re: Someone help me with AT&T Next

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I mapped it out on a spreadsheet for our family plan and the best deal was to do the 18 month AT&T Next play with the stipulation that you actually trade in your phone every 18 months.

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I haven't seen your spreadsheet and I don't need to and what you say is 100% categorically incorrect. There is no fricking way in this world anybody that is even a little bit informed and understands how these plans work will trade in their phone to ATT after making 12 payments or 18 payments (depending on what plan you choose) unless you don't have your life's priorities in order and want to a brand new phone every year.

Take this example:

If you choose the Next 18 plan, you would have paid $27*18 = $486 to ATT in the time you had your phone and then you will trade it in to ATT for free (because they aren't paying you jack squat for it)? Really? Why the hell wouldn't you keep making payments for the next 6 months and complete the 24 payments and own the phone outright? Even a two year iPhone is worth ~$300.

People of the Tech Board:

If you go with the NEXT Plan, don't trade-in your phone to ATT after 12/18 months. Complete the required payments (20 months for Next 12 plan and 24 months for the Next 18 plan) and own your phone outright. Then give it to a family member or sell it or do anything with it and it will still be better than gifting ATT hundreds of dollars, literally. Also if you are upgrading your phone more frequently than 24 months especially using the trade-in program you probably have financial discipline issues that you need to address. Who the frick needs a new smartphone every year?

p.s. Sorry if I get worked up, but all of my post was not directed at you. I can't stand these fricking companies take advantage of gullible customers by making these convoluted plans that are intentionally meant to be confusing.

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Also, after 18 months, you've paid for 75% of the phone. Will att allow you to pay the additional 25% and sell the phone outright?

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Yes, you can still upgrade and get a new phone. You can continue making payments for both phones. You will just have two payments for those 6 months that overalap. But after 6 months, the payments stop on the old phone and it is yours to keep.

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no

i beleive the 10GB of data would be 100 bucks

add 3 lines at 40 bucks apiece and you'll be at 220


the 25 dollar per line discount is applied to the 40 dollar phone fee, so each line really comes out to 15 bucks


that gets you to 145 for 3 lines of coverage with 10gb, and thats when you need to add the cost of the 3 phone installments

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Then since my bill is currently about $145, those discounts must already be built in. That is what I was trying to figure out...where or not I got an additional $25 per line if I upgraded through Next. In my case, it appears that there is a $25 FEE if I don't go through Next for an upgrade.

I think you are missing the per device charges.
My current contract is this:

10GB - $100/month
Each device is $15/month
I pay $160/month for 10GB and 4 devices.

Under Next, I will upgrade 2 smartphones and keep 2 flip phones.

10GB - $100/month
4 ddevices @ $15 each - $60
2 iPhone 6's @ $31.50 - $63
Total $223/month

New iPhone's under contract
10GB - $100
2 Old devices at $15 each - $30
2 iPhone 6's @ $40 each - $80
Total monthly cost $210
Plus 2 new subsidized phones at $199 each plus $40 each activation fee.

Bottom line is they are getting more money than you currently pay if you upgrade.

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same for verizon.....whether you owe 40% or 25% of the remaining phone price...check what its going for on ebay or craigslist before you just trade it in

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This.

It makes literally no sense to trade in an iphone or any other flagship on NEXT. I plan to upgrade every year (hell maybe even a few times a year if an android phone comes out that I like) and I will sell my phone myself thanks.

This is just sort of growing pains to get out of the scheme of subsidizing phones. People have gone so long paying a couple hundred dollars for $600 retail phones they don't realize that that discount was always made up on the monthly bill to the provider. Since many can't afford to buy brand new phones outright for $600+, they now finance the phones (next) and stop charging extra on the monthly bills.

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This is just sort of growing pains to get out of the scheme of subsidizing phones. People have gone so long paying a couple hundred dollars for $600 retail phones they don't realize that that discount was always made up on the monthly bill to the provider. Since many can't afford to buy brand new phones outright for $600+, they now finance the phones (next) and stop charging extra on the monthly bills.

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exactly


people against these plans still seem to think that they aren't paying for the phone......its just always been hidden and now its upfront


i wonder if it will ever lead to more competition in phone retail pricing

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You owe them 20 payments, but at 12 months you can upgrade. So you'll start paying for new phone while still having 8 payments due. Unless I have it wrong.

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If you upgrade at 12 months, you give the phone back and they waive the remaining 8 payments.

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Well, when I'm going to renew my contract, they're going to bump that up to $40/month for my line, unless i go with ATT Next and the line will stay at $15/month, but they'll charge me $30/month for the phone.

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So that's only $120 extra

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ATT next will save me

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Sorry, it's just that they sell you a turd sandwich and you're forced to say you like it. I don't know if T-Mobile works where you are, but if you have good coverage, tell AT&T to go frick themselves.

I've started another thread regarding switching to T-Mobile, but if anybody has any thoughts regarding their lease-to-own plan, i'd appreciate those as well.