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#1 2008-05-12 5:46 pm
- eas
- Member
- Registered: 2006-02-20
- Posts: 8
iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
I am considering buying an iPhone (when the next one rolls out) and am wondering if there are advantages/disavantages to buying one from either Apple or AT&T?
Currently I am an AT&T customer so the switch is not big deal for me.
I did a search in the forums and couldn't find anything on this topic.
Thoughts?
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#3 2008-05-13 6:31 am
- ColourClassic
- Now in Colour
- From: OZ
- Registered: 2004-05-19
- Posts: 743
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
If you buy from Apple you get a cool paper bag. If you buy from AT&T you get an ugly orange and white bag...
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#4 2008-05-13 7:00 am
- Random User
- Paranoid Schizophrenic
- From: Houston, TX
- Registered: 2002-06-17
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
ColourClassic wrote:
If you buy from Apple you get a cool paper bag. If you buy from AT&T you get an ugly orange and white bag...
nice!
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#5 2008-05-13 7:11 am
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
ColourClassic wrote:
If you buy from Apple you get a cool paper bag. If you buy from AT&T you get an ugly orange and white bag...
Every time I have purchased an item from apple it comes in a plastic bag with draw strings. 
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#6 2008-05-13 11:27 am
- WhirlinGraphics
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- From: Central Indiana
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
ColourClassic wrote:
If you buy from AT&T you get an ugly orange and white bag...
And they seal it closed and won't let you open it until you leave the store.
It really doesn't make much difference. The only thing I could see is Apple might treat you better if something goes wrong with one purchased from them?
Last edited by WhirlinGraphics (2008-05-13 11:30 am)
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#7 2008-05-13 12:21 pm
Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
There's a rumor that AT&T stores will be discounting the next gen iPhone up to $200 for people who buy from them, that Apple stores won't be doing it.
It's a rumor. Take it for what it's worth.
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#8 2008-05-13 4:59 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
oatmeal wrote:
It's a rumor. Take it for what it's worth.
The other rumor to go along with that rumor, is that the Apple Store version will be unlocked but unsubsidized. I don't believe this one because everyone said at&t had a five year exclusive?
• 15.4" MacBook Pro, 2.16GHz C2D, 3GB RAM, 160GB HD,
OSX 10.4, connected via EV-DO modem.
• iPhone 8GB, 1st gen.
• iPod nano 2GB Silver, 2nd gen.
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#9 2008-05-14 9:41 am
- panicbutton
- Member
- From: Las Vegas, NV
- Registered: 2003-08-26
- Posts: 89
Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
This might help... true story: I have 2 friends that each bought an iPhone, one from AT&T, the other from the Apple Store.
BOTH of them had some reception issues about 3 months into owning the phone.
Friend A went to AT&T, they replaced the SIM card about 4 times, then said there was nothing else they could do.
Friend B went to the Apple Store. 1st time, they replaced SIM card. Didn't work. 2nd time, they replaced the iPhone. Keep in mind, that was 90 DAYS after the original purchase.
Seemed to me that the Apple Store really cared that his experience was rock solid. That was enough for me.
-PB
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#10 2008-05-14 9:58 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
But I would think even the dude who bought from AT&T could have gone to the Apple Store. It's Apple hardware with an Apple warranty.
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#11 2008-05-14 11:35 am
- panicbutton
- Member
- From: Las Vegas, NV
- Registered: 2003-08-26
- Posts: 89
Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
Possibly, but that's missing the point. AT&T stores don't take initiative...
Also, I do know from experience (buying something at CompUSA and taking it to the Apple Store for service later) that Apple is a bit more responsive if you walk in with their receipt.
-PB
This is my serious face.
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#12 2008-05-14 3:16 pm
- nayrk
- User Error
- From: Outland
- Registered: 2004-05-01
- Posts: 622
Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
panicbutton wrote:
Possibly, but that's missing the point. AT&T stores don't take initiative...
Also, I do know from experience (buying something at CompUSA and taking it to the Apple Store for service later) that Apple is a bit more responsive if you walk in with their receipt
-PB
That really doesn't surprise me
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#13 2008-05-27 1:03 pm
- Antonio
- Now with more cowbell!
- From: San Francisco, CA
- Registered: 2007-01-16
- Posts: 520
Re: iPhone from AT&T or Apple?
WhirlinGraphics wrote:
oatmeal wrote:
It's a rumor. Take it for what it's worth.
The other rumor to go along with that rumor, is that the Apple Store version will be unlocked but unsubsidized. I don't believe this one because everyone said at&t had a five year exclusive?
The Apple store will allow you to simply purchase one and walk out. AT&T won't sell one without the two year contract. (Apple really doesn't care if you unlock it, so long as they still make a profit from the hardware.)
And they do care more, in terms of customer service.
Lesson: bring along a bottle of lube if you're going to purchase an iPhone from AT&T.
“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.”
--HP Lovecraft, The Call Of Cthulhu
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