Right now I've opted to preorder using the AT&T Next on my main line. But I'm wondering if there isn't a cheaper route. Does anyone see a problem with purchasing the Note 4 on a new line, and then canceling 15 days later? In theory, the new phone will cost $300, plus the $325 ETF, minus the $200 from Samsung. That makes the price out to $425, plus a what, $36 activation fee and $40 for the first month? So about $500 for the phone. Am I missing something or is that about it? Otherwise it's $625 after paying for the monthly fee minus the $200 from Samsung. Thoughts, ideas?
slhawkins said:
Right now I've opted to preorder using the AT&T Next on my main line. But I'm wondering if there isn't a cheaper route. Does anyone see a problem with purchasing the Note 4 on a new line, and then canceling 15 days later? In theory, the new phone will cost $300, plus the $325 ETF, minus the $200 from Samsung. That makes the price out to $425, plus a what, $36 activation fee and $40 for the first month? So about $500 for the phone. Am I missing something or is that about it? Otherwise it's $625 after paying for the monthly fee minus the $200 from Samsung. Thoughts, ideas?
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If you cancel your wireless plan while you're on the installment plan, AT&T will bill you for the remaining balance on the device.
Yeah, I probably should have been clearer. If I opt to add a new line with a 2-year contract and pay the $300 instead of the monthly fee, then there is no installment plan. At that point there's just an ETF to pay.
Related
Here's my question:
If you buy the Venue Pro unlocked directly from Dell it would cost you 450 (8gb) to 500 (16gb) dollars...
BUT
if you get it in contract ... you would pay
1. Phone price (199$)
2. activation (30)
3. you could then terminate you contract for 200$
=
430$
now I understand that this 430$ vs 450-500$ is not such a big deal, BUT again sometimes, like right now there are promotions on amazon wireless (hd7 for 99 $) or like right now (every att phone for 0.01 $ -yes even the wp7 ones).
Now my question comes to place... Isn't it more profitable to wait for a good promotion like the att one and buy it from there only to terminate the contract (230 $ vs 450 - 500 $). Even with the current promotion (hd7 for 99$) you would save 200$ on the device (330$ vs 530$).
Now I'm thinking that there must be something wrong with this logic, because it's too big a loopwhole for the carriers and everybody could purchase like this. What is wrong with this logic?
shu8i
Some 3rd party retailers will charge you an additional ETF if you cancel your contract that early. Check the contract you sign beforehand otherwise you might end up paying $150-$250 up front plus multiple $200 ETFs which would negate Amy savings and actually cost you more than buying outright.
You will pay a pro-rated first months bill for the service.
Also I tried to go this way, and Microsoft Store is telling me I have to return the phone in order to cancel the service and then I have to buy a no-contract phone from them.
Just buy it off contract and save yourself a real pain in the ass.
I believe the carrier will generally require you to pay the difference between the full retail and discounted price of the device if you terminate the contract early.
So you may pay $0.01 for the phone up front but you'll still be footing the other $449.99 in order to keep the phone after you pay your early termination fees.
I got mine for 108 customer loyalty discount .
i got mine for $0.00
:-D
$99 - Loyalty discount NM
NM
There is no message.
I paid $212.13 after tax. They did wave $18 upgrade fee.
However, this was my first smartphone. Where I won was them allowing me to reverse grandfather into the $30 unlimited plan. The last update to my data usage was 2457MB as of 6:27pm 11/14/10, 6.5 days after I got it.
I got mine for free, my wife's was 199.
There are only two ways to get the loyalty discount:
1. You paid too much each month (> $100).
or
2. You haven't upgraded for ages ( out of contract for over a year or two).
Either way, it's a chimp change for AT&T to give you a small discount out of the $$$ they made out of you every month
I pay only $95/mo for entire family account of 3 lines and upgrade every single year (can live with any phone for over a year). So, no discount for me. But also means I saved $$$ every year, more than $100 or $200 discount for sure.
foxbat121 said:
There are only two ways to get the loyalty discount:
1. You paid too much each month (> $100).
or
2. You haven't upgraded for ages ( out of contract for over a year or two).
Either way, it's a chimp change for AT&T to give you a small discount out of the $$$ they made out of you every month
I pay only $95/mo for entire family account of 3 lines and upgrade every single year (can live with any phone for over a year). So, no discount for me. But also means I saved $$$ every year, more than $100 or $200 discount for sure.
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My thoughts exactly.
foxbat121 said:
There are only two ways to get the loyalty discount:
1. You paid too much each month (> $100).
or
2. You haven't upgraded for ages ( out of contract for over a year or two).
Either way, it's a chimp change for AT&T to give you a small discount out of the $$$ they made out of you every month
I pay only $95/mo for entire family account of 3 lines and upgrade every single year (can live with any phone for over a year). So, no discount for me. But also means I saved $$$ every year, more than $100 or $200 discount for sure.
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Or you have 4 smartphones...and associated data plans to go with them and unlimited messaging.
If I priced out 4 separate individual plans, I'd be paying through the nose. I think $150 for four smartphones with unlimited data (pre cap) and unlimited text/pix/vids etc. along with 2k mins is a pretty good deal
V DidDy 210 said:
Or you have 4 smartphones...and associated data plans to go with them and unlimited messaging.
If I priced out 4 separate individual plans, I'd be paying through the nose. I think $150 for four smartphones with unlimited data (pre cap) and unlimited text/pix/vids etc. along with 2k mins is a pretty good deal
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Only the service charge on the primary line counts into loyalty discount. You can pay for 100 lines and your loyalty discount remains the same.
foxbat121 said:
Only the service charge on the primary line counts into loyalty discount. You can pay for 100 lines and your loyalty discount remains the same.
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that's true but i'm not even talking about the discount. He's saying that people who pay way too much are the only one's eligible for loyalty discount.
but I'm arguing that I think that 150 for all that i get is a very good deal
I paid $499 and tax. And promptly returned it the next day. I'll wait to see if any holiday sales pop up before thinking about purchasing one again.
V DidDy 210 said:
that's true but i'm not even talking about the discount. He's saying that people who pay way too much are the only one's eligible for loyalty discount.
but I'm arguing that I think that 150 for all that i get is a very good deal
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Yes, $150 is a good deal for 4 smartphones, but he's also right because you don't qualify for the loyalty discount since you don't pay "too much".
Right now Focus is AT&T store exclusive, as soon as Amazon or Newegg has it, it'll be $100 less at least. Surround was available for free with a new contract at Amazon and it's a damn good phone for free!
I paid $106 for the Focus(haven't upgraded in almost a year) and got the unlimited data for smartphones on AT&T.I used to have the unlimited data for iphone so no change in monthly bill.
rexian said:
Yes, $150 is a good deal for 4 smartphones, but he's also right because you don't qualify for the loyalty discount since you don't pay "too much".
Right now Focus is AT&T store exclusive, as soon as Amazon or Newegg has it, it'll be $100 less at least. Surround was available for free with a new contract at Amazon and it's a damn good phone for free!
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Correct. What I refered to was monthly bill, not how much you paid for your phone. It's the monthly bill that matters dollar wise, not the one time phone cost. Assume you pay $30 extra per month than most others, it could add up to $720 extra in 2-year contract and for that you get $100 discount on the phone. No a greatest deal but if you could use all that features you paid for, good for you. But personally I don't see any point of this poll/thread.
i'm curious as to how you got 3 lines with unlimited data/messaging and minutes for 95...?
Revaric said:
i'm curious as to how you got 3 lines with unlimited data/messaging and minutes for 95...?
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I didn't say that.
Someone over at Engadget tipped regarding a $100 off holiday coupon for select phones - the Focus was included. I called AT&T customer service and asked them to credit me for the $100 so I didn't have to go through the trouble of returning it to the store and buying it again online just to save. They credited me $105. So I ended up paying $145 for my Focus after tax.
Does that coupon work for the non contract price? A $499 Focus would then be $399?
I don't know. I suggest anyone thinking about the focus. Which is awesome pressure the sales associate for the customer loyalty discount. and then report back here.
bmstrong said:
Does that coupon work for the non contract price? A $499 Focus would then be $399?
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The coupon specifically stated it was only valid with certain phones and a 2 year contract
Went on the tmobile website today and today's promo is a free G2 when you add a line.
So I added a line to my account the cheapest possible features, I got the activation charge waived along with free overnight shipping.
The ETF is $200 after the 30day grace period.
So looks like this is an even better deal than yesterday's if you are already a customer. Brand new G2 will cost you $200 dollars without a contract.
so if i add a line to my contract i get a free G2!!!! what if i wana get rid of the added line? do i have to pay for a cancelation fee?
Man, that's pretty tempting.
If you cancel the line you will have to pay the etf certainly. If you had bought it on an even more plus plan you wouldn't have gotten the subsidy, but upon canceling the line the remaining balance on the handset purchase would need to be paid in full on the next bill as well. I'm curious if tmobile won't pay out the rebates that no doubt make the price so low, so you probably have to wait a month or two and then after getting the rebates cancel the line and pay the etf. But that makes it the same price unless you cancel your current line which might have a lower etf.
sweet...thanks for the info..just got another G2
aznsnake666 said:
so if i add a line to my contract i get a free G2!!!! what if i wana get rid of the added line? do i have to pay for a cancelation fee?
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Skiiz said:
If you cancel the line you will have to pay the etf certainly. If you had bought it on an even more plus plan you wouldn't have gotten the subsidy, but upon canceling the line the remaining balance on the handset purchase would need to be paid in full on the next bill as well. I'm curious if tmobile won't pay out the rebates that no doubt make the price so low, so you probably have to wait a month or two and then after getting the rebates cancel the line and pay the etf. But that makes it the same price unless you cancel your current line which might have a lower etf.
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Yes you HAVE to add a line to your account, get the min possible for everything, I think I got 450 mins for 40, pay as you got text msg, and 10 android plan (150mb).
Do not use the line or even insert the sim to make sure you don't accrue any charges on that line. After 30 days or the 31st day tell them you no longer want this line and you want to cancel it. They will charge you a $200 ETF fee but you get to keep the phone. So like I said a brand new G2 will cost you $200. Thats if you get the activation and shipping fee waived which you should (I did).
Good luck I hope it works for those who are interested.
Blah I paid 650
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
can't u like add a line for like 5 bucks a month? or they make u put some kind of data plan on it and stuff?
It's not so easy.
You will have to add a line with data. If you cancel and want to pay the $200 ETF, you will still have to return the phone or cough up the plan's worth of data fees.
since the galaxy tab wifi only isnt out yet
this is probably the best way to get a tablet for $350
US cellular has the tablet for $300 with a 2 year $55 per month contract
this week's price is $200 after getting a $100 rebate
then what you do is cancel the data contract and pay $150 termination fee
so in the end you pay $350 for the tablet off contract!
will this work?
anybody got a better plan?
I just talked with a US Cellular rep in Hendersonville, NC. She confirmed that you could pretty much do what you're talking about. You would have to do at least one month on the $55/month plan before doing an early termination of the contract. Essentially, that gets you the tab for $400.00.
Edit....just discovered that there is a $30 or $50 activation fee if you're not a current US Cellular customer. Hmmmm.....the deal is getting worse by the moment...
Ken
cant you just do this to bypass activations?
http://thetechjournal.com/how-to/bypass-activation-on-samsung-galaxy-tabhow-to.xhtml
nope hes talking about activating the SERVICE on the device. Not actually activating the device.. 0_o....
in order to get it for the low contract price, your signing up for the service and to Activate/process NEW service you have to pay $$..
If your slick enough you can try to get it waived.
Tmobile the same. If uou are not current customer, there is activation fe plus monthly is $5 more expensive.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
I'm this close to adding a line to my contract just to get the phone for $199.
It would cost me an extra $20/month ($10 for the added line and in order to not breech the contract to get the phone discounted I would HAVE to have data package and they have a $10/month plan) for that line, get the phone for $199, then just never use the line...put my SIM from my N1 into the G2x and change my current data plan to 4G.
I'm kind of weighing the options.
I figure $20/month for 24-months is $480 plus the $199 for the phone. Means I'll pay $679. Really not that much more, plus I pay it over the course of 2-years instead of plopping down a straight $600 out of pocket.
Opinions?
uoY_redruM said:
I'm this close to adding a line to my contract just to get the phone for $199.
It would cost me an extra $20/month ($10 for the added line and in order to not breech the contract to get the phone discounted I would HAVE to have data package and they have a $10/month plan) for that line, get the phone for $199, then just never use the line...put my SIM from my N1 into the G2x and change my current data plan to 4G.
I'm kind of weighing the options.
I figure $20/month for 24-months is $480 plus the $199 for the phone. Means I'll pay $679. Really not that much more, plus I pay it over the course of 2-years instead of plopping down a straight $600 out of pocket.
Opinions?
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That's almost $200 more. Considering you haven't had the N1 for that long, how many times will you want to do this in the future? I knew that dual core was coming so paid full price for my N1. I can now flip it for 200-250 and make out "ok".
PS... the G2X is $499.99 without discounts...not $600
There are always options
option number 1
save money and sell few of the items you don't need and come out with 550.00
option 2
get a best buy card and buy it and they wont charge interest if you paid it off before 18 months.
option 3
paypal has a billmelater which you can buy things on ebay, newegg and walmart etc. etc. and pay it in payments and they wont charge you interest if you paid in full in like 6 months.
option 4
Wait maybe 2-3 months and it might turn out to be free in sites like wirefly and you end up spending $480 in a 2 year contract paying 20 bucks a month like i think you said.
option 5
Just wait dual-core still seems green and there are not many things to take advantage of it unless you want heavy gaming & movie watching. Plus a new android device gets announce like every 3 months so you shouldn't feel so rushed the nexus still pretty good device it wont get old until maybe end of the year.
Find out what the early termination fee is. If the fee is less than $480, then you can buy the phone at a discount and then pay the early termination fee...
Thanks for your advice guys, I think you guys are absolutely correct. I think I'm getting way to hyped about this phone and trying to jump the gun on it.
I bought my N1 off contract as well, on release date, and had a non-contract plan. I signed a contract in November to get two Blackberry's, which I sold just for extra cash to move into a contract and get my wife on my plan so, I have until 9/13/2012 before I can upgrade but I think I'll just hold out a while and keep using the N1.
No reason to jump ship.
Thanks again.
Well I just bought the g2x cause I had a $400 flex pay credit on my line. I'm out of contract like you. So I paid $100 out of pocket and just $20 a month or until it's paid off.
Check your account for flex pay or just call a tmo rep and see what they can do for you.
Don't add a line cause you'll have to pay for a data line and the monthly fees for adding a line. I tried doing this before and the cs rep said it'd be like $35 a month extra... Ie not worth it.
Double check your plan options. I added a line and got a free phone for $20 less a month.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
TheSneakerWhore said:
Double check your plan options. I added a line and got a free phone for $20 less a month.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
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10 dollars for the extra line and 10 dollars for base data plan... so 20 in total
i wonder what the cancellation fee is