Best of both worlds

Last edited by buggsy on Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total

I'm looking to upgrade my three line family plan, obviously paying as little as possible for the new phones. The conflict is that most online sites offer fantastic deals on the first two phones but when you try and buy a third phone you pay full price. So what I'm wondering is if it could possibly be as easy as upgrading two of my lines through a third party and then upgrading the third via AT&T, and if so how would that be done?

If anyone's wondering I'm looking to get two eternities ($50 each @ wirefly) and a propel ($160 as a third phone, but $50 at AT&T)

Travel To Europe - Travel To Asia - Travel To American -Travel To Middle East-Iphone -BlackBerry-Nokia

I believe you'd come out better in the long run by signing up directly with AT&T online. There seems to always be better deals online than going to the store, although I find good help at the stores around here.

Plus everyone I know that's signed up for AT&T somewhere other than AT&T seems to always have some kind of hassle with the account, billing, etc, etc.
I have enough problems to screw around with such.

Geri O

You dont have to upgrade all 3 phones at one time or at the same place. You can upgrade the 3rd line where ever you want to. I went to best buy a few weeks ago and they had good deals. I bought the Lg Vue for 50 and across the street at the AT&T store they had the same phone for $100 and then you get a $50 main in rebate so in the end you pay the same but have to wait for the rebate. I would also agree to check the 3rd line of service with AT&T customer care sounds like the 3rd line might not be eligable to upgrade and that is why you would have to pay that price. If your not eligable then you have pay full retail price or AT&T customer care can do an early upgrade option and you have to pay $75 plus pay for the phone. Customer care phone number is 1-800-331-0500 or 611 from your phone and its free. Hope that helps

just wanted to clarify:
@gerio: I agree that the customer satisfaction with at&t is probably a lot better, especially since when I first signed up with at&t and went through letstalk I got treated terribly until I turned to at&t for help. The problem is that at&t is charging $100 more per eternity than wirefly (and others) do.

@elmo: All three phones are definitely eligible for an upgrade (although they are still in that 18-24 month period during which you can upgrade even though your contract hasn't expired).

In fact, you don't even have to type in much personal information to get this overpriced third phone from wirefly (http://www.wirefly.com/specialoffer.aspx?cid=21427_6824d313278e4423b3 c9fb00bf71ee1e).

It seems to me that at&t will only allow them two "instant discounts" and then tries to make the money back if you buy a third phone

@porsha: I think this is the answer I'm looking for, but I want to know if anyone is sure whether or not this applies only to store dealers, or if online they do it line-by-line as well (I got a similar answer when i went into wal-mart and they said that they personally could upgrade a single line and do the rest later.)

it doesnt matter where u go. you can do line by line anywhere. If you are getting a deal that is for example. buy one for $XX.XX get the second one free then of course u have to upgrade both lines.

I've had some problems recently with Wirefly. I have 4 lines and called them to find out about upgrading. they told me to fill out the upgrade for the first two lines and then do it again for the second to lines, and I would recieve the promotional upgrade price on four lines. I called back to get different reps so I could verify this. What a deal, so of course I updated all 4 lines. I happened to check the status a couple of hours later and found out that one line from each order was being processed and the other lines had a "Call Us" notification. I called and they said that only 2 lines were eligible for the 19.99 upgrade on an Impression and i needed to pay 159.99 for the other two. they didnt care what sales had told me, that's the way it was. I cancelled both orders and had to wait for them to notify ATT of the cancellation so my numbers would be eligible for upgrade again. Since I must be a glutton for punishment, i went back to wirefly again and only upgraded my primary and seconday line, both of which show to be eligilbe for the promotional price. Once again, one is approved the other shows "call us". I called wirefly again and now they are telling me my secondary line is really my 3rd line and i will have to pay 159.99 to upgrade. My first two line belong to my wife and myself and were created long before the 3rd and 4th lines used by the kids. I called att and verified my wifes line was indeed listed as the secondary line. they even updated note on my accout to say as much should anyone inquire. I called wirefly and they reprocessed the order. Within 30 min is was on "call us" status. I called back and got the same story that it was the 3rd line and not the second line and I had to pay 159.99. I verify with ATT again and cb to wirefly, they continue to tell me that it is not the secondary account. I asked who they dealt with in ATT because that is now what they are telling me. they only use a computer program and never talk to a live person. they said they were not authorized to call ATT.so I made a conference call to ATT and asked them to tell me the secondary number on my account.I was correct, but wirefly continues to tell them it is wrong. By now, i've gone from rep to supervisor , to the supervisor of their activation department. They try repeating what they have told me and then ask the att rep if that is correct. She didnt fall for it and told them no, that the line I said was secondary is actually the secondary line. Then they would reword the same phrase and ask the att rep again. She would correct them and tell them the correct secondary line. Finally they tell me they will try to change the data and will call me back in an hour.guess what, an hour has passed and they have not called back. They have picked the wrong person to try to scam, I am in the right and will not give up. Here I go calling them again.

Interesting. so what happen when u called back again?

Many people don't know this, but Wirefly makes you sign two contracts. One with AT&T and one with them. In their Equipment Discount Terms & Conditions they warn well I'll copy it here verbatim:

DEACTIVATING THIS PHONE OR DOWNGRADING FEATURES OR RATE PLAN MAY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CHARGES
Our goal is to provide you with the very best purchasing experience possible, including huge savings vs. buying in a retail store. Your wireless device purchase price was reduced by an Equipment Discount of $200 ($300 for PDA's and smart phones; $300 for Netbooks). By accepting this price reduction, you agree to repay this discount if, during the 181 days after your new equipment is activated, you:
Fail to pay your balance due to AT&T each month
Disconnect this AT&T line of service
Transfer this equipment to another AT&T line of service
Change your AT&T service rate plan to a lower monthly service rate
Deactivate the email/data feature if one was required at the point of purchase
Transfer/port an existing mobile number from another AT&T account if this is a new line of service
Replace an existing account with AT&T with this account if this is a new line
Return or exchange your wireless device and it is not in its original, new condition with no more than 30 minutes of usage
If you break any of these contract provisions, except as a result of a documented service quality issue related to the carrier service, you authorize us to charge your credit card in repayment of the Equipment Discount.

Now why go through all that trouble? Tomes are hard and sometimes you have to downgrade your messaging package, of remove your mobile internet for a month or two to catch up on your car payment.

Keep in mind you never get something for nothing In this case especially the Blackberry Bold FREE with waived activation and free shipping. You are better off going to AT&T, it's not worth paying an extra $200 if you downgrade or remove a feature.

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