AT&T gave me $125 credit

[Extract0r]

I bought my Captivate 28 days ago for $150 with a 2 year contract extension. Since I have 2 days left to return my phone, I was debating whether to keep the phone or return it and wait for a better phone/deal. After reading posts about people getting worried about the Captivate becoming a free phone, I decided to call the customer service.

I dialed 611, then pressed 0 to talk to a live person and then 4 for service termination. A very professional sounding gentleman from the customer retention department picked up the phone and asked why I had called.

I basically told him that I am concerned about the Samsung Captivate becoming a free phone and also told him about the free phone deals from letstalk.com and walmart.com. I told him that since I have 2 days left to return this phone, I am seriously considering returning the phone and then buying it back from an independent online vendor unless AT&T can credit me the difference.

After a few minutes of holding, the customer retention agent offered me $125 credit, making my Captivate costing me only $25 with a 2 year contract extension!!!

If any of you are still within the 30 day return period, call 611 and see if they will extend similar offer for you guys. Good luck!!!

 

[NorCal Einstein]

NICE!

I wish I could apply some of these tactics to my purchase, but buying out of contract gives me no leverage.

Hopefully others can take advantage of this, I've been amazed at how cheap I've been seeing the Captivate at other sites.

 

[JDM9499]

I just got off the phone with them, and they said they never heard of such a thing. I asked the lady if she could then speak with her manager about it. They offered me an immediate 20 credit, but I said that would not do. She then told me to go back to the store I purchased it from, bring in my receipt and a print out from wirelfy.com showing their price at 49.00 and to ask the store manager. She did note on my account, for the store manager, that her manager has approved it, but she told me it would be up to the manager from the store I purchased it from. Hmmm...not a huge deal for me, but sure would be nice to have some money credited back. I'll update after I get back from the store tomorrow. Here's for hoping *cheers*.

 

[arsen]

I did the same thing and got $159 credit. So ended up paying only $40 for the phone

 

[Mancha67]

Thanks! Just talked to a very nice Customer Service agent and got a $100 credit (thought it was fair since I paid $159).

 

[JDM9499]

Ok, so I just now got off the phone with customer service. After a two day ordeal, I was actually credited 100.00 back towards my account. Not as much as some of the other folks were able to get, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it just depends on the manager your currently talking with.

I had to jump through many hoops, and go back to the store where I purchased the phone from, talk to the store manager and being told to call back 611 and talk to another customer rep and their manager about this whole thing all over again. I think they purposely gave me the run around in hopes I would give up.

In the end, I came out ahead a 100 bucks, making the wife happy, and thus a relief.

For people whom may try this out for themselves, I was told multiple times that they technically do not have to and are not supposed to 'price match', because that is essentially what we are doing when calling saying "wirefly.com and walmart.com is selling the Captivate for a lot less, can you please credit me the difference." Maybe being a customer for so long helps? I have no idea, why some get more credited back and some less. I just thought I give it a shot, and share my experiences with you all. Cheers.

 

[iceman4357]

I showed my AT&T rep the wirefly free deal, and they matched it.

 

[SeriousBizznass]

They just credited me $130.

EDIT: Actually thats $150.

 

[arsen]

Glad to see people getting some money back.

 

[lotreaglesfan]

called twice... first time automatic no... now i'm on hold cause she is talking to her supervisor to see if i can get any kind of credit...

she's nice but didn't want to... i think she is scared of him/her

UPDATE: they won't credit anyone supposedly... i hate you all :\

 

[qwertyaas]

As I didn't get the phone yet (will get it this weekend I believe) I called anyways so I can decide if I would buy it from AT&T or Letstalk (wanted to see if they would make a note on my account). She was very nice but said in the end they do not price match after talking to her manager.

Not sure if I should buy it from AT&T and then call back again or try again before I upgrade and see if they would give me an answer (note my account that when I upgrade I should receive a credit)...

I prefer to buy it from AT&T over the other retailers for warranty purposes (AT&T warranty vs. manufacturer).

 

[Citznfish]

on hold right now...


told them gps was bad and i see people getting the phone for free.

they gave me a 3 day grace period ( my 30 days is up tomorrow) as their tech team reviews my case and refunds me my $199

so we will see


update: I didn't even have to get off the phone. They came back with a $199 credit. So basically my phone was free + taxes.

Also the first AT&T agent I spoke too mentioned that the GPS was a well known issue with the Samsung Captivate. Go figure...

 

[qwertyaas]

Did you all get a new contract or just renew a line?

 

[JDM9499]

No need to renew the contract or anything. They simply credited back a balance that they so choose. It's really 'price matching' which AT&T, from what I know, does not have to do. I'm not sure how much longer they're going to continue giving credit to customers who purchased the Captivate at an AT&T store. I will say this, I'm liking AT&T right now. That was sure a nice gesture.

 

[qwertyaas]

I'm on the phone with ATT Premier now. I'm on hold while he is seeing what he can do - as I explained the GPS issues and the other retailers price.

We'll see what happens!

Wow... I'm on the 3rd Rep that hung up on me while putting me on hold...

 

[Killemall]

I called the customer service and they refused to price match or give me any refund at all. Same story at the ATT store. I guess I have no choice other than return the phone.

 

[Citznfish]

I called the customer service and they refused to price match or give me any refund at all. Same story at the ATT store. I guess I have no choice other than return the phone.

that sucks I've been an ATT customer for 10 years though. Heck, I bought this phone at Best Buy and not even at an AT&T store.

 

[PGP_Protector]

I called the customer service and they refused to price match or give me any refund at all. Same story at the ATT store. I guess I have no choice other than return the phone.

Well if you like the phone, you can always keep it, after all, it is a nice phone.

 

[Jofaba]

Is this only if you bought the phone through AT&T? Probably a dumb question. I purchased at Best Buy. So I should probably try this through them right? I'm going to kick myself if I miss out on a refund... Today's the last day isn't it?

 

[Extract0r]

I think the trick here is that you have to be out of contract and free to switch over to a different carrier if you were to return the Captivate.

AT&T will bend over backwards trying to retain you as a customer. Including giving you credit towards your account. The amount seems to vary. I think the $125 they offered me was a rounded up amount of my last month's bill.

If you bought your Captivate as an early upgrade, they probably won't give you any credit at all.

 

[LSUSOBEAST]

I just got off the phone with them. $155 credit!

 

[qwertyaas]

I have no lines under contract and want to renew a line for the Captivate. They have put me on hold for over 30 minutes, and 3 different reps hung up on me while on hold. I am now being transfered to a manager and on hold for 30minutes...

The call time so far has been 1hour 37minutes.

 

[Killemall]

I think the trick here is that you have to be out of contract and free to switch over to a different carrier if you were to return the Captivate.

AT&T will bend over backwards trying to retain you as a customer. Including giving you credit towards your account. The amount seems to vary. I think the $125 they offered me was a rounded up amount of my last month's bill.

If you bought your Captivate as an early upgrade, they probably won't give you any credit at all.

Hmm. I don't think so. I have been month to month for the last 3 years and a ATT customer for 5 yrs. I was super nice with the customer rep, and speaking with the manager didn't help. Maybe I should have threatened them to switch carrier and bitch about the GPS issue. It pisses me off big time that they don't treat all customers the same.

 

[Extract0r]

Did you talk to a regular customer service agent or a retention department agent? Did you push a button for canceling or terminating service with AT&T? That's how I reached my agent.

Hmm. I don't think so. I have been month to month for the last 3 years and a ATT customer for 5 yrs. I was super nice with the customer rep, and speaking with the manager didn't help. Maybe I should have threatened them to switch carrier and bitch about the GPS issue. It pisses me off big time that they don't treat all customers the same.

 

[JDM9499]

I think the trick here is that you have to be out of contract and free to switch over to a different carrier if you were to return the Captivate.

AT&T will bend over backwards trying to retain you as a customer. Including giving you credit towards your account. The amount seems to vary. I think the $125 they offered me was a rounded up amount of my last month's bill.

If you bought your Captivate as an early upgrade, they probably won't give you any credit at all.

I actually purchased my Captivate on an early upgrade, and was grandfathered in with an unlimited date package. My 30 days are up as well, and they still gave me a $100 credit, though it was a pain in the rear trying to get it. It only depends on the manager you get on the phone, or store you visit, and if they are willing to give you a credit. Again, they do not have to, because AT&T does not do price matching.