Carrier Life without 2 year contracts...

[bufffilm]

I hear ya but you do realize the true cost of the phone was built into your monthly bill. That's why those customers than are NOT on the grandfathered plan get a $25 discount once their phones are fully paid off.

But I think, each case needs to crunch the numbers to determine what route is best.

The only clear case, where it makes sense to buy the phone upfront, is for those users who hold onto their phones for much longer than the typical 2 years.

 

[boltjames]

.. but either way... it comes down to ATT removed the subsidy but did not lower the grandfather prices... hence I am paying more now if I upgrade.

Excellent financial analysis, thank you for taking the time to show the detail.

Again, an iPhone is much more expensive now than it used to be. If one wants to pay 2x more on the front-end (no subsidy) and lose 50% on the back end (no-money-down kills resale), and live with more expensive data plans and/or lesser service, go for it, get an iPhone 7.

I'm going to sit this one out unless I hear something amazing during today's keynote.

BJ

 

[slippery-pete]

Each case is different.

Probably should have been clearer. If you use next and plan to upgrade each year, you trade the phone in. No idea what the cost is per month for a 6s+. Maybe $45 a month? Now if you buy outright, you own the phone and can sell it to offset the cost. If I get $400 for my 6s+ and subtract from the cost I pay for the phone I would venture to guess the monthly cost is probably less than the next cost. The downside is you are paying upfront.

I won't give up my unlimited data unless AT&T forces me to.

 

[C DM]

It's been almost 4 years since I dumped financing phones and contracts. Started with back with the iPhone 5. Far less complicated and less expensive.

You'll have far less headache and confusion if you don't play the sketchy payday lender games. Phones are not pricy enough to warrant financing and payment plans.

Ultimately it's what's cheaper and works better for someone. Paying for subsidy and not using it is not exactly the best thing for many.

 

[boltjames]

Ultimately it's what's cheaper and works better for someone. Paying for subsidy and not using it is not exactly the best thing for many.

While for most it's about whatever is cheapest there is a subset of iPhone diehards that will be happy to pay more as long as the feature-set provides a proper value. I'm one of those. But based on the leaks, there is nothing in the iPhone 7 that will make me want to give up my iPhone 6 which is just a brilliant device. Let's see if Apple has a surprise up its sleeve at the keynote and if there is something awesome that didn't leak (not getting hopes up).

BJ

 

[Menel]

IMO, the headache and confusion comes from the realization that the phones are now priced separately from the plans.

Doesn't matter how you pay for your phone (monthly payments vs pay it all at once), you pay the exact same amount.

$649 paid in one lump, up front = $649.
$649 paid $27/month for 24 months = $649.

The later comes with the caveat of fine print. Some lender is giving Apple the money on your behalf because you can't/choose not to pay it up front. What those terms/penalties/complications are. Worth extra time investment for review.

More info on fine print:

But a closer look at the program contract reveals those that enrolled might have released their personal information to a far larger group than they had expected.

...

According to the document, that includes social security numbers and account balances; account transactions and income; and credit scores and checking account information.
This is definitely the kind of information that any bank would need to have for its loan customers. But it doesn’t necessarily seem like information that it would need to share with third parties—especially for marketing purposes. But according to the document, it can:
A screenshot from a recent Citizen One customer notice shows that they have the right to share customer's personal information for marketing purposes
According to the letter, Citizens use your information to market its own products, and share your information so that “affiliates” can also market to you. Citizens Bank wasn’t immediately available to explain the difference between “affiliates” and “nonaffiliates,” or how often it shares customers’ personal information.

http://qz.com/775042/you-might-want...ct-you-signed-for-the-iphone-upgrade-program/

 

[aristobrat]

I think this is very specific to each account.. but either way... it comes down to ATT removed the subsidy but did not lower the grandfather prices... hence I am paying more now if I upgrade.

By doing that, it looks to me like AT&T has essentially repriced their grandfathered plans from 2008 prices to 2016 prices.

If you keep your grandfathered plan (and add in the extra cost for new phones), you'll be paying about $10/month more for unlimited data on AT&T vs what a similar plan on T-Mobile costs today.

More info on fine print:

The actual privacy policy that Citizens One sent out doesn't use any fine print (I think that's a government mandate), although it's "boiler plate" vague IMO.

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us.

This information can include:
• Social Security Number and account balances
• Account transactions and income
• Credit scores and checking account information

So while they are within their rights to collect and share any of the information, it doesn't say what they actually share for customers using Apple's Upgrade Program.

Good point, though.

Have you checked AT&T's Next program? Since it's actually run by AT&T themselves, I don't recall ever getting a Privacy Policy notification the one year I used it.

 

[ibookg409]

Many of us feel your pain, and what used to be a no brainier every two years is now a real decision.

Based on what I know about the 7, I am going to stick with the 6. The new features aren't worth the money.

BJ

I'm sticking with my 6 Plus for another year at least. I just want to keep my unlimited data and try to squeeze out another year or 2 on this phone.

 

[boltjames]

I'm sticking with my 6 Plus for another year at least. I just want to keep my unlimited data and try to squeeze out another year or 2 on this phone.

Same here.

Next week I'm going to buy a new case, download iOS 10, and my iPhone 6 will feel just like an iPhone 7.

Water resistant. LOL

BJ

 

[dwendz23]

Here are the two year contract prices

 

[ibookg409]

Same here.

Next week I'm going to buy a new case, download iOS 10, and my iPhone 6 will feel just like an iPhone 7.

Water resistant. LOL

BJ

I bought a better case today to protect my phone. Glass screen protector is being replaced as well.
[doublepost=1473295297][/doublepost]

Same here.

Next week I'm going to buy a new case, download iOS 10, and my iPhone 6 will feel just like an iPhone 7.

Water resistant. LOL

BJ

I'll wipe the phone anti stall iOS 10 as new.

 

[mazdamiata210]

What is the long term of paying full-price for a phone?

What I paid on my old (2010 rates) AT&T plan, when a $649 iPhone "only cost $199":
$40.00 = 450 anytime minutes / 5000 night and weekends
$25.00 = 2GB of data
$20.00 = unlimited text messages
----------
$85.00/month + $199 up-front for the phone

$2,239 = total 2-year cost

Here's the corresponding new AT&T Mobile Share plan, where a $649 iPhone costs $649:
$40.00 = unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, 3GB of data
$20.00 = access fee
$27.04 = phone (AT&T Next or Apple plan where $649 phone cost is spread over 24 months)
-------------
$87.04/month

$2,089 = total 2-year cost

Tell me again how it's cheaper to switch my plan and do a next plan... I'll wait.

 

[Macshroomer]

Excellent thread folks, thanks!

If and when I decide to upgrade from my iPhone 6 / 128GB AT&T, I will considering all these new ( to me ) metrics.

 

[powerbook911]

Has anyone seen if ATT will offer you subsidy pricing if you are considering switching to another carrier?

 

[pdxmatts]

I'm paying the final payment required to get an upgrade with phone turn-in. I purposely chose NEXT 12 so that we made the higher payments that got us new phones in a year.

You could choose the longer options and make lesser payments, but then next year you have a huge payment to be upgrade eligible.

Because it took so long to sell our phones last year with too many low ball offers... we're not even dealing with that this year. Just going to send it back to ATT and be done with it....

Sounds like a good plan 😉

 

[aristobrat]

Tell me again how it's cheaper to switch my plan and do a next plan... I'll wait.

Show me again where I said it was cheaper for you to switch your plan.

You made the comment about "People see no money down and think nothing of it. They don't think about the long term of paying $900+ for a phone".

I was just pointing out that for some people, paying full price for the phone (i.e. $900+) is cheaper than when they were getting the phone subsidized. There is nothing long term to think about in some of those situations.

 

[bufffilm]

Has anyone seen if ATT will offer you subsidy pricing if you are considering switching to another carrier?

You think that hasn't been tried before?

If it were that easy.

 

[powerbook911]

You think that hasn't been tried before?

If it were that easy.

They told me a few months ago they were doing it during the transition away from subsidies. I guess they've stopped it?