Apple and AT&T Royally Screw Loyal iPhone 3G Customers
4:08 pm, June 8th, 2009, Leander Kahney

Stood in line last year to buy an iPhone 3G, and count yourself a loyal Apple customer? Well, we’re all idiots, because Apple and AT&T just fucked us royally.
The iPhone 3G S is not going to be subsidized for current iPhone 3G customers. If you bought an iPhone 3G last year, the new iPhone is going to cost you $499 for the entry-level 8GB model, $599 for the 16GB version, and $699 for the 32GB.
Don’t believe me? Here it is in black and white on Apple’s website, literally buried in the fine print:
“For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).”
Whether this applies to iPhone 3G customers after July 11, 2009 — the one year anniversary of the iPhone 3G launch — is unclear. Last year when the iPhone 3G went on sale, Apple and AT&T offered subsidized pricing to owners of the original iPhone (and had owned it for a year).
The prices advertised during today’s WWDC keynote — $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB) — applies to “new and qualifying customers,” which apparently doesn’t include current iPhone 3G customers. I’ve put in a call to AT&T for an explanation.
UPDATE: AppleInsider suggests that AT&T will offer subsidized pricing for iPhone 3G customer after a year of ownership — I think. It is not 100% clear to me that this is what AT&T is saying.
UPDATE 2: I just checked Apple’s online eligibility tool, and it says I must currently pay the full retail price, but on July 30, I “may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.” What this means is also unclear. Is it the full $200 subsidy? I bought my iPhone 3G in late July, a couple of weeks after its debut. See the screenshot below.
UPDATE 3: iPhone 3G customers are eligible for the full upgrade price after about 18 months, reports Ars Technica, which spoke to an AT&T spokesman. Depends on the account. For those of us who bought the iPhone 3G in July, we likely won’t qualify for the full discount until December. Arse. It’s actually cheaper to cancel your current plan, pay the ~$175 penalty, and sign up as a brand new customer. That’s not how to treat early adopters. Where’s the nearest Sprint store?

Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, News, Top stories, iPhone, iPhone 3G | Comment on this article












are you 12?
what is this sense of entitlement you are spewing everywhere?
your phone is less than 12 months old but you are literally CRYING about not getting the same discount that you got last year?
you signed a 2 year contract, and they give upgrades to get you to sign a new one AFTER 2 YEARS, and they are not “fucking” (your words) by not giving you an upgrade 12 months early.
an iphone 3g is still a great phone, and next year you will be eligible for an upgrade for a BETTER phone, so quit crying about it.
jtligon, on June 8th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Things cost money. Someone has to pay for it. When we signed that 2-year contract it was kind of obvious that AT&T wasn’t going to be doing us any more favors for two years.
If you don’t want to pay full price, then wait a year for the contract to be up.
Andrew Mayne, on June 8th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Calm down take your meds and lay off the red bull for a week or so. And then go to the apple web site to order a phone, they will price it based on your current contract. My 2 year old contract upgrade was at the $199 16g 3GS price. and my 1 year old contract upgrade was $299 for the 16g 3GS
Aquia33, on June 8th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
PS: Your language could use an upgrade. Sound professional, it may help you go a long way.
Aquia33, on June 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
It’s unfair but I don’t know why anyone is surprised, this is the way ALL cell phone companies work. You need to be in a contract for X amount of time before they allow you to upgrade. It’s only worse with an expensive smartphone. I have to wait a while before I upgrade (bought mine only 5 months ago.)
rocketsurgeon, on June 8th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
In case you were just born yesterday, this is how it works when buying tech toys. If you have to be the first kid on the block with the new toy you pay a large premium for it. No one forced you to buy the phone 2 years ago. You could have waited like those that are now getting the deal now that you are bitching about. If you can’t afford it don’t buy it, simple!
hwyflier, on June 8th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I 100% agree with your comments and feelings….. even if these other bozo’s haven’t figured it out yet.
This has got to be one of Apple’s biggest Marketing blunders..
Basically, they are saying if your a new customer, we care more about you than our long time loyal followers.
I’m not going to pay $599 for a phone. And unlike Aquia33, I bet when our one year contracts are eligible, the $299 phone will be history.
I, like Leander have stood in line for the first iPhone and the second. Apple’s following is based on this type of loyalty. I’ve been buying Apple computers since they first came out in the 80’s (apple II). I’ve had over 50 Apple’s/Mac’s not to mention iPods, iPhone’s (family) Apple TV’s….. and accessories.
THIS has pissed me off. (and that was a Period)
So when these other guys are thinking you haven’t got it straight, their wrong. Its people like you and I who’ve stayed with Apple for all these years….. I’ll bet not these other guys who’ve been commenting.
mc55, on June 8th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
we did agree to the fine print deal, but it does suck. The 200 off thing sounds like a fair compromise. I would imagine they offer it to us after the herds of newbies have had their fill, and that is the game as it is played. But we could wait a year and have the 3g s2 or whatever it is. But I would rather throw down an extra 200 for a total of 500 and sell my 3g 8gB on ebay for a current average price of 350 bucks.
I am then out 150 and did it all by the book.
nixtr, on June 8th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
* i would be getting the 32 gB for those who wondered about the higher cost of my trade in
nixtr, on June 8th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Go to this link, which is the email address of the AT&T CEO. Lets inform them that their corporation is making large mistake.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/executive-customer-service/updated-contact-att-ceo-randall-stephenson-289392.php
abumarwan82, on June 8th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I just checked to see what price it said I’d get on my 1 year contract anniversary (July 12th) and it said $299 for the 3G and $399.00 for the 3GS.
That’s only $100 more than an iPodTouch with the same amount of RAM.
I don’t feel too outraged.
Andrew Mayne, on June 8th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I understand, I am riding the same boat.
Last year Apple needed iphone fans to jump on 3G band wagon and support the app store & its new found development community. Now that Apple has claimed the fairly large real estate of mobile devices. It doesn’t need the fans -at least not for this release-, though most of the hype was and is created by the so called die-hard iphone owners. I bet next year Apple will be taking away exclusive rights from AT&T so I don’t blame AT&T to be the evil it has always been and cash as much as they can now than later. Hence, Apple & AT&T has royally screwed the current owners and we will just have to with live that.
Alchemistical, on June 9th, 2009 at 4:50 am
B.S no phone company gives u a major rebate after 1 year,
i was amazed of an offer to upgrade my original iphone( not subsidized $450.00) to a 3g after a year,
but ,bit my lip n waited it out for the 3rd version.
tdurden5150, on June 9th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Sour grapes much? I honestly do not understand the outrage from this author, or others. *This is how phone companies work.* You sign a contract, you’re not eligible for another subsidy until the terms of your contract are met. What did you think was going to happen? Do you honestly think AT&T is going to just forgive everyone’s contractual obligations every time a new model comes out, just so we can all grab the shiny new toy for cheap?
gfcycle02, on June 9th, 2009 at 7:05 am
No one has been screwed. You knew when you bought the iPhone 3G last year that you were signing a two-year contract. If you didn’t like the deal, you shouldn’t have made it. I bought the original iPhone in September of 2007 and I didn’t expect to be able to get a subsidized price until September 2009. If I get it earlier that’s great, but I don’t expect it.
You got a product for a lower price in exchange for agreeing to keep the service for a specified amount of time. Don’t get mad when you actually have to abide by the agreement you made.
Jeff, on June 9th, 2009 at 7:12 am
iPhone price and features mean nothing to me when it’s still saddled with that POS ATT. Until they can get a deal with Verizon, I’m stuck in the world of Blackberry Storm. (Yes I can “jailbreak”, but then accept the risk of the next update bricking the thing.)
Give me Verizon on an iPhone (legally), and I’m an instant customer.
Thomas, on June 9th, 2009 at 7:24 am
You people who aren’t outraged are being very generous to AT&T for some reason.
First of all, it’s not an AT&T ‘upgrade’ to buy a new piece of hardware from Apple. Why are you falling for this ridiculous language? It doesn’t matter that their ‘contract’ says something if what it says is prejudicial toward existing customers. I called it a ‘loyalty penalty’ to AT&T’s CEO in a letter that I just sent, because that’s exactly what it is.
I intend to disconnect my AT&T service if this policy isn’t changed immediately, and not sign up again until AT&T has lost money on me because of this policy.
Jay in Los Angeles, on June 9th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I don’t understand all of this crying by people who already own 3G iPhones for heaven’s sake! What about current AT&T customers who have never owned an iPhone (and therefore have never bought an iPhone at subsidized pricing), are willing to upgrade their service and pay the absurd data costs??? We still have to pay $299 for a 3G iPhone that Apple advertises for $99… or$399 and $499 for the 3G S models. And those prices are only becuase I’m “lucky’ enough to be near the end of my contract!
Jason, on June 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Dude, seriously? Did you not read the terms when you bought the phone? This is SOP for AT&T. Has been for a long time. If you didn’t want a two year contract, you should have bought the phone for the full price.
Frankly, I think it’s pretty charitable of AT&T to knock a little off on the 1-Year date, and I think it’s pretty decent of them to let users participate in the full subsidization after 18 months. You agreed to a 24 Month Contract.
Frankly man, this post doesn’t make me mad at Apple (who certainly has nothing to do with what you’re mad about besides allowing AT&T to subsidize the phone in the first place) or AT&T (who are simply holding you to the terms of legally binding agreement that you freely entered into). It makes me mad at you. You’re a knee-jerk, reactionary, self-righteous, entitled crybaby.
Goodbye Cult of Mac.
Jon, on June 9th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Wait a second. AT&T gave you a HUGE discount on an Apple product in exchange for signing a two-year contract, and you are complaining that they won’t simultaneously let you out of the second year and give you the same discount on a new product?
Who do you think should pay for your iPhone, if not you? The iPhone costs $600. Make no mistake. AT&T simply discounted it for you because you signed a new contract.
Michæl, on June 9th, 2009 at 8:32 am
To all those asking if the author is “crazy” or not need to re-read the article and do a little research.
When the iPhone 3G was released (around 1 year after the original iPhone), original iPhone owners were able to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G at the SAME costs as a new customer. Which means that regardless if you had a 1 year iPhone or were a new customer you got the same $199 for 8GB iPhone 3G price as long as you agreed to a new 2-year contract. Read that again, just to make sure you understand that ORIGINAL iPhone owners received the iPhone 3G for the SAME upgrade price as a new customer.
What people are complaining about is the fact that they did it last year but are not repeating that same deal this year. While I feel that the iPhone 3GS is pretty much a complete waste of time, others want the phone. And those that bought the iPhone 3G last year at launch are upset that they are not getting access to the same deal they got last year. While I think that throwing a world class hissy on the net is not going to help, I can understand why Apple loyalists are disgruntled.
So before people start questioning the author’s sanity, make sure you know what you’re talking about.
Michael Koby, on June 9th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Um, have you EVER had a cell phone before the iPhone?
I’ve been with AT&T since they were Cingular and since before that when they were AT&T Wireless. It doesn’t matter WHAT PHONE YOU BOUGHT SUBSIDIZED, you have to wait [contract time] – [a few months to entice you stay with the carrier] until you can get ANY PHONE AT A SUBSIDIZED PRICE. Just, wow, Leander. I’m trying to figure out if you wrote this article out of a sense of entitlement or just pure ignorance…
BTW: the company USED to have 1-year contracts. I bet we all wish that was still the case. =\
@Jay in Los Angeles
I try to stay civil in my comments but, damn, you’re pretty fucking ignorant.
“First of all, it’s not an AT&T ‘upgrade’ to buy a new piece of hardware from Apple.”
Why do you think it costs less? I’ll let you think about that for a second………….
OK, you’re not going to figure it out on your own I see, when you buy a discounted iPhone, AT&T pays Apple the difference. In exchange for a cheaper phone, you agree (via contract) to pay for their service for 2 years. Now, why wouldn’t they give you ANOTHER subsided iPhone (and pay Apple more money) during that contract? Hmmmmmm…. Oh yeah, you ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT, DUMB-ASS.
I bet AT&T’s CEO is laughing his ass off about your so-called ‘loyalty penalty’ in your letter right now. =)
Church of Apple, on June 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
“What people are complaining about is the fact that they did it last year but are not repeating that same deal this year”
That still doesn’t change the fact that there is a contract and AT&T is being generous letting people have the subsidy at 18 months. Just because they offered a deal last year doesn’t make them obligated to offer it this year.
I still say the author is being silly.
Jeff, on June 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@Michael Koby,
Where in the article does the author make the comparison with the deal last year (getting the iPhone 3G for subsidized price) and the lack of a deal this year? He is merely stating that if you bought the iPhone 3G last year, you are getting screwed.
Jeff, on June 9th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I don’t get why you people think you should get something special. The first iPhone users did not have subsidized phones, so AT&T could offer them a deal. And AT&T chose to. Now, a year later, your iPhone 3G IS subsidized, and like every other subsidized phone, you just can’t go and get another one. This is how it works in the real world, on every carrier. Just because you stomp your feet and have a tantrum doesn’t mean you are going to get your way. Its not fair to the rest of us.
So wipe your eyes, and act like a big boy OK. Next year you can get a new iPhone, will that be OK?
TheDude, on June 9th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Christ, calm down. I’m going to pass out if I keep rolling my eyes this hard.
MikeD, on June 9th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
wow, seriously. nobody is screwing anybody. what, your 3g suddenly isn’t good enough because there is a new iphone? seriously? at&t says i qualify in december. there is nothing wrong with my 3g. i can wait 5 months if i decide to update. by then any hardware problems in the 3gs will hopefully have been fixed, as well as patches to os3 to iron out any problems with the new features. you know who i feel screwed by? at&t. the rest of the world gets mms, and i have to wait until “sometime this summer”? the rest of the worl gets bluetooth tethering and i have to wait until some undisclosed time period?
anyway, waiting for a subsidized upgrade is true for *any* phone and it is totally up to the carrier. doesn’t matter if it’s iphone, blackberry, pre or some generic nokia. quit whining.
firesign, on June 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Despite the incendiary language, many of you “suck it up” commentators have good points. I do understand that AT&T subsidized my iPhone last year with the intention of recouping the cost over the subsequent 24 months (well, 18 months, actually). And that AT&T will probably offer iPhone 3G customers like me a pro-rated discount on their one year anniversary, which seems fair.
However, though my initial outrage was slightly irrational, it does highlight all the problems with the wireless industry today — long lock-in contracts, high fees, and contempt for customers.
As long as Apple is on an annual upgrade cycle and wireless carriers offer two-year contracts, this issue is going to crop up again and again.
If it were possible to buy an unlocked iPhone and use it on any network from any provider (Sprint, AT&T or Verizon, etc.) then I might be happier about paying full price. But turns out I’m going to pay full price (or near enough) for the privilege of being locked in to AT&T’s shitty network for another two years.
Subsidies are the key tool of the wireless industry to keep their networks separate and proprietary. It’s time for the wireless internet to be as open as the wired internet — and end subsidies and lock-in subscription plans.
Leander Kahney, on June 9th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Boo fucking hoo
Talk about having a first world problem.
J, on June 9th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I bought my iPhone 3G last year on July 23. Now ATT Website and Apple website state that I should be eligible for upgrade on December 24, 2009. Before then, I have to pay full retail price ($599 or $699 for 32gig).
I’m willing to pay 399/499 to early upgrade it after July 23,2009 (one year since I bought the phone) but it wasn’t even an option for me.
This sucks big time. I hope ATT will address this soon.
HT
Hung Tran, on June 10th, 2009 at 6:39 am
If you don’t like it, go get another phone on another carrier. Everything will be upgraded, get used to it. I held on to my 1st gen iPhone bought right after it was released. Yeah, I wanted the 3G but I knew this day would come. I feel that I have gotten the $400 (with $100 rebate) worth out of the phone after 2 years of use. I can now get the 3GS for half what I paid for the original iPhone and it will certainly be more ! for the $.
My only caveat is that the data plan is $10 more for 3G….
EP, on June 10th, 2009 at 8:00 am
YOU KNOW THE FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS ARE GETING SHORT END OF THE STICK. Not really on the phone but on data plans and service.It is crazy and just ridiculous how they are trying do their customers. Mainly in cost if they would give the existing customers the same deal it would lock customers in for an extra year than what they are already contracted for. I fully understand business but in this economy to get a customer to stick with you is a big deal and guarantee business at that. So I personally am going to see what happens before I sign up for another 2 year agreement.If you watch the WWDC the apple company representatives where not happy at all. So that in-turn should tell you a lot. Also most apple fans of their products will fallow where apple goes they go,As I would do.
KYLE, on June 10th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Btw, I read the Service Agreement, the termination fee is $175, but it will substract $5 for every month you complete your commitment. So, for most of us, we will be able to substract 10 months x $5 = $50 bucks. Now the termination fee is around $125.
So, if I pay $125 for termination fee and $299 = $424 for the 32Gig. It’s still a lot better than $499 for early upgrade and way better than the retail price $699.
ATT should take a look at these numbers.
HT
Hung Tran, on June 10th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Seriously? You realize that that shiny iPhone you paid $200 for was actually $600, right? You realize that AT&T gave you a $400 rebate in exchange for you signing a two-year contract, yes? You realize that you could have paid that $400 yourself and have signed no contract, correct?
But you took their $400 and signed into a legally-binding contract for two years, during which AT&T plans to make at least $400 off of you, to make up for the huge rebate they gave you.
Get over your unjustified sense of entitlement and face the consequences of your decisions.
Justin, on June 10th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I experienced the same thing today, tried to pre-order the new 3g s (32g model) and was surprised to see 200 extra!!! I am on phone with att now, those jerks keep xfering me around and telling me (nothing we can do) from their stupid script. I only have 2 months left on my contract. Really thinking about jailbreaking and making the jump to tmobile. What asses!
N3_webDesign, on June 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Ok, so if you pay the unsubsidised price then the price of the plan needs to go down. There would be nothing for AT&T to recoupe. Right?
Lawdog, on June 11th, 2009 at 7:24 am
hum…. I am stupid, I am silly, I got the iPhone 3G and am not happy, I plan to switch company once my contract end. If AT&T losing one customer is nothing, I think I will make them lose more.
The cool thing is, I am an AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon Dealer.
Last time, T-Mobile made me really mad because they are not willing to provide the information of my last call when I lost my phone, then shifting as much T-Mobile customers as I can to AT&T intentionally by highlighting their difference (all I need to do is to tell the truths, and compare them, of course, I chose what to compare).
T-Mobile is still losing customer because of that after 3 years. AT&T is making me more anger (or making me look more silly). Same thing is going to happen. Of course, I haven’t forgiven T-Mobile yet, but I can still get them to Verizon, again, the key is to tell the compare the truth.
Well, T-Mobile doesn’t loss that much customers, about 25 die-hard customers and lots of other potential new customers and existing customers because of me. I am thinking to get some of my co-worker joining me too (those who own iPhone 3G).
As for Apple, Haha, their device are so advance in term of touch screen technology and experience, G1 is no where close to the iPhone in these two category. But by the time my contract is over, I will go for Blackberry “Thunder” (whatever the next gen for storm) or Palm “Pro”
Ryan, on June 11th, 2009 at 10:07 am
“Subsidies are the key tool of the wireless industry to keep their networks separate and proprietary. It’s time for the wireless internet to be as open as the wired internet  and end subsidies and lock-in subscription plans.”
Leander, why don’t you just buy an unsubsidized iPhone at full price then? If another carrier is allowed to carry the iPhone later you can just switch to them or unlock it now if you really want.
What is so confusing about all this? You have two freaking choices:
1) Cheap phone + 2 year lock to one carrier
2) Expensive phone + freedom from contractual obligations
Switching the first or second parts either makes no sense to the consumer or to the phone company. The only thing that doesn’t make sense is if AT&T makes it cheaper to cancel the current contract and then get a subsidy vs just upgrading. That’s just dumb.
Church of Apple, on June 11th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Hell hath no fury like a cultist when he realizes he isn’t a favorite son, but just a revenue stream.
You aren’t being fucked. You’re just not allowed to be a hypertrophic shopper at Apple and AT&T’s expense. IOW, they aren’t going to subsidize your crappy throwaway values — your bad habits.
Live with your phone, or pony up the fair price.
Churchie Sam, on June 11th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
For everyone speaking about contracts and so forth I read my entire contract – and it states that I agree to use AT&T’s services (not the verbatim language) for a period of 24 months… It does not however say I am comited to using X device for 24 months; basically yes I signed a contract that I told AT&T I would be a customer for 24 months but it says nothing about what phone or how many or how often I can get one.
The honest truth is three of AT&T supervisors have told me that this is an Apple issue that they are making is we have to wait 18 months… I have talked to several people at Apple and that is a lie; just like the one that AT&T tells if you loose/break or have stole 3 iPhone; Apple says we cannot sell you more than 3 iPhones in a 12 month period even at full retail price. I experienced this when my GF lost her 5th one and we went to an AT&T store willing to shell out $499.00 – and were turned away! But we went to Apple and they called AT&T out on that.
Tom, on June 11th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I am so mad and I am a little different than some of you, I am a dealer for different carrier. You are unhappy, you switch to Verizon when contract ends (next year) and AT&T lose a few customers.
I am MAD, and I will make them lose their potential or old customers RIGHT NOW to their competitors.
Ryan, on June 12th, 2009 at 10:10 am
So for people who have to pay the premium to upgrade is it justified that AT&T will make them re-up for another 2 years then?
For me the penalty should be locking you for another 2 years. They should be happy and do that and recognise that with that commitment it’s worth offering the phone at the discounted price.
Robert Nicholson, on June 12th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
My mother stood in line to buy me the first generation iPhone on the first day of its release (I was on the plane on the way to visit her and she kindly offered to go stand in line so I could have it the first day). For the second iPhone, I stood in line myself for hours to get it on the first day. I also bought one for my girlfriend. So, of course I would like to get the third iPhone on the first day. Here is where I have my issue with AT&T and I would think any others in the same boat as me would. In order to get it on the first day, I would have to pay $200 more than if I were to wait until my upgrade date, which is 7/12/2009. So, 24 days for $200 dollars. I called and spoke to a representative and asked if I could upgrade when it comes out on 6/19/2009 and even offered to pay a prorated amount of the $200 dollars for the 24 days. She said no. Asked a supervisor, they said no. This make me extremely disappointed in AT&T and they should consider themselves lucky while they have the exclusive contract to carry the iPhone in the US because when they lose that, I’ll be switching, you guessed it, one the first day I can. AT&T’s iPhone upgrade policy stinks!
Different Ryan, on June 12th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
you know the data plans are nuts and now they want to ad more for mms and using phone for modem, come on this is BS when i went to 3g they charged more now 3gs more please they are out of their minds
KYLE, on June 12th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Just bought 3g iPhone 3 weeks before new 3gs,and the $100.00 price drop on 3g. Returned 3g, reactivated original iPhone, screw tech exploitation.
Robert, on June 13th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Don’t believe anything you read at AppleInsider anymore. That’s just Roughly Drafted trolling under a number names such as Prince McLean and Lance Slash. He’s mentally disturbed.
Sune, on June 13th, 2009 at 5:05 am
ok wtf is it with all the att haters. It isn’t att’s fault for apple releasing a phone with cutting edge technology without the basic multimedia features expect from a high end device. Apple has 100 of engineers working on this device and they couldn’t figure out how to add video, voice command, and mms capabilities with the first generation phone. Of course they played you like a cracker dealer plays a crack head. Your first hits free and they get you hooked but if you want the good stuff you need to pay up.
Wake up you crackhead cracker!
theTruth, on June 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Actually, you act more like a 10 year old. That’s why they call it a contract. you got a subsidized phone in exchange for signing up for two years for a phone & data plan. The original Iphone was not subsidized; thus the subsidized pricing.
You can always buy an unlocked Nokia N97. It’s only $600.
Stew, on June 15th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I’ve heard the 3GS costs $99 and/or $199… either way that is shockingly inexpensive for an iPhone
Bowler, on June 16th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
What a friggin’ whiner! Seriously? You got the discount when you signed up last year. Why should you get a discount now? Because you’re “loyal”? Loyal my ass! You’re a sniveling little bitch. Next year, when an even better iphone comes out, and your contract is up, guess what, sucker, you get the discount, and everyone getting the 3gs next week WON’T!
If you sign a 2 year deal with me… I’m not cutting you any slack for that 2 years. Instead, I’m going to answer to my shareholders who want me to turn a profit and spend my marketing dollars to get NEW clients in my door. I’ll provide you with all the customer service you could ever need, but I’m not cutting you any money-losing deals. We have a contract, you read it, you signed it. What are you…. new?
I just bought a truck last year… Oh, but the new model is out… Wah… Boo… Hoo… I want the new one because it’s got more features… It’s called progress moron. Get with it. What a cry baby. It’s folks like you who make me sick, and truly instill the belief that there are some real friggen idiots in this world!
Jason, on June 17th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
[...] Apple and AT&T Royally Screw Loyal iPhone 3G Customers | Cult of Mac ids.push(228); Tags: angry, customer, dealing with angry customers [...]
Can You Make an Angry Customer Loyal? • EffortlessHR Blog, on June 18th, 2009 at 9:28 am
what a lousy wingeing post. Where do you and COM get off thinking it is ok to swear on a public posting? Are you retarded in which case who ghost wrote ISB for you.
chano, on June 21st, 2009 at 9:49 am
Add that given your droolingly glowing review of the 3 G S, elsewhere, you have to be the most hypocritical bozo on the net. Cry baby, cry. I think Apple and AT&T should introduce a special penalty price just for you in perpetuity. You click whore Kahn artist.
chano, on June 21st, 2009 at 10:01 am
[...] Thanks to AT&T’s magnificent corporate generosity, I qualified for the upgrade price of 9 for the black, 32GB model. I’m only too happy to enter into another two-year contract, until next year of course, when Apple upgrades the iPhone again, and I’ll throw another hissyfit. [...]
Review: iPhone 3G S  Rob Old Ladies to Get It | Mac Bargains, on June 22nd, 2009 at 8:13 am