Oct 06 2007
Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 3
This post is one of a series. Get up to speed:
We know that my first call to AT&T’s phone reps ended with “that’s the price you’re going to pay like it or not.” I figured it was worth calling a few times to see if the answers changed because they always do.
A few weeks later I spoke with a rep via on-line chat. He informed me “the price is the price” but did say that retail stores have latitude with contract length and phone rebates. I could very well get a shorter contract or none at all; I might even get a different device, all without buying an AT&T branded phone.
That’s not right. There should be a standard policy in place for AT&T and their affiliates. These are the phones and these are the rates and durations. Period. If for no other reason than keeping customers happy. Imagine if you’d just signed up for two years and your buddy had the same plan for one year because he went to a store and you called.
Days passed and I made another phone call to AT&T. Quickly into the call I asked if I could activate a phone I already owned and avoid a two-year contract. “No,” was the answer. Not only “no” but “I won’t even activate a new plan if you don’t own an AT&T phone.”
If I have an unlocked device and want to start service without buying a subsidized phone, I can’t. You’d think that by saving AT&T a few bucks on the subsidized phone they’d give me a contract length to my liking. But “no” and it gets better.
The only way he’d activate my account for an unlocked phone was if I also owned an AT&T branded phone. He suggested I look for one on eBay then he’d enable service but I’d still have a two-year contract.
Incredible.
I pressed him further about avoiding a contract at which point he got whiny and wondered “why doesn’t anyone want a contract any more?” Simple: consumers “vote” with their dollars and we’re voting to bring down the walls of price gouging and stifling contracts.
For my last question I asked about negotiating with retail stores. He, too, said that stores have more latitude with devices and pricing and I should try my luck. At least the answers have been consistent.
I called a well-known and reputable Internet dealer, not even an AT&T store. Guess what? You can have any unlocked device you want for a steep discount with new activation. More in part 4.
Related posts:
- Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 4
- Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 1
- Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 2
- Switching to AT&T Wireless ain’t easy to do - part 5
- Debranded Nokia N75 firmware bugs