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AT&T Raises Smartphone Upgrade Pricing From $15 to $20 to Match Verizon's New Fee
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I'm so jealous of these other countries. I feel like U.S. cellular companies are just ripping us off 24/7 and we can't really do anything about it. They really need to start looking at other cellular companies and to see how it should really be done. I've noticed that AT&T and Verizon have been losing a grip of customers to T-Mobile in the last few months.... There's a reason why.
No one is just targeting AT&T. The story today happens to be about them, but the hatred for ALL the carriers and their money grubbing is pretty evident and deserved.
And people like to trash gub'mint services, but the truth is, yes, while VA is a mess, other services however actually do quite well. Considering that others like DMV and Social Security deal with, literally, a hundred million customers or more, they are actually pretty efficient.
The race between Verizon and AT&T seems more like the 2016 election cycle these days.
I avoided all the fees and addition to my monthly bill by buying an unlocked phone. Just inserted the sim card and all was well.
Glad I'm on T-Mobile...
For Apple users on Verizon and AT&T though, this is about as good an incentive as any to buy your iPhone from the Apple Store instead.
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All of them charge activation fees. T-Mobile's the only one that doesn't charge an upgrade fee, though.
For Apple users on Verizon and AT&T though, this is about as good an incentive as any to buy your iPhone from the Apple Store instead.
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All of them charge activation fees. T-Mobile's the only one that doesn't charge an upgrade fee, though.
Very consumer friendly those providers always have been, always will be.
- How dare you join our network, BAM $45 activation fee
- How dare you get a new phone, bam, $20 upgrade fee.
You would almost think they don't want any customers.
- How dare you join our network, BAM $45 activation fee
- How dare you get a new phone, bam, $20 upgrade fee.
You would almost think they don't want any customers.
There's an activation fee on all carriers, I think to deter people from hopping around carriers too much (not saying it's right, but at least there's some rational sense to that). T-Mobile is the only one that doesn't charge upgrade fees.
Does anyone remember the good old days when competition meant LOWER prices rather than what looks like after-the-fact not-so-secret collusion (kind of like the kind that drives gas stations to match each others' prices in the wrong direction within one cent every single day at nearly every single station that doesn't have a generic yellow sign out front that makes you wonder if the gas might be leaded and from 1922?)
Ah Capitalism. You work so well in the Corporate States of America where every law is bribed (er lobbied) to not be in the consumer's best interest....
Ah Capitalism. You work so well in the Corporate States of America where every law is bribed (er lobbied) to not be in the consumer's best interest....
Well, that was just a for-instance. In actuality, I've got my sim-free SE on order, and my plan is to take it to the Apple Store, trade in my 5c for credit, use that credit to buy Apple Pay, and they can activate the phone right there. Supposedly. No AT&T involved. Just curious how that would play out.
And yet my cell phone bills are less than they have ever been, not just by a small amount but by a large one. I don't fault AT&T for wanting to maintain a certain margin and make a profit, it's not like they are making a killing on us. Everyone here keeps painting AT&T as this evil company trying to sink their teeth into your cheap, nylon wallets. And you are so willing and ready to believe any and all Apple propaganda with all their little self-absorbed shenanigans masquerading as political and social empowerment.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson made $23.2M in 2013 and $24.0M in 2014 (last years I could find data).
I call that "making a killing"
A new line, yes. Swapping a SIM from an old device to a new one, no.
I've been with AT&T for over a decade, Cingular and Cell One previously going back to the very early 90s. I'm seriously considering a move to T-Mobile at this rate. Both of the iPhones on my plan are up in September so I have some time to consider, but if I had to decide today I'd be switching.
All of the wireless carriers know that enough people would sacrifice their children, parents, and pets to Cthulhu before they would do without their smart phone for more than a few minutes. They have the same regard for us as dealers have for junkies.
"In other news, US Carrier's file another appeal in the price fixing court case that many said was a long time coming.
And this is the news on April 1st, 2030."
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Socialized Cell Service brought to you by the great folks at VATS. A proud subsidiary of the NSA.
"On Monday, Verizon started charging $20 for activating smartphones purchased through an installment plan or at full retail price, $5 less than AT&T was charging at the time. Less than two days later, AT&T raised its prices to $20."
This makes no sense.
This makes no sense.
Like cable providers and airlines, it's all a psychological test - "We got something you dearly need, your government won't help you gain competition, so let's see how much we can turn the screws on you before we actually start to lose business...nope, we increased revenue by 6%...screws a little tighter..."
My particular wording was supposed to indicate that they either do, or do not. I have never had anything except total 4/5 bar coverage, or 1/2 bars (in underground metro/no service areas)
Yes, I caught that.
My point was that coverage is the single most important assumption (read: factor) when choosing a provider. For me, at least, everything else is negotiable; my cellular coverage and data speeds are not.