upgrade at AT&T store or not ?

[dhuff]

Trying to decide if it'd be worth it to try an upgrade of my phone at a non-AT&T location (Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc...) for the lower device cost. Here's my situation:

• Primary line on a family plan
• Have an "unlimited" data plan grandfathered in
• Also get a monthly discount from AT&T due to my place of employment (this is a personal phone, not business - I pay the monthly bill myself)

Is any non-AT&T store going to be able to deal with this w/o messing up my plan and causing a lot of heartburn to get it back to where it was ? Or should I just suck it up and deal with an AT&T store ? (BTW, I'm currently looking at the HTC One X)

 

[FJR1300]

Generally you have to sign a new contract to get a subsidized phone, which might mean that AT&T will not let you keep the unlimited data plan. Some phones require a different data plan than your old phone also. Typically they require a qualified tiered data plan. I'd check with AT&T first, if they say that you can keep the unlimited data plan when upgrading to the one x then it won't matter where you buy the phone. If Radio Shack or whomever you buy from does get it wrong, AT&T will fix it, might take a bit of frustrating time on the phone to customer service but they will put you back on the plan that you are entitled to. Be sure to get the employee's name and document time and date of the call if they tell you you can keep the same plan.

If it is mandatory to lose the unlimited data plan with the subsidized phone, you'd probably come out ahead by buying the phone off contract or buying a used model. Check your past monthly data usage, you might find that you don't need an unlimited plan, although they are nice to have just in case.

The company discount will not change, that's a permanent part of your account until you leave the company and someone notifies them (not likely).

 

[lunatic59]

I haven't upgraded at the AT&T store for the last three upgrades. I am still grandfathered in with an unlimited data plan and no one has screwed it up yet. I just tell them "no changes" to the plan. I've used Radio Shack and Target, but I'd guess they all act as agents for AT&T.

 

[damewolf13]

The only time it would be an issue is if there is something wrong with the phone, and then you can't complain to AT&T. You have to get a replacement through the store that you got the upgrade through. That might be easier than AT&T anyway, but you never know.

 

[dhuff]

BTW, I have emails from two, different AT&T wireless cust svc reps that say I get to keep my current plan as long as I upgrade to another smartphone.

A rep with Amazon Wireless said they couldn't help me unless I picked a new data and SMS plan, so they're off my list. I'll try RS or Target (does Target carry AT&T ?)

 

[lunatic59]

BTW, I have emails from two, different AT&T wireless cust svc reps that say I get to keep my current plan as long as I upgrade to another smartphone.

A rep with Amazon Wireless said they couldn't help me unless I picked a new data and SMS plan, so they're off my list. I'll try RS or Target (does Target carry AT&T ?)

Yes but their selection of models is smaller. They might not have the One X (yet).

 

[FJR1300]

Just read an article about the one x being held up in customs over the apple lawsuit. AT&T has sold out, looks like you may have to get one where you can find it if you want one soon.

 

[JunBringer]

I'd use Amazon Wireless personally, as they tend to beat everyone's prices, and dude said above he's kept his unlimited plan.

 

[dhuff]

Turns out the whole question is moot. I apparently also have a grandfathered voice plan that makes me ineligible for the regular, (sorta) low upgrade prices on Android handsets. AT&T refuses to let me upgrade to an Android device at the std upgrade prices (e.g. they offered the HTC One X for $199 with discount, but want $299 from me). The only way I'll be allowed the discount is if I up my voice plan to one costing $20 more per month - and we don't even use all the minutes/month we have now.

Funny thing tho'. When I went through the motions on the website to upgrade to an iPhone 4S, it let me do it w/o issue. Didn't proceed to the point of putting in my credit card info, but my online shopping cart clearly showed the Apple device at the upgrade discount price.

 

[dhuff]

Well, the AmazonWireless store is letting me upgrade at the discounted price and claims to be letting me keep the voice plan I have. So I pulled the trigger on an Android phone this morning. Will report back if AT&T causes further grief...

 

[rlb4]

Well, the AmazonWireless store is letting me upgrade at the discounted price and claims to be letting me keep the voice plan I have. So I pulled the trigger on an Android phone this morning. Will report back if AT&T causes further grief...

Be careful. Amazon makes you choose a new data plan. When I called them I was told I would not be able to keep my existing grandfathered unlimited data plan. I would call them to check on this.

 

[edshropshire]

Be careful. Amazon makes you choose a new data plan. When I called them I was told I would not be able to keep my existing grandfathered unlimited data plan. I would call them to check on this.

Yes, be careful and talk to AT&T first. I never saw any option on Amazon that would allow me to keep my unlimited plan. Sometimes they will transfer over the unlimited plan, but sometimes they say once it is lost it is lost.