Retail Phone Purchasing options dilemma

[jontalk]

I just got back from an hour long session with a salesperson from an AT&T authorized reseller which is one of 10 stores in a small chain here in the SF Bay area. It was very illuminating in many respects. These are some of the things he told me, which I found interesting and am seeking feedback:

1. Hardware: Online retailers such as Amazon and others buy their devices in large quantities and the 'freshness' of the devices can result in the buyer getting a unit that may be as much as 6 months old or more. The same applies to AT&T corp stores, unless the device was just released. This is how the online stores are able to sell a phone for much less. In addition, if there's a manufacturing problem with the first one shipped and its returned, it will likely be replaced by another 'older' stock device. Local independent resellers buy in small quantities and production dates may be as recent as the past few weeks.

2. Transferring existing plans. He said that if you buy from Radio Shack or others, they cannot transfer the plan correctly, especially if you have a different device (I have an iPhone now which as associated plan codes that will not work with an Android device).

3. Insurance. He said that their store offers a third party insurance program that costs $100 for 2 years with an $80 deductible and this cannot be contracted with Radio Shack, AT&T or other corporate stores. Anyone familiar with this? I forgot to get the name of the provider.

4. Set-up. Needless to say, a newbie Andriod user like myself, would benefit greatly from having a nearby independent helping with any user issues, as well as them actually setting the phone up so its efficient and the transition from iOS to Android is smoother.

Bottom Line: If I were buying a GS2 Skyrocket from this local independent, it would cost me about $350 or so including the insurance, where I could get one from Amazon for $115 plus any third party insurance if needed (I've never had insurance on my iPhone nor have I dropped it or lost it in almost 4 years)..

Any thoughts?

 

[Rukbat]

1. Hardware: Online retailers such as Amazon and others buy their devices in large quantities and the 'freshness' of the devices can result in the buyer getting a unit that may be as much as 6 months old or more. The same applies to AT&T corp stores, unless the device was just released. This is how the online stores are able to sell a phone for much less. In addition, if there's a manufacturing problem with the first one shipped and its returned, it will likely be replaced by another 'older' stock device. Local independent resellers buy in small quantities and production dates may be as recent as the past few weeks.

Phones don't "get old" - unless a new model, or a mod to the existing model, comes out. Other than the battery, whether a phone came in from the factory an hour ago or it's been sitting on the shelf for 6 months makes no difference.

Just make sure that you condition the battery before you use the phone. Fully charge it before turning it on. Then let it get to the point that it shuts off before charging it. Three times. (I have batteries that are 8 years old and still work almost like new. The phones are almost useless now - old feature phones - but the batteries lasted until I threw the phones into a drawer.)

2. Transferring existing plans. He said that if you buy from Radio Shack or others, they cannot transfer the plan correctly, especially if you have a different device (I have an iPhone now which as associated plan codes that will not work with an Android device).

Sheer nonsense. RS has never had a problem extending a plan. (If you're talking about porting a number, that's an entirely different matter, and has nothing to do with the dealer you go to.)

If you have a plan with a major carrier, your Android phone will work with that carrier - if it's a phone FOR that carrier. (For instance, a T-Mobile phone will get only Edge, not high speed, data if you use it on AT&T.)

That said, most RS employees know less about cellphones than my wife's cat. They're trained (very poorly) to sell phones and plans, and that's about the extent of their knowledge. The same holds true with almost all retail employees who sell cellphones - regardless of who they work for. A well-trained technical person expects $20/hour and up. A sales droid gets minimum wage. Which one gives the company the most profit? (Considering that 99.999% of the customers know even less than the sales droids.)

I say this as someone who has sold more than one cellphone store in his life. (And wouldn't hire a sales droid unless s/he planned on learning the business.)

3. Insurance. He said that their store offers a third party insurance program that costs $100 for 2 years with an $80 deductible and this cannot be contracted with Radio Shack, AT&T or other corporate stores. Anyone familiar with this? I forgot to get the name of the provider.

Asurion insures most cellphones in the US. You buy insurance from the network (AT&T, Sprint, etc.), not the dealer. IIRC, it runs $120 for 2 years (it adds $5/month to your bill), and it's a $50 deductible. It's all-inclusive except for water damage. (No one covers water damage.)

4. Set-up. Needless to say, a newbie Andriod user like myself, would benefit greatly from having a nearby independent helping with any user issues, as well as them actually setting the phone up so its efficient and the transition from iOS to Android is smoother.

Don't expect a dealer to switch your accounts, download apps, etc. The phone will be handed to you working, whether you buy it from RS, another large dealer, an independent dealer or a network's store. You get almost the same thing, regardless of whom you buy the phone from. (Small independent stores - meaning a one-store shop - may give you more service, because you deal with the owner, or he's there leaning on the counter. A 10-store outfit? The owner is at the flagship store, in his office, and you'll never see him, so the sales droid has no discretion in how much he can help you.)

Bottom Line: If I were buying a GS2 Skyrocket from this local independent, it would cost me about $350 or so including the insurance, where I could get one from Amazon for $115 plus any third party insurance if needed (I've never had insurance on my iPhone nor have I dropped it or lost it in almost 4 years).

It's really a personal choice. How much hand-holding do you need? (You can get all the Android help you need right here.) $200 seems to be a lot extra to pay for a $115 phone, for the little extra you might get. But some people prefer to support local businesses, regardless of cost. Others prefer large chains. What happens if your phone goes wackadoo when you're visiting someone on the East coast? If you bought it at RS or Best Buy - or at a carrier-owned store - there's one near you, regardless of where you are.

No one can decide for you.