HELP!!! I'm going to get the phone in an hour and i need this questioned answered

[lman]

Sorry for the urgency...I wanted to know if there is any difference between going to Apple or going to AT&T?

First i will be going to Verizon to have my account cancelled and i assume i have to ask them to port my number?

The does it matter if i go to apple or AT&T? Did someone say that AT&T doesn't replace hardware so you should go to apple? Can you do all the porting of numbers if you just buy a phone from apple go on itunes?

Lastly, you don't have to set up the account for your phone at AT&T right? I can go on iTunes right? and create a plan for it?

[Lincoln]

Welcome to the forums!!

Honestly, it does not really matter which store you go to. I would prefer to go to the Apple store, because I tend to have better experiences there. However, I believe the only difference between the two is that AT&T asks you for your Social Security Number during the purchase, while Apple does not.

You can do the entire activation process via iTunes. Plugging the phone into your computer will prompt iTunes, and there you will set up the phone. It took me approximately 10 minutes to do.

Have fun!

- John

[gerstyd]

Sorry for the urgency...I wanted to know if there is any difference between going to Apple or going to AT&T?

First i will be going to Verizon to have my account cancelled and i assume i have to ask them to port my number?

The does it matter if i go to apple or AT&T? Did someone say that AT&T doesn't replace hardware so you should go to apple? Can you do all the porting of numbers if you just buy a phone from apple go on itunes?

Lastly, you don't have to set up the account for your phone at AT&T right? I can go on iTunes right? and create a plan for it?

Also, if you have just ok credit, go to the ATT store, they can get you approved more easily than activating the phone through Itunes. (-:

[lman]

Thanks for the quick response, i really appreciate it. As far as porting your number that can be done through itunes as well? How does that work? i tell verizon i want to port my number and so its saved and then i go on itunes and there is an option for using an existing number?

[Griffinaz]

Also, if you have just ok credit, go to the ATT store, they can get you approved more easily than activating the phone through Itunes. (-:

Even if you get your phone from AT&T you still have to activate it through iTunes. The phone comes deactivated no matter where you buy it.

[dobymax]

I ported my number from Verizon also. You don't need to go to Verizon. When you activate your iPhone thru iTunes, it will close your Verizon account for you and port your number at the same time, but leave the Verizion number active while porting.

[lman]

also? if i buy it from apple does it mean whenever i have a problem i go only to apple at that point? or i can go to either at&t or apple whenever i have a problem...regardless of where i bought it

[lman]

I just want to make sure that when i go to verizon (which i have to do for unexplained reasons) to cancel my service, and my brother needs to upgrade his phone...if i tell them i wanna port the number, i'll be able to get the number through itunes

[gerstyd]

I just want to make sure that when i go to verizon (which i have to do for unexplained reasons) to cancel my service, and my brother needs to upgrade his phone...if i tell them i wanna port the number, i'll be able to get the number through itunes

Go to the att store. THey will be able to answer these questions, and help port your number better. Seriously. GO to the ATT store. If you mess it up in Itunes, you will be boned.

[iCafe]

apple is less intrusive at&t demands your social security number and they do a credit check ..plus the staff at at&t are less educated then apple

[Lincoln]

apple is less intrusive at&t demands your social security number and they do a credit check ..plus the staff at at&t are less educated then apple

Less educated. Lmao.

- John

[gerstyd]

I wouldnt say the folks at ATT are less educated. Maybe they dont know the ins and outs of Iphones as well as apple, but they know more about specific network questions. The guys at my ATT store rock. And who cares if they ask for your SSN? You have to give it up at the activation anyway. You will still have your credit checked when you go to activate it online. So whats the difference? I found it much easier to do my business with a live person than a machine that cant answer my specific questions.

[Lincoln]

I wouldnt say the folks at ATT are less educated. Maybe they dont know the ins and outs of Iphones as well as apple, but they know more about specific network questions. The guys at my ATT store rock. And who cares if they ask for your SSN? You have to give it up at the activation anyway. You will still have your credit checked when you go to activate it online. So whats the difference? I found it much easier to do my business with a live person than a machine that cant answer my specific questions.

I wasn't saying that you didn't give your SSN at all when you buy from Apple. I'm just saying you aren't asked for it at the Apple store.

- John

[Boosted_Brian]

DO NOT CANCEL YOUR ACCOUNT WITH VERIZON!!!!!

If you want to port your number you must not cancel your account first. If you cancel your account before your pick up the iPhone you will not be able to get your number.

Purchase the iphone, activate it via iTunes. All you need is a copy of your account number that should be on any Verizon billing statement. Once the port has gone through. (Mine took 72 hours before everything started working correctly. I got my phone calls immediately, but text messaging was not 100% for a couple days) Once the port has gone through, Verizon will know that you cancelled your account. There is no need for you to call them.

I used to work for a wireless company and dealt with this all the time. If you were to cancel your account before you port the number, you will not be able to port the number over because it will not be able to find the number from an account you cancelled.

Hope this helps you.

[gerstyd]

I wasn't saying that you didn't give your SSN at all when you buy from Apple. I'm just saying you aren't asked for it at the Apple store.

- John

Understood.

[vegasflyby]

I just want to make sure that when i go to verizon (which i have to do for unexplained reasons) to cancel my service, and my brother needs to upgrade his phone...if i tell them i wanna port the number, i'll be able to get the number through itunes

If you cancel your service with Verizon before porting you will lose your number.

[iCafe]

And who cares if they ask for your SSN? You have to give it up at the activation anyway. You will still have your credit checked when you go to activate it online. So whats the difference?

Here's the difference,

I first brought my little brother to the At&t store to get an iphone,
everything was fine until we got to the counter, they ran a credit check and his credit score is low so it did not pass
i explained i knew this already and just want to do it prepaid once i activate it with itunes
they go on to tell me there is no pre paid plan for the iphone yada yada yada
obviously they did not know what they were talking about.
Once i realized i was dealing with a bunch of smucks i said okay fine
let me just buy the phone and i will set it up at home
the at&t rep explained to me that that was not an option
he said i can either put my brothers phone under my name and sign up for a plan (no thank you) or my brother can put down a 300 dollar deposit which he will get back at the end of the year if he pays his bill on time ( no thank you again)
my brother did not even want a calling plan he just preferred the iphone over the ipod touch because the camera and the speaker
anyway.....
So i told this "rep" to go take a long walk off of a short cliff
and i left.

i drove to the apple store about 15 minutes away ...
went in walked up to the counter asked for the iphone, they pulled one out
i swiped my card..bada bing bada boom me n my lil bro went home with an iphone in 5 minutes

p.s. before i got helped in at&t store i signed my name in the book and had to wait for a "rep" and it took like 20 minutes
i was in the store a total of 45 minutes


p.p.s. Now you can see why i say Apple store is hassle free
and the at&t staff are a bunch of swines

[dooki]

This is kind of O/T, but after I got my iPhone I had to get my dad a new AT&T cellphone. So I opt out for a razr. I asked how much it would cost, the rep told me "free" except tax.

I go to pay for the tax and he threw in all these accessories (case and bluetooth headset). I thought, man, this is all free? Dope! Then he says, your total is $100. I was like what? That doesn't sound like just tax. And then he says, it's $30 for the tax and $70 for the accessories. I said, take the accessories out, I don't need em. Then he says, if you don't get the accessories, it's $70 for the razr. Wtf? I thought it was free!!! Fricken lying rep.

So I went online with my iPhone and the AT&T website says the razr is absofrickenlutely free. I tell the rep I'm going to buy from the AT&T website instead and then he squirmed but did a price match and gave me the razr free plus tax.

In conclusion, avoid AT&T reps at all costs... go to the Apple store.

That's 1 point for the iPhone :tounge:

[sl0ppyshat]

Get it from the apple store!!!!!! AT&T will not exchage your phone out if you are having problems with it within the 14 day period without charging you a fee.

Apple will set you up with a new one right away within the 14 day period.

My bro bought his from ATT and was having terrible issues and they sent him to apple, where he got a refurb one.

Bought mine from Apple and from day one had a bad attenna(no service ever!) and didnt have to wait for a genius or anything. New one within 10 min!

[KNK]

I will tell you something that I thought was funny when I went to the AT&T store to look at the bluetooth devises. I asked the AT&T sales staff why they don't have iPhones themselves. He said it is the agreement that AT&T have with Apple, the staff cannot have them. AT&T pays for the staff phones, but the staff can own an iPhone on their own, but not use on the premises. That is a fact. Funny

[iCafe]

I will tell you something that I thought was funny when I went to the AT&T store to look at the bluetooth devises. I asked the AT&T sales staff why they don't have iPhones themselves. He said it is the agreement that AT&T have with Apple, the staff cannot have them. AT&T pays for the staff phones, but the staff can own an iPhone on their own, but not use on the premises. That is a fact. Funny
if i worked for at&t and some shmuck told me i cant use my cell
i would fart

[gerstyd]

I will tell you something that I thought was funny when I went to the AT&T store to look at the bluetooth devises. I asked the AT&T sales staff why they don't have iPhones themselves. He said it is the agreement that AT&T have with Apple, the staff cannot have them. AT&T pays for the staff phones, but the staff can own an iPhone on their own, but not use on the premises. That is a fact. Funny

Weird. The 3 reps in my AT&T store all had iPhones and were all using them in the store. Saying how much they loved them etc. I think those guys were mistaken.

As for apple stores being hassle free, I hate apple stores. I went in to one on Michigan ave for my client, who had a broken iPod. I went to a rep and asked to take a quick look at it. He said no I have to go to the genius bar. I thm went to the genious bar saw the first guy there and said I just have a quick question. He said back I can't talk to you until you sign in with your email address. Argh fine. I put in my address and it tells me I have to wait 4 hours. WHAT??? I go back to the guy (who looked as if he was doing nothing) and said please I just have a quick question. He was like sorry you have to wait the 4 hours and come back. And it seems like every time I go to apple stores its the same thing. Over crowded, people that think they are way more important than they are, and bad attitudes. ( unless of course you want to buy a mac book )then they are more than happy to run your credit card.
Maybe just a few bad experiences, but they left a real bad taste in my mouth.

[gerstyd]

ps michigan ave is in Chicago

[sl0ppyshat]

Weird. The 3 reps in my AT&T store all had iPhones and were all using them in the store. Saying how much they loved them etc. I think those guys were mistaken.

As for apple stores being hassle free, I hate apple stores. I went in to one on Michigan ave for my client, who had a broken iPod. I went to a rep and asked to take a quick look at it. He said no I have to go to the genius bar. I thm went to the genious bar saw the first guy there and said I just have a quick question. He said back I can't talk to you until you sign in with your email address. Argh fine. I put in my address and it tells me I have to wait 4 hours. WHAT??? I go back to the guy (who looked as if he was doing nothing) and said please I just have a quick question. He was like sorry you have to wait the 4 hours and come back. And it seems like every time I go to apple stores its the same thing. Over crowded, people that think they are way more important than they are, and bad attitudes. ( unless of course you want to buy a mac book )then they are more than happy to run your credit card.
Maybe just a few bad experiences, but they left a real bad taste in my mouth.


sucks to hear...it really about who you talk to. The guys at the fifth ave store in nyc are always so quick to help you.

[calloused]

Here's the difference,

I first brought my little brother to the At&t store to get an iphone,
everything was fine until we got to the counter, they ran a credit check and his credit score is low so it did not pass
i explained i knew this already and just want to do it prepaid once i activate it with itunes
they go on to tell me there is no pre paid plan for the iphone yada yada yada
obviously they did not know what they were talking about.
Once i realized i was dealing with a bunch of smucks i said okay fine
let me just buy the phone and i will set it up at home
the at&t rep explained to me that that was not an option
he said i can either put my brothers phone under my name and sign up for a plan (no thank you) or my brother can put down a 300 dollar deposit which he will get back at the end of the year if he pays his bill on time ( no thank you again)
my brother did not even want a calling plan he just preferred the iphone over the ipod touch because the camera and the speaker
anyway.....
So i told this "rep" to go take a long walk off of a short cliff
and i left.

i drove to the apple store about 15 minutes away ...
went in walked up to the counter asked for the iphone, they pulled one out
i swiped my card..bada bing bada boom me n my lil bro went home with an iphone in 5 minutes

p.s. before i got helped in at&t store i signed my name in the book and had to wait for a "rep" and it took like 20 minutes
i was in the store a total of 45 minutes


p.p.s. Now you can see why i say Apple store is hassle free
and the at&t staff are a bunch of swines

You mentioned your brother was asked for a $300 deposit. So, does this mean that if you do not qualify for a $0 security deposit, you "fail" the credit check, and then will be eligible for prepaid service? I called a few months ago and they wanted the same from me, but I did not understand at that time, I had the option of prepaid. I want prepaid, but I'm not sure what qualifies as "failing" the credit check. I don't want to be stuck with an iPhone, then have to pay a security deposit to activate it.

[KNK]

You mentioned your brother was asked for a $300 deposit. So, does this mean that if you do not qualify for a $0 security deposit, you "fail" the credit check, and then will be eligible for prepaid service? I called a few months ago and they wanted the same from me, but I did not understand at that time, I had the option of prepaid. I want prepaid, but I'm not sure what qualifies as "failing" the credit check. I don't want to be stuck with an iPhone, then have to pay a security deposit to activate it.


No it varies, most are $50 but have heard $100 also, you pay your monthly bill on time for a year and you get the deposit back with interest, so you don't really lose the money, just like putting into a bank.