Buy New iPhone at Apple or AT&T?
Answer:
- Both stores will be opening their doors this Friday morning at 8am (July 11, 2008. I confirmed this with Apple a few minutes ago.
- Apple's downtown flagship store will most likely carry the largest supply of new 3G 8 and 16Gig iPhones.
- Standing in line at the Apple store is much more fun then at the AT&T store because Apple sends out bands of salespeople with goodies to placate the crowds.
- Apple is most efficient when it comes to selling their goods. They will be prepped and ready.
- You'll have to have the iPhone activated and Apple says they can do that in just a few minutes while AT&T says they want at least 15 minutes per customer.
- In both stores you will need your driver's license, a credit card and you'll have to know and hand over your Social Security Number.
- DO NOT expect to purchase a white 16-gig iPhone. If anyone has a small supply it will be Apple. AT&T is sure to require a back-order on the item.
- The price of the 3G iPhone of $199 and $299 for the 8Gig and 16Gig is the UPGRADE price not the retail selling price. You must already own the previous version of the iPhone to qualify (and you must be tethered to an AT&T account so no unlocked phones with T-Mobile sim cards will qualify).
- Retail price of the 3G iPhone to non-previous iPhone owners (that would be brand new iPhone buyers) is: $399 for the 8Gig and $499 for the 16Gig and you must sign up for a two-year AT&T service contract. If you don't want to sign up for the service contract you can still buy the iPhone for $599 and $699 but good luck getting it supported at 3G on any other carrier but AT&T.
- Both stores will be opening their doors this Friday morning at 8am (July 11, 2008. I confirmed this with Apple a few minutes ago.
- Apple's downtown flagship store will most likely carry the largest supply of new 3G 8 and 16Gig iPhones.
- Standing in line at the Apple store is much more fun then at the AT&T store because Apple sends out bands of salespeople with goodies to placate the crowds.
- Apple is most efficient when it comes to selling their goods. They will be prepped and ready.
- You'll have to have the iPhone activated and Apple says they can do that in just a few minutes while AT&T says they want at least 15 minutes per customer.
- In both stores you will need your driver's license, a credit card and you'll have to know and hand over your Social Security Number.
- DO NOT expect to purchase a white 16-gig iPhone. If anyone has a small supply it will be Apple. AT&T is sure to require a back-order on the item.
- The price of the 3G iPhone of $199 and $299 for the 8Gig and 16Gig is the UPGRADE price not the retail selling price. You must already own the previous version of the iPhone to qualify (and you must be tethered to an AT&T account so no unlocked phones with T-Mobile sim cards will qualify).
- Retail price of the 3G iPhone to non-previous iPhone owners (that would be brand new iPhone buyers) is: $399 for the 8Gig and $499 for the 16Gig and you must sign up for a two-year AT&T service contract. If you don't want to sign up for the service contract you can still buy the iPhone for $599 and $699 but good luck getting it supported at 3G on any other carrier but AT&T.
posted by Dr. Tim Martin at
1:46 PM
