Can you buy 5C on contract then cancel and pay ETF?

yep

 

Correct and if you don't return the phone, the carrier will bill you the full price of the phone, the ETF and the charges you owed for the month you used the phone.

 

Would the above be cheaper than just buying the phone outright?

 

Full price for the phone + ETF + one month of cellular billing? You seriously have no idea?

 

u can't really find a way to take advantage of cell companies, you aren't the first and probably not the last.

 

Thanks for your informative answer!

Have a great weekend and Holiday!

----------

No doubt. All that "fine print" pretty well covers them and then some.

 

You too.

Also, the ETF would be I believe $350 minus one month so I think that would make it $340.

Just buy the phone if you don't want a contract.

 

pretty pricy for the 5c if u ask me, lol

 

Right to prevent exactly what the op is suggesting. The carriers want to make sure the cost of breaking the contract is more than the phone is worth.

 

$27 device
$340 ETF
$115 30 days service
($100 month + $15 estimated taxes/fees )
--------------------
$482 Total


VERSUS

$550 Device
$45 Straight Talk
----------------------------
$595

So a savings of $112...taxes for the device are not figured because they could be a wash depending on if your state charges tax on $27 or the full value of the device. And I am unsure if there is an activation charge on the post paid carrier to activate the new device.

For some people the aggravation is worth $100. Am I missing something ?

 

The carrier will also probably charge for the phone.

 

Factor in the full cost of the phone which won't be $27.

 

Why is that if you keep the service for 30 days ? I thought if you cancelled prior to 30 days you paid the full price of the phone or returned it.

 

You don't pay full price of the phone when you pay etf. I experienced many sales people tell me that because they either did not know or the tried to scare me and prevent cancelation. I never was charged full price when paying etf. Besides evrything is in your terms and conditions of your contract.

 

They do not charge full price AND the etf. The etf is there to cover the phone. Pay 27 for 5c, cancel next day or after 14 days, pay etf and 1st months bill. Done

 

If the phone is verizon, they may not unlock it or release the phone. May be difficult to sell? (Asking a question)

 

You may need to factor in the activation fee (~$30) they like to tack on.

 

Verizon's come factory unlocked.

 

If it's an iPhone 5 or newer, the SIM Card slot is factory unlocked as per the FCC.

It has to with some agreement made when Verizon purchased their LTE spectrum.

As for unlocking the CDMA portion, I'm not sure but so few networks outside the US and Japan are CDMA that I doubt most people in the world would care.

 

You can when walmart, bestbuy or whoever puts these phones on sale. Usually you will only save the different between the sale price and regular vs. paying full price.

I got a question. Say I went into walmart to get a 5s would they be able to add the phone to my share everything plan so I would only have to pay $40 for that month then cancel?

$40 additional share everything device
$137 for phone w tax
$340 etf
$30 activation fee
= $547 for a brand new verizon 5s

Thoughts or comments?