vacation overseas. Even their prepaid or Connect plans are cheaper than AT&T with no restrictions, and it's not even a "sketchy" MVNO.

I got tired of Verizon years ago, AT&T is greatly overpriced even with my corporate discount. I really can't support a crappy company that is so desperate they have to give away phones to justify their overpriced plans and then use contracts to hold customers hostage to lower their churn rate. Their pushing of their TV service was really annoying too.

What plan is that?

 

[Brooke795]

They’re only a ripoff and misleading if you can’t read. It very clearly states the $1000 is paid monthly with credits lasting 36 months.

It’s honestly a great deal. Oh, you’re stuck to ATT for 3 years? So what? Why would you leave anyway? Most normal people stick with their carrier. And a free phone for doing what I was going to do anyway is icing.

THIS 🙌🏻

 

[blkjedi954]

I left them 4 years ago, because they always wanted a large down payment when it came time to preorder. It started with the iPhone X, and I was preordering every year with T-Mobile. I had to put down $750 for the iPhone X and XS Max. After that I paid off my XS Max and switched to Verizon and waited for the 12PM and started buying outright with Apple from that point on.

sorry to here this. i’ve always been given the option to trade-in an old phone or spread payments out. No down payments ever. just taxes on the overall price upfront. Glad you made the right decision for you.

 

[Jackbequickly]

AT&T is not here to do you any favors. It is all about the money and how much they can pry out of your wallet. I use AT&T, but only their prepaid service which is $25 a month. You people that are paying over a hundred buck for service are making AT&T rich!

 

[Nhwhazup]

I quit being stuck to a carrier and their prices a long time ago. What I save on my monthly bill and the freedom to buy when I want and what I want is important to me.

Same here. We purchase new phones every two years and the grandkids are thrilled to get our hand-me-downs. I take advantage of the prepaid ATT plan which comes out to $25 a month for unlimited talk and text and 16GB monthly data with rollover. I’ve never gone beyond my monthly amount. Usually rollover 10GB or more each month.

 

[Nhwhazup]

AT&T is not here to do you any favors. It is all about the money and how much they can pry out of your wallet. I use AT&T, but only their prepaid service which is $25 a month. You people that are paying over a hundred buck for service are making AT&T rich!

I’m on my 3rd year of prepaid. Totally happy with it.

 

[wickedrm]

AT&T is not here to do you any favors. It is all about the money and how much they can pry out of your wallet. I use AT&T, but only their prepaid service which is $25 a month. You people that are paying over a hundred buck for service are making AT&T rich!

You’re just repeating a proven wrong talking point. For a lot of users, the deal is great and much cheaper than a $25 plan plus $40/ month phone installment. My unlimited plan with att is $30/ month and a free phone. Do the math.

 

[Jackbequickly]

You’re just repeating a proven wrong talking point. For a lot of users, the deal is great and much cheaper than a $25 plan plus $40/ month phone installment. My unlimited plan with att is $30/ month and a free phone. Do the math.

Enjoy your being under contract. No such thing as a free phone.

 

[wickedrm]

Enjoy your being under contract. No such thing as a free phone.

For like the fifth time, yes I will enjoy staying with the phone company I’ve been with since before it became att, and will be staying with them regardless of this deal or not. Who is changing carriers so much? And again, it’s not a contract - I can switch if I want to. I just won’t get the remaining credits, but I will get to keep the ones I’ve already gotten.

Explain how it’s not a free phone when my other option would be to keep the same $30/ month plan but not use the deal and pay full price of $1000. Zero dollars is less than one thousand dollars. Free phone.

 

[TgeekB]

For like the fifth time, yes I will enjoy staying with the phone company I’ve been with since before it became att, and will be staying with them regardless of this deal or not. Who is changing carriers so much? And again, it’s not a contract - I can switch if I want to. I just won’t get the remaining credits, but I will get to keep the ones I’ve already gotten.

Explain how it’s not a free phone when my other option would be to keep the same $30/ month plan but not use the deal and pay full price of $1000. Zero dollars is less than one thousand dollars. Free phone.

Why are you taking this topic so personally? You have a perspective as others do also.