Still possible to get a 3GS with the order/30days/cancel+ETF?

[MD5Hash]

This is kind of an urgent question.

I am returning to America next week on vacation and was planning on picking up a couple of iPhone 3GS systems...one for me, one for a friend over here.

I was hoping to follow this model of doing things...for a total of $580 for one for me, and $480 for one for her.

I just spoke with an Apple Sales Representative on the phone, and she told me that rates are different these days, when I explained my hope to use this procedure. She said it'd be $499 for the 8GB 3G, then $599 and $699 respectively for the 3GS units. That's over $100 extra dollars than what either of us were planning on paying for these phones.

So...can you call ******** on this sales rep? Am I missing something here? I've pored over AT&T's wireless contract and I can only find the standard $175 ETF mentioned after the first 30 days, and no mention of any other penalties or returns.

Any help, links, advice, etc, is appreciated.

 

[Mlrollin91]

This is kind of an urgent question.

I am returning to America next week on vacation and was planning on picking up a couple of iPhone 3GS systems...one for me, one for a friend over here.

I was hoping to follow this model of doing things...for a total of $580 for one for me, and $480 for one for her.

I just spoke with an Apple Sales Representative on the phone, and she told me that rates are different these days, when I explained my hope to use this procedure. She said it'd be $499 for the 8GB 3G, then $599 and $699 respectively for the 3GS units. That's over $100 extra dollars than what either of us were planning on paying for these phones.

So...can you call ******** on this sales rep? Am I missing something here? I've pored over AT&T's wireless contract and I can only find the standard $175 ETF mentioned after the first 30 days, and no mention of any other penalties or returns.

Any help, links, advice, etc, is appreciated.

The 499, 599 and 699 is for the phone without the service contract.
If I'm not mistaking in order be able to go through AT&T you must have a valid US address and be a US citizen and all that stuff. Then it would be the phone plus tax plus first month, prorated month, activation and cancellation fee. Which will be about 450 for 8GB 560 for 16GB and 670 for 32GB. in the long run its only 30-40 cheaper than buying it outright.

Hope that helps at all

 

[MD5Hash]

Thanks...that seems surprising though. The following info is from the website I linked to in the original post:

$299 – 16GB iPhone w/contract [they say 3G, but the price is the same for the 3GS here]
$36 – Activation
$175 – Early Termination Fee
$70 – One month of service
Total Price Using The Shady Method: $580

Where are you getting your numbers from? I'm just curious; the article I pulled those from are pretty old but I think the numbers are still all the same?

Yes, I'm an American, born and raised. I work in tech consulting in Jordan, though. Looking forward to a vacation!

 

[Motionblurrr]

Well that's how I got my 3GS with that method. You buy a 3GS with a new line, wait 30 days, then call them and tell them you want to cancel your number. They will always ask you why, so then I told them "well, I had a friend that needed a cell phone but he's currently traveling so there's no use for me to have a second line". They'll tell you about the $175 fee and the prorated month bill you're going to get. also, before the rep finalizes everything ask them if you're past 30 days. If yes, you're golden.

Remember to confirm these questions because countless times they try to squeeze an extra month out of you by not canceling it.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks...that seems surprising though. The following info is from the website I linked to in the original post:

$299 – 16GB iPhone w/contract [they say 3G, but the price is the same for the 3GS here]
$36 – Activation
$175 – Early Termination Fee
$70 – One month of service
Total Price Using The Shady Method: $580

Where are you getting your numbers from? I'm just curious; the article I pulled those from are pretty old but I think the numbers are still all the same?

Yes, I'm an American, born and raised. I work in tech consulting in Jordan, though. Looking forward to a vacation!

I calculated it like this:

Phone: 99(8GB)/199(16GB)/299(32GB)
Tax: 40/48/55 EDIT: Based on 8% tax rate. Also, tax is based on full retail price... 499/599/599
Activation: 36
1st Month:75-80
Prorated Month: 20-30
ETF: 175

435-460 - 8GB 3G
553-578 - 16GB 3GS
660-685 - 32GB 3GS

 

[Vandam500]

I calculated it like this:

Phone: 99(8GB)/199(16GB)/299(32GB)
Tax: 40/48/55 EDIT: Based on 8% tax rate. Also, tax is based on full retail price... 499/599/599
Activation: 36
1st Month:75-80
Prorated Month: 20-30
ETF: 175

435-460 - 8GB 3G
553-578 - 16GB 3GS
660-685 - 32GB 3GS

He nailed it

 

[MD5Hash]

Well that's how I got my 3GS with that method. You buy a 3GS with a new line, wait 30 days, then call them and tell them you want to cancel your number. They will always ask you why, so then I told them "well, I had a friend that needed a cell phone but he's currently traveling so there's no use for me to have a second line". They'll tell you about the $175 fee and the prorated month bill you're going to get. also, before the rep finalizes everything ask them if you're past 30 days. If yes, you're golden.

Remember to confirm these questions because countless times they try to squeeze an extra month out of you by not canceling it.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, Motionblur! You and Mlrollin91 both mention this prorated bill, which if I understand correctly is impossible to completely avoid, but you'd think that you can minimize it almost completely, right? How much did your prorated bill end up being? He estimated between 20 and 30 as you can see...but really, couldn't you even get that as low as $5, or even lower? I mean, it's just based on usage, right?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks, Motionblur! You and Mlrollin91 both mention this prorated bill, which if I understand correctly is impossible to completely avoid, but you'd think that you can minimize it almost completely, right? How much did your prorated bill end up being? He estimated between 20 and 30 as you can see...but really, couldn't you even get that as low as $5, or even lower? I mean, it's just based on usage, right?

My first prorated bill was 22 and some change. Mine was based off of about a week of usage. So figure the months bill is roughly 75-80.. There are 4 weeks to a month, so 25% of 75-80 will get you about 20 plus tax so anywhere from 20-30..

 

[Aboo]

This is kind of an urgent question.

I am returning to America next week on vacation and was planning on picking up a couple of iPhone 3GS systems...one for me, one for a friend over here.

I was hoping to follow this model of doing things...for a total of $580 for one for me, and $480 for one for her.

I just spoke with an Apple Sales Representative on the phone, and she told me that rates are different these days, when I explained my hope to use this procedure. She said it'd be $499 for the 8GB 3G, then $599 and $699 respectively for the 3GS units. That's over $100 extra dollars than what either of us were planning on paying for these phones.

So...can you call ******** on this sales rep? Am I missing something here? I've pored over AT&T's wireless contract and I can only find the standard $175 ETF mentioned after the first 30 days, and no mention of any other penalties or returns.

Any help, links, advice, etc, is appreciated.

OP, in theory your methodology should work. However, you may run into problems if you are not a US Citizen/Permanent Resident. Basically do you have a SSN? Without an SSN, you cannot sign up for a contract. And even if you have an SSN but no/poor credit history, they will make you put down a deposit of $500+ which will be returned to you after you fulfill 1 year of your contract.

If the above applies to you, you are probably better off paying the no-contract price so you dont have to deal with these issues.

 

[Mlrollin91]

OP, in theory your methodology should work. However, you may run into problems if you are not a US Citizen/Permanent Resident. Basically do you have a SSN? Without an SSN, you cannot sign up for a contract. And even if you have an SSN but no/poor credit history, they will make you put down a deposit of $500+ which will be returned to you after you fulfill 1 year of your contract.

If the above applies to you, you are probably better off paying the no-contract price so you dont have to deal with these issues.

OP did previously state born and raised in the US so I would assume a SSN is present, but I don't know about that whole credit thing which is a good point. like I said before the whole AT&T thing will only save you about 30-40, is it worth the hassle for that much?

 

[MD5Hash]

Thanks guys...thankfully, in Wisconsin (the motherland) tax is only 5% so that lowers things down a little bit. Also, I guess I'd try to get around the prorated month thing.

As for the credit, when you're buying thousands of dollars of plane tickets every year over the internet, your credit tends to look really good I'm not too worried there.

All the comments are appreciated, I should be good to go. Maybe I will just go and get the contract-less one.