Unlocked iPhone Apple Card Financing

No contract is required. You’re assuming facts that aren’t in evidence. If you want to do an ACMI (Apple Card Monthly Installment) it’s easy to do. The iPhone is not locked either. The solution is posted in the thread above, or if you’re interested in learning, you can ask questions.

Just an FYI, in the future it’s not a best practice to respond to posts that date back 7+ months. If you’re just here to rant, I get it.

You do have to pick a provider among AT&T, t-mobile and Verizon), or purchase an unlocked iPhone. Picking a provider does not require an account or activation and the device will not be locked. If you go this route I recommend purchasing t-mobile. When you start the process you’ll see an activation screen. Your choices are to activate or later. Press later. This process will repeat 2 more times. Each time press later. After 3 attempts the system bypasses the activation screen and you can have the device activated on the network of your choice as long as they support eSIM.

Another option is to purchase the iPhone unlocked and upon getting home call an Apple Card Specialist at Goldman Sachs Bank and request the device be added to an ACMI.

Apple has nothing to say about it really. The last I read (in the large Apple Card FB group and Reddit), as of about 2 to 3 weeks ago, Goldman Sachs was still allowing people convert standard charges of qualified Apple products to installment plans. You’re welcome to call an Apple Card Supervisor at Goldman Sachs.

CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank 

• Call toll-free at 877-255-5923

Melzoe12 wrote:

How disappointing! I need to purchase an iPad and iPhone to use in Europe so the phone must be unlocked but too expensive to do it without financing through apple card. Looks like Apple is trying to lower their sales numbers from people who can't purchase in one payment.

What is?

See Jeff Donald's post:

Jeff Donald wrote:

Now, with that said, when you purchase an iPhone on installments, it

does not come activated or eSIM locked. The easiest to bypass is

T-Mobile. The iPhone will ask for your T-Mobile credentials and just

pick the option to >Continue< three times and you can then

activate the iPhone on any carrier that supports eSIM. You’ll probably

have to call their support team or visit a carrier retail location to

activate. Generally all they need is your IMEI number in Settings >

General > IMEI. It’s also print on the box the iPhone comes in.

Really simple would have been to leave it as it had been. What’s not really simple is having customers jump through hoops to buy an Apple product from Apple with an Apple Card. It’s nonsensical.

I can’t recall another financial transaction which required a customer support call to make requests for one specific transaction. And because it is merely a request, it can be denied. It all feels more like requiring a secret paraphrase to enter a speakeasy, than a simple purchase. At the end of the day, adding barriers and frustrating customers @ point of purchase is never a good business strategy.

Judging from the number of posts here and elsewhere, an appreciable number of customers and potential customers feel disenfranchised. And they are valid to feel that way particularly given the process is entirely unreflective of Apple’s ‘it just works’ ethos.

pkmk1996 wrote:

I find it discriminatory that you can only get it if you are signed up with the big three.

Did you bother to read any of this thread? Especially the parts that explain how that's not true?

ldc2805 wrote:

Just got the apple card approved for $3k and was about to buy iPhone and iPad until I realized you can only get the free interest benefit if you go ATT TMobile or Verizon. No thank you. Bye $2.6k sale.

Instead of assuming things and accusing Apple, please read the very thread you replied to. It explains how its still possible to get the installment plan without choosing a carrier.

You don't have time to find out what you want to know?

Goldman Sachs was mistaken. You would have found that out, by taking just 3 minutes in this thread. The iPhones bought through the installments are and have always been unlocked.

You are the one needing to buy the iPhone. not us. If you can't be bothered to read, then you are going to be assuming things that are not correct as is the case here throwing blame and buying some other device.

Clearly if this is important to you, you would make the time to do the legwork. We can't do the work for you, and its not going to just pop up in front of you as if by magic.

If you don't want to read and find out what you can and cannot do, then that's entirely up to you.

I have posted the reply multiple times in this very thread. What you want is for me to post it again just for you? Why do you believe you are entitled to that? You cannot be bothered to read a couple pages, not even the entire thread but expect me, to just post what has been said dozens times already?

I volunteer here. I don't get paid. If you can't take 5 minutes to find the answer, then I have no real incentive to want to help you.

The whole whole benefit of the card is the the 0% financing on apple products. If I choose to buy a new iphone still (I'm not the primary on the account so I'm not able to use the carrier option) I won't even be using my apple card. I'll be using one that does have 0% interest. Or this may be the time to finally make the jump back to a new flip phone.

GS makes no money when a customer only swipes his card once a year. Apple sells hardware either way, so, they’re making money with or without an installment plan.

At the end of the day, do what makes the most sense to for you and your circumstances.

On a side note the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card has 21 months 0% interest and a $200 sign up bonus (SUB) when you spend $500 to the first 3 months. You also earn 2% cash back.

Thank you, I Just did this..... Approved on the spot, on line, added to my apple wallet. Instantly, after downloading the app.... The whole point of getting the Apple card was to finance Phones for free, the 15 Pro Max would have been my third one, Along with the cash back for accessories, and my Mac mini, But my next phone is going on Wells Fargo, along with my Cricket Payments. You also get $600 a cell phone additional insurance, available twice a year, if you pay your cell bills with it. You Just saved me $35 a month in interest. I might even do away with apple care +

You are probably already aware, but just in case: You can still buy an unlocked iPhone with the Apple Card after August 15 but you will no longer be able to use the Monthly Installments option (i.e., you will pay interest on the unpaid balance if you purchase an unlocked phone after that date).

See: Products you can buy from Apple with Apple Card Monthly Installments - Apple Support

It’s really simple, if you took the time to read any of the solutions offered in this thread and countless others in the community here, Reddit and Facebook groups. The simplest way to do it is buy it unlocked. Nothing is locked, no carrier message or activation will be required. Once the sale is completed, call an Apple Card Specialist within 48 hours and ask the transaction be converted to ACMI (Apple Card Monthly Installments).

CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank 

• Using Messages; chat with an Apple Card specialist

• Call toll-free at 877-255-5923

• Write to: Goldman Sachs Bank, Lockbox 6112, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-6112.

I suspect it was not a money making opportunity for either Apple or Goldman Sachs and it was simply a business decision to discontinue the financing. The 3% Daily Cash back is still available.

The >problem< with being a time traveler is what was true (or believed to be true) may not be the actual state of affairs today.

Let’s look at this and see what we can maybe accomplish. So, Apple Card is a co-branded card. Apple isn’t really a bank and your Apple Card Mastercard was issued by Goldman Sachs Bank. They also are the ones financing all the ACMI plans. Did it occur to you to call their support team and talk to them about your frustrations?

Now, we’ve got a plan. How about you call (no chatting) and ask if you purchased an iPhone in full, could they set it up on interest free installments after the transaction is no longer pending? What have you got to lose? The worst thing they can do is say no. Well that was door number 1 to begin with. Next worst thing is you and support team member become friends (door number 2) and the least worst thing is they say sure, no problem (door number 3). At that point, ask for a name and implement your plan.

What happens if they can’t after I purchased the item? You have 14 days to return the item for a full refund.

Questions? OK, what’ll it be, door number 1, 2 or 3?