"Unlimited plan" is a trap. For 4 lines, it's fine on any carriers. For 2 lines, T-Mobile is much cheaper than AT&T or Verizon.
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They also have a promo directly through Apple (which admittedly isn't that great) that provide an additional $150 if you purchase a phone through apple.com and verify activation at time of purchase (with a trade-in to apple of an iPhone 8 or newer). Not great, but an additional $150 on top of what apple would give for their trade-in.
These offers just show how overpriced the plans are. I made the decision long ago it was just better for me to go to a lower cost pre-paid carrier and just buy a new iPhone outright when I feel the need for a new one. Still come out way ahead vs these "deals".
Trust me, they won't give a damn about losing you as a customer. I worked for AT&T in COR sales for 14 years and I know how it works. We would all giggle under our breaths when we'd see a customer threatening to leave AT&T for another carrier. What those people don't understand is that for every customer that jumps ship we (meaning AT&T sales) would gain three new customers to take that one person's place. So as long as the new customers exceeds the ones jumping ship then companies like AT&T don't give a damn if they lose anyone.
this ^^^
I’m at $37.50/line (16gb Verizon prepaid with tethering + 5G) for my wife and I. I will continue to buy iPhones outright when I feel like it, and in the meanwhile save $50-$75/mo from those Cadillac post paid plans
The modern economy is about attracting new customers and fleecing existing ones. It’s like the job market. The only way to get a raise is often to change jobs. Loyalty is for suckers at these days.
Xfinity Mobile is great. As horrible and awful as Comcast are, and expensive as their service is, it sort of evens out when you bundle services. I was paying $70 for T-Mobile with a device I had paid off. I switched to Xfinity and got unlimited data and payments on a new iPhone XR for about $85 per month after taxes. Not bad. I just upgraded to the iPhone 12 Pro after paying off the XR, and will be paying about $10 more per month for the 256GB pro model. But, I will get a $250 Visa gift card.
And it runs off the Verizon network, so I get great coverage.
And it runs off the Verizon network, so I get great coverage.
If you buy through AT&T you get an iPhone locked to their network. They are the only carrier still doing this, and it's not worth it imo.
They are obligated to unlock once the phone is paid off. I've done that with older iPhones. I use Apple's upgrade program now which are always unlocked even though they are preconfigured to connect to a chosen network.
Yes, while not as generous as AT&T this time around, T-Mobile's trade in deal isn't so bad if you have been a customer for 5 years.
I am trading in iPhone XS and XR toward two iPhone 12.
My total is:
$829.99 (ordering from T-Mobile, which is still $829.99 and not $799) + $50 (128GB storage) - $500 (trade in credit for XS) - $200 (loyalty credit) = $179.99 before taxes
$829.99 + $50 (128GB storage) - $415 (trade in credit for XR) - $200 (loyalty credit) = $264.99 before taxes
Thanks to free voice lines T-Mobile has given me over the years, I am only pay $134.50/month (after taxes and fees) for 5 unlimited voice lines with Netflix Premium included.
I just switched to Verizon and they are giving a $400 trade-in credit for iPhone 6. Combined with the $250 new customer promotion, that's $650 off. I did the trade in at a store and the guy did the appraisal and gave me the full $400 credit right there. Verizon iPhone 12 Pro will come with physical sim but they told me after 60 days the phone will be unlocked and you can request transfer of the Verizon sim to esim, so the physical sim can be used for another carrier. Considered switching to t-mobile but they were offering much less in trade value for the iPhone 6.
To get the good deals through T-Mobile you have to pay extra each month for their trade in program. Last time I checked that was at least $10/mo extra. If you trade in every three years you have basically paid them $360 for a trade in deal that might net you $200 off of a new phone (once you subtract the $360 you already paid in). I've always found that the best way to get a new iPhone is to just buy it without a deal, then sell the old one on eBay. I always get at least twice as much for the old phone that way than if I trade it in. I refuse to pay a $10/mo fee just to be eligible for a future trade in. That would be insane!
Legit, thank you for saying this. My phone is coming week of Nov 6th, and while I was excited already, this sealed the deal. I've been getting hairs pulled by my X for three years. Not every time, and not that bad, but shocking every time it happens.
Yep, I think TM is fair on their plan deals.
While I wish I could get more for my two iPhone 7 upgrade trade-ins ($300 each) it's better than if I sell it myself and deal with the hassle that comes along.
I don't like to be tied for a long time with any carrier but since I doubt I can get much better prices elsewhere with a reliable service, I guess might as well just stay. Maybe around Xmas or early 2021, a better deal can come up after the initial rush.
For a single person, AT&T's offer works out incredibly well for me.
I was up to $106/mo on my old grandfathered AT&T plan even with the FAN discount. I'm nervous to give up my grandfathered "good for a lifetime" unlimited plan after being on it for 11+ years, but this offer just made sense and was ultimately too good to pass up. With the Signature/FAN discount, my new Elite unlimited plan will "only" be $75/mo + tax, I'll finally get to use my phone as a hotspot, I get $800 in bill credits over the next 30 months for my new iPhone 12 Pro (by trading in my 2-year old XR), and I don't even have to open up a new line/add a second line or switch service provider. It's a win for me.
TL;DR - Yay, I'm single so I win/Boo, I have no partner/spouse/kids/family to share with so I really lose.
I was up to $106/mo on my old grandfathered AT&T plan even with the FAN discount. I'm nervous to give up my grandfathered "good for a lifetime" unlimited plan after being on it for 11+ years, but this offer just made sense and was ultimately too good to pass up. With the Signature/FAN discount, my new Elite unlimited plan will "only" be $75/mo + tax, I'll finally get to use my phone as a hotspot, I get $800 in bill credits over the next 30 months for my new iPhone 12 Pro (by trading in my 2-year old XR), and I don't even have to open up a new line/add a second line or switch service provider. It's a win for me.
TL;DR - Yay, I'm single so I win/Boo, I have no partner/spouse/kids/family to share with so I really lose.
Not defending T-Mobile by any means, but you may be eligible for the $200 rebate card mentioned a few posts below yours, and even if you're not $196 is not terrible for a 3-year old entry-level model phone that some carriers are selling brand new for $399 currently.
Yeah, I know that. I worked for AT&T COR for 14 years. They were actually pretty cool to work for until they bought DirecTV. That's when they completely shifted direction in a very bad way. That's when I began to hate my job. I finally divorced them last year and I will never ever give them a dime of my money ever again. My wife sticks with them because she's too lazy to try other options. So be it....
Seems like the best way to play Carriers is to get everyone on the same 2 year upgrade cycle and bounce back and forth from ATT to Verizon.
Too bad that is very difficult even with only 3 users.
Too bad that is very difficult even with only 3 users.
I was able to trade in iPhone XR and get $440 off the iPhone 12 instantly rather than monthly promo credits with verizon when buying through Best Buy. Paid $380 including tax after trade. Phone is paid off in full and not "locked" to verizon for 24 months to receive bill credits.