"free" Apple Watch

This happened to me, too! Went in to the store for an issue, and the salesperson told me I could trade in my iPhone 11 PRO for an iPhone 15 for free, and I would also get a free Apple Watch. Well, the iPhone 15 isn't the pro, and the watch isn't "free", which I didn't know until we got our first bill. Tried to return the watch and cancel the monthly service for it, but manager said we missed the return window. So now we're stuck with a watch that has it's own monthly bill. Absolutely (Edited per community guidelines) about their shady business practices. 

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Umm, cellular companies rarely give out cellular devices for free/discount/B1G1/BOGO without requiring cellular service.

It's pretty much their business model...

Heck, even if you want to finance it for full price, they require cellular service!

Gary, 

I own an Apple Watch, given to me by my family. I can make and receive calls on it, as it is somehow linked to my phone. I don’t pay a separate phone bill for that watch. The salesman at the AT&T store told me I would get a new free Apple Watch when I upgraded our plan. I assumed the new watch would work as my current watch works. I was never told it would have its own phone number and its own plan that required a monthly fee. Free is free. Don’t treat longstanding customers like this. 

All legitimate deals are show at WIRELESS DISCOUNTS FOR FIRST RESPONDER

There is no offer for a free watch.  

Cell phone companies only sell the Apple Watch version with its own SIM.  That’s their business model.  They sell cell service, and they only sell devices that use cell service.  Unfortunately, while the watch itself is “free” (I.e. you aren’t paying for the device itself), the service isn’t.

@SENAGHISQIRE  and @lizardrn95 

If the store you went into was an Authorized AT&T Retail Store it's not uncommon for them to not fully disclose the details of a deal or promo, or just flatout mislead the customer in order to make a sale. These Retail Stores are not owned or operated by AT&T nor do they have AT&T employees. Their sole purpose is to sell AT&T goods and services and then pass the sale information to AT&T, who hasn't a clue as to what was said and/or promised to the customer. AT&T will only honor what is listed, in detail, on their website. 

Nothing is ever free. There are always going to caveats and gotchas. The receipt should indicate what you are being charged for as well as the TOS which you should have read. And, as mentioned, a cellular provider is in the business of selling cellular devices. Cellular devices require a phone line to work which means there will be an additional charge, usually $10 plus taxes, per month for that line. That's why it's always best to know what the return window is, check your account online, and read the TOS online if you weren't given a copy. Technically, you did business with the Retail Store and not AT&T. If it was an AT&T Corporate Store or online at AT&T, or even a Retail Store, file a complaint with the BBB. That will get forwarded to AT&T Upper Management and someone will contact you. Just have all of your documentation on hand and hopefully they can help straighten out the issue. No guarantees but that's as high as a customer can go in AT&T with a complaint.

Atthelp- your link takes me to a chat which does not work.  Can you please tell me how to escalate this claim before I take it to small claims court. Thanks.

@lizardrn95  There are two kinds of Apple watches. GPS only and cellular (sometimes referred to as the "free bird" version). The GPS only, which I have as well, uses your WiFi (when at home) and Bluetooth elsewhere to connect to your phone. You need to be within a certain distance of your phone for it to work. The GPS version does not use a cellular connection so there is no need for a line of its own. The cellular version is like your cell phone so yes, you do need a separate cellular line, and charge, for it to work with cellular. You can always disable the cellular option and use it like your other watch. The "free" part is that you don't pay for the watch, but you still need to pay for the cellular connection. That is mentioned in the TOS. 

@SENAGHISQIRE  You can try filing a BBB complaint, which gets sent to upper management, who’ll contact you it a couple of business days.