Good: AT&T not ending 2-year contracts, only their 3rd party retailers are.

[pokerplayer73]

If they had killed off the subsidies they currently provide (for 2-year contracts) then that would have effectively killed off the value of the plan. Anyone holding onto unlimited data would have had to pay an extra $450 every 2-years per line!

While some would say that's fine, I personally would not stay with the same company that decided to stop reimbursing me $900 every two-years while continuing to charge me the same price for service as before.

If I had to I would have simply switch my lines to Crickets $45/mo 5gb plan for only $3,460 over a 2-year period:
$2,160 = $45/mo 5gb plan for 2 phones ($90/mo)
$1,300 = 2 unlocked iPhones bought at full retail

In your calculations, Taxes were not included for AT&T which are close to 18%. So, Cricket works out even better that way.

 

[imlynxy]

Yes, so slowly all of the Best Buys, Apple Stores, and other 3rd party retailers will completely stop offering the subsidized pricing. You'll only be able to get that pricing via AT&T directly. Then they'll stop offering it in-store and only online. Then only for business customers. Then they'll finally axe it. When? Who knows...

They don't stop 2-years contracts online in the nearest future. It be a stupid way to lose "a customer". The customer switch right away as she "protests" the new, more expensive contract. It is smart not allow 3d party to sell phones. Att gets iphones and other phones with a huge seller discount, so they care where you buy it. If they cell phones to you they can accamulate 10-15% of the phone price. Also it stops a loophole to avoid paying taxes( example order in MA for NH store pick up). Also they charge you 35 dollars restocking fee on returns.
This is an adecvate way, but I really doubt that Att has the most efficiant management now compare to their competitors.
I'm going to be on safe side, when new iphone shows up I upgrade all my 3 upgrade eligible lines right away.
The moment I get next iphone with lte band 12 low 700 mHz and they stop 2-years susidy I switch to t-mo all unlimited plan.
Now I have 3 line unlimited internet and see no reason to jump out.

 

[imlynxy]

i went to a corporate store on sunday and overheard a rep saying they aren't doing 2yr contracts anymore.

You are right, this is how they try to switch you to more expensive plan. I came to corp. store this Saturday to get a new sim card, was offered new family share plan the moment they open my account. Unlimited data for 3 lines is like a red flag for them . I asked on upgrade, was refused, I insisted on it, was told that it was possible. Refused the upgrade and "all you can share" plan.

It is partially good and bad news. Good: We still can upgrade at lower price, at least online. BAD: att always slow with shipping compare to apple, something wrong with the phone -> restocking fee, you have to wait/schedule ups-fedex delivery.


Here I have a question on 40(used to be 36) dollars upgrade fee. Before they forgave it, it was upgrade free on my FAN account. Are they going to chage it somehow?

One more thing : I don't buy Apple call options they release new iphone 6s, may be some put options. My prediction that Apple not going to sell as much iphones as before since buyers will be forced to full price or lease/credit.

 

[lakaiordie]

You are right, this is how they try to switch you to more expensive plan. I came to corp. store this Saturday to get a new sim card, was offered new family share plan the moment they open my account. Unlimited data for 3 lines is like a red flag for them . I asked on upgrade, was refused, I insisted on it, was told that it was possible. Refused the upgrade and "all you can share" plan.

It is partially good and bad news. Good: We still can upgrade at lower price, at least online. BAD: att always slow with shipping compare to apple, something wrong with the phone -> restocking fee, you have to wait/schedule ups-fedex delivery.


Here I have a question on 40(used to be 36) dollars upgrade fee. Before they forgave it, it was upgrade free on my FAN account. Are they going to chage it somehow?

One more thing : I don't buy Apple call options they release new iphone 6s, may be some put options. My prediction that Apple not going to sell as much iphones as before since buyers will be forced to full price or lease/credit.

i actually ordered a new phone and the rep made a mistake, shipped me the wrong phone. i kept it sealed and exchanged it a the corporate store and pay the tax difference. no restocking fee. they were really nice, but what i found out later on was they added insurance without my authorization. so yes i saved money and they were polite about the whole exchange, she at first said "you should of sent it back". then i told her they are able to exchange it just keep it sealed. so its a up/down for att they want to make you happy to stay with them

 

[barkomatic]

If they eliminating 2 year contracts except at AT&T stores then that probably means those stores will be swamped and will have salespeople trying to get people to give up unlimited data. I'm considering just paying full retail and popping my sim in.

 

[mhdena]

No need to go to the store, everyone knows what they look like, just order online or over the phone.

 

[grifftaur]

This could be kind of annoying if I have to get the phone through AT&T's site in September. I guess I'll have to wait as it gets closer to figure out what to do

 

[cousintim]

Att gets iphones [...] with a huge seller discount

Not true. Its margin is around 8%.

 

[macher]

This could be kind of annoying if I have to get the phone through AT&T's site in September. I guess I'll have to wait as it gets closer to figure out what to do

Yea I usually order direct from Apple and get it shipped to my house although I have Apple stores near me. Never ordered from Premier on pre launch.

 

[imlynxy]

Not true. Its margin is around 8%.

I think even 8 percent plus restocking fees here and there is better then nothing. If they just sell extra 1M phones with average price 800, 800*0.08=64*1M=64M plus some customer return with restocking fee.

 

[imlynxy]

Yea I usually order direct from Apple and get it shipped to my house although I have Apple stores near me. Never ordered from Premier on pre launch.

I'm in your shoes

 

[AustinIllini]

Unless you have unlimited data (Still) and you're using a ton of it, I see no purpose for anyone to have 2 year contracts any longer.

 

[Abazigal]

At any rate, Apple best have a contingency for the event that telcos do start ending 2-year plans. Maybe Apple might have to take a page out of Google's book and start becoming its own carrier. Buy bandwidth, offer 1 plan - $60/month unlimited.

 

[ohio.emt]

Unless you have unlimited data (Still) and you're using a ton of it, I see no purpose for anyone to have 2 year contracts any longer.

I still have unlimited, and usally only use about 3GB a month. If ATT does away with 2-year contract I'm done with them. The reason I'd pay about $30 more a month just to get 2GB on the family share plan.

 

[AustinIllini]

I still have unlimited, and usally only use about 3GB a month. If ATT does away with 2-year contract I'm done with them. The reason I'd pay about $30 more a month just to get 2GB on the family share plan.

That's not unreasonable. The best situation you can have in the modern system is have your whole family on a plan.

I have a 6 line family share plan with 33% FAN and 30 GB of data. I personally pay around $35 a month.

 

[ohio.emt]

That's not unreasonable. The best situation you can have in the modern system is have your whole family on a plan.

I have a 6 line family share plan with 33% FAN and 30 GB of data. I personally pay around $35 a month.

The biggest problem for me is my parents don't have a smart phone. If they did then the new plans might be work out to be cheaper.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I did this math at the end of last year. I was on ATT and StraightTalk has turned out to be even cheaper than I calculated then. I needed a new iPhone 6 and what ATT was offering was basically a no-interest payment plan that locks you into their more expensive services (based on two iPhones) for two years. With ST I can leave anytime I want if a better deal comes along. Buying my unlocked iPhone at the Apple store was my best option.

I don't know where ATT comes up with all of the taxes and surcharges they piled on (nearly 13% in my case). StraightTalk, when enrolled in their auto-payment plan, charges $42.50 per month per SIM card (unlimited talk/text, 5GB data) and after all of their taxes it's $46.38 (a little over 9%).

 

[aneftp]

In your calculations, Taxes were not included for AT&T which are close to 18%. So, Cricket works out even better that way.

Yes. Cricket works.

But u have to factor in 85% or more of att post paid customers are on family plans or get discounts (10-25%). Family plans save money with more lines. Discounts pretty much negate most of the taxes.

 

[macher]

Yes. Cricket works.

But u have to factor in 85% or more of att post paid customers are on family plans or get discounts (10-25%). Family plans save money with more lines. Discounts pretty much negate most of the taxes.

Our 4 line family plan with unlimited data, unlimited text and mobile to ANY mobile with 25% discount and taxes is $203/month. Total taxes are like $8.00. I get 25% discount also on each unlimited data line; $30- $7.50= $22.50.

 

[gsmornot]

This could be kind of annoying if I have to get the phone through AT&T's site in September. I guess I'll have to wait as it gets closer to figure out what to do

Wondering too. I would like to order from Apple but have the Next plan at the moment. I wonder if I will be able to order my replacement though the app and it will deal with the current Next phone plan. I assume I turn in my current phone sometime later but don't know for sure. My plan is to swap my current device for the next device as part of my Next 12. I thought about paying my phone off and keeping it but just not sure what to do with an extra 6+. I like the size but its too big for those in my house. Sell it maybe? Anyhow, off topic for a minute, back on now.

 

[aneftp]

Our 4 line family plan with unlimited data, unlimited text and mobile to ANY mobile with 25% discount and taxes is $203/month. Total taxes are like $8.00. I get 25% discount also on each unlimited data line; $30- $7.50= $22.50.

Yes. Many people forget the perks on working for employer (or affiliated with employer) and getting generous discounts.

T-Mobile is the only carrier I know that doesn't offer many discounts. Att Verizon and sprint still offer discounts which basically wipes out most taxes.

Again prepaid isn't a bad deal. I recommend prepay for those having 1-2 lines. The math gets complicated around 3 lines and definitely 4 lines favor family lines especially with discounts.

 

[Applejuiced]

Unless you have unlimited data (Still) and you're using a ton of it, I see no purpose for anyone to have 2 year contracts any longer.

That along with a family plan with unlimited datas and a good FAN discount.
Future proof yourself to never have to pay data overages and get full subsidies on all lines.
Can't beat some old plans when you add discounts and subsidies.

 

[AustinIllini]

That along with a family plan with unlimited datas and a good FAN discount.
Future proof yourself to never have to pay data overages and get full subsidies on all lines.
Can't beat some old plans when you add discounts and subsidies.

This is the wrong approach. The best way to actually save money is family share and keep your phones longer than two years.

There is no free subsidy. You pay for it somewhere.

 

[Applejuiced]

This is the wrong approach. The best way to actually save money is family share and keep your phones longer than two years.

There is no free subsidy. You pay for it somewhere.

I'd have to disagree.
We all 4 like to upgrade every few years.
And your assumption that family share is cheaper than our plan with fan discount is wrong.
We would pay way more monthly on mobile share and would also have to pay full price for the phones.

 

[capathy21]

That's weird b/c the AT&T corporate stores in my area do not offer 2yr contracts at all. If a customer really wants to get a 2yr, they tell them to come to best buy. Sprint does the exact same thing. As much as it sucks for some customers, the 2yr contract is coming to an end. With Best Buy, we're suppose to stop offering 2yr contracts for AT&T and Sprint very very soon (matter of weeks, is what I was told) Verizon will still offer them tho.

You are exactly right. I work for a large preferred retailer for Sprint and we no longer offer 2 year contracts in store. Those customers that have to have a 2 year contract have to go to sprint.com to get 2 year pricing. That will soon end, and Sprint will only offer installment billing of devices, or full retail. All carriers are doing away with 2 year contracts. I'd say in a year or less, lease, edge, next, etc will be the only option other than BYOD or full retail.

Installment billing of devices makes the carriers so much more money. The customer is essentially paying full retail for their device AND they are more or less still committed for 2 years. It's a cash cow for the carriers.