The cost of the Pixel/Pixel XL

[cbreze]

On the topic of pricing - I was just on the Verizon site - they have 24 month payments - 2 year contracts - or full price.
I selected the contract - 199 for the phone - continued on to the cart and realized they had upped the monthly line fee from 20 to 40 dollars - and extra 480 over the 2 years - pretty much erases any phone savings by getting the contract price.

Several exchanges with the CHAT person got me know where.

The point of this post, using Verizon as an example, but including all other vendors - Be Careful - Be VERY Careful - when buying anything from anybody at any time. I know marketing and the old switcheroo have been around for years, seems to me it is more prevalent today than ever.

End of old man pricing rant - I feel much better now -

another "old man" pricing or maybe gouging rant:
It is crazy what kind of crap they(Verizon) will pull to let people think they are getting a deal. They had me thinking about the $199 upgrade for a 2 year contract and "save" money over full price. The $480 + the $200 for the "discounted" Pixel = $680 in my math book. Cash price is $649! There is no justification or reason for that matter to charge an extra $20/mo for the 24 months as line access fee. Then the gal in store I chatted with said there would be a one time upgrade fee of $20 to "throw the switch" as she put it, to start service on the Pixel. I said I can install my own existing sim so I wouldn't be needing that and her reply was "I can't guarantee that would work". "We need to take care of that here in store". Apparently the sim in the Pixel is a "special" Pixel sim and is needed for that reason. What a load of BS. Anyway, I left without one and won't be back. Full price thru the mail is the only way to buy a phone any more. Just to aggravating otherwise.

 

[shamdawg]

Not a bad idea...here's how we can start....


But Kool-Aid (especially cherry) and Captain Morgan is a really nice combo....

Never even thought of that combo. Do you add sugar?

 

[zipro]

Agreed... but frankly this is just another Google phone. Bluetooth issues, reception issues, camera issues, Android Auto issues (which is a new first).

The software experience is typically Google, and I don't see it being appreciably better than Nexus phones of the past.

I literally have none of these. I'm not a fanboi - but the pixel has been the absolutely most painless and stable phone I've ever had.

 

[zipro]

Just Google it. They have acknowledged the issues and are (once again) reaching out to users for more info.

I am glad that everything works at your end... it didn't here. And it doesn't for a lot of other folks. Here, the software user experience you speak so highly of (and which I agree is paramount) is better on my Nexus than it was with the Pixel.

I imagine they'll eventually get things worked out as they usually do (which is why updates are so important). My point is the out of box experience for a premium phone should be better than that of a developer device.

What does "here" mean? Care to tell us and give us some factual info on these alleged issues or are you just regurgitating what has been fed to you on BGR? If you read through the forums here, there are very few issues reported. Way fewer than for most if not all other phones on the market. I had the Note7 and the S7E before and I will never buy another Samsung product. Buggy as hell and made by a completely unique trustworthy company.

 

[zipro]

Unfortunately, defenders are praising the free photo storage, 24/7 support, and AI as their reason for the price. But let's face it, I'd rather have sd card support, waterproofing, wireless charging just to name a few. In reality, there are quite a few phones that will show up the pixel. Before you think I'm a pixel hater, I'm not. I bought one. But I'm having a great deal of trouble with Google charging the price they did, for what we got. My galaxy S7 EDGE still reigns supreme. You cannot see the speed difference or fluidity difference. I'll go one better. As an audiofile and professional musician, I bought a ZTE axon 7 for the dolby atmos and the best speakers in any smartphone. What surprised the hell out of me is what you got for 400.00 bucks. Build quality as good as the pixel and S7 EDGE, super speedy and very smooth. Once again indistinguishable from the pixel in real world applications. 64 gigs of internal, 4gigs ram, SD CARD SUPPORT, and if 64 gigs are good enough for you, you can use double Sims. Great if you're a traveler.

You can get a 128gb version of the phone. SD cards are the number one accessory in terms of wreaking havoc with phone stability and usability. And wireless charging? Had it in my phones for years and never used it. Too slow, plus I prefer not having an induction oven next to my head

 

[Cant Miss]

What does "here" mean? Care to tell us and give us some factual info on these alleged issues

Fine. I live in a fringe area, Pixel side by side with Nexus is 3-5 dBm less signal. That was often enough to make or break the connection.

The phone didn't work with Android Auto on my Pioneer head unit. Google had no clue.

While the video stabilizer is stunning if you want a still scene. If you try to pan, it jumps in huge steps. A video camera you can't pan?!?

Taking photos with almost any point light source in frame results in the most distracting and unattractive lens flare I have ever seen in a camera.

I noticed all of these in my first day with the phone. I find it kind of sad the initial reviews didn't notice any if them.

So, again, this seemed to me a pretty serious downgrade just for the opportunity to beta test the Assistant for Google.

 

[anon(9227267)]

----- Apparently the sim in the Pixel is a "special" Pixel sim and is needed for that reason. What a load of BS.----

When I got the Pixel, I had my Z Force with me - the rep did not take the sim out of the Z and put it in the Pixel, but activated the phone with the Pixel sim. I later took the Pixel sim, put it in the Z and all worked well, pit Pixel sim back into the Pixel and all worked well - the "special Pixel sim" seems to be kinda not so special after all.

"let the buyer beware"

 

[imartez]

Your value proposition is false or at least misleading. Value is getting the most of what you want at the lowest price (i.e. efficiency of expenditure).

Suppose what you really want are apples.

Samsung sells a bag of mixed fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, kiwis, lychee nuts, etc.). The bag is $20 but only contains four (4) apples and 16 assorted other fruit.

Google sells a bag of twelve (12) apples for $35.

By your logic the Samsung fruit bag is the better value because you get "more" stuff for less money.

BUT if you only want apples, the Google fruit bag is the better value. To get the same twelve (12) apples from Samsung, you have to buy three (3) bags at $60 vs $35 from Google. Plus if you go with Samsung, you have to either eat fruit you don't want, give it away, or attempt to sell it.

The value proposition is a bit more complicated than you propose.

Me? I just want apples . . .

Just to add here, what's the point of buying 15 apples when I don't eat that many? To me, it's just a waste of apples. Saying that Samsung phones are better value because they have more features is not valid in my opinion because if you don't use those extra features, what's the point?

I have had the S7 Edge and Note 7, both were good phones, but ultimately I returned both. The Note 7 was recalled and with the S7 Edge, I had way too many accidental screen taps because the edge display was too profound. This happened even with a case. For me, the Note 7 had performance issues too, I found it to be lagging. The crazy thing was that the S7 Edge was faster than the Note 7, for me anyway

For me the Pixel has been great. It fits all my needs, it's snappy, the google assistant works well and it has a great camera. There is a lot of value in that, for me anyway.

 

[anon(9227267)]

The most important phone test.

Am I happy with the phone. Yes? No?

End of test.

 

[Aquila]

When I got the Pixel, I had my Z Force with me - the rep did not take the sim out of the Z and put it in the Pixel, but activated the phone with the Pixel sim. I later took the Pixel sim, put it in the Z and all worked well, pit Pixel sim back into the Pixel and all worked well - the "special Pixel sim" seems to be kinda not so special after all.

"let the buyer beware"

I took the sim straight from my 6P and put it in the Pixel XL.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Going to modify an earlier fruit analogy for value comparison of like-priced competitive flagships...

Google gives you unlimited supply of apples, oranges, and grapes. They guarantee you'll be getting the freshest crops as soon as they are available, and takes regular steps to help ensure they come to you clean so you don't have to worry about getting sick should they spoil. The fruits don't arrive in flashy packaging, but they are very well-packaged nonetheless.

Samsung/Apple/LG/Other gives you the same apples and oranges from the same farm as Google, but instead of grapes, they give you pears, kiwis, and plums from their own farm, for the same price. They don't get you the freshest crops of apples and oranges till much later, if at all - unlike Google who guarantees at least two tastier refreshes. Samsung also doesn't offer the same packaging protection as Google, meaning you are less protected from spoilage with them, since Google does monthly inspections to make sure there's no issues with their shipping.

If you really value pears, kiwis, and plums, and don't care about grapes, you want people to see you eating your fruit out of a more styish basket, and you aren't bothered that you're not always getting the tastiest fruits when they come available because the ones you get from Samsung are still pretty darn tasty, go with Samsung - you'd be a fool to do otherwise for the price, as that's where your values lie. But don't try to tell someone they're wrong in choosing Google because it's a "fact" that pears, kiwis, and plums are tastier than grapes. That's what's called "sour grapes."

 

[Jeremy8000]

Another thing - something that boggles my mind is that the same people who argue that monthly security updates on release for the Pixel aren't a big deal and are just 'fluff' will then go on to argue that waterproofing is absolutely critical in a flagship and that it is inexcusable for a phone priced where the Pixels are to not have to a higher rating. The simple fact is that in a perfect world, you'd never know the difference in not having either, but in the real world you can completely avoid the necessity for one with reasonable diligence or by addition of an aftermarket accessory, while the other you cannot control whether you need it or not and have no solution to truly guarantee similar protection short of not using it at all.

 

[cbreze]

When I got the Pixel, I had my Z Force with me - the rep did not take the sim out of the Z and put it in the Pixel, but activated the phone with the Pixel sim. I later took the Pixel sim, put it in the Z and all worked well, pit Pixel sim back into the Pixel and all worked well - the "special Pixel sim" seems to be kinda not so special after all.

"let the buyer beware"

If you buy a phone from a rep in a Verizon store it's their policy to activate it with the new sim that comes with the new device. Totally unnecessary , but thats what they always do. Gotta make their 20 bucks. Their BS reasoning they give the customer is what is annoying. But to say it's a special "Pixel" sim is laughable.

 

[recDNA]

Put in an ir blaster, an fm radio, removable sd card, and removable battery and it would be worth the $..... But then nobody would pay their rip off price for the 128gb model. I hate to see Google going down the greedy path Apple blazed.

 

[PhiPsi32]

Just to add here, what's the point of buying 15 apples when I don't eat that many? To me, it's just a waste of apples.

Fifteen apples might last me a few days . . .

 

[Aquila]

Put in an ir blaster, an fm radio, removable sd card, and removable battery and it would be worth the $..... But then nobody would pay their rip off price for the 128gb model. I hate to see Google going down the greedy path Apple blazed.

3 out of the 4 of those would cause me to actually be less interested in the device. All four of them sound like features that ought to be found only in low to midrange budget devices.

 

[Bearcats98]

Put in an ir blaster, an fm radio, removable sd card, and removable battery and it would be worth the $..... But then nobody would pay their rip off price for the 128gb model. I hate to see Google going down the greedy path Apple blazed.

Those are all pieces of fruit that are non-interesting to me. I have an SD card on my 10 and while I was super excited to be able to use it; I found I barely use it at all.

Removable battery might be a thought...but I have been on fixed batteries for a couple phones now.

 

[recDNA]

3 out of the 4 of those would cause me to actually be less interested in the device. All four of them sound like features that ought to be found only in low to midrange budget devices.

Ir blaster and fm radio and empty sd card slot use no power when not in use so do no harm. Removable battery is more practical since batteries lose capacity over time. Both of us could be pleased. Saying their presence hurts the phone sounds silly unless you can cite how.

 

[PhiPsi32]

So . . . IR blasters aren't cool anymore . . . huh . . . I suppose its like an 8 track player. You could install one on every new car (technically doesn't "hurt" anything) but why would you?

 

[recDNA]

Those are all pieces of fruit that are non-interesting to me. I have an SD card on my 10 and while I was super excited to be able to use it; I found I barely use it at all.

Removable battery might be a thought...but I have been on fixed batteries for a couple phones now.

But that's why they're great. They do you no harm (you're paying premium price anyway) and some of us love them. It's like saying most of the apps in playstore should be removed because you don't like them so they ruin app store.