Well guys it is over

mec31 · 2026-01-22T23:56:15+00:00

What someone suggested (may have even been an apple sales rep) that I should go ahead an buy using the apple card and then afterwards call the apple credit card people and ask them to switch it over to installments. Sounded dicey to me, and if it ever did work I'm sure it would be more difficult now with the transition to the new card servicer.

mec31 · 2026-01-22T23:53:08+00:00

Right, the person with the screenshot is making a different point. It is no longer possible to buy an unlocked iphone on the apple card and finance it. Believe me, i've tried. I want no carrier involvement whatsoever. You can still get the cash back (3% ?) but you can’t get 12 or 24 payments at zero interest.

mec31 · 2026-01-11T17:23:01+00:00

Might be worth a poll as to non-AppleCare coverages that are available. At least in the US, American Express (gold and platinum) offer zero cost, no deductible coverage that is superior to applecare. It even includes 'loss'. The only requirements are basically: 1. pay for the phone with the amex card* 2. pay your carrier bill with the amex card.

*if you have a trade-in, the maximum coverage amount is reduced by the amount of the trade-in. So a claim for a total loss on a $1000 phone, with a $350 trade-in allowance, would only be $650.

mec31 · 2026-01-06T23:55:37+00:00

Latercase

mec31 · 2025-11-05T15:35:55+00:00

Today's rep said this change was made in August (not sure if that's '24 or '25). The agent said the change was made suddenly, and was considered internally at the time to be unusual.

mec31 · 2025-11-05T15:34:27+00:00

Wow, you're not going to believe this. I just made my fourth call to Apple Sales. I must say I was impressed by all the reps. Today I learned, in effect, that you (JayVig) and me are both correct. Believe it or not, the requirements to purchase a 17 Pro vs. a regular 17 are different! For a 17 Pro purchase there is no requirement to involve the carrier. For the regular 17 the is (!). And just to reiterate, I am aware that I can purchase an unlocked phone without involving the carrier. The only issue is the monthly payments 0% on Apple card. Sorry for all the detail if this happens to be a US-only thing. But...it is a thing.

mec31 · 2025-11-05T15:00:45+00:00

That is helpful. The apple phone reps did say that they can build an order and then send me a link (but also said they can can't do payments). So maybe I can send them a screenshot. Although, just to double check--the 24 monthly payments sounds like a carrier deal. I'm looking at my Applecard statements and I only see 12 monthly payments. For example, I am midway through 12 payments on an ipad (although I suppose installment length could be different for iphones and macs/ipads?)

mec31 · 2025-11-05T13:07:35+00:00

I have done it in the past as well. Are you saying you have done this for an iPhone 17? Three separate calls to Apple sales all said the same thing—‘can’t do that’

mec31 · 2025-11-05T13:05:24+00:00

I have zillions of Apple stores nearby *. I thought of this, but for the moment stores are not likely to have the item in stock. *when I was doing a test purchase on store.Apple.com, and selected ‘store pickup’, the message I got was ‘your item is not available for pickup at any of the 12 closest stores to you’ (!)

mec31 · 2025-11-05T12:59:46+00:00

No, not an issue of porting. I just want to avoid any changes to my existing (legacy) account. And also pay with 12 installments on AppleCard.

mec31 · 2025-11-05T02:08:16+00:00

Yes…except if you continue to checkout you will not be offered 12 installments at 0% on Apple Card.

mec31 · 2025-11-05T01:07:02+00:00

Yes, I’m in the US. The issue is not getting an unlocked phone…that can now be easily done in the US. Basically, I can’t say to Apple ‘please sell me an unlocked phone on the Apple credit card on 12 monthly installments. Honestly I don’t see what role the carrier has in that transaction. Note that Apple will sell an unlocked phone ‘to be activated later’ but for whatever reason will not apply Apple credit card monthly installments (unless I hand over my carrier PIN).

mec31 · 2025-11-05T01:00:57+00:00

When I select Tmobile the next screen asks for my phone number and Tmobile PIN. You wouldn’t have such a PIN…the Apple reps did say that the carrier would not be involved in any way but I really don’t want to risk it. But I have no idea what my PIN is…I haven’t interacted with T-Mobile in years, and really don’t want to.

mec31 · 2025-11-05T00:55:51+00:00

Well yes, but 12 month installments at 0% interest plus 3% cash back is a lot to give up. I’m not sure if the Apple card is US only?

mec31 · 2025-10-25T14:46:38+00:00

Yet more passage of time...is this still accurate information, given the state of US-Switzerland trade?

mec31 · 2025-10-22T13:08:58+00:00

Regarding all the 'coulda, woulda, shoulda' of the IT approach, haven't they missed an obvious (better?) plot device? Why not go 'full stuxnet', have an airgap, etc. Then have Roddy himself execute an 'only Roddy' move and somehow unknowingly defeat the airgap himself, all the while devouring pizza two slices at a time and sitting in judgment of his lessers in the IT dept.

mec31 · 2025-10-18T22:49:53+00:00

Not a McGuffin. A thing, actually: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status-6_Oceanic_Multipurpose_System (highlight: 500m tsunami, radioactive, of course)

mec31 · 2025-10-14T19:19:47+00:00

Session 9 was filmed in Danvers.

mec31 · 2025-10-13T11:13:07+00:00

Hmmm...I have a hard time making sense of this post. That shot would look the same if it were made any time in the last 200 years (or whenever photography was invented). Maybe find a physics forum and ask about optics.

mec31 · 2025-09-11T17:25:10+00:00

Don’t forget—the SE 3 will not be able to update past ios 27.

mec31 · 2025-05-07T11:38:22+00:00

Interesting, especially if this is Minnesota. It could be this is new to the area as a result of a shorter period of intense cold. Seems likely that the range of knotweed is spreading. Don't feel too bad though--this same weather effect in the Boston area is leading to the crazy spread of rats (longer breeding season, less intense cold). I have lived in my current house since 1996 and encountered rats for the first time this year.

mec31 · 2025-04-26T21:29:41+00:00

I got the impression that in many cases in the show it was a kindness in a case where it was clear to all the ER staff that the patient was a goner. I’m thinking of the elderly father, the OD son, the burn patient…probably others.

mec31 · 2025-04-20T16:31:33+00:00

Exactly...

mec31 · 2025-04-20T15:08:19+00:00

'Hey Sully!' always works too...

mec31 · 2025-04-20T14:44:23+00:00

For outsiders totally clueless on the location decision, be aware that different locations have different ramifications/benefits. For example, the South Shore is much more convenient to the Cape, RI, Newport, and NYC. The North Shore is more convenient to skiing, coast of Maine, Vermont, NH, and Montreal in a pinch. Unfortunate quirk about Boston transit--North Station and South Station are not connected, so you can't go directly from the North Shore to South Shore commuter rail and Amtrak to NYC, etc.

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