Disappointed because not selling from us carriers..

[co.ag.2005]

The problem for many people is that there are still major carriers out there that are unwilling to lower your monthly rates even if you're not buying subsidized. For those people who aren't getting any savings, it actually benefits them more to buy on contract subsidized and save a couple hundred dollars. The choice for them comes down to

1. Buy outright for $500 but still pay the exact same/month
2. Buy on contract subsidy for let's say, $300 and keep it for 2 years.
3. Buy outright but upgrade after 1 year instead of 2 and avoid paying a fee to upgrade earlier than 2 years.

In order to save more money you're still better off financially to make sure you sell your previous phone to offset the cost of the new one. For me personally that's not an option because my previous phone always gets handed down to a family member. Once they're through with it the resale value is next to nothing.

Which carriers? At&T, Verizon, and TMobile have cheaper per line charges if you buy phone full cost or use a phone lease program. For example, if on at&T or Verizon, being on a mobile share (family) plan, 2 year contract per line cost was $40. With a bring your own device or carrier lease program, that per line cost is only $15. Verizon's new plans are now $20 per line access fee with no options for 2 year contract /subsidized handset model.

I get that some plans are a bit cheaper if you haven't migrated to the newer mobile share plans (e.g. AT&Ts unlimited plan) but most people are on these newer data share plans because old ones haven't been offered in a while. If on a data share plan, its been proven cheaper to buy your phone outright or use a lease program (next, edge, jump, etc.) than doing the 2 year contract with $100 or $200 upfront.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Ry]

The problem for many people is that there are still major carriers out there that are unwilling to lower your monthly rates even if you're not buying subsidized. For those people who aren't getting any savings, it actually benefits them more to buy on contract subsidized and save a couple hundred dollars. The choice for them comes down to

1. Buy outright for $500 but still pay the exact same/month
2. Buy on contract subsidy for let's say, $300 and keep it for 2 years.
3. Buy outright but upgrade after 1 year instead of 2 and avoid paying a fee to upgrade earlier than 2 years.

In order to save more money you're still better off financially to make sure you sell your previous phone to offset the cost of the new one. For me personally that's not an option because my previous phone always gets handed down to a family member. Once they're through with it the resale value is next to nothing.

Which carriers don't lower your monthly rate?

 

[flychinook]

Which carriers don't lower your monthly rate?

Sprint's legacy plans, including the unlimited SERO plan that I'm on. If I changed over to a newer, equivalent consumer plan, I would only save $10/month... a savings that would quickly be lost the next time my wife upgrades to whatever new Samsung is out at that time, and has to put it on installment billing.

 

[Ry]

Sprint's legacy plans, including the unlimited SERO plan that I'm on. If I changed over to a newer, equivalent consumer plan, I would only save $10/month... a savings that would quickly be lost the next time my wife upgrades to whatever new Samsung is out at that time, and has to put it on installment billing.

But that's an old plan.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[getbretweir]

I honestly think Moto's efforts this year at a similar solution is a bit better... effective at getting it out of carrier hands, but it still is available at Amazon and Best Buy.

I'd prefer they don't include anyone other than maintaining a direct to consumer chain.

reason being is cost. get best buy, amazon, whoever involved, and that $499 goes up since there would be more mouths to feed.

the less middlemen, the less marketing, the lower the price, which means the better the phone cause they can still price it where they want it, but don't have to cut back as much.

 

[Ry]

I'd prefer they don't include anyone other than maintaining a direct to consumer chain.

reason being is cost. get best buy, amazon, whoever involved, and that $499 goes up since there would be more mouths to feed.

the less middlemen, the less marketing, the lower the price, which means the better the phone cause they can still price it where they want it, but don't have to cut back as much.

In the case of Best Buy, I think most "normals" would want to handle the phone in person.

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[lkbig]

Agreed that consumers would be smart to stop buying carrier-branded phones. I've bought unlocked phones for years, with a couple of exceptions.

But old habits, convenience and cheap up-front costs are gonna keep carriers in the hardware business for a long time. It's too easy to walk into a store, pick a phone off the shelf, have the opportunity to have some hands-on time with a few choices, walk out with it immediately and do it for $200, $100, $50 or even $0 cash out of pocket.

Sure, they'll pay more for the phone in the long run, but the store has to cover overhead. In return the customer gets a hands-on before buying, immediate delivery and a place to go with actual, real people there when they need help. For the tech-challenged, these are HUGE advantages.

That hands-on trial and walk out with it in your pocket experience is something Amazon or Newegg or Google just can't offer. Even if they offer financing or the buyer finances it with a credit card to keep from paying a big lump of cash, they still can't duplicate that in-store experience. It's why Apple has retail stores.

So there's a place for carrier phone sales. They serve a very useful purpose and absolutely should keep selling phones. They just need to keep the friggin' bloatware off!

Android since v1.0. Linux since 2001

You make good points and now that you mention it I agree. For those that are technically challenge or intimidated by technology. In that case they are paying for an extended service. However people who are comfortable with tech or have someone who can help them for free, or someone where money is a primary factor, I still think prepaid is preferable.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[kae9797]

The problem is carriers like Verizon don't have any good android phones anymore.. Moto X pure , can't buy it from them.
Nexus 6p or 5x, nope not there too!
Seems all they are selling are old Androids or the F*****ing iPhone garbage.
Or worst the Samsung line that I can't keep track of with all the junk they put out!

I have 4 upgrades and not 1 phone that I want from them.
Seems the only reason I'm still there is I have unlimited data on 4 of 5 phones.
I guest I will buy a iPhone or 2 and then sell them on swappa!

 

[mabr82]

If you want monthly payments then stick it on a credit card and oay it off over the same period.

Or an old fashioned idea try saving until you can afford it?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[syspry]

Which carriers don't lower your monthly rate?

Sprint's legacy plans, including the unlimited SERO plan that I'm on. If I changed over to a newer, equivalent consumer plan, I would only save $10/month... a savings that would quickly be lost the next time my wife upgrades to whatever new Samsung is out at that time, and has to put it on installment billing.

But that's an old plan.

Posted via the Android Central App

I'm also on a legacy plan. Yes it's older but there's a lot of my friends and coworkers in the same boat as me, lucky enough to maintain grandfathered awesome plans that aren't offered anymore at a significantly lower price and better data caps than the equivalent new ones and we're unwilling to lose them.

There's also many people who got cut rates to their plans through workplace perks years ago. The savings/month on those plans are higher than what the newer plans are offering if you BYOD. That being the case, we'd end up actually paying more to buy outright not only at the front end, but also in monthly fees.

 

[So Cold]

It's very evident that we all come at this from different angles and with different preconceptions. Some people have large families while others are on individual plans, some want to upgrade every 2 weeks other every 2 years.... so on and so on.

So I'm not going to say what works for me will work for everyone and if you don't do what I do you're wrong or inferior. I will say that buying a phone outright (my first was the Nexus 5) felt very weird at first but I will probably never go back to buying something from the carrier.

I like the clear delineation that comes from my phone purchase being completely separate from my cell service.

I like that now I don't pick a carrier because of their phone selection, bloatware, software update practices.... I choose my carrier based off their price and availability of service.

Whoever mentioned apple also has it right because apple was smart to leave the service to the carriers and the software to them. If verizon or att makes an app that anybody actually want to own we'll go get rather than having it crammed down our throats.

 

[Ry]

I'm also on a legacy plan. Yes it's older but there's a lot of my friends and coworkers in the same boat as me, lucky enough to maintain grandfathered awesome plans that aren't offered anymore at a significantly lower price and better data caps than the equivalent new ones and we're unwilling to lose them.

There's also many people who got cut rates to their plans through workplace perks years ago. The savings/month on those plans are higher than what the newer plans are offering if you BYOD. That being the case, we'd end up actually paying more to buy outright not only at the front end, but also in monthly fees.

Point is: they all offer plans that lower the service cost if you bring your own phone. If you want to stick to a legacy plan because that works better for you, that's on you.

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[Aquila]

Point is: they all offer plans that lower the service cost if you bring your own phone. If you want to stick to a legacy plan because that works better for you, that's on you.

Posted via the Android Central App

Right, if you're on the legacy plans you're already feeling a better deal than everyone else, so no reason to increase the savings. Byod savings are for current plans that can be purchased now.

sent via Nexus Assassin Edition. Gonfaloniere.

 

[Almeuit]

Point is: they all offer plans that lower the service cost if you bring your own phone. If you want to stick to a legacy plan because that works better for you, that's on you.

Posted via the Android Central App

I agree with this as well. The legacy plan usually offers a better deal all round for the person even without the small discounts for BYOD .

 

[sstephen17]

Called Verizon yesterday and asked about bringing the 6P over to replace my Note 4. Everything should work out fine. The rep reviewed our plan though (3 lines, 6 gigs shared) and recommended we switch to a 1gb plan that with current promotions for long term customers (we've had Verizon for over 10 years IIRC) includes 4 gb free data per month for a total of 5 gb plan. It saves us over $40 a month. Combined, all three lines rarely go over 1gb combined (we all have WiFi at work and home). Confirmed that making this change did not extend any contracts and that we could revert to our old plan at any time. I have a feeling that this is being done to encourage long term customers to stay with Verizon.

With multiple carriers offering to pay off your current service to switch and get the latest iPhone, I think perhaps they anticipate a lot of people switching over? We get a 17% discount off our monthly bill from employee discounts and Verizon has always had the best service in our location, so it is highly unlikely that we would ever switch.

 

[puch96]

Maybe is time for Google to open up the Google Stores (physical stores that is), so that people can buy Google products (such as Chromecasts, tablets, etc) as well as having in store exposure to the Nexus line of devices and excellent customer service...
Maybe is too much to ask.....

 

[So Cold]

Maybe is time for Google to open up the Google Stores (physical stores that is), so that people can buy Google products (such as Chromecasts, tablets, etc) as well as having in store exposure to the Nexus line of devices and excellent customer service...
Maybe is too much to ask.....

I would love that, might not ever happen but I would vote yes.

 

[Ry]

Maybe is time for Google to open up the Google Stores (physical stores that is), so that people can buy Google products (such as Chromecasts, tablets, etc) as well as having in store exposure to the Nexus line of devices and excellent customer service...
Maybe is too much to ask.....

I think an expansion within Best Buy of the Google section is more likely.

 

[syspry]

Maybe is time for Google to open up the Google Stores (physical stores that is), so that people can buy Google products (such as Chromecasts, tablets, etc) as well as having in store exposure to the Nexus line of devices and excellent customer service...
Maybe is too much to ask.....

I don't think that's the way to go for them. After all, wouldn't most of the displays be from products by their OEM partners? That'd basically be little different than a Bestbuy with a tiny handful of their own.

 

[getbretweir]

If you want monthly payments then stick it on a credit card and oay it off over the same period.

Or an old fashioned idea try saving until you can afford it?

Posted via the Android Central App

saving? what's that? ;-)