Is there any reason to pay full price for phone vs AT&T Next?

[bpeeps]

I always pay full price for my phone up front. 1) if I lose it I don't want to owe anyone anything before I get the next phone 2) I don't lease anything. If I have to lease it I cannot afford it.

It's not about affordability. And it's not a lease since there's no interest. It's about investing your money saved, gaining interest on it, or using it elsewhere to your own benefit. Instead of tying it all up in a material device that is only going to deteriorate in value.

 

[magbarn]

Do you plan on trading in your phone when you upgrade next year? You usually make out better when you sell on your own.

It used to be that way when iphones kept their value better...
Maybe it's still true on the lower spec models... At most, I can only get about $700 Max for a pristine jet black iphone 7+ 256gb model, hardly more than the much cheaper 32gb base model. After fleabay and paypal take their (un)fair cuts, I'm down to about $600. You also run the risk of the ebay buyer ripping you off as fleabay will always side with the buyer, even when they ship you back a brick in a box.

You can try craigslist, but I'll be lucky to get $500 on craigslist, and run the risk of getting killed. Once you factor in taxes on your original iphone purchase, I'm basically down $500 or so in loss of value.

Many of the braggers here dumping their loaded phones for $800 are selling to unsuspecting co-workers/family members/friends who aren't checking ebay/craigslist prices.

 

[gurase]

It used to be that way when iphones kept their value better...
Maybe it's still true on the lower spec models... At most, I can only get about $700 Max for a pristine jet black iphone 7+ 256gb model, hardly more than the much cheaper 32gb base model. After fleabay and paypal take their (un)fair cuts, I'm down to about $600. You also run the risk of the ebay buyer ripping you off as fleabay will always side with the buyer, even when they ship you back a brick in a box.

You can try craigslist, but I'll be lucky to get $500 on craigslist, and run the risk of getting killed. Once you factor in taxes on your original iphone purchase, I'm basically down $500 or so in loss of value.

Many of the braggers here dumping their loaded phones for $800 are selling to unsuspecting co-workers/family members/friends who aren't checking ebay/craigslist prices.

Swappa has fewer fees and is much more seller friendly.

If you have to mail in your old phone to the carrier, I have read plenty of stories of the carrier losing the phone and charging for it.

Choose whichever option works best for you.

 

[magbarn]

Swappa has fewer fees and is much more seller friendly.

If you have to mail in your old phone to the carrier, I have read plenty of stories of the carrier losing the phone and charging for it.

Choose whichever option works best for you.

I drop mine off at the local corporate att store 10 min away. My iPhone is going for $622 on swappa. Much better to just drop it off at att. I also get a decent discount on my service by going with next rather than buying the iPhone outright.

 

[gurase]

I drop mine off at the local corporate att store 10 min away. My iPhone is going for $622 on swappa. Much better to just drop it off at att. I also get a decent discount on my service by going with next rather than buying the iPhone outright.

It's not a next discount, it's an out of contract discount. You get the same discount buying outright or BYOP.

Edit: unless you are referring to trade in promos

 

[Faitt]

It's through citizen one? But I can't seem to find the page to apply for the financing.

The page is down now due to the event soon, but after you choose sim free, color, and storage size, it asks how you want to pay, and i think there's a link for 24 month special financing.

 

[Strelok]

0% interest for 24 months versus upfront? Even just taking the $1000 (or however much it is) and setting it aside to pay the monthly payments makes more sense. Why would you pay someone right away when you can pay them over x period without any drawbacks? The only drawback might be the credit pull or if you have no credit.

 

[ftaok]

0% interest for 24 months versus upfront? Even just taking the $1000 (or however much it is) and setting it aside to pay the monthly payments makes more sense. Why would you pay someone right away when you can pay them over x period without any drawbacks? The only drawback might be the credit pull or if you have no credit.

To each their own, but there are some legit reasons to pay upfront. And it's not like the interest you'd make on $1000 over two years is that big a deal.

1. Unlocked right away. Under Next (and similar plans), the phone is locked.

2. Credit Card extended warranties. While some CC's do offer extended warranty if you pay the monthly bill on their credit card, not all do. My CC requires me to pay for the entire purchase price with the card if I want to be fully covered.

3. Some folks don't want to do anything via credit.

4. Some folks want to pay in cash.

But if these (and other reasons I can't think of) don't apply to you, then it's really hard to beat 0% financing.