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Big Ballers paying Off Contract for 4S

Your Thoughts On Off Contract Pricing

  • Im a Baller, $800 for a phone is cheap

    Votes: 15 17.4%

  • I dont like the Price but its a fair price for good Tech

    Votes: 20 23.3%

  • I got lucky im eligible for upgrade

    Votes: 36 41.9%

  • Off Contract is ridiculous, Im paying ETF and switching Carriers

    Votes: 15 17.4%
  • Total voters
    86
marine0816

marine0816

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 11, 2011
700
632
USA
I got the original EVO for myself and my wife on launch day.. Both phones are not eligible for a discount.. I can't believe Sprint is not going to give me any break for buying over $1500 worth of phones, no early upgrades?.. Damn its expensive wanting new gear.. But I guess most of the people on this site is balling and can afford the off contract price with no problem.
 
marine0816 said:
I got the original EVO for myself and my wife on launch day.. Both phones are not eligible for a discount.. I can't believe Sprint is not going to give me any break for buying over $1500 worth of phones, no early upgrades?.. Damn its expensive wanting new gear.. But I guess most of the people on this site is balling and can afford the off contract price with no problem.
Click to expand...

Sprint is hurting for cash and is banking on the iphone to revive them. They aren't giving anyone a break for anything.
 
Here's the deal though guys, tell me if my math is off, but Sprint is about to lose at least two, but probably a whole lot more customers because of this:

- I bought my wife and I EVOs on launch day as well.
- We both want the iPhone 4S
- I could pay $649 EACH for the 16GB to upgrade now and stay with sprint (or wait until April which is NOT happening).
- Alternatively, I can switch to Verizon and pay $199+$35 activation+$65.62 Sprint ETF = $299.62 each for iPhone 4S

So, pay less than half the cost of upgrade to move away from Sprint, which is actually the same price I paid for the EVOs, less actually if you consider activation fees and all that.

Is my math wrong or is this just a dumb idea for Sprint? Why not save me and let me upgrade?
 
I get my iPhones sim free every year and pass the old one to my wife. :apple::cool:
 
Last edited:
randymac88 said:
Here's the deal though guys, tell me if my math is off, but Sprint is about to lose at least two, but probably a whole lot more customers because of this:

- I bought my wife and I EVOs on launch day as well.
- We both want the iPhone 4S
- I could pay $649 EACH for the 16GB to upgrade now and stay with sprint (or wait until April which is NOT happening).
- Alternatively, I can switch to Verizon and pay $199+$35 activation+$65.62 Sprint ETF = $299.62 each for iPhone 4S

So, pay less than half the cost of upgrade to move away from Sprint, which is actually the same price I paid for the EVOs, less actually if you consider activation fees and all that.

Is my math wrong or is this just a dumb idea for Sprint? Why not save me and let me upgrade?
Click to expand...

That's what a lot of people are doing. I have three lines and I'm considering switching.
 
Contracts prior to Sept. 9, 2011 are eligible for the old ETFs.. I would be paying $70 ETF for two lines= $140 + $299+ $299 for new customer verizon/att phones equals $738

Price to leave Sprint and get Iphone 4S on Veizon/ATT $738


Price to stay with Sprint and buy Iphone 4S $1498


what you guys think?
 
marine0816 said:
Contracts prior to Sept. 9, 2011 are eligible for the old ETFs.. I would be paying $70 ETF for two lines= $140 + $299+ $299 for new customer verizon/att phones equals $738

Price to leave Sprint and get Iphone 4S on Veizon/ATT $738


Price to stay with Sprint and buy Iphone 4S $1498


what you guys think?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a no-brainer and you've answered your own question. And you'll get better coverage and call quality on Verizon, too.
 
AFPoster said:
AT&T is hooking me up with upgrading early at the subsidized $199 price.
Click to expand...

How are you doing that?? I'm not eligible for an upgrade. I don't know why this isn't more of an issue being discussed right now. I'm guessing everyone who bought a iPhone 4 last year isn't eligible for an upgrade either?

Am I missing something? Why aren't people not talking/more upset about this??
 
On contract $399 + ( 24 * $54 ) + $35 = $1730

$850 + ( 24 * $15 ) = $1210

Difference is almost enough to justify a new, contract free, iPhone after 2-3 years. Oh, and I can use it on any GSM carrier without having to jailbreak and unlock or pay exorbitant prices for AT&T roaming.
 
If the 4s had 4g or LTE on sprint or verizon, I'd either pay for the upgrade or switch. If I switched to Verizon, wife and I would miss our rooted android sprint phones with free tether. Looks like we will wait till next year for the 5.
 
This thread is pointless as Apple hasn't even states whether or not they will be seling unlocked versions in the US. I'm sure they will, but it could be MONTHS!

I netted $500 from my iPhone 4 sale and would love to buy an unlocked 4S but seemingly won't be able to. I'd only be paying $300 or so out of pocket which is awesome. The ridiculous part is if I upgrade now through AT&T I'd still be paying between $600-$800 for the 4S AND extending my contract. I don't care about extending the contract so much as the price I'd be paying being almost equal to a fully unlocked one.
 
I will have to pay 450 for the 16gb but I found a bb torch so I'll sell that to make up a bit of the difference. Would love to get a bigger one. But I don't need it. Got my iPad for gaming... And music I'm revamping my library right now. So I'm good
 
randymac88 said:
Here's the deal though guys, tell me if my math is off, but Sprint is about to lose at least two, but probably a whole lot more customers because of this:

- I bought my wife and I EVOs on launch day as well.
- We both want the iPhone 4S
- I could pay $649 EACH for the 16GB to upgrade now and stay with sprint (or wait until April which is NOT happening).
- Alternatively, I can switch to Verizon and pay $199+$35 activation+$65.62 Sprint ETF = $299.62 each for iPhone 4S

So, pay less than half the cost of upgrade to move away from Sprint, which is actually the same price I paid for the EVOs, less actually if you consider activation fees and all that.

Is my math wrong or is this just a dumb idea for Sprint? Why not save me and let me upgrade?
Click to expand...

Your math does not factor in the value of an unlocked ipHONE 4GS. You could sell that for $450-$500 in April and get away much cheaper than $299 per phone.

----------
james92se said:
This thread is pointless as Apple hasn't even states whether or not they will be seling unlocked versions in the US. I'm sure they will, but it could be MONTHS!

I netted $500 from my iPhone 4 sale and would love to buy an unlocked 4S but seemingly won't be able to. I'd only be paying $300 or so out of pocket which is awesome. The ridiculous part is if I upgrade now through AT&T I'd still be paying between $600-$800 for the 4S AND extending my contract. I don't care about extending the contract so much as the price I'd be paying being almost equal to a fully unlocked one.
Click to expand...

it seems the iPhone 4S sells for $649 in Canada. Why not buy it there? It will also be available unlocked by Mailorder or in Europe.
 
I don't like having to pay £499 for a sim-free 16GB iPhone 4S as I do think it's a ridiculous price for a phone but since I want one it's probably the best option. I mean with contracts I won't be paying as much upfront but in the long run they work out quite a bit more expensive so I guess I'll just buy it sim-free.
 
marine0816 said:
I can't believe Sprint is not going to give me any break for buying over $1500 worth of phones, no early upgrades?
Click to expand...

Why does everyone on this site think that their carrier "owes them" or that they are "entitled to" some kind of deal? More than likely, you signed and agreed to a 2-year (24 month) contract. If you haven't satisfied the agreed upon terms of the contract, why should they owe you anything?
 
skidbubble said:
Why does everyone on this site think that their carrier "owes them" or that they are "entitled to" some kind of deal? More than likely, you signed and agreed to a 2-year (24 month) contract. If you haven't satisfied the agreed upon terms of the contract, why should they owe you anything?
Click to expand...

I agree, as much as i would like my carrier to give me a subsidy every time a new Iphone comes out, it is not what i agreed to. Every time you get the iphone on subsidy they are paying out $400+. They dont give upgrades sometimes because they dont have too. Either honor your contract and they get your money or cancel and they get your money. Either way they get your money!

The entitlement attitude in the U.S. is really concerning.
 
andiwm2003 said:
it seems the iPhone 4S sells for $649 in Canada. Why not buy it there? It will also be available unlocked by Mailorder or in Europe.
Click to expand...

Is there some practical way of purchasing a Canadian unlocked iPhone? I don't have any friends in Canada and obviously won't be traveling from Texas to Canada to buy a phone. So how exactly would that work?

And mail order? Could you elaborate
 
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