Comments on: Dear AT&T, or Here is How AT&T Treats Their Valued Customers

By: Musingwoman

Musingwoman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:55:20 +0000

And to think, I almost didn’t scroll down and see the end of this post.
[rq=1451,0,blog][/rq]You really know you’re nearing forty if…

By: Ren

Ren — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:30:18 +0000

@Secondhand Karl, The TracFones are pretty cheap. I bought one for my daughter for $10 and bought 90 days of service for $20. Sure, it isn’t very many minutes, but she doesn’t use it much. Using it to hold onto your number for 90 days? Seems like too much trouble.

I will say that this does point to a hole in AT&T’s pricing. If it ever makes more sense to cancel and re-join, then they are pricing something wrong. Keep in mind, though, that it may be the cancellation fee that is what they are pricing wrong.

By: AmazingGreis

AmazingGreis — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:48:03 +0000

Don't know where I've been, but this is the first time I've ever visited your site. Found you through your guest post over at Anissa's, yeah, love this iPhone post. My very thoughts exactly. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my 3G, and am drooling at the new BETTER model. Like you, I may not be getting the NEW BETTER model because I purchased my 3G 5 months ago. I'm just hoping ATT comes to their senses and allows iPhone upgrades. I've never had issues with ATT. I've always stuck up for them when I've been told they SUCK. I've been with them FOREVER as well. A little slack for the "loyal" customers would be AWESOME! AmazingGreis’s last blog post..It's my Blogaversary! 1 year down, many more to go...

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:40:19 +0000

@shiny, Interesting. I’ve heard stories about people canceling their AT&T account just to get the iPhone 3GS at the $199/$299 price, but that’s really pushing it over the line for me. First, there’s a $150-$175 cancellation fee (perhaps prorated, thanks for pointing that out). When you consider that AT&T will allow me to early upgrade for $399/$499, that’s only a $50 difference (tops).

Second, you lose your phone number. Third, you have to wait 90 days to sign back up with AT&T, from what I hear. So what are you supposed to do in the meantime? Have no cell at all?

Not worth it, all in all. Also heard that people are buying Tracfones or a pay-as-you-go equivalent, porting their AT&T phone # over to the Tracfone, canceling their AT&T accounts, then porting BACK to AT&T when they can sign back up. Wow.

By: shiny

shiny — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:33:42 +0000

@Secondhand Karl, I'm fairly certain that my ETF with AT&T is pro-rated as well -- and I bought the iPhone in August (in Virginia; may vary from state to state). You may want to inquire further about yours; it may very well be prorated as well. shiny’s last blog post..Shin-ippets

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:26:53 +0000

@martymankins, Agreed.

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:26:35 +0000

@Ren, Pro-rated cancellation fees, very nice. Hope AT&T starts following suit. Sprint has crappy coverage in Sebring, or else I might have gone for them when I moved here. And yeah, the wording on AT&T's upgrade page is confusing.

By: martymankins

martymankins — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:49:42 +0000

@Ren, The pro-rated cancellation fee is a good thing for cell companies to add. While it still doesn't say "we are doing everything we can to keep your business" eliminating the "tie you down" contract way of doing business, it's a step in the right direction. martymankins’s last blog post..Scooter Sunday - Season 2 Ep. 06

By: Aerithbloodmoon

Aerithbloodmoon — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:33:55 +0000

@Sybil Law, Oh please! Respect the monkeys! they work wonders at Think Geek so you shouldn't compare them, even if the at&t are retarded ones, they are more like the fleas on the monkey fur. Or if the shit-throwing thing is the point, they are more like the useles pidgeons. Anyway, I want an iPhone, I really think that it's a worthy phone, and now that the 3GS was released the 3G should be a little less expensive, specially in places where the trendy tech arrives 3 months later. Besides, it's unbelivable that a company that LIVES of the SERVICE is not ready to support the new features that they already know that's comming. So in the end I agree with @Sybil Law. They are IDIOTIC! (Not the monkey part! :P) @Karl a.k.a. "Mr. Nicebuns" Please keep us posted about your experience and the readyness of the service. @Aerithbloodmoon Aerithbloodmoon’s last blog post..La teoría de la papa (escrito por @Teifion)

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:57:00 +0000

@Dave2, So you’re on the Family Plan? I’m sure there are reasons behind these dates. Be nice if we were clued in on what those reasons are. I give in to the pricing argument. Your first comment made a lot of sense and I’ve read other articles today in sync with your point.

I still say AT&T sucks for dropping the ball with how they’ve handled the new iPhone. Other countries, Canada, Australia, just as big as ours will be ready on release date with all the features Apple demo’d yesterday. The absence from WWDC was incredibly bad form and I’m convinced they didn’t go because they KNEW they screwed up and people would ask the questions they didn’t want to answer.

I’m a lot more settled down than I was when I wrote this post, but do appreciate your comments this morning. They helped me take emotion out of the equation.