Database Users

[Q] How easy is to buy a Focus without a contract?

I will be traveling to the US in about a week, I want to buy a Focus and was wondering if I will be able to do it without having a contract with At&t..
I'm willing to pay the "No Commitment Pricing" of $500+taxes but I don't know what kind of requirements they impose to the actual purchase of a device in the store.
Anybody has info on this?

idloco said:
I will be traveling to the US in about a week, I want to buy a Focus and was wondering if I will be able to do it without having a contract with At&t..
I'm willing to pay the "No Commitment Pricing" of $500+taxes but I don't know what kind of requirements they impose to the actual purchase of a device in the store.
Anybody has info on this?
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Your best bet is Best Buy if/when they get the phone, I think.
When I bought my Focus today in an official AT&T store, they mentioned I would have to purchase some sort of contract to "get the phone today". I didn't mind since I was planning to, but it felt to me like it was a necessity...

Anyone else have problems buying off contract? I used my upgrade on an iPhone 4 and wanted to buy this for the full retail price today.... Hopefully I don't run into any problems =/

I bought mine no contract with no hassle. I'm already an ATT customer and just asked to buy the phone without a contract.

chizzwhizz said:
I bought mine no contract with no hassle. I'm already an ATT customer and just asked to buy the phone without a contract.
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Same here, I was in and out in about 5 minutes.

Bizybone said:
Same here, I was in and out in about 5 minutes.
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phew... load off my mind. now i can sell off my samsung captivate without worrying the whole day if i did it for nothing. THANKS

I got the phone when the stores open in Columbus, OH on the 8th. There were 4 of us in line there. The other 3 were Microsoft employees. Two bought the focus, one the HTC. All bought them with NO contract. Infact I think one guy paid for all three of them lol. I'm pretty sure since you can order them online with no contract for $499.99 at ATT.com that a contract is not needed.

I walked in and out of a official att store with a focus.

Buy it @ at&t stores should be no problem at all. The biggest problem is to get it unlocked.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

You can't buy the Samsung Focus off contract currently. AT&T will sell it outright ($499 + tax), but they will only sell it to you if your an existing on-contract customer or you sign up (with a minimum term). I've already been to AT&T and tried, apparantly my money is not good enough there. I'm not sure how people in the US put up with this rubbish. Either way, the only way to get a Samsung Focus in the US at the moment is to sign up at AT&T.
I've also been to Best Buy, but they only stock the HTC Surround, which I won't buy due to it not having a microSD slot.

I'm currently an AT&T customer who just renewed my contract for another 2 years for the iphone 4. So they'll be able to sell me one full retail price, right?

www.expansys-usa.com

What about Amazon Wireless, I think you can buy there without a plan...
EDIT: I just confirm this, you can buy without a plan!

Most online site still need to verify your status with AT&T (at least that's the policy with Letstalk.com). Stores don't like to sell phones without contract because there is no money to be made (monthly service charges).

jaraya13 said:
What about Amazon Wireless, I think you can buy there without a plan...
EDIT: I just confirm this, you can buy without a plan!
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You can go elsewhere on the net as well. The problem is AT&T has the best price right now. Everyone else is a good 50-80 more expensive. I'd rather save the extra cash and grab a branded one...

bmstrong said:
You can go elsewhere on the net as well. The problem is AT&T has the best price right now. Everyone else is a good 50-80 more expensive. I'd rather save the extra cash and grab a branded one...
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Dude I meant the branded ones (AT&T), for example the HTC SURROUND AT&T BRANDED price is $460 or something like that. And I was able to go through all the checkout process, just that I didn't want to pay, hehehe

OK cool.. I hope there are Focus left when I´m there!

Amazon.com doesn't have Focus in stock. In fact, it only briefly showed up in like 10 seconds before it was sold out @ 11/8.

You go to Dell online and buy any phone on any carrier in the US and some unlocked Nokia's without a contract and in some cases the prices are pretty good...I have a Streak AND a Nokia N8 on the way lol. The Nokia (ugly pea green one) was actually only $450 compared to $550 most other places. If I don't like either one I may be joining the Focus owners club in a few weeks.

craiglist.. thats how i got mine// 400 bucks.. a week old

[Q]Best place to buy atrix(att refuse off contract)

Hi there,my friend has a uncle and I ask if he can buy the atrix for new and send me.
so he it's in spring , he went to att store and ask for atrix off contract and the executive say there is no phone only because he hasn't an account on att and offer 300 us in contract I was like wtf.
So where I can buy atrix cheap? Seems best buy and others are 600 us, will be nice having atrix for 500 so, any recommendations? Or what he can say in att store ?
Thanks in advance
Zen Kun
.......................................................
Sent from my loved nexus one ;D

Order it online for 500 on att
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

Off-contract pricing is still meant for AT&T customers and that is why it is $499. What you want is a hardware only price, which is $599. Some AT&T stores will sell you the phone at a hardware-only price ($599), others will only sell to AT&T customers.
Your best bet is go to Best Buy and pick one up. Now, you could also get lucky and find a store willing to sell you the phone at an off-contract price but I think that would be rare.

Ceverson70 said:
Order it online for 500 on att
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
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Do you have a link for this? All I see online at the AT&T store is the $199 price with a contract.

I got mine on AT&T off contract at $499, and I did not even give them my account, phone no. etc.

why do you keep asking this? you know already that the atrix is 500$ off contract to at&t customers. since you and i aren't at&t customers, the cheapest as of right now is 600$ via amazon.
i'm waiting for mine friday at the earliest or next week (carnival holiday monday and tuesday)
phone: 600$
shipping to venezuela: 35$
unlock code: 20$

franciscojavierleon said:
why do you keep asking this? you know already that the atrix is 500$ off contract to at&t customers. since you and i aren't at&t customers, the cheapest as of right now is 600$ via amazon.
i'm waiting for mine friday at the earliest or next week (carnival holiday monday and tuesday)
phone: 600$
shipping to venezuela: 35$
unlock code: 20$
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im asking not online, because i have a friend there so its a waste order online when someone can buy it from 500 in att store just need maybe a friend with att and just buy it with no contract, you can buy it online perhaps, some of us know people in usa that can get it cheaper

I had some issues with this but finally got a best buy to price match at&t at 499.

Amazon for 599 (as i did, im in canada)
or Bestbuy.com

zen kun said:
im asking not online, because i have a friend there so its a waste order online when someone can buy it from 500 in att store just need maybe a friend with att and just buy it with no contract, you can buy it online perhaps, some of us know people in usa that can get it cheaper
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Apparently not, if you can't buy it for $500 without an AT&T plan. If you want it with no questions asked, it's $600 right now. That is all he was trying to say.

resin99 said:
I had some issues with this but finally got a best buy to price match at&t at 499.
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How did you get BestBuy to price match the $499 AT&T off contract price?
Which store? How loud did you yell?
Bought my Atrix last night. They told me they would only match prices if I had a paper AD and that a website listing would not be sufficient. I'm an AT&T customer not due for upgrade til later this year. So got stuck with the off contract pricing. Wanted the $499 AT&T price but paid the $599 price at BestBuy so I could use my BB card.

wowzer....you paid an extra hundo to use your card at best buy :/

Do u have 4g network if you unlocked it?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

newter55 said:
wowzer....you paid an extra hundo to use your card at best buy :/
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Yeah, really. What was the logic in that? The 18 month 0% financing? If it was just for the reward zone points, I'm sorry but that extra $100 won't even get you an extra $5 reward zone coupon.

well i ask my uncle on United states and At&t refuse sell :S and the a friend of him went as at&t customer and say only after one month of contract :S
so i willtry do this: but phone on contract($200) the after 3 days terminate contract ETF AFAIK its $325 so i hope i can get it for $525 us so any thoughs??? thanks

The trick is to just sign up for a pre paid account or by a 15$ go account that will make you a att customer by default that's what I did paid 499$ off contract.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Went back to a different BB over the weekend, got the $499 price match no problem.
They called a local AT&T Corporate Store to verify the price and available stock.
Once that was established, they credited my account.

Best Buy and Pricematching

I had to upgrade to my Evo before the April 1 deadline because of the Premier Program changes and I was able to jump in the best buy buyback program for free. And since I don't think I am the only one around here I was wondering.
When I look at what the retail price for phones on bb.com compared to sprint's retail prices, bestbuy is almost $100-200 more. (e.g. sprint Evo $450/ BB Evo $600) Has anyone tried to get them to pricematch sprint when buying a phone at retail price? If you go to bestbuy's pricematch policy the first FAQ is
"What is considered a local retail competitor? "
and the answer is ....
"A retail store located in the same market area as your local Best Buy store."
The reason I ask is this. On the same web page there is a link for a New York Price Match Class Action lawsuit about a similar situation where an individual bought a camera from Best Buy then found the same camera at a "local" camera retail shop for less, and BB wouldn't price match it. And this individual won. (Reference the Decision and Order Document. The conclusion is on the bottom of page 31)
Note : There is more to the story, but this is what started the wheel turning in the lawsuit. I recommend reading that specific document thoroughly so you can see how scandalous retail can be.
I can understand not matching contract prices, although in the past they have for me. But in this case we are talking "retail" price. I have up til August to get 50% for my Evo ($300) and I was thinking for future sake how i would attack the upgrade. I could either do an ETF (about $180) and lose my mobile #, but pay contract price ,or I could just cash in the Evo for the program and buy phone at retail.
Has anyone had any experience with this situation with BB?
Typed on my CyanoSavaged SuperEvo.

I'm not sure why you'd want to sell your phone to best buy when you can get more for it on here, craigslist, or ebay. There is a reason they want to buy it back from you at that price.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

I had to purchase my Evo at full retail price and i looked into this too. I was inclined to purchase it at Best Buy because they actually had it in stock where as the sprint stores near me put me on a waiting list (this was during the 2 week wait list stuff)
I hoped to price match because i knew people there from working there 3 years beforehand
They wouldn't price match for me either
I ended up getting my Evo at Radioshack after walking in randomly to see if they had them in stock. It was like 25 bucks more, but after being on a wait list for over a month i decided 25 bucks more than Sprints retail price was worth it

A little off topic, but on the price match subject at Best Buy. I just bought a new high end refrigerator from best buy, and before she rang it up she went online and checked all the major appliance sellers for the product and Lowes had it for $159 cheaper so they matched that price with out even asking. Of course, I had already shopped around and new of the lower price and was planning on making them price match. I prefer shopping at best buy for big purchases to maximize my reward points.

OneStepAhead said:
I'm not sure why you'd want to sell your phone to best buy when you can get more for it on here, craigslist, or ebay. There is a reason they want to buy it back from you at that price.
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$300 for an EVO which is nearly 2 generations old hardware is a VERY good amount to receive for it.
They only fetch $200-250 average on craigslist, and that's begging the buyer to pay more.

I have purchased a phone from best buy at retail price and they matched the price to sprint for me. I don't know why they would not. That seems kind of stupid.
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princessakiki said:
I have purchased a phone from best buy at retail price and they matched the price to sprint for me. I don't know why they would not. That seems kind of stupid.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
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A lot of times it depends on the sales person. Same thing when you walk into a Sprint store for an upgrade, exchanges, or just service.

OneStepAhead said:
I'm not sure why you'd want to sell your phone to best buy when you can get more for it on here, craigslist, or ebay. There is a reason they want to buy it back from you at that price.
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Evo's go for about $200-$250 here in the Phoenix area, you will occasionally see the $300, but I doubt that is where the negotiating settles at.
I have purchased a phone from best buy at retail price and they matched the price to sprint for me. I don't know why they would not. That seems kind of stupid.
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Obviously you didn't read the Class Action I referenced. In the reading the customer was told he could not price match because the identical camera was sold at a local retailer that specifically sold photography equipment, not an electronics chain store like Ultimate Electronics or Circuit City for example. Also they were practicing within the Best Buy chain that they would not price match it it was not cost effective, like a percentage of profit over cost.
Now I know from being a part time manager in the past at an Autozone store that we were not allowed to price match oil/antifreeze products against Wal-Mart, Target, etc., specifically for the reason they were big box stores. But we "could" pricematch other auto part retailers (Checkers, Napa, etc.) This is why I asked the question, because I was wondering if Best Buy has ever said that when buying a phone retail. Because I could see something said along the lines of, "Well they have lower retail because they receive your monthly payment."
In a "for profit" business, I don't think it would be stupid on their end not to price match as they give back considerably higher buy back on phones over Sprint. Also Best Buy may not buy as many phones as Sprint so their bottom line could be slightly higher.

The best buy buy back program is a scam. I'm glad you got it for free; its like saying hey you pay me $250 upfront to purchase this $1000 laptop, and when you trade it back you only get 500. This is stupid and Best buy wins. I used to shop at best buy all the time until realizing that their markup on everything is like 30% higher than normal retail value. I purchased my heroc on launch day at best buy and paid 100 bucks for it with upgrade. I believe at the time sprint had it for 199 with upgrade. I think their full retail price is much higher on phones because they just cancel out the rebates. I purchased my evo at radio shack for 99.88 but their full retail price was also much higher than sprint's as well. Hmmm
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Yeah, there is no way I would have purchased it.
However, the situation was at the time was that I had an upgrade that I was going to lose in April whether I used it or not. So now with the EVO3D and the Nexus S coming out, I would like to take advantage of it if necessary.

Can I buy it off contract??

Hi,
Can I buy it from say ebay at 50$ and then unlock it using any website??
I know it sounds stupid but I am desperate at trying to test my game on real WP7 device
Thank you

Of course you can. But it probably more like $300+. There are also a lot of stolen demo phones on eBay for cheap but those phones are unusable (see the sticky thread about demo mode).
Sim unlock doesn't work with any website. Only a select few has the unlock code for Focus (see the unlock thread).

Why can't I just buy it for 50$ and can I use it as a test device??

At $50 for an "off-contract phone" you will be buying either A) a broken phone or B) a "demo" phone that was most likely stolen and won't be useful for your purposes anyway.
Your only choice for buying an "off-contract" phone is to buy one at a price that will be much higher than $50.
http://wireless.amazon.com/dp/B0047T74VS <-- it's $499.99
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...g+Focus+no+contract&_sacat=See-All-Categories
Those might be legal or they may not be. In the end, it's your call if you want to "roll the dice" and see if you score a cheap off-contract phone.

baracatwp7 said:
Why can't I just buy it for 50$ and can I use it as a test device??
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Click to collapse
Because nobody is stupid enough to sell a phone that is currently $399 off contract price on AT&T store for $50.

I bought a Focus on ebay but I paid over $300 for it. You won't be able to purchase a decent working Focus for $50. And you need to look at the Seller's rep.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Mobilecityonline.com has brand new Focus for $389. I'd rather buy new from there, than buy new off fleabay...
Michael.

So my question is why are websites selling it for less than 500$ like 389$. If it's value unlocked is 500$ why are they selling so cheap compared to the original site??

The AT&T retail price is $399 (was $349 in Dec/Jan and $499 when first instroduced in Nov.). These prices are called MSRP, not the true cost of the phone. No one knows how much it costs AT&T (probably $200+) to buy it from Samsung. And most 3rd party web sites are actually selling way higher than what AT&T sells because they don't make much money selling an off-contract phone vs on-contract phones (where they get a cut from your monthly service charges). Even worse, most sites need to run a full credit report on you before they even sell you an off contract phones.
If someone is willing to sell you a Focus for $50, and it is not a broken one or a demo phone, by all means go ahead and buy it. It will be a deal of the century!

Microsoft Developpers get it for $499, so if you can get it for 10% of that, awesomeness...

IDK, You could try contacting markgamber. He has a Focus he can't give away. Maybe he'll take $50 for it?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12046576&postcount=15

Atrix no contract cost

I've seen two different no commitment costs at two different ATT stores. One was $499 and the other $549. Did they raise the no commitment cost recently. I'm thinking one store forgot to change the label. Has anyone seen it any cheaper besides eBay?

@ one point it was $99.99 at bestbuy with a 2-yr contract. cheapest i know of right now is radio shack for $149.99 with a 2-yr contract.
Off contract the lowest i've seen is bestbuy for 499.99. everywhere else..$549.99

just checked best buy, looks to be 599 now.

I got mine from AT&T for $500
BestBuy had it for $600 (on launch day) when I went to go get it.

Was wondering if u were me should i upgrade to a atrix or stick with the arc?
Sent from my Arc using XDA premium App

motionUS said:
I've seen two different no commitment costs at two different ATT stores. One was $499 and the other $549. Did they raise the no commitment cost recently. I'm thinking one store forgot to change the label. Has anyone seen it any cheaper besides eBay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some stores are offering case, BT headset, and car charger with Atrix for a slightly higher price. Could be why the difference if one store was and not the other.
Sent from WinBorg 4G via XDA premium app

I saw yesterday one for 470$ on e-bay, brand new and unused, but without original box package. Cheapest i saw with package was 520$ i think. My father want Atrix, so i am thinking either to give him my Atrix and to get SGS2/HTS Sensation for myself, or to tell him to get another Atrix, hard to decide...

I bought it for 599$ on amazon 2 weeks ago.

just went into an att store and they refused to sell me a atrix at the no commitment cost. ATT is ridiculous. They said they rarely ever sell items at the no contract price and they are no longer allowed. I could have stayed and spoken to a manager and probably gotten the phone but it was not worth the hassel.

At one point online (around release) , AT&T had the phone for no contract price of $268.

Check authorized agent stores for the no commitment prise. Saw a store that had it for $459 no commitment. As far as 2yr contract the cheapest I have seen in person is Walmart for $118.
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motionUS said:
just went into an att store and they refused to sell me a atrix at the no commitment cost. ATT is ridiculous. They said they rarely ever sell items at the no contract price and they are no longer allowed. I could have stayed and spoken to a manager and probably gotten the phone but it was not worth the hassel.
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Was probably an AT&T Auth. Retailer. They don't make any money when you buy it full retail and would rather keep it around for a sale they can make money on.

totalimmortal363 said:
Was probably an AT&T Auth. Retailer. They don't make any money when you buy it full retail and would rather keep it around for a sale they can make money on.
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U have a pm!
Sent from my samsung captivation

Purchased at ATT corporate store for 499.

If you live in the los angeles area and check craigslist they go for around $400 used and $450 brand new. LA Craigslist is always filled with postings because so many people live in la.