iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE 2020 only $199

[mebehere]

Well I have still not received my iPhone SE from Walmart. I also pre-ordered on 4/17. It seems they put a rush on the Nano-SIM but can't seem to get the iPhone in the mail.

This is the current status on the Walmart site as of today.

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This is the email from Walmart last week which seemed quite promising as the iPhone SE has always shown as Delivery on May 1.

The mystery continues... as I have a USPS tracking number assigned but it is not yet active in the USPS system.

Dave

Yeah, it’s a mess. I got that same email that said they incorrectly sent a previous email regarding shipping (never received that email). Your package will probably come via FedEx. My Walmart account said it was coming via UPS but nope.

If you don’t have any letters in the tracking number (letters and numbers indicate UPS, FedEx is only numbers), plug the number into FedEx tracking. I bet it’ll show. Good luck.

 

[rui no onna]

Yes I spent most of the morning trying different devices and browser combinations but could not get the "Continue" button to show up until I think they actually fixed it. Right after lunch I tried again and the button appeared as if by magic.

Did you get a Nano-SIM with your AT&T iPhone?

Dave

AT&T (Product) Red - 128 GB

Dave

Nano SIM arrived the previous week.

 

[tonybarnaby]

Too bad T-Mobile users are left in the cold

 

[dave006]

If you don’t have any letters in the tracking number (letters and numbers indicate UPS, FedEx is only numbers), plug the number into FedEx tracking. I bet it’ll show. Good luck.

Nope not found in FedEx. The Delay Status appeared overnight so maybe I will get an email or a magic package delivery.

I tried all 3: UPS, FedEx, and USPS. I also have accounts with all three and I get notifications any time a tracking number is created.

Dave

 

[rui no onna]

Too bad T-Mobile users are left in the cold

T-Mobile has cheaper monthly plans. AT&T and Verizon customers occasionally get good deals on devices. I think that's a fair trade (assuming you don't need AT&T/Verizon coverage).

I'm actually interested in getting a 5G device. Supposedly, T-Mobile already has 5G in my area and they use lower frequencies for that so perhaps T-Mobile 5G might perform better in my office (~1Mbps inside the office, ~15Mbps when I step outside).

 

[tonybarnaby]

T-Mobile has cheaper monthly plans. AT&T and Verizon customers occasionally get good deals on devices. I think that's a fair trade (assuming you don't need AT&T/Verizon coverage).

I'm actually interested in getting a 5G device. Supposedly, T-Mobile already has 5G in my area and they use lower frequencies for that so perhaps T-Mobile 5G might perform better in my office (~1Mbps inside the office, ~15Mbps when I step outside).

I’m not sure I buy this. There’s gotta be some kind of politics involved why you can’t get T-Mobile phones at target or Walmart, but I don’t think it’s because of the plan pricing. Most likely it’s on T-Mobile’s end where they don’t wanna offer any subsidies but I don’t know.

 

[rui no onna]

I’m not sure I buy this. There’s gotta be some kind of politics involved why you can’t get T-Mobile phones at target or Walmart, but I don’t think it’s because of the plan pricing. Most likely it’s on T-Mobile’s end where they don’t wanna offer any subsidies but I don’t know.

I expect it's exactly that.

T-Mobile gives customers lower monthly rates but I expect they don't offer a large fee or cut to third parties for signing up customers. That's one of the reasons they can keep their rates low. Can't have your cake and eat it, too.

And really, I expect the installment plans (even ones without strings like the Walmart deal) are almost as good as contracts for customer retention.

 

[gaanee]

What's the catch with the Walmart deal? I am on the fence... just considering waiting until WWDC to see if the new SE gets all the new iOS14 features.
I am considering signing up with At&t since I am already eligible for upgrade and paying off $199 after few months to get it unlocked, I assume there is no 2-year contract with this deal.

I expect it's exactly that.

T-Mobile gives customers lower monthly rates but I expect they don't offer a large fee or cut to third parties for signing up customers. That's one of the reasons they can keep their rates low. Can't have your cake and eat it, too.

And really, I expect the installment plans (even ones without strings like the Walmart deal) are almost as good as contracts for customer retention.

 

[rui no onna]

What's the catch with the Walmart deal? I am on the fence... just considering waiting until WWDC to see if the new SE gets all the new iOS14 features.
I am considering signing up with At&t since I am already eligible for upgrade and paying off $199 after few months to get it unlocked, I assume there is no 2-year contract with this deal.

Assuming you already have AT&T service, surprisingly none.

It's a cash discount, you pay tax on the discounted amount, and the loan agreement shows a loan amount of $199-349 depending on what capacity you get. There's no trade in or new line requirement with credits that will stop if you pay off or cancel the line.

I'm still scratching my head why they'd offer a deal this good with no strings attached but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

[gymnastboatman]

Assuming you already have AT&T service, surprisingly none.

It's a cash discount, you pay tax on the discounted amount, and the loan agreement shows a loan amount of $199-349 depending on what capacity you get. There's no trade in or new line requirement with credits that will stop if you pay off or cancel the line.

I'm still scratching my head why they'd offer a deal this good with no strings attached but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I stared at that agreement for an hour trying to find the catch. Never found it. Finally got a red 64GB AT&T one ordered.

 

[thadoggfather]

its crazy

$200 off probably won't come for a few years, another time.

 

[gaanee]

Until when this Walmart deal is available?
Also, where does it say the price as $199? When I select the iPhone for At&t, it only shows monthly installments but doesn't show for how many months or that the price is $199.

 

[44267547]

Until when this Walmart deal is available?
Also, where does it say the price as $199? When I select the iPhone for At&t, it only shows monthly installments but doesn't show for how many months or that the price is $199.

Did you place the phone in your cart? Also, did you input your personal information of your carrier, storage, ect.

 

[dave006]

Until when this Walmart deal is available?
Also, where does it say the price as $199? When I select the iPhone for At&t, it only shows monthly installments but doesn't show for how many months or that the price is $199.

This offer has been available since April 17 & currently no end date is listed.

At the top of the page. The pricing is $199 (64GB) / $249 (128GB) / $349 (256GB). This offer is really focused on existing AT&T or Verizon customers. If you read the item it show as an "Upgrade" offer. The monthly installment charges vary based on which "Payment" choice you chose from the list below.

Dave

 

[gaanee]

It says payment for 30 months, how can I make sure that after few months I can pay the remaining of $199 and get it unlocked instead going for 30 months? Also, any way to get the upgrade fee waived? I guess I'll need to contact At&t regarding this.

This offer has been available since April 17 & currently no end date is listed.

At the top of the page. The pricing is $199 (64GB) / $249 (128GB) / $349 (256GB). This offer is really focused on existing AT&T or Verizon customers. If you read the item it show as an "Upgrade" offer. The monthly installment charges vary based on which "Payment" choice you chose from the list below.

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Dave

 

[mebehere]

For those on Verizon who’ve received their phone, I‘m still unclear on how the activation works.

Was there a SIM already in the phone? Did you use it or the one that came separately?

Also, with that sorted out, can you just turn the phone on and the activation is part of the regular setup, or do you have to do something with your Verizon account?

Thanks.

 

[dave006]

What Verizon phone you currently have? If it is Nano-SIM then you can just swap it into your new iPhone. Just make sure to do the swap while both devices are powered off. Once you power up the new iPhone and your old iPhone complete the setup steps and you should connect to Verizon without the need to "Activate" the new Nano-SIM.

Keep your new Nano-SIM from Walmart for now.

Dave

 

[mebehere]

What Verizon phone you currently have? If it is Nano-SIM then you can just swap it into your new iPhone. Just make sure to do the swap while both devices are powered off. Once you power up the new iPhone and your old iPhone complete the setup steps and you should connect to Verizon without the need to "Activate" the new Nano-SIM.

Keep your new Nano-SIM from Walmart for now.

Dave

no SIM ejector in the phone package. Does that mean there’s a SIM already in the phone and I can just set it up as such?

 

[dave006]

It depends on what you ordered vs what Walmart shipped.

Fastest way to verify if a Nano-SIM is pre-installed is to look on the back of the box. Look just above the Serial number line and if you see a line: ICCID and a string of numbers then you have a pre-installed Nano-SIM. You should have also received an email from Walmart with the default activation steps for Verizon.

Hint you can use a paper clip or a straight pin to open the SIM tray to check / verify.

Is there a specific reason that you don't want to just put your current Verizon SIM in since it is already active on the Verizon network?

My iPhone SE is on the way and should be here tomorrow. Lucky me it is coming via USPS and a rather large Orange Tree mulching truck tore my mailbox apart this morning.

Dave

 

[mebehere]

It depends on what you ordered vs what Walmart shipped.

Fastest way to verify if a Nano-SIM is pre-installed is to look on the back of the box. Look just above the Serial number line and if you see a line: ICCID and a string of numbers then you have a pre-installed Nano-SIM. You should have also received an email from Walmart with the default activation steps for Verizon.

Hint you can use a paper clip or a straight pin to open the SIM tray to check / verify.

Is there a specific reason that you don't want to just put your current Verizon SIM in since it is already active on the Verizon network?

My iPhone SE is on the way and should be here tomorrow. Lucky me it is coming via USPS and a rather large Orange Tree mulching truck tore my mailbox apart this morning.

Dave

Just checked. No SIM in the phone. Guess I’ll be using the one they sent separately. This process is ridiculous. But it saved us $200.

 

[gaanee]

Has anyone got the $30 upgrade fee waived? I have nano-sim in my current phone, so if I want to use the same then will they waive this fee?

 

[dave006]

Has anyone got the $30 upgrade fee waived? I have nano-sim in my current phone, so if I want to use the same then will they waive this fee?

I don't know yet what will happen with this Walmart process but Since the iPhone 5, I have been able to bypass the upgrade fee with AT&T by just moving my existing active Nano-SIM to the new iPhone before powering it on. When new network features required an upgraded SIM, I would order a new "replacement" SIM and use that to activate the new iPhone.

This process has worked for iPhones ordered from Apple and AT&T. For Apple & AT&T the purchase process has a step where they scan the bar codes on the bottom of the box for the S/N, IMEI, and ICCID. This allows AT&T to park the new SIM information on you line and when you complete the setup steps using the new SIM then you get hit with the upgrade fee. Your old SIM is deactivated and can't be reused.

Walmart, Target, BestBuy and others know as "Reseller" get payed by the Carrier for each activation so they have a vested interest in making sure you activate with their new "SIM". There is even a comment in the process that stated that if you do not activate within 7 days, they would activate the phone / SIM for you. For this reason, if you move your existing Nano-SIM over to the new iPhone make sure to keep the "new" SIM from Walmart until we can confirm the process vs the $30 Upgrade / Activation fee.

I hope to have more first hand information if my iPhone SE actually arrives tomorrow from Atlanta.

Dave

 

[rui no onna]

no SIM ejector in the phone package. Does that mean there’s a SIM already in the phone and I can just set it up as such?

Maybe try checking again? Received three SEs and all of them had it. It's pretty easy to miss the cardboard holding the SIM eject tool.

As mentione, small paper clip or safety pin also works.

 

[44267547]

Has anyone got the $30 upgrade fee waived? I have nano-sim in my current phone, so if I want to use the same then will they waive this fee?

The only way they will waive the upgrade fee, is if you ask. And keep in mind, it depends on who you talk to. The reality is, they don’t just ‘waive fees’ simply because you asked, there usually has to be a reason behind it. But if you’re polite/respectful, and if you can find the appropriate supervisor, they may waive the fee given the economic recession conditions.

 

[dave006]

Well my new iPhone SE just arrived via USPS from Walmart. The shipping label was created on Sunday, it shipped yesterday, and arrived here right in the middle of the window that USPS suggested: 1-3 PM).

I ordered the iPhone (Product) Red, 128GB for AT&T. I received a Unlocked SIM Free p/n: MXCY2LL/A. It arrived with a SIM removal tool in the sleeve with the title: Designed by Apple in California. The SIM tool was on a card as pictured below. I opened the SIM tray to confirm there was no pre-installed Nano-SIM.

iPhone Transfer is running now, no issues with different version(s) of iOS. Only hiccup so far was the new SE was unable to authenticate by using the camera scan, simply went to manual method and entered 6 digit id from new SE screen.

Dave