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T-Mobile Drops iPhone Down Payment Price by $4, Increases Monthly Payment by $1

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Apr 12, 2001
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When T-Mobile began selling the iPhone back in April, the carrier offered the entry level iPhone 5 for a down payment of just $100 with 24 monthly payments of $20 for a total device cost of $580.

In May, T-Mobile changed the down payment pricing to $150, bringing the total cost of the iPhone to $630, and today Tmonews reports that the carrier adjusted its pricing once again, lowering the down payment price to $145.99 but raising its monthly equipment installment price by $1, effectively making the overall price of the phone $649.99 ($145.99 + $21 x 24). That is essentially the same price that an unsubsidized phone costs directly from Apple.

iphonetmobile-800x557.png
The decreased down payment brings the initial cost of the 32GB iPhone 5 to $245.99 and the cost of the 64GB iPhone 5 to $345.99. T-Mobile's no contract monthly data plans remain the same, beginning at $50 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.

Article Link: T-Mobile Drops iPhone Down Payment Price by $4, Increases Monthly Payment by $1
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/03/t-mobile-drops-iphone-down-payment-price-by-4-increases-monthly-payment-by-1/
ThatsMeRight said:
Maybe I don't understand it correctly, maybe my math is wrong, but that's not a $5 difference.
Click to expand...

Then my math is equally wrong. :eek: Also, if you write "down payment" in the title then don't you think you should remain consistent and not write "downpayment" in the article? You had a 50/50 chance that one spelling was correct.


PS: is this really a big deal though?
 
nvm saw the $50
Just wondering, how much is the monthly usage fees? call & data+whatever fees?
 
Last edited:
ThatsMeRight said:
Maybe I don't understand it correctly, maybe my math is wrong, but that's not a $5 difference.
Click to expand...

I think we were ignoring the $0.99, I've updated the article to reflect the $4 price difference. Thanks!
 
Carlanga said:
Just wondering, how much is the monthly usage fees? call & data+whatever fees?
Click to expand...

It's $145.99 to buy a 16GB iPhone 5, then there's a $21 per month device fee and a $50 per month plan for unlimited data, talk, and texts. With the $50/month plan, data is throttled after 500MB.

With a $60 plan, data is throttled after 2GB, and with a $70 plan, there's unlimited 4G data.

So an entry level phone on the cheapest plan will run you $71/month (plus standard taxes and fees).
 
T-Mobile's offering just sounds like an engineer trying to sell his formula to customers. Just sounds incredibly complicated. Just sell the phone at $649/$749/$849 and provide cheap service rates. Nice and simple!
 
MacRumors said:
When T-Mobile began selling the iPhone back in April, the carrier offered the entry level iPhone 5 for a down payment of just $100 with 24 monthly payments of $20 for a total device cost of $580.

In May, T-Mobile changed the down payment pricing to $150, bringing the total cost of the iPhone to $630, and today Tmonews reports that the carrier adjusted its pricing once again, lowering the down payment price to $145.99 but raising its monthly equipment installment price by $1, effectively making the overall price of the phone $649.99 ($145.99 + $21 x 24). That is essentially the same price that an unsubsidized phone costs directly from Apple.

The decreased down payment brings the initial cost of the 32GB iPhone 5 to $245.99 and the cost of the 64GB iPhone 5 to $345.99. T-Mobile's no contract monthly data plans remain the same, beginning at $50 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data.

Article Link: T-Mobile Drops iPhone Down Payment Price by $4, Increases Monthly Payment by $1
Click to expand...

Way to confuse people. Is this gonne mean any significant change to either the consumer or t-mob? All this nickel-and-diming only serves to antagonize potential customers. Make up your mind guys.
 
bniu said:
T-Mobile's offering just sounds like an engineer trying to sell his formula to customers. Just sounds incredibly complicated. Just sell the phone at $649/$749/$849 and provide cheap service rates. Nice and simple!
Click to expand...

People will balk at the price since they're used to the "$200"-ish price for phones and are clueless to the actual price of phones.

T-Mobile's way is a great middle-of-the-road approach. Though I agree changes like this is kinda pathetic. Just set a price and stick with it. If they realized they should've charged more, just wait for the new iPhone to drop, and change the price with it. Looks much better that way.
 
My take its not working well, people are probably buying the phones leaving for other carrier or its not helping because you can leave anytime.. No contract is killing them
 
early iPhone Magenta adopters got a nice deal...

Those people who bought an iPhone from T-Mobile during it's initial $100 promotion lucked out, but now everyone else will to pay the standard full price, no surprise there.

However still, T-mo offers a more flexible and less expensive "contract" than the big 2 USA telecoms & Sprint. Service reliability and robustness on T-Mo's network on the other hand is an entirely different matter...
 
1enckore said:
My take its not working well, people are probably buying the phones leaving for other carrier or its not helping because you can leave anytime.. No contract is killing them
Click to expand...

You will get billed for the remainder cost of the phone. There's no customer benefit to getting a "discounted" iPhone to just take it to AT&T.
 
jclo said:
So an entry level phone on the cheapest plan will run you $71/month (plus standard taxes and fees).
Click to expand...

Or you just buy the iPhone directly from Apple and pop in a T-Mobile prepay SIM at $30/mo. (The $30 plans are in the smaller print at the bottom of the page.)

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

Unlike the big three, T-Mobile doesn't require a minimum plan to use an iPhone on their network. You have real choices based on your usage.
 
OriginalMacRat said:
Or you just buy the iPhone directly from Apple and pop in a T-Mobile prepay SIM at $30/mo. (The $30 plans are in the smaller print at the bottom of the page.)

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

Unlike the big three, T-Mobile doesn't require a minimum plan to use an iPhone on their network. You have real choices based on your usage.
Click to expand...

I was able to get the initial $70 reduced price at introduction and got on the $30 plan and was recently able to get my iPhone unlocked. It was a complicated process, but I saved the $70! With the current pricing it would be much better just to go to the Apple store and buy the phone already unlocked since the price is the same.
 
Tmobile USA is just as deceptive as the other carriers. This "uncarrier" branding may stop the bleeding of customers but won't gain them much more.

I think the FCC needs to force tmobile to reveal in big bold print the full cost of the phone as the primary headline than tmobile can put in smaller print the lower down payment.

This isn't a car lease where u have to retune the car. Dealers can promote low leases. But this is a full price of a phone consumers are responsible for.
 
aneftp said:
Tmobile USA is just as deceptive as the other carriers. This "uncarrier" branding may stop the bleeding of customers but won't gain them much more.

I think the FCC needs to force tmobile to reveal in big bold print the full cost of the phone as the primary headline than tmobile can put in smaller print the lower down payment.

This isn't a car lease where u have to retune the car. Dealers can promote low leases. But this is a full price of a phone consumers are responsible for.
Click to expand...

Do you then also believe that AT&T and VZ should have to put their Early Termination Fees in big bold print as well as tell you that your phone plan will never get cheaper even after you have satisfied your contract?
 
BruiserB said:
Do you then also believe that AT&T and VZ should have to put their Early Termination Fees in big bold print as well as tell you that your phone plan will never get cheaper even after you have satisfied your contract?
Click to expand...

Yes. I agree.

The postpaid system in the US is a scam. Unfortunately the local, federal and city government are also involved with these post paid carriers since many get a "cut" of the fees.

So they will probably end up not doing anything about it.
 
WOW!!!!! $4 SAVINGS!!!! Quick everyone, run to the bank, withdraw your savings, spend it on something nice!!!!!

/sarcasm
 
bniu said:
T-Mobile's offering just sounds like an engineer trying to sell his formula to customers. Just sounds incredibly complicated. Just sell the phone at $649/$749/$849 and provide cheap service rates. Nice and simple!
Click to expand...

Like the rest of the world does it!

But no... people in America are used to paying $199 for a phone in exchange for signing a contract for 2 years.

I applaud T-Mobile US for trying this experiment... but it doesn't look like it's working very well.

T-Mobile was always cheaper than the bigger carriers like Verizon and AT&T... so you'd think they'd have the most customers. But they don't.

Where I live... T-Mobile coverage isn't so great. I guess that's why people prefer the larger carriers.

In other words... T-Mobile branding themselves as the "uncarrier" with no contracts and telling people to "buy your own phone" isn't exactly bringing in the customers.
 
Last week I was able to have TigerDirect knock off $5 from my Router.

I saved $20 bucks on a Micro bluetooth speaker at Frys.

I bought 2 motorcycle tires for $189 dollars shipped; I saved about $80

I used a 20% coupon at harbor freight saving me about $6 bucks.


I can go on and on all day. Ask yourself; is this really news worthy?
 
cdmoore74 said:
Last week I was able to have TigerDirect knock off $5 from my Router.

I saved $20 bucks on a Micro bluetooth speaker at Frys.

I bought 2 motorcycle tires for $189 dollars shipped; I saved about $80

I used a 20% coupon at harbor freight saving me about $6 bucks.


I can go on and on all day. Ask yourself; is this really news worthy?
Click to expand...

It's summer, nothing happens so everything is news worthy
 
T-Mobile will not unlock the phone immediately so now it's better to buy the iPhone unlocked at an Apple store and then subscribe to T-Mobile service.
 
bniu said:
T-Mobile's offering just sounds like an engineer trying to sell his formula to customers. Just sounds incredibly complicated. Just sell the phone at $649/$749/$849 and provide cheap service rates. Nice and simple!
Click to expand...

Yea, I'm a bit confused. I thought the shnit with them was that you would save money. I'm failing to see how I would save anything if I'm going to pay the same price for a phone...
 
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