what a bunch of liars!

Technically you did business with the AT&T Retail Store in Walmart, not AT&T. Your complaint should be directed to Walmart and the AT&T Retail owner. The retail operator just sells AT&T goods and services. They are not even AT&T employees. AT&T has little to no control over how the independent's conduct business, which is shady in a lot of cases. You can file a complaint with the BBB and/or the FCC and someone from AT&T will contact you. They MAY be able to help.

Threatening to slam AT&T on social media may make you feel better but it will have little impact on AT&T. You'll just be one of many who have done the same thing. It's unfortunate that AT&T has so little control over how these independents work but that's a contractural/legal thing that just wasn't setup up fairly or correctly in my opinion. They are also long term contracts so until these contracts come time for renewal, the consumer is stuck, or $crewe*.

It always pays to check the AT&T website to see if the same deal or promo is being offered because that's the only one that AT&T will honor. It also pays to look carefully at the fine print to make sure you understand all of the "gotchas". Those are not always made clear to the customer by the sales person in the Retail outlets.

The people on the electronics department at Walmart and Target do not work for AT&T. They work for Walmart and Target.  Complain to Walmart.

And of course AT&T isn't going to back what you were told by Walmart employee because they have no control over Walmart employees, it's not like they can fire him he doesn't work for them.  He didn't have the right to misrepresent AT&T's prices or deals. 

AT&T's offers are published on their website for anyone to see and you will notice there is no switch offer that will pay off your old phones.  You could have checked AT&T's published offers while you were standing in Walmart

The trade-in offer would send your phones to Hyla mobile recycler in Tennessee. There's no offer for tablets. 

Credits on your old devices begin in approximately 3 months.

https://www.att.com/buy/phones/

thank you but , no - they are NOT Walmart employees- they are contractors to AT&T.  I spoke to Walmart directly

Regardless- if they are representing AT&T then AT&T is responsible.

If they are not store employees and are contractors, they are classified as "independent contractors" that work for a third party company like Smart Circle.  They are also present in Costco, Sam's, Target & BJs.

Unfortunately they have a reputation of making promises and deals that are NOT available and are unrealistic.  Google it.

Filing a complaint with the BBB or FCC might afford you some relief as those are sent directly to the OOP.

I fell for a similar lie at COSTCO. I was told my four year old iPhone qualified for a full trade to a new iPhone. All I had to do was pay $35 and send in my phone. It seemed to good to be true, but the guy showed my on his screen that indeed, it would be an even trade. I sent in my phone and did not receive any credit. So I am paying for a new phone plus the $35. It is not AT&T's fault. Costco sold me the phone. 

@Blue2023  Re-read my post from above, which is being echoed by other posters. They are independent contractors, not AT&T employees, work for a third party (probably Smart Circle), and are notorious for misleading customers just to make a sale. You did business directly with them, not AT&T. As mentioned, file a complaint with the BBB. Those go straight to AT&T Corporate and someone from the Office of the President will contact you, usually within a couple of days. They MAY be able to help.

Did you read all of the paperwork that was given to you? My guess is that if you go back to Walmart, the person who worked with you no longer works there.

Advertised prices and deals are the only prices At&t will honor.  It's why it's all in print.  

I am assuming you are all paid by AT&T in some way - your responses are not those of other consumers.  Say what you want- AT&T allows these people to represent them- they are ultimately responsible. 

I worked at a Starbucks location inside of a large chain grocery store.  We were trained by Starbucks and wore the green apron, but we were NOT employeed by Starbucks.  We were employeed by the store.

Were we supposed to follow the rules and policies of Starbucks?  Sure but let me tell you, we played fast & loose because we did not answer to Starbucks. 

Want that extra shot for free?  No problem.  👍

Ignore that code date on the muffin? Every day 🤪

Change the milk carafe every 2 hours?  Not happening 😒

Sorry, but that's the truth.