iPhone Activation: AT&T Store vs. Apple Store

Question

iPhone Activation: AT&T Store vs. Apple Store

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase an iPhone and would like to know if it would be better for me to do so at an Apple Store or AT&T store, given my circumstances. I am currently a Verizon customer and would be switching to a new, 2-year agreement with AT&T. I also would like to apply my corporate service discounts, which include a 20% service discount on my monthly plan (not hardware) and a waived activation fee. I have my own individual plan I pay for (not my company).

I feel it would be easiest to apply these savings through an AT&T store, but I've been told it's better to purchase the iPhone through Apple to make any troubleshooting or warranty issues easier to handle. I'm a life-long Apple user and would prefer to purchase from Apple Store, but can they apply the service discount and waived activation fee or does an AT&T store have to do that? Please let me know if you can help me out.

Thanks!

Posted on Nov 19, 2009 9:08 AM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,401 points

Nov 19, 2009 9:11 AM in response to Adam Tollefson

There is no difference in service. It make little to no difference where you buy as far as this is concerned.

Apple handles all service issues regardless of where you purchase.

I would go to AT&T, due to the billing and porting issues.

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Answer 2

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Nov 19, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Adam Tollefson

Where you have business discounts and such, it would be better to do the purchase at ATT.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2009 9:24 AM in response to Adam Tollefson

I would recommend the Apple Store. Friendlier service (IMO), better selection of accessories, and no one will try to push a Blackberry on you to earn a commission.

RE: +"I feel it would be easiest to apply these savings through an AT&T store"+ it can be a hassle there as well. Honestly, the easiest way is to apply your FAN discounts online (enter your work email at the upper right):

http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/?WT.svl=3

I seem to recall that saying something about taking a billing cycle to apply, but that's not the case - you can log onto your AT&T account and see the FAN number reflected on the page immediately.

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Answer 4

Nov 19, 2009 9:33 AM in response to neuroanatomist

neuroanatomist wrote:
I seem to recall that saying something about taking a billing cycle to apply, but that's not the case - you can log onto your AT&T account and see the FAN number reflected on the page immediately.

This was true at one time, but AT&T updated their site earlier this year and it is now real time. This is especially useful because you can add and remove features, including international data roaming (once you have been authorized by calling international provisioning) at your convenience. Also, these features no longer need to remain on the account for a full billing cycle. You can enable and disable them for any time interval (like a 2 week trip abroad) and they don't need to remain enabled past the end of the trip to catch any late billing records as they used to.

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Answer 5

Dr. Rose

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2009 3:29 PM in response to Adam Tollefson

Adam -- I was in the same situation as you -- corp. discount, etc., but long time mac user/mobile me. I called the AT&T premier service (you probably have it through your company) and received the iphone in 48 hours and had no issues with activating, etc. Surprisingly good service (not an AT&T fangirl myself) and no pressure for additional products or services.

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Answer 6

Nov 20, 2009 5:29 PM in response to Adam Tollefson

A friend of mine ordered his Iphone online and it took 2 days to arrive. The it didn't port properly from Verizon and on the third day he went to the AT&T store and in a half hour he was working. But his wife's phone (not an iphone) didn't arrive as it was backordered. Two weeks later it arrived then didn't port over until another trip to the AT&T store fixed it.

On a whim, (one day after my friend ordered his iphone,) I was at the mall with my wife and children and stopped at the AT&T kyosk and decided to get my wife and I Iphones. We were at the end of a Verizon contract. They had only 1 Iphone so the woman had us follow her to the AT&T store 2 miles away. Two hours later we had 2 ported Iphones and 3 ported cheaper phones for the kids.

Summary: go to the AT&T store. Go to a corperate store not a contract store. They took care of my government discount and were very helpful with everything.

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