Remember when a new iPhone was $199

[x-evil-x]

Somebody explain this to me because it still seems like I never paid for a phone till they dropped the subsidies.
Iphone 3g(299$) down. No Monthly payment
phone bill 80$ a month for unlimited data text in at&t

Two years later I sell the phone for 300$ and that pays for the new phone subsidy of iPhone 4.

Same 80$ monthly payment.

Two years later sell the iPhone 4 for 300$ buy the iPhone 5 for 300$ subsidy.

How am I spending more money?
I really don't see how not having subsidies helps for people that sold the phones for the cost of the new phone subsidy.

I don't like tacking on a 40$ payment onto my 80$ plan. Id rather pay 3-400$ down(usually what my two year old phone was worth) and have no payment.

I still am confused why people think you paid more per month then you do now if you sold your phone for the cost of the subsidy.

I understand that most people don't like selling their phones outright and would rather trade in their phones and lose a ton of money in the process and thats the way it seems like now.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Wrong. A network can change your pricing under UK inflation, and they tell you that when you sign up. You can't just leave a contract if they change the price.

Yes but increases inline with RPI are in your contract That isn't a contract change is it....

 

[krause734]

Somebody explain this to me because it still seems like I never paid for a phone till they dropped the subsidies.
Iphone 3g(299$) down. No Monthly payment
phone bill 80$ a month for unlimited data text in at&t

Two years later I sell the phone for 300$ and that pays for the new phone subsidy of iPhone 4.

Same 80$ monthly payment.

Two years later sell the iPhone 4 for 300$ buy the iPhone 5 for 300$ subsidy.

How am I spending more money?
I really don't see how not having subsidies helps for people that sold the phones for the cost of the new phone subsidy.

I don't like tacking on a 40$ payment onto my 80$ plan. Id rather pay 3-400$ down(usually what my two year old phone was worth) and have no payment.

I still am confused why people think you paid more per month then you do now if you sold your phone for the cost of the subsidy.

I understand that most people don't like selling their phones outright and would rather trade in their phones and lose a ton of money in the process and thats the way it seems like now.

Some argue the price was built into your plan but the plans don't seem any cheaper now even though they don't subsidize the phone. This is exactly what I did. I actually sold my old phone for more than buying a new one.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Obviously do what's right for you but it's always cheaper to buy the phone and sim separate so long as you're getting a good sim deal.

It is NOT ALWAYS cheaper....it can be, but it doesn't have to be....No different than leasing, buying, financing a car - you got to do your sums each and every time...There is no one answer fits all to that...

 

[nnoble]

Yes I remember. Just yesterday, the NOKIA 3310 (2017) was $51.

 

[x-evil-x]

Some argue the price was built into your plan but the plans don't seem any cheaper now even though they don't subsidize the phone. This is exactly what I did. I actually sold my old phone for more than buying a new one.

yea my plan is not cheaper at all now its 19$ more a month because I put down my last subsidies iPhone I sold(the 6+). 400$ down for a 7+ and now on a yearly plan.
So my plan is 20$ more a month with about the same I would of put down on a subsidy if they had them.

How is that a cheaper plan again? Im spending MORE money now...

 

[powerbook911]

yea my plan is not cheaper at all now its 19$ more a month because I put down my last subsidies iPhone I sold(the 6+). 400$ down for a 7+ and now on a yearly plan.
So my plan is 20$ more a month with about the same I would of put down on a subsidy if they had them.

How is that a cheaper plan again? Im spending MORE money now...

I'm on identical plans at ATT from when subsidies existed. Except my data plan has went up about $15.00 over the past few years.

And yep, subsidies are gone. So they completely pocketed the subsidy they previously gave me. Most people they got to switch to other plans to try to hide the change.

 

[x-evil-x]

I'm on identical plans at ATT from when subsidies existed. Except my data plan has went up about $15.00 over the past few years.

And yep, subsidies are gone. So they completely pocketed the subsidy they previously gave me. Most people they got to switch to other plans to try to hide the change.

I forgot about the 5$ hikes they've been adding to my plan over the years. Id switch carriers for a free phone upgrade but I can't live without unlimited data as I use 15-20 gigs month usually.
I wouldn't mind switching from att to Verizon back and forth every two years if I can get them to buy my phones for me(in credits of course), and having an unlimited data plan.

 

[ashleyman]

It is NOT ALWAYS cheaper....it can be, but it doesn't have to be....No different than leasing, buying, financing a car - you got to do your sums each and every time...There is no one answer fits all to that...

True, but in my experience and I've been doing this a long time it has always been cheaper to front the cost of the phone and jump on a cheap sim only deal.

Just the same as it was cheaper to PCP my car instead of leasing or buying outright. BUT if you can get something cheaper by paying for it a certain way and you choose to over-pay by doing it a different way you're a fool as you're just wasting money. It took me a long time to realise that.

 

[fiddysent]

I'd gladly sign another 2 year contract for a $200 iPhone x. I'm not giving up my plan anyway

 

[x-evil-x]

I'd gladly sign another 2 year contract for a $200 iPhone x. I'm not giving up my plan anyway

exactly. id be happy putting 500 down subsidy for the plan I've had for 9 years. I wasn't planning on switching in the first place unless something better came along which won't happen for a big carrier.

 

[rui no onna]

Somebody explain this to me because it still seems like I never paid for a phone till they dropped the subsidies.
Iphone 3g(299$) down. No Monthly payment
phone bill 80$ a month for unlimited data text in at&t

Two years later I sell the phone for 300$ and that pays for the new phone subsidy of iPhone 4.

Same 80$ monthly payment.

Two years later sell the iPhone 4 for 300$ buy the iPhone 5 for 300$ subsidy.

How am I spending more money?
I really don't see how not having subsidies helps for people that sold the phones for the cost of the new phone subsidy.

I don't like tacking on a 40$ payment onto my 80$ plan. Id rather pay 3-400$ down(usually what my two year old phone was worth) and have no payment.

I still am confused why people think you paid more per month then you do now if you sold your phone for the cost of the subsidy.

I understand that most people don't like selling their phones outright and would rather trade in their phones and lose a ton of money in the process and thats the way it seems like now.

For some, the cost of the monthly plan went down. Ours was $60/line/month and it dropped down to $40/line/month. Of course if I change plans now it's gonna go up to $50/line/month.

 

[x-evil-x]

For some, the cost of the monthly plan went down. Ours was $60/line/month and it dropped down to $40/line/month. Of course if I change plans now it's gonna go up to $50/line/month.

was it only family plans that went down? maybe thats why I never noticed any lowered price of my plan.

 

[Phonzoxd]

Mine actually dropped from $40 a line to $15. But of course Verizon wised up and figured that was a huge discount, so now they do $20.

 

[geoff5093]

$60 for 2GB? You realize you can get unlimited data on Verizon for $75 right?

 

[rui no onna]

Mine actually dropped from $40 a line to $15. But of course Verizon wised up and figured that was a huge discount, so now they do $20.

Per line discount was $25/mo but I'm going by average cost so (base plan + line fees) / # of lines. I always look at the total cost per line because I compare it to prepaid to see if and how much I can save if I switch.
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was it only family plans that went down? maybe thats why I never noticed any lowered price of my plan.

Not sure. I don't pay attention to the single line plans. If I needed a single line, prepaid is typically the cheaper way to go.

 

[fischersd]

I'm really surprised, with subsidy disappearing virtually everywhere, that Apple hasn't extended the iPhone upgrade program to more locations (was hoping they were going to announce it for Canada at this event). Nope.

They would get a LOT more people upgrading every year if they rolled that plan out to everyone.

 

[krause734]

$60 for 2GB? You realize you can get unlimited data on Verizon for $75 right?

Yes but I got $450 off my phone last year subsidized which is $18.75/month. So it's really $41.25/month for 2GB. The unlimited plan doesn't give you a subsidized phone.

 

[AJsAWiz]

Yes but I got $450 off my phone last year subsidized which is $18.75/month. So it's really $41.25/month for 2GB. The unlimited plan doesn't give you a subsidized phone.

It used to . . . I've had unlimited data since it was first offered. I've also, always, bought a subsidized phone with a 2 year contract. That ended with my iPhone 6S Plus. So, I just battened down my financial hatches to prepare for my next iPhone. It paid off. I'm going to try to pre order an iPhone X and will be paying the full price (no installments).

 

[Starfyre]

The service providers are no longer subsidizing iPhones and building it into the monthly plan. The monthly plans haven't come down much either. Seriously looking at MVNO's. I am wondering how many other people will do the same. I got my iPhone 7 for $199 last year but Verizon no longer offers subsidized pricing. They at least provide monthly payment plans. Currently paying $60 (65) for 2GB/Unlimited talk/text. Verizon is the only company that works in rural areas otherwise I would have jumped ship sooner.

Clearly you never knew of T-Mobile. They went uncarrier and were the first to stop with the subsidies to save on the monthly bill.

 

[aristobrat]

How is that a cheaper plan again? Im spending MORE money now...

You're still on the original unlimited data iPhone plan (from 2007) and you're asking that with a straight face? hahaha

 

[protoxx]

Got a 4s 32gb+applecare subsidized so $500 plus $93/month. $113.83/month over 24 months
Got a 5s 64gb+applecare $950 plus 18 months $30 plus 12 months $55 plus 32 months $45 $58.80/month
Haven't felt the requirement to have latest phone.
Saves me a lot of money. Not to mention the extra cost of getting new cases or other accessories every time phone form factor changes. I'm sure if the subsidy programs kept on the plan cost would of gone up a couple of times.
Saved $1398 on plans. Plus the extra part of two phone upgrades (!$1000?).

Old plan over 5 years would of been $5580 (plan) +$1500 (3 phone upgrades) $7080 total

Actual $2640 (plans) + $950 total $3590
I've saved $3490 so far vs old model over 5 years.

 

[aristobrat]

No its not, and I personally avoid such a habit, this probably why I've been so resistant to get the X

Sorry, I meant "not bundled into a plan" (i.e. subsidized)

 

[x-evil-x]

You're still on the original unlimited data iPhone plan (from 2007) and you're asking that with a straight face? hahaha

You can elaborate

 

[rui no onna]

You're still on the original unlimited data iPhone plan (from 2007) and you're asking that with a straight face? hahaha

Nope. The AT&T iPhone plans back in 2007 was actually $20 for unlimited data + messaging (500 or 1000, I think?). It was the iPhone 3G in 2008 that it went to $30 without messaging.

 

[krause734]

Clearly you never knew of T-Mobile. They went uncarrier and were the first to stop with the subsidies to save on the monthly bill.

Aware. Verizon was the last one to get rid of subsidies this year. I use Verizon. They are the only one that works in the boonies. As others have said, some saved money over 2 years if you were willing to sign a new 2 year contract. Some of the plans are not cheaper when you factor in the full cost of the phone, some of them are cheaper.