Amazon drops price on Note to $229.99

[ScandaLeX]

Last night I saw AmazonWireless has the SGN for $230. so I took the plunge......then jumped back out the water and canceled my order. **hangs head**

As much as I want this phone, I just don't want another bill. Currently have 3 lines with Sprint & I I let my impulses do the thinking for me. This is a great deal for someone looking to get it on AT&T. I believe this is why so many of them have already been sold--tired of hoping your carrier gets it. Maybe I just need to go the international route so I won't get locked into a 2-yr agreement.

I'm still dumbfounded Tmo is getting this before Sprint.

 

[DAS]

@ScandaLex:

I understand your dilemma. I was with Sprint for over 10+ years, and had 5 lines on the "everything data" plan.

I did decide (just my line) to make the jump to At&t for the Note, but the truth is I had been waiting for this device since September and was already geared up.

I will say that buying an international Note, and not signing a two year contract with At&t will not unfortunately save you any money.

I don't have a contract because I paid full price ($650) from At&t for mine, but my monthly bill is the same as those who do have a contract.

The reason for that is the carrier still charges the same monthly price for data, voice, and text whether you're on contract or not. In fact, in hindsight, I should have signed the two year agreement so my out-of-pocket upfront cost would have been about $300 less.

Although the early termination fee is $325, At&t drops this fee by $10 each month, so you could get the device from Amazon for $230, sign a two year agreement, enjoy the Note for say 10 months (probably the time it would take for Sprint to get it), thereby reducing the ETF by $100, cancel the contract for $225, and have paid less ($555) or about the same as buying the international version.

If I had thought this through, that's what I should have done. I would then sell the At&t version, reactivate my line on Sprint, and use the sale price to pay for the Sprint version.

 

[mojosingle]

The first time I called Amazon and asked about the contract they reminded me that they are NOT the service provider though it's required for the upgrade. So I called AT&T and they said when you purchase from a third party and are an EXISTING customer, you call them to activate the phone and then they switch over the same plan you have now under the new 2 year contract.

I have never ordered a phone from them either, but uthere are lots of people that have. And if you wish to return it, they email you a return shipping label and drop it off. She also said that if there's a problem with the phone, they will send out a replacement along with the return shipping label so you are not without a phone.

Not having to pay CA sales tax is BIG on its own. Since the retail price of the Note is what.. $600+, the sales tax alone here in Marin would come to over $50. Bottom line: $230 vs. $350 is worth going with Amazon.

Just so you know... Walmart has a policy of charging you tax ONLY on the net contract price of your phone in Cali (not the full no-contract retail price as some other local retailers do). Not as good as the no tax Amazon offer but much better than tax on the full $600.00 to $800.00+ retail value of most of these devices.

 

[iPhone4Rocks!]

Not bad at all. Still the Amazon deal is the best one out there for those looking to upgrade. They even threw in a free car charger, and shipped super fast (free 2 day shipping ftw).