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Anyone buying the phone outright? Not Next or Apple plan?

R

random person

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 28, 2008
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I am completely confused by all the math but I am eligible for an AT upgrade in October an when I run the numbers it all comes out the same. So I am thinking of just buying the phone outright and forgetting about these installment lease plans. And, from what I understand, the subsidized contract price is actually a wash too because you get charged more per month anyway. So, if you have the money, why not just buy the phone outright?
 
The installment plans are essentially the same as buying outright but instead of paying the chunk of money all at once, it gets spread out over the course of a year or two depending on which plan you go with.
 
ryanbates said:
The installment plans are essentially the same as buying outright but instead of paying the chunk of money all at once, it gets spread out over the course of a year or two depending on which plan you go with.
Click to expand...

This is exactly right. And buying outright or using Next both qualify you for a discount on the monthly line charge.
 
ryanbates said:
The installment plans are essentially the same as buying outright but instead of paying the chunk of money all at once, it gets spread out over the course of a year or two depending on which plan you go with.
Click to expand...
This is incorrect. When you buy outright you keep the phone and can resell it next year. I sold my iPhone 6 for 550. The installment plan you are forced to pay 768+ by 2 years.
 
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Dmaynard83 said:
This is incorrect. When you buy outright you keep the phone and can resell it next year. I sold my iPhone 6 for 550. The installment plan you are forced to pay 730+ by 2 years.
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You're incorrect. The Next plans divides the full retail price over 30, 24 or 18 months. It does not cost more. Check the AT&T website.

You can pay off the phone at any time and own it. Or turn it in and upgrade halfway through your payment cycle.
 
With the T-Mobile jump on demand promotion you pay less than paying all upfront. I get 216 off the retail price. I don't know why more people are not with T-Mobile. Their service is amazing and they have the best prices.
 
So it seems like it's all a wash, right? Buying outright even if you are contract eligible for an upgrade? Vs Next etc? Pay now or pay over time, it's all the same?
 
supersalo said:
You're incorrect. The Next plans divides the full retail price over 30, 24 or 18 months. It does not cost more. Check the AT&T website.

You can pay off the phone at any time and own it. Or turn it in and upgrade halfway through your payment cycle.
Click to expand...
First off I'm on Verizon so this does not apply. So the apple installment plan is worse than selling it.

2nd I'm pretty sure most people that do the installment plan is so they don't need to worry about the headache of selling it, which in the end you're losing money compared to selling it.

3rd if you plan on doing the installment plan and buying it all outright before the next iPhone release and reselling it more power to you. But I doubt 90% of people will be doing this, and it only applies to certain carriers.
 
Buying outright. Would be tempted for Apple's installment plan if I could sign up for it online (instead of making a reservation at the Apple store).
 
Dmaynard83 said:
First off I'm on Verizon so this does not apply. So the apple installment plan is worse than selling it.

2nd I'm pretty sure most people that do the installment plan is so they don't need to worry about the headache of selling it, which in the end you're losing money compared to selling it.

3rd if you plan on doing the installment plan and buying it all outright before the next iPhone release and reselling it more power to you. But I doubt 90% of people will be doing this, and it only applies to certain carriers.
Click to expand...

Using AT&T's NEXT or Verizon's EDGE payment plan does not cost more. It's the full retail price divided by a set number of months. It's not $768+ for 2 years.

Data line charges are a different matter but the equipment charge is the same whether you pay all at once on day 1 or after 24 months.
 
supersalo said:
Using AT&T's NEXT or Verizon's EDGE payment plan does not cost more. It's the full retail price divided by a set number of months. It's not $768+ for 2 years.

Data line charges are a different matter but the equipment charge is the same whether you pay all at once on day 1 or after 24 months.
Click to expand...
32 x 24 months =768 and you have to give up the phone at the end of the 24 months.
 
I'm going full retail this time. I want to wait another year and see how the Next plan pans out before I dive in. I've been doing 2 year contracts between 2 lines for years to get a new iphone every year but the lack of $25 discount with the 2 year contract kills it now.
 
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NYY FaN said:
I'm going full retail this time. I want to wait another year and see how the Next plan pans out before I dive in. I've been doing 2 year contracts between 2 lines for years to get a new iphone every year but the lack of $25 discount with the 2 year contract kills it now.
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Agreed as shown in my other thread, the calculation is sneaky. They will charge you more for subsidized price.
 
If you buy the phone outright can you still buy your carrier phone or which one do I buy?
 
It's all marketing bs. Breaking down the full retail on these phone in to $30-$40 extra a month makes it easier for the carriers to eliminate subsidies on these phones without people bugging out.
 
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I signed up for a new credit card. They give me $100 bonus. And I can pay it off in 18 months. Earn cash back as well.
 
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