Carrier Why AT&T Next is not a scam. New phone for $124 per year.

[dbalone]

Yes, you are eligible for another new phone if your contract/phone is paid in full.

You can and probably will loose on the plan if you are not paid off and have to give them back your phone next year to get a new one. We all know we can most likely sell our phones and get more

My plan with this phone was to switch to T-Mobile. I did not want to be on a contract again. Problem is my local T-Mobile received 0 5S yesterday. So I went into AT&T and told them I want to pay for the phone. No contract again. They said ok I can do that or do Next and pay for it monthly. $32/month for the 32 gig and 0 interest. Ok I said why not. I will pay my phone/contract off next month. I have my phone, not under contract, can have it unlocked and then do whatever I want. Really no different than the T-mobile plan.

Can you lose on this? Yes if you do not pay off your phone by the time the next one comes out. Because AT&T will want your phone back to get the new one.

 

[iBreatheApple]

I just have a ghost line for $9.99 and can upgrade every year by alternating upgrades each year on my main line and the ghost.

 

[mainomega]

OP just got suckered into Next. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE to use Next with all the other options available.

 

[TimothyB]

It's essentially a zero interest loan for 20 months you can pay off anytime. The kicker is, you get the phone for $110 less than retail. The total amount you owe is 640 on a 32gb 5s, retail is 750. I don't get the whole, you're still paying the subsidized price in your plan, their plans are just expensive. It was that way before subsidized phone and after.

It's more about the guaranteed income by locking someone in for 24 months, and now the subsidized deal is worse since you have to wait a full 24 months, which is stupid of them as now their customers can leave at upgrade time, compared to hooking them again for another 2 years by offering an upgrade before the 24 months.

Other carriers have offered new phone payment options with cheaper plans, but do all of them offer the same service, quality and coverage? I know I plan to stick with AT&T because I've had no major issues, though, it helps I'm still grandfathered into unlimited data and 1000 text, plus a corp discount.

Right now is a good time to do Next, since upgrading in 12 months is timed with the next major redesign. But overall, I just don't have the time to deal with selling my phone on eBay to get the best possible savings when upgrading yearly . Plus they take I nice chunk of the sale with ebay fees and paypal fees, plus you have to pay for shipping insurance.

Also, at 12 months , couldn't you just sell the phone, pay off the balance , probably have money left over , and then not on contract, so you can start Next again or something else?

 

[Surrylic]

I'm glad I searched out this thread today. Next sounded like a great deal until I realized that you have to give the phone back to them. WHAT? If you could resell it then I'd be all over that plan. Using a 32GB phone as an example: I'd happily pay AT&T an extra $84/year over what I am now (on a 2 year plan) and sell it at the end of the year for $450ish. I'd be making a *little* money (after eBay/Paypal fees) if I'm lucky, and basically be recouping all the extra cash spent per month. No way AT&T is gonna allow that.

 

[adam044]

http://http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/7/19/4536042/jump-edge-next-early-upgrade-plans-compared

 

[aneftp]

Next and EDGE programs from att and Verizon are predatory programs designed to rip people off. Plan and simple.

Always ask rep recommending it to you if they have their family member and friends on next and edge plans. If program were so good than they surely would put mom and dad on it? Right.

End of story.

People do not understand. Att and Verizon subsidy is $450 every 24 months.

So if you do the next and edge and pay $570 for phone and keep it.

But if you sign up for 24 month contract its $199 plus $35. So $235

Who is the sucker? With next you essentially are paying $335 more for phone over 20 months cause you forgo your subsidy.

 

[outie2k]

OP, time to change the title of this thread

 

[iphone5att64]

If they do not buy back the phone, here is the total costs compared.

2 year contract

Year / cost / sell / subtotal / running

0 / 400 / 0 / 400 / 400

1 / 850 / 400 / 450 / 850

2 / 400 / 400 / 0 / 850

3 / 850 / 400 / 450 / 1300

4 / 400 / 400 / 0 / 1300

5 / 850 / 400 / 450 / 1750

6 / 400 / 400 / 0 / 1750


Next

Year / cost / sell / running

0 / 444 / 0 / 444

1 / 444 / 0 / 888

2 / 444 / 0 / 1332

3 / 444 / 0 / 1776

4 / 444 / 0 / 2220

5 / 444 / 0 / 2664

6 / 444 / 0 / 3108

 

[iphone5att64]

I haven't gone back in yet to ask, but the sales guy said I couldn't sell my old phone unless I signed up for the Next plan. That was false as AT&T has a trade-in program on its website. However, the trade-in website offers credit for old phones, so by that definition of trade-in, it may be possible that AT&T will give you credit for the trade-in 12 months later on the Next plan. We will not know unless someone asks and confirms at a store. It would be deceptive If it is confirmed that trade-in on the Next plan has a different meaning than receiving credit for the phone.

 

[iphone5att64]

Trade-in does not mean buy back. I confirmed at an AT&T store. Trade-in means swapping.

They can't convert the Next plan to a two year contract. I have to return the phone with a $35 restocking fee to be eligible for the contract discount.

$850 phone is $740 on Next. $444 for one year and swapping waives $296 or they're buying the phone back for $405.