Ender’s game: price overrides OR how I got the iPhone 3G for $199 despite The Man trying to screw me.

So, I went to the Apple store the other day to get the iPhone 3G in honor of my landing a new job and, yeknow, ’cause it’s faster and shit. As the baby blue t-shirt clad chap helped me complete my purchase, he informed me that I wasn’t eligible for the “upgrade price” because my current AT&T contract is less than a year old. Instead of the widely advertised $199 price I would have to pay $399. I had never heard of such a thing, and my quick appraisal of the notion only cemented my initial reaction of “WTF?” Why would they penalize people who had contracts less than a year old? I called up AT&T and they confirmed this bizarre rule. Pissed off and confused, I left that day without a new iPhone.

Yesterday, I went back, resigned to my overcharged fate. I just couldn’t bear the thought of the EDGE network and no GPS until next April. Another baby blue t-shirt clad chap helped me and also pointed out the ridiculous AT&T pricing rule. I explained how I knew and what I knew. “Weird,” he said. “I know,” I replied. “Let me see what I can do on my end,” he said and walked off to god knows where. Probably a room full of baby blue t-shirt clad hipsters.

Eventually, he returned and informed me that he was able to hook me up with a “price override” and that I would be getting my new phone for the upgrade price of $199 plus tax and some shady changes in my phone plan required by AT&T when upgrading to the new phone. Whatever.

The big take away here is that, should you find yourself presented with the same bullshit $399 deal, don’t quit there! Ask about “price overrides” or come back later and look for a nerdy lookin’ fellow named Ender (Thanks, broseph!). Just know that victory can be yours, oh yes.. it can be yours.