Is this for everybody or just me?(UPGRADE FEE) [ Edited ]

[iseeu1001]

It said "As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $36 upgrade fee." I talked to the guy at bestbuy that told me my iphone contract was up. So why do I need to pay an upgrade fee just to get another phone? Plus my mom has been with AT&T since about like 7 yrs.

[dwill05]

Unfortunately, it's just another money making fee for AT&T. They are charging you for the "privilege" of getting a phone at a discount price, like airlines charge for the "privilege" of checking a bag or sitting near a window. They charge everyone; it doesn't matter how long they have been with AT&T. Right or wrong, it seems to be a part of American business these days to nickel and dime for every little thing, and it's not new either. AT&T has had an upgrade fee for many years.

[richfray]

As does Verizon, as does Sprint, as does T-Mobile...

[iseeu1001]

Well this sucks... why did they have to go over $18 dollars... $36 seems to much for an upgrade fee. I mean I am just getting another smart phone with same data rates so I don't see whats the need to charge $36 extra for... The only thing they need to do is activate it for me and put the sim in it or I could have put the sim in it myself. Activating doesn't take more than max 10 minutes. Depends how slow their computer is.

[richfray]

The Upgrade/Activation Fee is used to help offset the phone subsidy as well as pay for network infrastucture upgrades. By the end of this year, AT&T will have spent approximately $40 billion over the last two years on improvements to its network. You will find this type of fee charged by every major carrier.

[boohoo805]

This really stinks of corporate greed.  I wanted to upgrade my son's phone becasue the speaker isn't working right.  But in addition to the $49 fee for the new phone, we'd have to shell out another $36 for an upgrade fee.   No thank you.  I don't need another 2 year contract.  Don't do me any favors.  I'll find a used phone somewhere else.  And if and when I find a better deal I will take my business elsewhere.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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boohoo805 wrote:

This really stinks of corporate greed.  I wanted to upgrade my son's phone becasue the speaker isn't working right.  But in addition to the $49 fee for the new phone, we'd have to shell out another $36 for an upgrade fee.   No thank you.  I don't need another 2 year contract.  Don't do me any favors.  I'll find a used phone somewhere else.  And if and when I find a better deal I will take my business elsewhere.

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If you don;t want a new two year commitment you have 3 choices

1. pay full retail cost for the phone - the 49.00 is not the full retail cost of the phone

2. buy a gophone at full retail and swap sims

3. buy a used one off of Ebay or craigs list

36.00 is pretty much top 3 carrier standard for activation on new or upgraded phones. If you take your business to sprint or verizon you will still have to pay the activation fee, plus you will be required to pay out any ETF that remains on your current att contract if you move all devices, on a family plan each line is it;s own contract

[satyr9]

A few upgrades ago, the customer service sales agents on the phone were very nice and were able to waive the upgrade fees due to being loyal customers from xx years ago.  Ordering online does not have this human-kindness option these days. 

[drumn_bass]

Idk guys, I got a new iPhone and paid $36 fee like everybody else, I would pay $36 instead of $450 more for the phone any day! It's a part of the deal, still an awesome deal for us, customers, and upgrade and activation fees don't just go into somebody's pocket, they help improve our network and offer best phones at the best price.

[richfray]

Unfortunately, the explosion in popularity of smartphones comes with a large cost. The devices are much more expensive $500-$700 and the costs to grow/maintain the cellular infrastructure to handle the huge data demand continues to skyrocket. The upgrade/activation fees every subscriber is charged are in place to help offset those. The luxury of buying these expensive devices at subsidized prices have become the expectation. I don't understand the mentality of folks feeling they are being ripped off by the carriers. A. They are receiving $600 devices for anywhere from pennies to $199, depending on device chosen. B. No gun is held to anyone's head. Pick a different carrier if you think it's better elsewhere. In the case of activation/upgrade fees, ALL carriers charge these. In other parts of the world, most of Europe for example, you pay full retail for a phone ($500+) and the pick a service to use (and pay activation fees), and then have no contract. That would never fly here in America as we have a gotta have it now and pay for it later mentality. I can only imagine the outcry if overnight, the game changed and we had to all start buying $700 iphones upfront before we could start a service...

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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richfray wrote:
Unfortunately, the explosion in popularity of smartphones comes with a large cost. The devices are much more expensive $500-$700 and the costs to grow/maintain the cellular infrastructure to handle the huge data demand continues to skyrocket. The upgrade/activation fees every subscriber is charged are in place to help offset those. The luxury of buying these expensive devices at subsidized prices have become the expectation. I don't understand the mentality of folks feeling they are being ripped off by the carriers. A. They are receiving $600 devices for anywhere from pennies to $199, depending on device chosen. B. No gun is held to anyone's head. Pick a different carrier if you think it's better elsewhere. In the case of activation/upgrade fees, ALL carriers charge these. In other parts of the world, most of Europe for example, you pay full retail for a phone ($500+) and the pick a service to use (and pay activation fees), and then have no contract. That would never fly here in America as we have a gotta have it now and pay for it later mentality. I can only imagine the outcry if overnight, the game changed and we had to all start buying $700 iphones upfront before we could start a service...

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thing about it is - Verizon already implemented a full cost replacement phone - they state that if you have their grandfathered unlimited plan and go to upgrade if you want to keep unlimited you pay full retail cost, want subsidized then change to their shared plan. Just depends how much importance is placed on keeping the unlimited plan - is it wotj 649.00 or more for a new phone to keep it

[DogDaddy]

The upgrade fee is the cost of executing a new 2-year contract, which helps offset the discount given on the device which is usually at least a couple hundred dollars.

[21stNow]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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richfray wrote:
Unfortunately, the explosion in popularity of smartphones comes with a large cost. The devices are much more expensive $500-$700 and the costs to grow/maintain the cellular infrastructure to handle the huge data demand continues to skyrocket. The upgrade/activation fees every subscriber is charged are in place to help offset those. The luxury of buying these expensive devices at subsidized prices have become the expectation. I don't understand the mentality of folks feeling they are being ripped off by the carriers. A. They are receiving $600 devices for anywhere from pennies to $199, depending on device chosen. B. No gun is held to anyone's head. Pick a different carrier if you think it's better elsewhere. In the case of activation/upgrade fees, ALL carriers charge these. In other parts of the world, most of Europe for example, you pay full retail for a phone ($500+) and the pick a service to use (and pay activation fees), and then have no contract. That would never fly here in America as we have a gotta have it now and pay for it later mentality. I can only imagine the outcry if overnight, the game changed and we had to all start buying $700 iphones upfront before we could start a service...

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thing about it is - Verizon already implemented a full cost replacement phone - they state that if you have their grandfathered unlimited plan and go to upgrade if you want to keep unlimited you pay full retail cost, want subsidized then change to their shared plan. Just depends how much importance is placed on keeping the unlimited plan - is it wotj 649.00 or more for a new phone to keep it

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The only thing that smartphone owners that take subsidized upgrades (i.e. existing customers, not new) on VZW have to change is from the unlimited data plan.  They can choose the old tiered data plans or switch to the Share Everything plans.  They are not forced to the Share Everything plans.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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21stNow wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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richfray wrote:
Unfortunately, the explosion in popularity of smartphones comes with a large cost. The devices are much more expensive $500-$700 and the costs to grow/maintain the cellular infrastructure to handle the huge data demand continues to skyrocket. The upgrade/activation fees every subscriber is charged are in place to help offset those. The luxury of buying these expensive devices at subsidized prices have become the expectation. I don't understand the mentality of folks feeling they are being ripped off by the carriers. A. They are receiving $600 devices for anywhere from pennies to $199, depending on device chosen. B. No gun is held to anyone's head. Pick a different carrier if you think it's better elsewhere. In the case of activation/upgrade fees, ALL carriers charge these. In other parts of the world, most of Europe for example, you pay full retail for a phone ($500+) and the pick a service to use (and pay activation fees), and then have no contract. That would never fly here in America as we have a gotta have it now and pay for it later mentality. I can only imagine the outcry if overnight, the game changed and we had to all start buying $700 iphones upfront before we could start a service...

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thing about it is - Verizon already implemented a full cost replacement phone - they state that if you have their grandfathered unlimited plan and go to upgrade if you want to keep unlimited you pay full retail cost, want subsidized then change to their shared plan. Just depends how much importance is placed on keeping the unlimited plan - is it wotj 649.00 or more for a new phone to keep it

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The only thing that smartphone owners that take subsidized upgrades (i.e. existing customers, not new) on VZW have to change is from the unlimited data plan.  They can choose the old tiered data plans or switch to the Share Everything plans.  They are not forced to the Share Everything plans.

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talked to verizon business rep about this and they mentioned only shared is available

[21stNow]

Maybe things are different on the business side.  I only keep up with the consumer side.  I don't "upgrade" with VZW anyway, so most of those things don't matter to my account.

[mystblade]

When I ordered my iphone 5 on the phone, the rep waived the upgrade fee without me even asking for it!!!

I like that guy

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mystblade wrote:

When I ordered my iphone 5 on the phone, the rep waived the upgrade fee without me even asking for it!!!

I like that guy

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On something like waiving a free it is on a per case basis, just becasue you got it does not mean that everyone that calls in will. It is not automatic