Why Buy Full Price?

[AlabamaSlammer]

Let me get this straight, you're worried about a contract and an ETF, yet you never leave? And you just pay extra money....because it makes you feel better?

If you want to feel really good, I'll give you my address and you can send me a check.

Actually Yes... I feel good that i have the power to leave Verizon (if needed) without penalty. Instead of me sending you a check, how about you get out and work your butt off and spend your money the way you like INSTEAD of asking for a handout. Plus I sold my iphone 4s and will only pay about $200+tax to be off contract.

 

[Geckotek]

Actually Yes... I feel good that i have the power to leave Verizon (if needed) without penalty. Instead of me sending you a check, how about you get out and work your butt off and spend your money the way you like INSTEAD of asking for a handout. Plus I sold my iphone 4s and will only pay about $200+tax to be off contract.

Oh, I work and make plenty of money. But when I see people throwing it away if figure why not ask? Who know, maybe you'll have another weak moment?

What's funny is how the amount of the ETF is less than the extra money you spend. And yet, since you never leave you're not even really saving the ETF.

You should feed some hungry kids with that money instead. Here's a great place to start, www.eat-art.org. You get art, they get food.

 

[Tminusg]

Oh, I work and make plenty of money. But when I see people throwing it away if figure why not ask? Who know, maybe you'll have another weak moment?

What's funny is how the amount of the ETF is less than the extra money you spend. And yet, since you never leave you're not even really saving the ETF.

You should feed some hungry kids with that money instead. Here's a great place to start, www.eat-art.org. You get art, they get food.

If you lived in canada like me, then buying outright definitly has it's advantages considering we have 3 year contracts. A phone willnever make it to 3 years. Or it never has for me. Easier to buy at full price and sell after 2 years of use.

 

[Geckotek]

If you lived in canada like me, then buying outright definitly has it's advantages considering we have 3 year contracts. A phone willnever make it to 3 years. Or it never has for me. Easier to buy at full price and sell after 2 years of use.

Doubt AlabamaSlammer lives in CA.

 

[AppleDApp]

If you lived in canada like me, then buying outright definitly has it's advantages considering we have 3 year contracts. A phone willnever make it to 3 years. Or it never has for me. Easier to buy at full price and sell after 2 years of use.

Yet you still pay 50+$ a month for your plan.

 

[AlabamaSlammer]

Oh, I work and make plenty of money. But when I see people throwing it away if figure why not ask? Who know, maybe you'll have another weak moment?

What's funny is how the amount of the ETF is less than the extra money you spend. And yet, since you never leave you're not even really saving the ETF.

You should feed some hungry kids with that money instead. Here's a great place to start, www.eat-art.org. You get art, they get food.

A question was asked by the OP and I gave my reason as to why I buy full price. Don't start with me on charity work. You have no idea who I am or what I do for a living. You don't know what charity work I do and do not do. You don't know how I volunteer my time in my local area. Last but not least but WHO IN THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY MONEY?

 

[Geckotek]

A question was asked by the OP and I gave my reason as to why I buy full price. Don't start with me on charity work. You have no idea who I am or what I do for a living. You don't know what charity work I do and do not do. You don't know how I volunteer my time in my local area. Last but not least but WHO IN THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY MONEY?

Not questioning if you do charity work or not. And you can do what you want with you're money. It's a free country. And that freedom also allows me to judge your wisdom. You don't have to respond.

 

[AlabamaSlammer]

Not questioning if you do charity work or not. And you can do what you want with you're money. It's a free country. And that freedom also allows me to judge your wisdom. You don't have to respond.

Well we agree on something, it is a free country. But I am sticking to the fact that phone contracts suck and I still enjoy not wondering about ETF.. You don't have to respond

 

[Geckotek]

Well we agree on something, it is a free country. But I am sticking to the fact that phone contracts suck and I still enjoy not wondering about ETF.. You don't have to respond

I agree they suck, but when they're subsidizing the purchase, it's worth it. I can cancel anytime I like and pay a penalty far less than the cash I saved up front. Simple economics.

 

[AlabamaSlammer]

I agree they suck, but when they're subsidizing the purchase, it's worth it. I can cancel anytime I like and pay a penalty far less than the cash I saved up front. Simple economics.

This is going to be the last time I respond to you but did you not read the part where I sold my 4s and will only be paying like $200+tax out of pocket?. But I will be off contract and you will be on contract. If you want to get the last word in thats fine.

 

[Geckotek]

This is going to be the last time I respond to you but did you not read the part where I sold my 4s and will only be paying like $200+tax out of pocket?. But I will be off contract and you will be on contract. If you want to get the last word in thats fine.

Yep, I'll sell my 4s too and put $200 in my pocket. See how that works? (not doing this for last word, but did you honestly think selling your phone made up at all for the loss you took on the front end?????)

 

[Gage]

Girls, girls, you're both pretty. Let's move on.

 

[pure3d2]

Selling it works too, but there's another catch as well. My family plan is in my wife's name. I can walk into a VZW store, buy the phone for $199 in my name, cancel the account, pay the $350 (so end up spending $549). Take the phone I now own outright and use it on my line on my wife's account. Just saved $100 over people paying full price and keep unlimited data. Now, this is all really just hypothetical. I don't have the cashflow to just throw $550 at a new phone. My upgrade's in December. It's not too far away and by then I'm guessing the backordering issues should be resolved (one can hope).

I was working out the math also. I think you're missing some other hidden costs.

$199 subsidized price of phone
+($649 x state sales tax) taxed on full price
+$30 activation fee
+pro-rated plan
+$350 ETF

I think you have to wait 15 days to cancel the contract in order to pay the $350 termination fee. According to their terms, if you cancel before 14 days, you don't pay the early termination fee, but you give the phone back and get your $199+tax back. I'm not sure if you can get the activation fee refunded (please correct me if I'm wrong).

You'd have to pay the prorated amount for the cheapest share everything plan, which is 15/28 days x ~$90 = $48

So let's assume your tax rate is 8%, you're looking at

$199
$51.92
$30
$48
$350
Total = $679 (rounded to the nearest dollar).

Buying the full at full price will be $649+tax (assume 8%) = $700.92. Even if they did refund the activation fee, your savings will be about $50. It seems like an awful lot of trouble to go through to save $50, imho.

 

[gapperonduty]

seemed like a logical way to approach nowadays..

easier to get an iphone 5 and save $50...

besides the slight negativity on the credit rating and that they could deny you signing up for verizon the next time you really want one, is there anything bad we should be aware of?

 

[darngooddesign]

Personally I like not being under contract to Verizon. So buying a phone every 2 or 3 years at full price is worth it (my opinion). Plus not having to worry or even think about an ETF makes life easier.

I don't understand this sentiment in the US.

The ETF is the same or less than the extra cost of the phone, you can't move your iPhone over to another US carrier, and Verizon won't charge you less for your service if they aren't subsidizing your phone.