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AT&T increases upgrade fee. (Photo courtesy: Engadget)
AT&T has announced it is doubling the price of its equipment upgrade fee, now charging $36 when a customer activates a new phone on their wireless account.
Our regular reader Scott sent word AT&T raised the upgrade fee Feb. 12, from $18 to $36, to “cover their costs. ” The fee now matches that charged by Sprint.
From AT&T’s official statement:
Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn’t unique to AT&T and this is the first time we’re changing it in nearly 10 years.
Wireless companies in North America encourage more frequent phone upgrades because of their business model: pitching subsidized phones in return for a two-year contract commitment, along with higher-priced service plans which gradually recoup the cost of the subsidy.
Consumers who hang on to their phones longer than two years continue to pay higher prices for service plans designed for those who always upgrade phones every two years at contract renewal time. Phone companies also prefer customers who live under a term contract because they are less likely to switch providers.
In the past, loyal customers not only received extra incentives and discounts when they renewed their contracts, they also had these kinds of service fees waived. No more. Most companies have discontinued extra upgrade discounts for existing customers and increasingly refuse to waive service and equipment fees.
Other stories of interest:
- iPhone Owners Start Bugging AT&T for Special Upgrade Discounts
- Verizon Wireless Eliminating “New Every Two” Program; Other Upgrade Discounts Being Phased Out
- AT&T Tells Customers It Is Abandoning 2G Service: Upgrade Your Phone If You Want to Still Use It
- AT&T Allows Long-Standing Smartphone Customers to Switch Back to Unlimited Data Plans
- Verizon Wireless Extends “Smartphones Talk Free” Offer: $9.99 Off New Smartphone Lines
Been a long time since long time customers got anything from carriers. New subscribers are all they care about these days. Just looking for someone else to hook into a new contract with higher costs instead of us with old grandfathered in plans.