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Started By
Message
Frick buying a phone on the AT&T Next plan
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:20 pm
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:20 pm
Such a rip-off from the good ole days of paying only $100-200 (or even getting it for free) and owning the phone outright. I'd rather get a slightly older phone that's been out a year or two and buy it used. No Samsung, I will not pay $900 for your flagship phone.
Now that that's out of the way, what are the best options of buying let's say something like an S6 Active or S7 (or something similar) for $250ish or less? Just find one used? Does AT&T offer older phone at a better price? I just can't justify spending almost a $1000 on a phone that will probably break or malfunction within a year or two.
Now that that's out of the way, what are the best options of buying let's say something like an S6 Active or S7 (or something similar) for $250ish or less? Just find one used? Does AT&T offer older phone at a better price? I just can't justify spending almost a $1000 on a phone that will probably break or malfunction within a year or two.
5
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:25 pm to LSUperior
The Next plan is interest free and I think it's required for all plans. AT&T won't let you buy a phone outright anymore. At least that's what they told me.
ETA: Buy an unlocked phone on Swappa or eBay.
ETA: Buy an unlocked phone on Swappa or eBay.
This post was edited on 6/27/17 at 1:26 pm
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:27 pm to LSUperior
Once again, you were never paying just $200 for your upgrade. The cost was just rolled into the new contract.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:29 pm to SabiDojo
quote:
The Next plan is interest free
Ok, that still doesn't justify the $900+ price tag. They did this so they could basically "strong-arm" the majority of people into paying the ridiculous full price of the phone as opposed to a subsidized price. They try to make it look appealing because "hey, it's only $28 a month" but for 30 FRICKEN MONTHS! And you are still paying the original outrageous price in the end.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:31 pm to Covingtiger
quote:
Once again, you were never paying just $200 for your upgrade. The cost was just rolled into the new contract.
What do you mean rolled into the new contract? It was a 2 year agreement that I was perfectly fine with signing because I was planning on retaining their services anyways.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:32 pm to SabiDojo
quote:
ETA: Buy an unlocked phone on Swappa or eBay.
I think that may be the best option. As long as it isn't stolen and it is in good shape.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:32 pm to LSUperior
quote:
It was a 2 year agreement that I was perfectly fine with signing because I was planning on retaining their services anyways.
Sure but you probably paid an extra 36$ a month to pay off the remaining balance on the phone. You were ALWAYS paying 700-900$ for a new phone, you just didn't know it.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:35 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Ok, that still doesn't justify the $900+ price tag. They did this so they could basically "strong-arm" the majority of people into paying the ridiculous full price of the phone as opposed to a subsidized price. They try to make it look appealing because "hey, it's only $28 a month" but for 30 FRICKEN MONTHS! And you are still paying the original outrageous price in the end.
Yeah dude I was just saying. I completely agree with you. I think it's dumb but it's how they do things now.
When my phone broke I needed one but I wanted to wait because the new models were coming out. So, I bought a $170 LG. I was going to pay for it all right there but they said they couldn't do that and that I had to sign an AT&T Next Plan.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:41 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Such a rip-off from the good ole days of paying only $100-200 (or even getting it for free) and owning the phone outright.
You did not "buy" the phone for $200. You made a down payment and the payment plan for the phone was hidden from you in such a way that if you didn't upgrade after you paid it off, you were just giving AT&T extra money each month. The old way was leasing and the new way is buying. You aren't getting screwed now any more than you were back then. In fact you're getting screwed less now because you aren't penalized for not upgrading if you choose not to.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 1:45 pm to TigerinATL
quote:
You did not "buy" the phone for $200. You made a down payment and the payment plan for the phone was hidden from you in such a way that if you didn't upgrade after you paid it off, you were just giving AT&T extra money each month
Amazing that people did not then, and apparently do not now, realize this.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:02 pm to LSUperior
I'm always in the mood to bash AT&T, but your anger is misplaced here.
The end result was you were always paying full price for the phone, it's just your phone payments weren't itemized on your bill. So the sneaky part here was, once your contract was up, YOUR BILL DIDN'T DROP. They just let you keep on paying extra for the phone that you've already paid off. Now THAT was fricked up, and the BYOPhone providers brought this to light, so AT&T had to adjust and stop fricking everyone.
Phones are getting more expensive, no doubt about it. But it's your choice which phone you buy, nobody is strong-arming you into buying a $900 phone.
The old contract plans were anti-consumer, and cost more for everyone. The new plans are more transparent, and give you more choice in how you spend your money. Just because $1k phones exist doesn't mean you have to buy one. You were just tricked into buying the latest flagships every two years on your old contract plan. It didn't hurt so much because it was only $200 up front, but you just never realized you were being charged monthly installments anyway. Now you're mad because those installments are itemized for you on a Next plan?
quote:You didn't really own the phone in the "good ole days". Or, depending on how you look at it, you did own the phone, but in exchange AT&T owned a claim on your money in the future. You either had to finish out your contract, or you had to pay an early termination fee.
Such a rip-off from the good ole days of paying only $100-200 (or even getting it for free) and owning the phone outright.
The end result was you were always paying full price for the phone, it's just your phone payments weren't itemized on your bill. So the sneaky part here was, once your contract was up, YOUR BILL DIDN'T DROP. They just let you keep on paying extra for the phone that you've already paid off. Now THAT was fricked up, and the BYOPhone providers brought this to light, so AT&T had to adjust and stop fricking everyone.
quote:That's on the manufacturer and the market, not AT&T.
Ok, that still doesn't justify the $900+ price tag.
quote:No, in the "good ole days" they were strong-arming and/or confusing people into paying much more than the value of the phone over time. The new plans are more transparent so consumers WON'T get strong-armed into a deal they don't want. You should stop saying "subsidized price" and start saying "down payment".
They did this so they could basically "strong-arm" the majority of people into paying the ridiculous full price of the phone as opposed to a subsidized price.
quote:Well, shite, you mean we have to pay for what we get? Imagine that!
They try to make it look appealing because "hey, it's only $28 a month" but for 30 FRICKEN MONTHS! And you are still paying the original outrageous price in the end.
Phones are getting more expensive, no doubt about it. But it's your choice which phone you buy, nobody is strong-arming you into buying a $900 phone.
The old contract plans were anti-consumer, and cost more for everyone. The new plans are more transparent, and give you more choice in how you spend your money. Just because $1k phones exist doesn't mean you have to buy one. You were just tricked into buying the latest flagships every two years on your old contract plan. It didn't hurt so much because it was only $200 up front, but you just never realized you were being charged monthly installments anyway. Now you're mad because those installments are itemized for you on a Next plan?
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:02 pm to LSUperior
quote:
What do you mean rolled into the new contract? It was a 2 year agreement that I was perfectly fine with signing because I was planning on retaining their services anyways.
Under the old plan, you paid $200 upfront and then $100 per month for your contract. That $100 a month actually pays for your phone plan AND for the remaining cost of the phone. You weren't getting an $800 phone for $200. However, at the end of the two-year contract, you could upgrade your phone by paying $200 again, or do nothing and still pay $100 dollars a month.
Under the AT&T next plan there is transparency in how much your phone is costing per month, and you elect how many payments you want to make. So now you have no down payment for the new phone, and a phone bill of say $100 while you pay off the phone. Once the phone is paid off, your monthly phone bill actually drops in price to say $80/month. You can then keep your current phone and enjoy a lower cost bill until you need to get something else.
If you are someone that doesn't need the newest phone, you can actually save a lot more money using the AT&T next plan. On the other hand, you can elect to upgrade your phone much faster under this plan if you elect to make larger monthly payments or by paying off the balance early.
This post was edited on 6/27/17 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:03 pm to jcole4lsu
Go online and buy an unlocked phone.... dozens of reputable retailers
Swap out your SIM
Swap out your SIM
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:11 pm to OchoDedos
Anyways...I'll just buy a reasonably price, slightly older model phone for a lot less than the shiny flagship phone that runs you a grand.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:12 pm to OchoDedos
quote:
Go online and buy an unlocked phone.... dozens of reputable retailers
Care to share any of them besides ebay?
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:14 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Anyways...
You just got completely schooled on your little rant.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:34 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Anyways...
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:35 pm to monkeybutt
"Care to share any of them besides ebay?"
Craigslist
Craigslist
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:37 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Care to share any of them besides ebay?
I like swappa.com.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:52 pm to LSUperior
quote:
Anyways...I'll just buy a reasonably price, slightly older model phone for a lot less than the shiny flagship phone that runs you a grand.
OnePlus 5
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