Purchasing an iPhone

[rickvanr]

Hello

I just called the ATT store across the boarder about buying an iPhone. They told me I'd have to have a NY State drivers license and have the phone activated in store. Is this the case everywhere?

Do you have to have proof of address and activation on sight to buy the phone in Apple Stores too?

Thanks
Rick

 

[TEG]

You do not need an ID to purchase an iPhone, except for maybe to verify your age (it may be state law), outside of that there should be no other interaction except to buy the phone. The iPhone is activated via iTunes, and anyone who says otherwise is full of crap.

TEG

 

[rickvanr]

You do not need an ID to purchase an iPhone, except for maybe to verify your age (it may be state law), outside of that there should be no other interaction except to buy the phone. The iPhone is activated via iTunes, and anyone who says otherwise is full of crap.

TEG

Just called ATT again. She said you can not purchase an iPhone if you are not a US citizen, period. End of discussion. Even if it is a gift for an American, you can not purchase. What a load of BS.

That's going to make things a bit trickier

 

[TEG]

They cannot deny you an iPhone. What about all the non-citizen residents who have them?

Just try. If they deny you, go somewhere else. Don't call an ask, then they'll be ready for you.

TEG

 

[rickvanr]

They cannot deny you an iPhone. What about all the non-citizen residents who have them?

Just try. If they deny you, go somewhere else. Don't call an ask, then they'll be ready for you.

TEG

Thing is there are only two stores close.. and if i swing out on both then aside from the taco bell stop the trip will have been a waste

 

[powerbook911]

Thing is there are only two stores close.. and if i swing out on both then aside from the taco bell stop the trip will have been a waste

It's probably worth trying though, if you really want one.

When I bought one at AT&T, no ID check at all. Only credit card, why they didn't ask for ID with the card I don't know, but they didn't.

Maybe those stores being closer to the border are more picky. After all, you could be buying it for an American, so it doesn't really seem right.

 

[TravisReynolds]

I live somewhere where the iPhone is not supported

and when I got my online to register it, it wouldn't let me because my billing address was here. So i had to lie and give someone else's address.. I hope that helps

 

[rickvanr]

It's probably worth trying though, if you really want one.

When I bought one at AT&T, no ID check at all. Only credit card, why they didn't ask for ID with the card I don't know, but they didn't.

Maybe those stores being closer to the border are more picky. After all, you could be buying it for an American, so it doesn't really seem right.

It doesn't seem right at all. AT&T in Watertown would not let me buy an iPhone without getting a credit check, and being pre-approved for a plan. Things that were impossible to me being a Canadian citizen.

Thankfully the Apple Store in Syracuse didn't have a problem selling me one. Which I thought was odd, since AT&T's reasoning for not selling me an iPhone was that Apple didn't want non-US residents buying them. I smell BS

 

[powerbook911]

Agreed. I think any AT&T store not offering to sell one without credit check is violating the rules. I'd forward it to AT&T corporate.

After all, Apple sells them to anyone. Yes, they may limit how many you can buy, but they don't ask for any other information.