Why are Sprint phone so expensive

[stevekat]

I went to take a look at phone option and was a bit shocked the cost of phones at Sprint. Is this the norm, or is Sprint charging more than other major carriers?

 

[SERO wireless]

Can you give specific examples? Just doing a flyby on sprint.com showed several phones being free with contract. I'm not a fan of the Fruitphones but they're easy to comp (Prices shown are for a new phone w/2-yr contract:

....................Sprint, Verizon, AT&T
iPhone 4 8GB $99.99, $99.99, $99.99
iPhone 4S 16GB $199.99, $199.99, $199.99
iPhone 4S 32GB $299.99, $299.99, $299.99,
iPhone 4S 64GB $399.99, $399.99, $399.99,

Sprint (like all carriers) tend not to be as aggressive with their pricing as third-party retailers (Amazon, Target, Radio Shack, etc.) Their pricing and promotions tend to be more focused on Sprint's strategic plans - like making some plans use certain phones - you can still get a Touch Pro 2 from Sprint!

Sprint also has other unique promotions that other carriers don't offer. Last December you could upgrade your phone w/2-year contract extension at corporate stores whether you had two-days or two-years left on your existing contract. Expect AWESOME blowouts on their massive WiMax inventory this summer.

 

[lmc05]

iPhone is different though because Apple sets the price, not the carrier.

 

[smcolbert]

I'm not sure what prices you are looking at, but sprint's prices for equivalent or less for most equivalent phones on other carriers. Verizon has been launching flagship phones at $300 with contract. Sprint's big phones like the GSII, Evo 4G, 3D, and the new Evo 4G LTE are all launched at $200 w/2 year contract.

If you are talking about full price phones, that's going to be the same wherever you look. Full price phones are expensive.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

 

[JohnAlpha]

I'm not sure what prices you are looking at, but sprint's prices for equivalent or less for most equivalent phones on other carriers. Verizon has been launching flagship phones at $300 with contract. Sprint's big phones like the GSII, Evo 4G, 3D, and the new Evo 4G LTE are all launched at $200 w/2 year contract.

I know Sprint is getting it a little later, but Verizon is also still charging $300 for the Galaxy Nexus, which Sprint will be launching soon for $200 (at least from the pre-order.)

 

[stevekat]

At the Sprint store, they tell me when one qualifies for an upgrade, that no phone is more than $200 - $250, except for an iPhone, however online, it appears they would cost more.

When you shop as if you were a new customer, the Galaxy Nexus is $199 and the LG Viper 4G LTE is $99. When you log in as an existing customer, the Galaxy Nexus is $499 and the LG Viper $G LTE is $399. Subtract $150 from both these phones when you qualify for an upgrade with a new two year commitment, and the Galaxy is $350 and the Viper is $250. That to me is expensive.

Sprint says the upgrade, except for the iPhone is never more than $200 - $250, if so, that might be a mitigating factor, but according to their website, the information there says otherwise. [YT][/YT]

 

[Mikey47]

At the Sprint store, they tell me when one qualifies for an upgrade, that no phone is more than $200 - $250, except for an iPhone, however online, it appears they would cost more.

When you shop as if you were a new customer, the Galaxy Nexus is $199 and the LG Viper 4G LTE is $99. When you log in as an existing customer, the Galaxy Nexus is $499 and the LG Viper $G LTE is $399. Subtract $150 from both these phones when you qualify for an upgrade with a new two year commitment, and the Galaxy is $350 and the Viper is $250. That to me is expensive.

Sprint says the upgrade, except for the iPhone is never more than $200 - $250, if so, that might be a mitigating factor, but according to their website, the information there says otherwise. Click to view quoted video

Of course those prices are going to show that, you don't qualify for an upgrade yet. You don't just take the 150 off there are additional discounts applied. When you qualify for an upgrade your price will be the same as if you were a new customer.

 

[gabbott]

At the Sprint store, they tell me when one qualifies for an upgrade, that no phone is more than $200 - $250, except for an iPhone,

What they told you is pretty much accurate.

Sprint phones when purchased at the upgrade price when using a full upgrade are no more expensive than any other carrier (and in some cases a little cheaper).

 

[smcolbert]

The $150 amount is hardly ever the case for an upgrade. Usually you get 250-300+ including mail in rebates. The only phone more than $200 on sprint is the blackberry bold at $250. Most phones are very very heavily subsidized.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[scuba_steve]

The price of a phone is not the real cost...to you or to Sprint. The phone for which you paid $200 may have cost Sprint $500...and your replacement cost may be even more than that. The real cost is amortized over your contract term on your monthly bill...which is why there are ETFs. Sprint's rates are lower than the other carriers, so they have a bit less room to amortize that cost.

For example, if Phone X cost $100 on AT&T and is $200 on Sprint, what is the better deal?

Well, how about if AT&T charges you $100 per month and Sprint charges you $70? In two years, your total cost per carrier (monthly rate x 24 + initial phone cost) would be:

AT&T: $2500
Sprint: $1880

Even with the more expensive phone, Sprint ends up saving you over $600.


I find that comparing subsidized device costs between carriers is not very useful. Instead, look at monthly costs. A small monthly difference means a lot when multiplied over the term of a 24 month contract. Oh yeah, network performance is also a good evaluation criterion...and Sprint almost always loses there...although they are inexpensive. I suppose you get what you pay for one way or another.