How do some of you pay for all these new phones?

[AstroStrat89]

Seems like there is always a thread or two where someone state that they are buying a new phone just few months after they got some other phone? Seems like it would cost 1000s of dollars a year to be picking up a new phone every few months. You buy off contact? Or you have 2 or 3 different contracts going at the same time?

I have 5 phones on my family plan and I still do see you some of you do it.

 

[dms76]

I've wondered the same thing somedays

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[FrankXS]

I try to stick to mine for 2 years, or at least until upgrade time. Been 100 percent successful up to now. With the elimination of the annual early upgrade and the NE2 discount, it's gonna be much harder these next two years. Aactually it's still 20 months on a 2 year contract, not a full 2 years. Especially with all the new hardware coming out.

To answer your question, specifically:

A lot of people do pay retail for early upgrades. Then they sell their old phone on ebay.

VZW has a trade-in program and will buy back your phone for a not-so-hot price: [HERE] Right now the TBolt is worth $240 for trade-in.

Also (this is me) a lot of people have family share plans of 2 to 5 lines. VZW allows you to shift upgrade dates around to different handsets on your account. In fact, you can even do this on line, automatically. It's easy. So, if you have two lines that are staggered, you'll get an upgrade each year. 5 lines and you'll get one more often. Of course this assumes that whomever in your family is holding that phone will not get that upgrade, 'cuz you're steeling it!

Also, I believe that due to the cutting back by VZW on the perks I mentioned above, you will be seeing more "private offers" and such (i.e. Sir, you as a preferred customer have been selected to receive an upgrade of your choice before the end of your contract", etc.). This way VZW can still maintain tight control on who gets early upgrades.

Also, also I would be remiss if I didn't mention that some of us are old farts who have worked all of our lives (well, not yet! ) for the ability to buy these overpriced toys whenever we want! Hahaha...

-Frank

 

[richardpandy]

I get the "new every 10months" instead of 2 years so that makes it better, plus most of my phones end up broken due to work, I do plumbing, so I am forced to purchase a new phone.

 

[iLLusive]

If people put funds aside and for example skip eatting out twice a week they could on average afford a $260 phone every 3 months

 

[zero neck]

Some people have jobs

 

[mannw1977]

Smartphones are something like a hobby. I love to read about the next new thing coming out. At that point I'm like a kid in a candy store. My wife keeps her phone forever so I also use her upgrade. That's what wifes are for correct.lol JOKE!

 

[rabernet]

Smartphones are something like a hobby. I love to read about the next new thing coming out. At that point I'm like a kid in a candy store. My wife keeps her phone forever so I also use her upgrade. That's what wifes are for correct.lol JOKE!

In this household, that's what the boyfriend is for. I'm the tech geek, he's perfectly happy with a phone that does nothing more than makes calls and sends texts.

 

[FrankXS]

Some people have jobs

+1 Hahaha

-Frank

 

[joeym2]

Employees get a concession line at no cost every three months. Our personal accounts are only 1year contract with upgrade at 10 months

Edit:

 

[Eclipse2K]

I've always been one to upgrade at full price if I saw a device that I wanted. However, it does get expensive but I cut the costs by selling my old device. This helps bring it closer to a reasonable price. I paid full price for my Thunderbolt so I'm planning to keep it for a while. However, I have an upgrade available in September so I could upgrade. But, I would like to save that for a phone that blows the Thunderbolt away rather than one that has minor differences. Besides, HTC Sense > MotoBlur.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

I've been with VZW for over 12 years now. Lately, after I hit 1 year mark, they pretty much without fail send me an "early upgrade" offer (which is pretty much the 2-year contract price as long as I agree to renew). To be honest though, I have a feeling that's a regular practice and that I'm not very "special" at all. Sometimes I wonder if it has anything to do with the amount of time I've had a contract with them, the fact that I've been an early adopter of some "cutting edge" devices, or if it's just something that pretty much everyone gets.

I went from LG Voyager --> BB Storm --> BB Storm 2 --> Thunderbolt, all within approx. a year of each other, all at the 2-year contract price, at the time of launch of those phones.

I'm not sure, but I also believe my company's "corporate discount" with Verizon makes me eligible for early upgrades as well.

 

[CMRobinson]

I sell meth..........not really, but I couldn't resist.

 

[Mortiel]

Employees get a concession line at no cost every three months. Our personal accounts are only 1year contract with upgrade at 10 months

Edit:

Many people get jealous of the Verizon employee phone discount, but its honestly necessary. Work related research. I have to break the phone myself before I can learn to fix it. Thats why I've touched on three of the major UI's for Android... OG Droid -> Droid X (Moto App Platform) -> Samsung Continuum (TouchWiz) -> HTC Thunderbolt (Sense).

 

[iLLusive]

I've been with VZW for over 12 years now. Lately, after I hit 1 year mark, they pretty much without fail send me an "early upgrade" offer (which is pretty much the 2-year contract price as long as I agree to renew). To be honest though, I have a feeling that's a regular practice and that I'm not very "special" at all. Sometimes I wonder if it has anything to do with the amount of time I've had a contract with them, the fact that I've been an early adopter of some "cutting edge" devices, or if it's just something that pretty much everyone gets.

I went from LG Voyager --> BB Storm --> BB Storm 2 --> Thunderbolt, all within approx. a year of each other, all at the 2-year contract price, at the time of launch of those phones.

I'm not sure, but I also believe my company's "corporate discount" with Verizon makes me eligible for early upgrades as well.

Was under the impression Verizon was not Verizon until Summer of 2000 so more like 11 years impressive if you have been with them since they started though.

 

[FrankXS]

Was under the impression Verizon was not Verizon until Summer of 2000 so more like 11 years impressive if you have been with them since they started though.

He's probably including the time with the company(s) they bought out when they incorporated and opened their doors as Verizon for the first time. If I include that I've been with 'em 14 or 15 years (Was Airtouch).

-Frank

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[Cmatt1971]

I pay full retail and sell old device locally or on ebay. I keep my line contract free.

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[Chrisy]

Interesting thread, fund read! I keep my phone for two years because I don't have a lot of $. If I did, I'd probably upgrade even six months too!

When VZW had annual upgrades, and I qualified, I did upgrade every year at a discounted price. Only one time did I pay retail for a Nokia 3620, like $300. Then it dropped to a free phone in 2 months and I regretted my purchase. Never did it again.

I always sell my old device for $100-200 to offset the cost of a new device.

 

[howarmat]

buy and sell craigslist and ebay. You generally can break about even if you swap out every 6 months. Also carrying 2 lines helps so you have an upgrade every 8-12 months

 

[dhendriksen]

I work hard, then when I want something...I buy it.

Pretty straightforward if you ask me.