Buy $99 subsidized iphone 5s than pay ETF?

Why do you feel the need to "make money off of the carriers"?

 

if you can, why not?

 

Good luck with that. You will end up paying more.

 

There are a lot of things that people can do, doesn't make them worthwhile.

 

they make PLENTY of money off of us...

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yeah i never understood why one would buy an iPhone completely outright unless they want to keep unlimited data, or don't want to lose their number. makes no sense to me since you save 200 bucks...

 

I don't think anyone is disputing that.

 

well I'm saying that if they are going to swindle their customers, they deserve to have their customers swindle them.

 

This always happens with wireless carriers.

You are not their first rodeo.

 

Nobody is getting swindled. In this case the contract terms works in OP's favor because the old family plan lets you game the upgrades by allowing us to remove the data plan...

 

Maflynn beat me to it. Exactly what I was going to say.

You have a choice to choose any carrier you want, or none at all. You are not a victim here.

If I really need to dumb it down for you we can always go with "two wrongs don't make a right."

 

im not just going to not have a phone... all carriers swindle users. i'd do anything i could to get back at them. thats like saying you won't ever travel because airlines suck. okay then, stay in your hometown for life...

 

Apparently you missed the definition above.

I suppose maybe you are one of those people that thinks everyone is out to get them.

Also, there are ways to travel that do not involve airlines.

 

i read it... i have never seen someone who likes their carrier so much... like seriously... most of us hate our carriers but put up with throttling, and overpriced service.

 

I'm not defending any carrier, I am just laughing at your victim mentality.

 

There is nothing worng with what the OP is doing. He is not swindling, or cheating, or stealing from the company. The OP is following exactly what the contract states. A contract is an agreement between both sides. There is a clause written into the contract on how to legally break the contract. That is the ETF. Now if the carrier wishes to sell a $650 phone for $99 that allows you to get out of contract for $450, then that is the choice of the carrier.

 

Karma's a bitch. Eye for an eye. Don't **** where you eat.

 

No swindling here. Op is fulfilling his contract with the carrier. End of.

 

How is following the contract guidelines that the carriers put in place swindling? There is nothing wrong with what the OP wants to do, because the carriers leave the option open.

 

Those too haha

End of...sentence?

No one is claiming that the OP is swindling anyone. Another poster stated that the carrier swindles customers.

 

Why do people feel the need to come here and advertise their intent to swindle their carrier? Who the **** cares if you can do it? Do it, you know you will and coming here to post about it is merely advertising that you believe you've out-smarted the carrier. Congrats.

You ask, "Buy $99 subsidized iphone 5s than pay ETF?" Yes. Do it. Do it all day and every day because you sir/ma'am have out-smarted the carrier. You're not asking, you know it.

Previously, and on old similar plans, terminating the contract with a subsidized phone resulted in a bill being sent for the remaining balance of the phone. I can't say that is the case today, but that is what happened to me when I switched carriers and still had to pay an ETF.

 

Nothing illegal about it.
You agree to the terms and you fulfill your part by paying the ETF.
Not sure if after the upgrade fee, sales taxes and other expenses what money is left over by the purchase and flip of the phone is worth going through all the energy and effort to make little profit left over.