AT&T may be looking to launch handset trade-in program

Tmo has already partnered with Rim and has been offering this service for a limited time – till March 14th of this year. I am not sure exactly when this offering started with Tmo, but it’s a very clever way to get people to upgrade to a blackberry!

I traded in my 8700c and received 50.00 off my soon-to-be in my hands, 8900! Hopefully Tmo will make this offer an unlimited offering to their customers.

Perhaps they’re “testing the waters?”

@miro

“I do text, email, and use the internet, but I can only upgrade every 21 months. My bill is also around $80/month.”

I don’t wait 2 years to get a new upgrade. I had my phone for just over a year and was able to upgrade to an iPhone 3G. I am on a family plan around $89 with unlimited text messaging, data, the whole works. My parents were able to upgrade to a BB Bold after having their other BB for just over a year as well. I’m sure others here do the same thing.

i just want you to know that att customers get 20 bucks for all phones they trade in then i take them and sell them back to people for a huge profit i made an extra 15,000 last year alone selling cell phones on craiglist ebay and flipswap thanks all you suckas’ for the extra cheeeeeese!!!!!

@jb

“i just want you to know that att customers get 20 bucks for all phones they trade in then i take them and sell them back to people for a huge profit i made an extra 15,000 last year alone selling cell phones on craiglist ebay and flipswap thanks all you suckas’ for the extra cheeeeeese!!!!!”

Gotcha. So you are A) Giving them $20 of your own money, while lying to the customer telling them it is an AT&T trade-in not your personal exchange, B) You are doing an AT&T trade-in and stealing the phones, selling them for yourself, C) AT&T gives them $20, lets employees buy them for cheap so you can sell elsewhere, or D) You are lying.

#1 With AT&T at least (I don’t know about other companies) you get the EXACT SAME price when you upgrade as for a brand new activation. EVERY time. If it’s not you’re probly getting the EARLY upgrade.

#2 The reson you discount at all on the phone is because you agreed to two years of service. That’s why you paid $50 for a $250-300 phone. The fact that you can even do an early upgrade or 2year upgrade while still in contract is a gift so be happy.

i understand consumers plight to get the best deal possible, but in all honesty

#1. North American consumers have been trained to see the lowest price as the price they should ALWAYS get.

#2. European & Asian markets have been paying full price for their phones for ages, that’s why in the bay area, foreigners come into the stores and happily pay the full price for the phones. They’re still cheaper than buying them abroad.

If you really want the latest and greatest stuff, there’s going to be a premium one way or another for the company to make it worth their while.

for example – BOLD @ at&t corporate pricing

No Contract $549.99 – $100 mail in rebate with data plan required ($30 and up plans)
net cost to customer is $449.99 + NO Contract

Exception / Early 2YR Contract $474.99 – $100 mail in rebate with data plan required
net cost to customer $374.99 + 2 year contract

Eligible Upgrade/Act 2YR Contract $399.99 – $100 mail in rebate with data plan required.
net cost – $299.99 + 2 year contract.

It is a $150 difference for 2 years, but you get to upgrade every year because you’d be spending over $69.99 a month before taxes.

Or pay the $150 difference and no contract…..

Hmmm….

no its att money they give me the phones

Cool feature for the lazy or tech unsavvy, but I’d figure most of us BG readers would just sell our devices on eBay for bigger BUCKS!

@jb

“no its att money they give me the phones”

Ahhhh so ATT gives THEM the money and they give YOU the phones, then you turn around and sell it on eBay and craigslist and make money? Something tells me ATT isn’t just “giving” you the phone to do that if THEY are paying the customer $20. So you are “stealing” the phones?

I totally agree wtih @miro.

It’s not that he/she feels entitled, at all, rather that we want to, in essence give them more money, not only by buying or upgrading to a new phone but by extending our contract even more. What’s so ludicrous about that!!

interesting… but i think selling your phone in a online marketplace would give you more value especially if its a smartphone

Yeah you could sell it online for a premium. How bout when your gramma comes in to trade in her Nokia 6030 for the Pantech breeze. Is she going to put that up on eBay? probably not. But if she can get $30 off a breeze on an upgrade/outright purchase, then it’s a win-win right?

If you don’t like paying a different price for your upgrade than a new customer receive, then DON’T SHOP AT THAT STORE! DUH!

AT&T products are offered through authorized retailers, corporate owned stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, AT&T’s online site, other online retailers, and if you’re a real idiot and want to save a few bucks, you can risk shopping at WalMart and having your account screwed up by the knuckle-draggin, slack jawed chimps that work there.

At our store, customers do get the same price whether doing an upgrade or new activation. We are also more that willing to match prices from competitors, give you an extra deal on accessories, and wheel and deal to try and please the customer.

The bottom line is that if you don’t like the price you’re offered at a store, ask for a better one or leave. Nobody is holding a gun to your head to make you sign the contract to get the phone – you can buy it at retail price withno contract, buy it at less of a discount with a 1 year contract, upgrade after only having your phone for 6 months via an exception upgrade, or use the regular upgrade when your account is eligible. So it isn’t like you don’t have an abundance of choices.

As far as customer loyalty programs go, there really aren’t any that are offered by the wireless companies themselves. However, you will find that if you do most of your business with one store, they will be more willing to work you a deal. If you’re constantly jumping around from authorized retailer to Radio Shack to WalMart to Target to online sites just to save some $$, then you’re not going to get much of a deal from the salespeople.

They’ve been doing this since at least early last month…my ex-wife wanted to upgrade to a 3G iPhone from a non-functional 2G and was told she could trade it in for $100.

I LEFT cingular years ago before they became AT&T for the reasons some of you discuss: they don’t give a crap about current customers. I only stayed as long as I did because at the time I couldn’t take my number with me. They ALWAYS gave newer customers a better deal. The minute I was able to take my number to another carrier, I did and chose T-mobile.

D.B. Cooper, I hope you’re reading this. T-Mobile just gave their loyal customers (users for longer than 22 months) UNLIMITED MINUTES for $49.99/month. I didn’t ask, they offered, and I gladly took them up on it. THAT’S the way to keep customers. I’ve never regretted leaving AT&T for a second, and T-Mobile reminds me just how much they care about customers and about loyalty. AT&T (Cingular at the time) didn’t even try to talk me out of my decision to leave. It would be impossible for them to care any less…

Go to T-Mobile. They’ll let you change your terms of contract at any point, even if you step down in service for whatever reason. Their service is so much better than AT&T. And for the record, I am an investment advisor. I have no ties to either company other than from a customer standpoint…

JP

Sure, you get a discounted phone after just getting one 1,2,3 months prior with an extended contract and then your are eligible for another? Whe will the carrier break-even on the “loss” on the phone? The money is made on the contract revenue, not the phone.

What SHOULD happen is not dcounting phones and requiring customers to buy their equipment at a modest markup (profit) over cost. This may lower monthly fees and get rid of the 1 and 2 year contracts.

I would much rather buy a BB Bold at $350-450 0and not have a contract, and pay less than $39.99 for my voice services and possible less than $30 for BIS service.

Will the new curve be getting the new curve? I heard T-mobile already has it!

they ought to let you use this in association with upgrades

well you can do the trade-in for in a range of $50-!90. but you can have it for 50 dollars if you have an agreement of a 2year contract