Poll: Did Sprint drop the ball on pricing??

[hampstenj]

i think off-contract will be more like $500 than $450,

 

[drizek]

Add a line, buy it for $250, then pay the $200 ETF. That gets it for you at $450.

I'm tempted to just keep my Samsung Intercept and then just get a Captivate for $50 and pay the ETF and get it for basically the on-contract price of the Epic.

Edit: Ouch. AT&T jacked their ETF up to $350. That makes the Captivate come out to $400. The iPhone 4 would be $550. Ridiculous. That is more than an iPad. At this point I am kinda glad I am on Sprint, but only because ATT and Verizon are just so damn horrible.

 

[Nightfury82]

This went from a day one buy to a wait for reviews buy. $50 is a big deal to me. We were going to get two Epics on our family plan...but one being $250 and the other being $500 is more than we expected. Plus, the $10 tax. Might just go cheaper and get an Intercept...

 

[caliskimmer]

Ah shoot! Here we go with the Instinct again (249.99 price)! Instead of a homebrew app store, who wants to start the homebrew movie store that's promised and will probably never come out? Where is killerbeagle when you need him?

 

[JERAVICIOUS]

Samsung is known to have high price tags on their devices (especially high end devices) when they go on sprint. Remember the instink hd?? That was 250 -300 dollars i think when it was released. It was much more expensive than the pre too.

nope, its better than the phone thats $50 less. Plus, I don't have to worry about long lines now

I do not think it is better than the phone that's 50 bucks less. There are a lot of pros and cons to both and each can be a deal breaker with either or. Don't let Sprint's video and hype fool ya.

I still think this phone will sell because it is the new device coming and with the marketing that Samsung is doing for their galaxy S line, a lot of people will take notice.

 

[caliskimmer]

Then don't buy it. Like I said, I'm happy, and also since I have already pre-ordered it, I don't have to wait in line at 6am for a device. I'm no apple fan (despite using a macbook, which I loathe)

I'm with you, rufflez. I'm preordered and ready to go, but boy, organizing the cash for it was a little difficult because of the extra 50 bucks. All I have to say is that I hope I get those freaking promises. Long-term support and Froyo coming SOON.

 

[Nightfury82]

Can someone tell me how much the Evo plan ($79.99) comes out to after taxes? Does this very state to state? I may just terminate my line on our family plan and buy an Epic with a new line. I'll be paying more a month but at least I'd qualify for Sprint Premier.

Edit: I live in Texas, but any state would help my decision.

 

[caliskimmer]

Can someone tell me how much the Evo plan ($79.99) comes out to after taxes? Does this very state to state? I may just terminate my line on our family plan and buy an Epic with a new line. I'll be paying more a month but at least I'd qualify for Sprint Premier.

It varies state to state.

 

[cr3amy]

Will preorder at the RadioShack near my work on Friday. I been buying stuff for my boss over there recently and shooting the breeze with the guys there about working at RS (cause I used to) so they'll make sure to hook it up with one.

Then I'll take my lunch break early, grab the phone, then eat. Good times.

 

[miamithrice]

Add a line, buy it for $250, then pay the $200 ETF. That gets it for you at $450.

Would it really be that simple? Very interested in doing this if so.

 

[caliskimmer]

Would it really be that simple? Very interested in doing this if so.

Yes, it is this simple. Just cancel the trial outside of the 30 days you get.

 

[drizek]

This went from a day one buy to a wait for reviews buy. $50 is a big deal to me. We were going to get two Epics on our family plan...but one being $250 and the other being $500 is more than we expected. Plus, the $10 tax. Might just go cheaper and get an Intercept...

The Intercept is a horrible, horrible phone. It is way worse than the Pre, and even the moment and Hero. The keyboard is nice, but it won't even run 3D games, the screen width is ridiculously limiting and it is just SO slow and laggy.

 

[miamithrice]

Yes, it is this simple. Just cancel the trial outside of the 30 days you get.

But wouldn't I be responsible for paying for the first month's service + activation fee? That would nullify any savings and actually end up being more expensive.

 

[mbkowns]

I suspected $250.

Everyone who is upset with the price needs to think of the financials for Sprint/Samsung. They're including extra hardware features (QWERTY, front-facing cam, rear flash) that the Vibrant & Captivate don't have, all the while serviced on cheaper plans. You can't hit the margins on both sides of the equation (higher spec'd phone & cheaper plans) and expect the phone to be the same price as their competitors.

As soon as I saw that Sprint's Galaxy S would be a QWERTY slider, I knew there would be a price differential relative to the other 3 carriers' Galaxy S models. When it retained the front-facing cam and added a rear flash, it was obvious.

you are actually right. I am being a baby. Gotta think about it the cost of the mod to the phone had to be offset. Won't stop me from getting it anyway.

 

[drizek]

So I'm reading now that the ETF for the Captivate is $175, making it a total of $225. Does anyone know what the real ETF is? Getting a Captivate and putting in a prepaid card or something is a pretty interesting thing to consider.

 

[maven1975]

I can finally return these Evo's! I cant believe anyone that is serious about keeping a handset for 2 years, let alone 1, would find the Evo and a Snapdragon acceptable.

$50 bucks for superior processing, screen and keyboard is a no brainer.

I would like to see google force a 12 month standardized chipset on manufactures to entice developers over to Android. This is the achilles heal of their market.

 

[drizek]

Won't happen. Samsung rolls their own chips. Motorola is in bed with TI, HTC is in love with Qualcomm.

If you standardize it then two out of those three would lose a TON of business and would probably not even be able to compete to become next years standard.

 

[thatguitarguy]

Do any of you guys know how Samsung phones usually go in terms of pricing over time on Sprint? Do they drop the price ever, and if so, how much and how long after? I wonder if you can get a better deal at other places than Spring (like Best Buy or Radio Shack).

 

[ben7337]

So I'm reading now that the ETF for the Captivate is $175, making it a total of $225. Does anyone know what the real ETF is? Getting a Captivate and putting in a prepaid card or something is a pretty interesting thing to consider.

Where did you get $175? Is the $50 price for the phone the amazonwireless price? If it is keep this in mind

"When you purchase your device with service from AmazonWireless.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you. This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days. If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, AmazonWireless.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes."


So Amazonwireless bills you $250 for the phone, idk if that includes the $175 plan etf or not, but if it doesn't, the phone costs you $250 + $50 + $175 = $475

 

[Aero]

The EPIC costs samsung, at most, $10 more to manufacture than a Captivate. .

Huh? Much more. maybe $100 more than capticte, whcih would mean $150 more in retail price
Do you think Research, development, support, testing and all kinds new potential problem liabilities as they implement 4g don't count? Are you seriously looking at just the wholesale cost of the chip (which maybe more than that anyways since it is new and not in good supply)?
Does the capitave even have a flash for its camera?
Does captivate have a keyboard, whcih is not only a design (expensive) and parts, and minimization of the entire device (expensive) issue but a major warrant liability cost/risk.