Didn't a new iPhone used to really only cost $200 w an upgrade/contract?

[TH55]

With no rate raising to where the Next was a better deal?

When I got my 4S in 2011 I was new to AT&T but I joined onto a family plan. It was $200 and that was it, the rates didn't go up.

Now they're saying it's cheaper to buy it full price bc your rates go up??

 

[WilliamG]

With no rate raising to where the Next was a better deal?

When I got my 4S in 2011 I was new to AT&T but I joined onto a family plan. It was $200 and that was it, the rates didn't go up.

Now they're saying it's cheaper to buy it full price bc your rates go up??

Correct. There's basically no subsidies anymore on AT&T. You end up paying for the device in full one way or another.

 

[CEmajr]

With no rate raising to where the Next was a better deal?

When I got my 4S in 2011 I was new to AT&T but I joined onto a family plan. It was $200 and that was it, the rates didn't go up.

Now they're saying it's cheaper to buy it full price bc your rates go up??

Yeah they used to just hide the price of the phone in your bill for you. Now they actually let you know what you're paying.

 

[TH55]

Correct. There's basically no subsidies anymore on AT&T. You end up paying for the device in full one way or another.

Sucks, I want a new phone but I don't want to pay $700.

 

[kilcher]

Sucks, I want a new phone but I don't want to pay $700.

Then get it with Next. Next = 0% financing over 20 months. If you have Mobile Share your bill will be $25 cheaper per month because AT&T is not subsidizing the full cost of your phone.

 

[TH55]

Yeah they used to just hide the price of the phone in your bill for you. Now they actually let you know what you're paying.

Didn't they used to just not give you a discount on the family plan?

Also, do those not on a family plan still get the $200 deal?

----------

Then get it with Next. Next = 0% financing over 20 months. If you have Mobile Share your bill will be $25 cheaper per month because AT&T is not subsidizing the full cost of your phone.

Right that's what I did but I'm still paying full price. That's why I'm considering returning.

 

[Menel]

Sucks, I want a new phone but I don't want to pay $700.

Its a freaking super computer in your pocket. Bleeding edge.

Cpu, gpu, incredibly high dpi lcd, capacitivie multitouch, flash storage all in the size of a little sliver of finely machined Al...

 

[myscrnnm]

Yeah they used to just hide the price of the phone in your bill for you. Now they actually let you know what you're paying.

Are you talking about the absurd price of $39.99 for a mere 450 minutes of voice a month? Because outside of the plan charges, all the other fees in my bill were imposed by the federal, state, and local governments.

 

[CrazyMutha29]

Right that's what I did but I'm still paying full price. That's why I'm considering returning.

Dude... You've always paid full price for the phone. AT&T is just being a bit more transparent about it now. You never got a phone for $200. Any way you slice it you're paying at least $700 for your $700 phone. The only difference between all the plans is how it's broken out.

 

[Hal~9000]

When I got my 4S in 2011 I was new to AT&T but I joined onto a family plan. It was $200 and that was it

For most customers on old plans it was...

$200 for 4s
$240 for $10/mo extra line for 24 mo
$35 for upgrade fee (now is $40)
$75 for roughly $3/mo taxes and star fees on extra line over 24 mo

$550 total

So while you thought you were paying only $200, in reality for most customers you were merely saving $99 off the $649 retail price (not that big of a deal over a 2-year contract).

If you switched to the new family share plans that cost more then go blame the person who switched you.

 

[rui no onna]

With no rate raising to where the Next was a better deal?

When I got my 4S in 2011 I was new to AT&T but I joined onto a family plan. It was $200 and that was it, the rates didn't go up.

Now they're saying it's cheaper to buy it full price bc your rates go up??

In case you're forgetting, getting an iPhone required signing up for a $30 data plan which makes for an add'l $720 revenue over 2 years. That's where they hid your subsidy re-payment. The bad thing about it is if you don't upgrade every 2 years or you buy your devices outright, you're still forced to pay the subsidies that are built into the data plans.

 

[Fant]

I still have the family talk plan with AT&T. I just added a line.. paid:

$299 for 64gb iphone 6
$40 activation fee
$99 applecare
$10/mo for extra line x 24 = $240
$20/mo minimum data plan x 24 = $480
----
total = $1158 + taxes - corp discount for 64gb iphone 6 + applecare + 2 years of service.

Of course this is after i'm paying the $50/mo+$30 on the primary line but still its cheaper than NEXT.

 

[Ramio]

Dude... You've always paid full price for the phone. AT&T is just being a bit more transparent about it now. You never got a phone for $200. Any way you slice it you're paying at least $700 for your $700 phone. The only difference between all the plans is how it's broken out.

THIS. It's the same.