went to att store and no mail rebate available

[SteveJobCutLine4myLiver]

so i went to the store at 10am today to buy the aria with cash in hand, ready to commit for another 2 years. the store manager was willing to sell me the phone but he told me that i cannot get the mail-in rebate because it's not launch day. so instead, he tried to offer me $130 in store accessories credit. is this for real or was he trying to pull a fast one on me? wtf am i going to do with $130 worth of accessories? so i refused and walked out empty handed . i might just go to verizon and get the incredible and the $30 unlimited data before they chance that to tiered data. any of you had the same experience?

 

[Cronis]

its not release day... he can do w/e he likes from where I'm standing. if you can afford the droid go get it.

 

[SteveJobCutLine4myLiver]

INC is 149.99 thru wirefly vs. 229.99 - 100MIR for the aria. if wirefly lists the aria for less than $50, i'll get the aria... and the salesman tried to discourage me from buy it off contract by telling me the full price is $450 (BS?). i don't know how the commission works with them but att''s sales people are worse than some used car dealers.

 

[screenamesuck]

Just go to Best Buy and don't worry about a mail in rebate. I still don't understand why people buy from the carrier store??? Other than billing, BB can do pretty much everything the AT&T store can and you don't have to worry about that rebate crap.

 

[SteveJobCutLine4myLiver]

Just go to Best Buy and don't worry about a mail in rebate. I still don't understand why people buy from the carrier store??? Other than billing, BB can do pretty much everything the AT&T store can and you don't have to worry about that rebate crap.

thx. best buy sounds like the perfect place for me. i can pick up a set of earbuds while i'm there.

 

[kirbo20]

The rebate forms don't start until tomorrow. That's why you couldn't get the rebate.

 

[Donatron]

Just go to Best Buy and don't worry about a mail in rebate. I still don't understand why people buy from the carrier store??? Other than billing, BB can do pretty much everything the AT&T store can and you don't have to worry about that rebate crap.

Do you still get the 30 day trial if you buy from Best Buy? I plan on gettin the Aria tomorrow, but I'm not 100% certain this is the phone I want to commit myself to for the next 2 years. I figure that 30 days should be enough time for me to decide if I want keep the Aria, wait for the Captivate, get an iPhone 4, or go to Verizon for the Incredible.

Not having to deal with rebates is a huge plus. But I'll only go through them if I have the option to change my mind within 30.

 

[screenamesuck]

Do you still get the 30 day trial if you buy from Best Buy? I plan on gettin the Aria tomorrow, but I'm not 100% certain this is the phone I want to commit myself to for the next 2 years. I figure that 30 days should be enough time for me to decide if I want keep the Aria, wait for the Captivate, get an iPhone 4, or go to Verizon for the Incredible.

Not having to deal with rebates is a huge plus. But I'll only go through them if I have the option to change my mind within 30.

yes there is a 30 day return policy and there is also no restocking fee (except for iPhone)

 

[Ambictus]

so i went to the store at 10am today to buy the aria with cash in hand, ready to commit for another 2 years. the store manager was willing to sell me the phone but he told me that i cannot get the mail-in rebate because it's not launch day. so instead, he tried to offer me $130 in store accessories credit. is this for real or was he trying to pull a fast one on me? wtf am i going to do with $130 worth of accessories? so i refused and walked out empty handed . i might just go to verizon and get the incredible and the $30 unlimited data before they chance that to tiered data. any of you had the same experience?

Man... if I had the option to skip over to Verizon and get an Incredible I'd likely do it in a heartbeat.

Well, maybe not... I get a nice discount with AT&T...

 

[Cronis]

Man... if I had the option to skip over to Verizon and get an Incredible I'd likely do it in a heartbeat.

Well, maybe not... I get a nice discount with AT&T...

lol same im paying about $25 for unlimited data text and voice

 

[Donatron]

yes there is a 30 day return policy and there is also no restocking fee (except for iPhone)

Nice! That's definitely the better option. No rebate hassle, and no restocking fee. Luckily, the Best Buy is in the same shopping center as the AT&T, so I don't even need to make a further trip. Thanks for the tip.

 

[screenamesuck]

Here is a little tip for anyone that is looking to get into wireless sales. I'm not sure if its the same for everyone that sales Verizon, but I know Best Buy Mobile employees can choose ANY phone they want on Verizon for FREE and the monthly plan is like $10 or $15 and data is like half off. Pretty good deal. I just hear so many people talking about Verizon on here, so I figured some might be interested if they are looking for a new job. Of course you have to give the phone back when you quit and you can't get another free one for another year though.

 

[Ambictus]

lol same im paying about $25 for unlimited data text and voice

Yeah, I have a nice discount... yours is ridiculously nice. I get 21% off lol.

 

[Donatron]

Looks like no Aria for me. I went to Best Buy yesterday to buy one, but I can't get my unlimited data plan grandfathered in. My data plan is an old bundle (unlimited data + 1500 text messages) that is no longer in the system. So they couldn't migrate it over when upgrading. I then went to an AT&T corp store, hoping that they could do it, but they said the same thing.

I think I might cut my ties w/ AT&T and go to Verizon. I have a feeling that within a year, a 2GB cap is going to seem very restrictive as new data intensive features begin popping up on our phones. That's probably the main reason why AT&T decided to stop offering unlimited data.

 

[Ambictus]

Looks like no Aria for me. I went to Best Buy yesterday to buy one, but I can't get my unlimited data plan grandfathered in. My data plan is an old bundle (unlimited data + 1500 text messages) that is no longer in the system. So they couldn't migrate it over when upgrading. I then went to an AT&T corp store, hoping that they could do it, but they said the same thing.

I think I might cut my ties w/ AT&T and go to Verizon. I have a feeling that within a year, a 2GB cap is going to seem very restrictive as new data intensive features begin popping up on our phones. That's probably the main reason why AT&T decided to stop offering unlimited data.

You can skip to Verizon and should if it's realistic. However, don't do it just because of the data plan. Verizon will be following in AT&T's footsteps shortly. They've already made clear their intentions to cap data.

 

[lordmaxx]

I love how these phone companies are all talking about faster cell networks HSPA+ 4G etc etc and so they want to give us faster networks, but then cap your data usage...oh well get locale and get use to using hot spots as best you can.

 

[maerlim]

Looks like no Aria for me. I went to Best Buy yesterday to buy one, but I can't get my unlimited data plan grandfathered in. My data plan is an old bundle (unlimited data + 1500 text messages) that is no longer in the system. So they couldn't migrate it over when upgrading. I then went to an AT&T corp store, hoping that they could do it, but they said the same thing.

Donatron, did you go to an AT&T corporate store, or an authorized retailer? A corporate store should have been able to simply renew the contract you have without "migrating" anything.

Oh... unless your "unlimited data" is the "dumb phone" unlimited data plan, not the "smartphone" unlimited data plan. Then you would be screwed.

 

[Donatron]

You can skip to Verizon and should if it's realistic. However, don't do it just because of the data plan. Verizon will be following in AT&T's footsteps shortly. They've already made clear their intentions to cap data.

Well I called up the AT&T customer service phone number, and they were able to help me out. The CSR made a note on my account saying that I'm eligible for an unlimited data plan. So even though I can't keep my bundle, I'm able to add on the $30 unlimited data plan.

I'll probably head over to Best Buy later today. Although, there's one caveat with purchasing from Best Buy. Their non-commitment price is significantly higher at $499.99. Even though I'm only paying $129.99, I'm paying tax on the full $499.99.

 

[maerlim]

Well I called up the AT&T customer service phone number, and they were able to help me out. The CSR made a note on my account saying that I'm eligible for an unlimited data plan. So even though I can't keep my bundle, I'm able to add on the $30 unlimited data plan.

I'll probably head over to Best Buy later today. Although, there's one caveat with purchasing from Best Buy. Their non-commitment price is significantly higher at $499.99. Even though I'm only paying $129.99, I'm paying tax on the full $499.99.

Are you sure about that? Actually, I can't remember ever paying tax on a cell phone.

 

[kirbo20]

Their non-commitment price is significantly higher at $499.99. Even though I'm only paying $129.99, I'm paying tax on the full $499.99.

Why is that?

 

[Ambictus]

I know I've paid taxes on cell phones, but you should only be paying taxes on the price paid not the value of the item. Unless your state for some reason counts cell phones into the property tax laws...

 

[Donatron]

I don't know what the state laws are here in CA, but that's what the sales chick told me. Ends up being an extra $43.75 in taxes.

Come to think of it, I think I remember my wife having to do the same thing last year when she bought her iPhone 3GS.

edit: Ya, it's a state law. Here's an article: California Board of Equalization BOE Sales Tax Audit of Mobile Phone Business - Sales Tax Problem :: Los Angeles California Tax Attorney Blog

California Board of Equalization has focused on sales tax audit of independent mobile phone vendors. Cell phone vendors must charge for sales tax on the full sales price of a cell phone when purchased at a discounted price, even when the phone offered for free

 

[Ambictus]

Wow... that really sucks. That's just the silliest thing I've ever heard.

 

[maerlim]

By the way, Amazonwireless has the Aria for $50 if you just want to renew your contract, and $0.01 (one penny) with new contract.

 

[mkeath]

The fact that the phone is subsidized means that whoever is the retailer is paying for part of the phone. You pay for the rest. In effect, the phone is still 499.99, but you aren't paying for the whole thing. As such, you have to pay taxes on the 499.99. That is my theory behind the logic.