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OK, so I realized that our long standing unlimited plans are going away. Fair enough, but I've finally done the math and we are all going to get boned in a BIG way (minimum of 25% increase in bill). This is almost enough to go back to the dark ages and forget my stupid cell phone service all together. But before I take the leap out into the vast void, I figured maybe someone else was pawing over this and done some research of their own?
So here's the question I pose:
What's the smartest route to go now? I've been thinking about coverage issues, and obviously Verizon has the biggest reach, but I'm thinking this last "less than tactful" boning was the last straw.
Is anyone else about to flush Verizon, or am I alone in this?
6GB + Cell = $120. 4GB + Cell = $100. I'm not sure whether to laugh, or cry?
I'm paying ~$70... Umm... Seems like Verizon is the new Ma Bell on the block?
Verizon has definitely screwed over the single phone customers.
with that, it's not any better... $59.99 for 450 minutes/unlimited text, plus $30 for 2GB of data
a huge savings of $10.
edit: forgot to mention, if you want more than 2GB, you have to go with the Shared Everything plan even though you're just one person. totally blows.
mrhomiec said:
Verizon has definitely screwed over the single phone customers.
with that, it's not any better... $59.99 for 450 minutes/unlimited text, plus $30 for 2GB of data
a huge savings of $10.
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Click to collapse
Ah... Unlimited text. Hmm.. I forgot people are big into texting. OK, so I guess this won't be a system shock for everyone like it is for me. More like slowly turning up the heat on the frog in the pot.
I currently pay about $82 a month for 4GB 450 minutes and 250 texts with nights and weekends and mobile to mobile I don't even get close to the limits on anything. If I had to switch to the share 1GB would be $90 and the 4GB like I have now would be $110 and that doesn't even include taxes and fees. You can get the prepaid smart phone with 1GB for $80 but even that would be more that we are paying now. The only people who save money with these plans are going to be people with multiple devices that don't use a lot of data. It's a good deal if you use a lot of minutes or text a lot, but there are so many alternatives you can use that I cant see this being good for anyone really. I will stay as long as I can keep my current plan otherwise I will just switch to Sprint.
Was just looking at Sprint...
jrb0408 said:
I currently pay about $82 a month for 4GB 450 minutes and 250 texts with nights and weekends and mobile to mobile I don't even get close to the limits on anything. If I had to switch to the share 1GB would be $90 and the 4GB like I have now would be $110 and that doesn't even include taxes and fees. You can get the prepaid smart phone with 1GB for $80 but even that would be more that we are paying now. The only people who save money with these plans are going to be people with multiple devices that don't use a lot of data. It's a good deal if you use a lot of minutes or text a lot, but there are so many alternatives you can use that I cant see this being good for anyone really. I will stay as long as I can keep my current plan otherwise I will just switch to Sprint.
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Click to collapse
Based on the reviews here in Colorado, and the price difference, as well as the good selection of phones, I'm 99% confident that if Verizon doesn't pull their heads out by summer/fall of next year, I'm jumping to Sprint as well.
This is why I haven't been looking to upgrade. Red might loose a long time customer.
jrb0408 said:
I currently pay about $82 a month for 4GB 450 minutes and 250 texts with nights and weekends and mobile to mobile I don't even get close to the limits on anything. If I had to switch to the share 1GB would be $90 and the 4GB like I have now would be $110 and that doesn't even include taxes and fees. You can get the prepaid smart phone with 1GB for $80 but even that would be more that we are paying now. The only people who save money with these plans are going to be people with multiple devices that don't use a lot of data. It's a good deal if you use a lot of minutes or text a lot, but there are so many alternatives you can use that I cant see this being good for anyone really. I will stay as long as I can keep my current plan otherwise I will just switch to Sprint.
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Click to collapse
I currently pay around $150 with 1 smart phone and 4 basic. 1400 mins and 150 mb. The new Screw me plan for the exact same except 2 gb would cost me $220 and I lose most of an employee discount for where I work. I checked T-Mobile and they have a comparable plan to where I'm at and u would wind up paying right around where I am right one. Vzw will lose this customer from 1999.
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda app-developers app
I had 2 phone line with 1400 mins shared and 4g on each phone. I used all 4 every month and my wife hardly used any. I also had unlimited texting. Now i have unlimited calls and texting and 4 g shared and im saving 30 a month. So i guess it helped me out. Seeing as we were only using 4g a month anyways.
Sent from my DROID4 using xda premium
I'm currently grandfathered in with unlimited text and data and pretty much refuse to sign a new contract under these new guidelines so I will just keep this plan I have and won't bother buying my phones from them now if their gonna try to charge me full retail, I just picked up a new nexus for $300 on ebay FU Verizon!!!
same boat here... im grandfathered in under the old unlimited plan, but once this contract is up come next May, im jumping on my wife's family share plan with Sprint. Then ill have a better phone, unlimited everything again, and only pay 35.00 per/mo since its chipping in on the plan. WAY better then the 76.00 im paying now and that includes an 18% corperate discount..
Seriously Verizon? get real.
jaymazz13 said:
I'm currently grandfathered in with unlimited text and data and pretty much refuse to sign a new contract under these new guidelines so I will just keep this plan I have and won't bother buying my phones from them now if their gonna try to charge me full retail, I just picked up a new nexus for $300 on ebay FU Verizon!!!
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word it's all about just not upping on a new contract. well worth the price of a phone
youknowmeman said:
word it's all about just not upping on a new contract. well worth the price of a phone
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I am thinking going the ebay route, but I am afraid I will get a stolen phone....
I'm grandfathered in on my unlimited too. I got my Revo before they made the upgrade change...lucky me...I have my DX to my partner and her D1 to our daughter. My daughter doesn't need a 4G phone...and because my partner only uses her phone to call people...and doesn't need a 4G either.
I pay way too much a month for only 2000 shared minutes...family and friends (10)...unlimited text and data = $245 on 3 lines.
We is decide to buy Amazon or eBay for upgrades if we decide to get better phones for them.
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda app-developers app
osafer said:
I am thinking going the ebay route, but I am afraid I will get a stolen phone....
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even if you buy retail i think it's still worth it for the unlimited data.. that being said usually stolen phones won't come with the box & docs so that's a safe way to tell
I bought my past few phones off craigslist, cheaper than ebay, and I always have them meet me at a verizon store.
So you have Verizon activate the phone and then you pay the person you're buying it from after you know it's good to go?
YUP! Well that's what happened last time. Most of the time you can just meet at the Verizon store and have one of the clerks check the ESN# to make sure it hasn't been reported lost or stolen, so normally you dont need to have the seller wait round for activation.
Great tip!
youknowmeman said:
even if you buy retail i think it's still worth it for the unlimited data.. that being said usually stolen phones won't come with the box & docs so that's a safe way to tell
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Click to collapse
I agree. I sold my REVO and got a Galaxy Nexus so I could keep my unlimited, and I'll never buy a phone from a Verizon store again. I'll keep upgrading via ebay or craigslist and just keep replacing my phone. That way I never have to renew my contract and I get to keep unlimited.
I'm on a family plan. Does this mean upgrading any phone would cause a change in the plan for all of us? I don't think I could hold off all the family members very long to keep the old plan.
Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2
Here is the text of the email I just sent to Dan Hesse. The savings you supposedly get from the Framily plan are a joke.
I recently jumped on the Framily plan bandwagon for my 6 lines of service to take advantage of the savings that are advertised all over Sprint.com. I actually started to convince my friends and relatives that they should move to Sprint for this fantastic deal.
Then when I inquired about adding a new line to the Framily plan and found out that there are no discounts on equipment I slammed on the brakes and reversed my feelings. Then I additionally found out that my existing lines would no longer be eligible for discounted equipment. Now I am feeling really deceived.
So the end result of the Framily plan hoax is that the monthly savings you supposedly get are the direct result of losing the discount on new line/renewal equipment. I am so angry about this that I will most certainly move back to the plan I was on previously and since 5 of my 6 lines all expire in the next 6 months I will probably take them elsewhere.
To be the number three carrier and do this to your devoted customers and expect them to help you get new customers shocks and amazes me.
I brought my family's lines to Sprint because they were the best deal for me. I can say that you are now following along the path of money sucking that your competitors have been on for years.
I hope that you get many more of these letters as I will be spreading the word to have everyone I can to contact you about this horrible plan.
I to hate losing discounts on equipment, but Sprint has to make money somewhere. Lower monthly rates (yes, 25 a month for unlimited talk/text 1GB of data is LOW) usually means a higher cost somewhere.
I have an unlimited everything plan for 45 a month on the Framily plan, phone costs 25 a month, but heck, I'll take it! Better than anything Big Red or TMob can do.
I will direct your attention to the fine print if you want to be even more upset, particularly the section about data and video streaming.
I'm on mobile, but if memory serves, it basically says that framily plans get bumped down in case of localized high data demand + video streaming is limited to the point of being useless to ease network congestion.
Hesse: data will remain unlimited. Yeah, OK guy.
No discounts are applied until you hit 7 users on the plan then you get the $25.00 a month, you can forget about device discounts too. If you want unlimited data add another $20.00 a month which brings the plan higher then what I am paying now for 5 phones. I will keep my family plan I have now, well actual 2 family plans, better deal and new phone every 2 years with discounts and savings...
Sezmar said:
No discounts are applied until you hit 7 users on the plan then you get the $25.00 a month, you can forget about device discounts too. If you want unlimited data add another $20.00 a month which brings the plan higher then what I am paying now for 5 phones. I will keep my family plan I have now, well actual 2 family plans, better deal and new phone every 2 years with discounts and savings...
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Click to collapse
Just checked my bill, I have 3 lines, and all of them are getting $10 off, making them $45 each. You get more off for each line until they're down to $25 each, IIRC.
First of all, for clarification purposes I think it's appropriate to call them "device subsidies" rather than "discounts".
Next, I am not sure what the OP's "big surprise" here is. The Framily plan is a no-contract engagement. As such there are no device subsides provided under it. This isn't any different than any of the other large carriers' no-contract offerings.
clshores said:
Here is the text of the email I just sent to Dan Hesse. The savings you supposedly get from the Framily plan are a joke.
I recently jumped on the Framily plan bandwagon for my 6 lines of service to take advantage of the savings that are advertised all over Sprint.com. I actually started to convince my friends and relatives that they should move to Sprint for this fantastic deal.
Then when I inquired about adding a new line to the Framily plan and found out that there are no discounts on equipment I slammed on the brakes and reversed my feelings. Then I additionally found out that my existing lines would no longer be eligible for discounted equipment. Now I am feeling really deceived.
So the end result of the Framily plan hoax is that the monthly savings you supposedly get are the direct result of losing the discount on new line/renewal equipment. I am so angry about this that I will most certainly move back to the plan I was on previously and since 5 of my 6 lines all expire in the next 6 months I will probably take them elsewhere.
To be the number three carrier and do this to your devoted customers and expect them to help you get new customers shocks and amazes me.
I brought my family's lines to Sprint because they were the best deal for me. I can say that you are now following along the path of money sucking that your competitors have been on for years.
I hope that you get many more of these letters as I will be spreading the word to have everyone I can to contact you about this horrible plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got to tell you, you are whining about nothing. I don't have this plan, but why would you expect device subsidies on a price that low. It obviously isn't a plan for some one that wants a new phone every two years and do the math. You could pay Sprint $30 more a month for your supposed phone upgrade discount which amounts to $720 over 2 years plus the $199 you paid for your discounted phone totaling $919 for you discounted phone. Or pay cash for your phone $600 and save $319 over the same 2 year period. Now, where was your discount? Oh wait there is more, no contract, cheap monthly bill, leave when you want. What are you complaining about.
cruise350 said:
I got to tell you, you are whining about nothing. I don't have this plan, but why would you expect device subsidies on a price that low. It obviously isn't a plan for some one that wants a new phone every two years and do the math. You could pay Sprint $30 more a month for your supposed phone upgrade discount which amounts to $720 over 2 years plus the $199 you paid for your discounted phone totaling $919 for you discounted phone. Or pay cash for your phone $600 and save $319 over the same 2 year period. Now, where was your discount? Oh wait there is more, no contract, cheap monthly bill, leave when you want. What are you complaining about.
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Click to collapse
No argument on most of the points. My biggest complaint is that they don't come out and tell you up front that this is the way it works. It all just seems a little deceiving to me. I will get my first Framily bill soon and I will see what my actual monthly change is and then I will pass judgement on what/if the savings based on a traditional plan will be.
Glad to read these issues. I've got 5 family phones still on my Sprint Everything Data Family 1500 and it sounds like I will just stay. I tell everyone that Sprint in OKC is a great wifi use and limited data with partial phone calling. Basically it sucks but with 5 phones my bill is still less than most of the 2-3 smartphone plans of other carriers.
It at least helps when I can't download or even make a call from my house.
@jtsv. I have the same plan so I think I will stay on it as well. I pay $190 for 4 lines unlimited everything.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
cruise350 said:
I got to tell you, you are whining about nothing. I don't have this plan, but why would you expect device subsidies on a price that low. It obviously isn't a plan for some one that wants a new phone every two years and do the math. You could pay Sprint $30 more a month for your supposed phone upgrade discount which amounts to $720 over 2 years plus the $199 you paid for your discounted phone totaling $919 for you discounted phone. Or pay cash for your phone $600 and save $319 over the same 2 year period. Now, where was your discount? Oh wait there is more, no contract, cheap monthly bill, leave when you want. What are you complaining about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah cruise is right on this one. I was thinking of doing the Framily Plan also but I get a 25% discount on my monthly bill from work. I called up Sprint and inquired extensively about this plan and even asked about my discount and was told that it would apply to the unlimited data which would bring it down from $20 to $15. I was also told that if I move a line into the plan and it wasn't eligible for upgrade that it would cost me an extra $15 a month for 12 months or until the upgrade was available. There are a lot of hidden things in that plan but that's why it's always best to call and get info on it before you make a decision. They aren't going to come out and tell you anything unless you ask. They are hoping more people just switch to the plan without asking about the intricacies of it.
jtsv said:
Glad to read these issues. I've got 5 family phones still on my Sprint Everything Data Family 1500 and it sounds like I will just stay. I tell everyone that Sprint in OKC is a great wifi use and limited data with partial phone calling. Basically it sucks but with 5 phones my bill is still less than most of the 2-3 smartphone plans of other carriers.
It at least helps when i can't download or even make a call from my house.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I hit 6 lines I could no longer use the Family 1500 plan. I had to go to the My Everything plan. Like I said I will have to analyse the bill and see if I should switch back.
travisw0204 said:
Yeah cruise is right on this one. I was thinking of doing the Framily Plan also but I get a 25% discount on my monthly bill from work. I called up Sprint and inquired extensively about this plan and even asked about my discount and was told that it would apply to the unlimited data which would bring it down from $20 to $15. I was also told that if I move a line into the plan and it wasn't eligible for upgrade that it would cost me an extra $15 a month for 12 months or until the upgrade was available. There are a lot of hidden things in that plan but that's why it's always best to call and get info on it before you make a decision. They aren't going to come out and tell you anything unless you ask. They are hoping more people just switch to the plan without asking about the intricacies of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are currently waiving the $15 fee.
Woah, thanks for the info. I was thinking about switching to the framily plan but hadn't looked into it yet. Now I know it's not for me. It may be a good choice for people who don't mind keeping phones for a long time though.
With sprint, read the fine print
So it's a trade off between equipment fees and the monthly bill?
Smashbro29 said:
So it's a trade off between equipment fees and the monthly bill?
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Click to collapse
Essentially. But with the added feature of not being under contract which means you can jump ship at any time unless you still have time left on your existing contract then you will be contract free from that point forward.
I've been curious I kind of understand how their new plan is working but I have a question has anyone seen any fine print on the new plans say in 12months u upgrade but your existing phone shows signs of being rooted or knox is tripped? Just wondering if theres anything in there about it.
MrWicked1 said:
I've been curious I kind of understand how their new plan is working but I have a question has anyone seen any fine print on the new plans say in 12months u upgrade but your existing phone shows signs of being rooted or knox is tripped? Just wondering if theres anything in there about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no fine print in regards to that. The early upgrade portion is saying that 12 months in, with unlimited data, they will let you upgrade at no charge.
You don't turn your phone back in or anything like that.
join my sprint framily plan
hey guys join my framily E00395575cg i have 3 people so far lets get this price down
Thanks guys
lawmangrant said:
There is no fine print in regards to that. The early upgrade portion is saying that 12 months in, with unlimited data, they will let you upgrade at no charge.
You don't turn your phone back in or anything like that.
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Click to collapse
Ah ok thanks that's what i was wondering I was assuming you have to turn your phone in.
To the forum moderator, if this is in the wrong forum, please relocate it.
As I recall, under the family plan I had before switching to the Shared Data Plan, four devices sharing 10gb data with unlimited talk and text, I could upgrade any of the four smart phones with a two year extension to my contract and my monthly cost would not change. Under the new plan, your monthly cost will increase by $25 for the length of the two year contract. That's $600. Add the $100 I paid for my Galaxy s5, that means I will be paying $700 for the phone.
retnuh said:
To the forum moderator, if this is in the wrong forum, please relocate it.
As I recall, under the family plan I had before switching to the Shared Data Plan, four devices sharing 10gb data with unlimited talk and text, I could upgrade any of the four smart phones with a two year extension to my contract and my monthly cost would not change. Under the new plan, your monthly cost will increase by $25 for the length of the two year contract. That's $600. Add the $100 I paid for my Galaxy s5, that means I will be paying $700 for the phone.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, they got us with that one too. At first they told us we could upgrade so when my son married, we added his wife and she got the Note 3. We though it should be the 15 per month and we even had it in writing but when the first bill came it was 40 instead of 15. Of course I called and complained and they told me that was how it worked but they could give me a discount for a few months. Since I had it in writing I escalated it to the "Presidents Office" and I ended up getting 18 months credit so she only had to pay 25 for 6 months.
I think they are very deceptive about this or they really didn't understand how the program worked. It was very frustrating.
retnuh said:
To the forum moderator, if this is in the wrong forum, please relocate it.
As I recall, under the family plan I had before switching to the Shared Data Plan, four devices sharing 10gb data with unlimited talk and text, I could upgrade any of the four smart phones with a two year extension to my contract and my monthly cost would not change. Under the new plan, your monthly cost will increase by $25 for the length of the two year contract. That's $600. Add the $100 I paid for my Galaxy s5, that means I will be paying $700 for the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a little confusing, but I had the opposite experience. It actually seems like a good deal to me. In the old days, once your contract was up, you'd still pay an inflated price for service, so it made financial sense to upgrade at every opportunity if you don't mind being locked in for another 2 years. Now, once your contract is up, you stop paying for the phone.
When I switched myself online, I did a ton of research on the actual cost because I knew the original shared data plans' pricing would have cost me a ton more than I was already paying, but I knew they had restructured them. I personally did not miss the part on the web page about the cost being $25 less if you brought your own phone, but I could see that being glossed over by a sales rep.
Since I own my GS5 outright, I am ahead by $25/mo now that I switched to the new plan. It's still an outrageous amount to pay for data but at least I'm not paying $25 extra for nothing, in perpetuity. The funny thing is my contract should have a few months left but perhaps because I was using the GS5 when I switched, it ended early. I'm not complaining.
So yeah, you're paying $700 over 2 years for a phone that would cost you $650 up front with no contract. Better interest rate than you'd get on a credit card. Did you think we were really getting those phones for "free" before?
Its because the price is for the SERVICE, not the device. Your device is extra. If you buy phones outright, (full price, no subsidy) then you get the cheaper price, no addon per month. Like what I did, 120/mo for shared 10gb, 3 lines, unlimited talk & text. But that doesn't include phones, so I bought mine outright so it would stay 120/mo. Or you can buy phones cheap like what 99.9% of people assume is "normal" price, pay the subsidy and the monthly charges added on. Read the details on your service contract instead of just signing the line.:cyclops:
retnuh said:
To the forum moderator, if this is in the wrong forum, please relocate it.
As I recall, under the family plan I had before switching to the Shared Data Plan, four devices sharing 10gb data with unlimited talk and text, I could upgrade any of the four smart phones with a two year extension to my contract and my monthly cost would not change. Under the new plan, your monthly cost will increase by $25 for the length of the two year contract. That's $600. Add the $100 I paid for my Galaxy s5, that means I will be paying $700 for the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is the "Next" plan you can upgrade every year but your paying full price for the phone only in payments not all at once.
jdock said:
In the old days, once your contract was up, you'd still pay an inflated price for service
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Click to collapse
All I did was to call them up saying that my contract is up, and I would like to switch to prepaid cos its cheaper, and she gave me $25 off for the next 12 months, and no contract extension, just to retain me.
Just do NEXT, it's a lot cheaper long term and you get two phones for the price of one! I got my S5 on next and got one for my sister also, we pay $30 a month for our device cost, and get a $25 bill discount for each line. Our total for three lines on a 10GB Shared Plan is $190 including both devices. We have a third line for mom with a Moto G. Our total service cost is $130.
Hey all,
I went out and got the at&t s6 yesterday and I hopped onto my wife's family plan. While there, they were successful in convincing me the AT&T Next payment plan is the way to go, compared to a 2 year contract.
Next: $23 monthly for phone, $15 monthly for service charge, $40 up front payment for tax.
2 year contract: $200 for phone, $40 monthly for 2 year contract, $40 one time initiation fee.
Doing the math in store convinced me that after 2 years is done in both situations, the Next plan was cheaper. However, I remember reading in the past that monthly payment plans are for suckers. Any ideas?
It's about convenience in my opinion. Not everyone has 684-784 for a new S6. $37/mo is a reasonable and usually unnoticeable. I also think you forgot to mention the $15 monthly smartphone service charge is $40 if you're on contract. It's a minute difference if any. The only way you got hosed is the locked bootloader. But this phone is golden. I don't miss root at all
eddiekang said:
Hey all,
I went out and got the at&t s6 yesterday and I hopped onto my wife's family plan. While there, they were successful in convincing me the AT&T Next payment plan is the way to go, compared to a 2 year contract.
Next: $23 monthly for phone, $15 monthly for service charge, $40 up front payment for tax.
2 year contract: $200 for phone, $40 monthly for 2 year contract, $40 one time initiation fee.
Doing the math in store convinced me that after 2 years is done in both situations, the Next plan was cheaper. However, I remember reading in the past that monthly payment plans are for suckers. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really depends on how long you keep your phones or if you want to be able to upgrade very often. If you keep your phone for more then 2 years then yes next is cheaper because once you pay it off then you will continue to pay $15/month instead of the $40/month if you signed a 2 year contract.
If you want to upgrade quicker then you need to choose the more expensive next plan so you can upgrade sooner.
eddiekang said:
Hey all,
I went out and got the at&t s6 yesterday and I hopped onto my wife's family plan. While there, they were successful in convincing me the AT&T Next payment plan is the way to go, compared to a 2 year contract.
Next: $23 monthly for phone, $15 monthly for service charge, $40 up front payment for tax.
2 year contract: $200 for phone, $40 monthly for 2 year contract, $40 one time initiation fee.
Doing the math in store convinced me that after 2 years is done in both situations, the Next plan was cheaper. However, I remember reading in the past that monthly payment plans are for suckers. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I calculated it out, you end up paying more for the phone when you switch to the Next plan, which is why they are trying to get people to switch.
I've dealt with them with this and they do everything they can to make it seem cheaper, but I don't buy it.
---------- Post added at 01:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
xeni said:
It really depends on how long you keep your phones or if you want to be able to upgrade very often. If you keep your phone for more then 2 years then yes next is cheaper because once you pay it off then you will continue to pay $15/month instead of the $40/month if you signed a 2 year contract.
If you want to upgrade quicker then you need to choose the more expensive next plan so you can upgrade sooner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you ever pay the phone off, you just pay the monthly fee, until you hit the minimum amount to upgrade. However, it divides the full price of the phone over 30 months.
Also, you have to make sure the phone is perfect when you go to trade it in or else you will run into issues with them accepting the phone as part of your upgrade...
Edit: I read up a little bit more on it, they are offering discounts on data plans depending on if you have Next or not. I can see this maybe factoring into the pricing. I haven't priced it out since the first time I got asked to switch to a Next plan. The real advantage from the program is not being tied down to a 2 year contract.
Do you mind explaining the calculation? For me, it's
Next 30: 24 x 23 = 552 for the phone
15 x 24 = 360 service fee
~40 up front tax for the phone. Total after 24 months= 952
If i want to buy the phone outright after 24 months, i pay the difference on the phone which at that point would be 680-552 = 128.
952 + 128 = 1080 total after 2 years and i own the phone.
2 year contract: 40 x 24 = 960 monthly service fee
40 initiation fee + 200 subsidized phone cost= 240
960 + 240 = 1200 total after 2 years and i own the phone.
(This doesn't even include taxes throughout 2 years.)
What am I missing? Thanks for your replies.
yoman258 said:
When I calculated it out, you end up paying more for the phone when you switch to the Next plan, which is why they are trying to get people to switch.
I've dealt with them with this and they do everything they can to make it seem cheaper, but I don't buy it.
---------- Post added at 01:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
I don't think you ever pay the phone off, you just pay the monthly fee, until you hit the minimum amount to upgrade. However, it divides the full price of the phone over 30 months.
Also, you have to make sure the phone is perfect when you go to trade it in or else you will run into issues with them accepting the phone as part of your upgrade...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yoman258 said:
When I calculated it out, you end up paying more for the phone when you switch to the Next plan, which is why they are trying to get people to switch.
I've dealt with them with this and they do everything they can to make it seem cheaper, but I don't buy it.
---------- Post added at 01:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------
I don't think you ever pay the phone off, you just pay the monthly fee, until you hit the minimum amount to upgrade. However, it divides the full price of the phone over 30 months.
Also, you have to make sure the phone is perfect when you go to trade it in or else you will run into issues with them accepting the phone as part of your upgrade...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said it really depends on what you want to do. I just got he Galaxy S6 (after upgrading from my M8 AT&T Next 12 and buying off the phone so I can resell it) on the AT&T next plan and this is how it works out, just like it did with the M8.
1. Instead of paying $40 a month per line I pay $15 so I save $25 on the monthly service plan.
2. If I choose the AT&T Next 12 (20 Payments of 34.25 = 685 + tax), I can make 12 payments and then upgrade after 12 payments and get a new phone and start a new payment plan depending on how much the phone is. Or I can choose to make the full 20 payments and keep the phone and maintain the $15/month line charge. Or I can pay off the entire phone at anytime and keep the $15/month charge.
3. If you buy this on contract it works out like this. 24 x $40 = $960 + 200 = $1160, and you continue to pay $40 a month after the 2 years.
4. If you buy this on AT&T Next 18 which allows you to pay it off over 2 years just like the contract term then it works out like this. 24 x $28.55 = 685.2+tax ~ 740 or so + 15/month x 24 = $1100, however after the 2 years are up you continue to pay $15/month and not $40 a month so if you keep your phone past the 2 year mark you are saving $25/month where as with the contract you wouldn't be.
eddiekang said:
Do you mind explaining the calculation? For me, it's
Next 30: 24 x 23 = 552 for the phone
15 x 24 = 360 service fee
~40 up front tax for the phone. Total after 24 months= 952
If i want to buy the phone outright after 24 months, i pay the difference on the phone which at that point would be 680-552 = 128.
952 + 128 = 1080 total after 2 years and i own the phone.
2 year contract: 40 x 24 = 960 monthly service fee
40 initiation fee + 200 subsidized phone cost= 240
960 + 240 = 1200 total after 2 years and i own the phone.
(This doesn't even include taxes throughout 2 years.)
What am I missing? Thanks for your replies.
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You've hit the nail on the head. AT&T Next/Verizon Edge are legit. It's a reorganizing of costs. Instead of getting the phone at a massive discount and paying a higher amount on your bill, you are now paying more for the phone with monthly installments added to your bill in order to earn/retain a billing discount. If you calculate almost any phone with a 10gb or higher data plan, NEXT will save a minimum $140 every time.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
If you're on a mobile share plan, it definitely works out in your favor to use Next. Otherwise you're paying a premium for the service itself. I think it's compelling that once you've made your payments, your monthly bill goes down, whereas on 2 year, if you decide to hang on to your phone longer, you're paying to keep your device.
Next is cheaper for those that like to get their phones at launch price. If you wait for one of Amazon's $1 deals or Bestbuy deals, then the contract way is not so bad due to less money up front.
I've been trying to figure this out myself. They already signed me for the Next24, but I'm still within the time period to make a change. I'm not sure if the cost/benefit ratio works for me in my circumstances. Perhaps one of you guys that understands the voodoo can help me figure it out.
Let's take the 1G plan as an example. First, I'm going to examine the costs, then I want to ask for your help to understand the mechanics of the Next plan.
NOTE: Because of the different tie periods between the two plans, I adjusted the 2 year plan for another six months of cost to more accurately compare.
Next:
$25 - 1g Data
$40 - Voice
-$15 Discount
$50/month
$23.64 Phone Finance
= $2209 total ($1500 service plan cost for 30 months + $709.20 in phone payments)
2 Year Contract
$25 - 1g Data
$40 - Voice
$200 Phone
= $2190 total ($1950 in service plan costs for 30 months + $200 phone cost + $40 renewal/upgrade fee
There seems to be only about $20 difference between the two. What matters to me is what happens in the event I want to upgrade next April to a new phone with the Next plan, or what happens at the end of my Next contract.
Upgrade: My understanding is that in the event I want to upgrade to a newer phone in a year, I pay off the phone balance, turn in the phone and presuming it's in good condition, I get the latest-and-greatest. I can only do this once in any given Next plan, but if I do, there's a question about who owns the phone (see below).
Contract End: Who owns the phone? In the case of the traditional 2-year contract, I know that the phone is mine. But under the Next plan, if I get to the end of the 30 month period and have paid off the phone (whether I've upgraded or not), is it mine to keep or do I have to turn it in?
Once you make all the payment, the phone is yours. If you upgrade early without paying it off, they get the phone back as a trade in. You have to make a minimum number of payments before you can upgrade which I believe is based on which next program you choose. Course after you've had it a while you could then pay it off and upgrade. Would be better than paying all up front.
BillTheCat said:
I've been trying to figure this out myself. They already signed me for the Next24, but I'm still within the time period to make a change. I'm not sure if the cost/benefit ratio works for me in my circumstances. Perhaps one of you guys that understands the voodoo can help me figure it out.
Let's take the 1G plan as an example. First, I'm going to examine the costs, then I want to ask for your help to understand the mechanics of the Next plan.
NOTE: Because of the different tie periods between the two plans, I adjusted the 2 year plan for another six months of cost to more accurately compare.
Next:
$25 - 1g Data
$40 - Voice
-$15 Discount
$50/month
$23.64 Phone Finance
= $2209 total ($1500 service plan cost for 30 months + $709.20 in phone payments)
2 Year Contract
$25 - 1g Data
$40 - Voice
$200 Phone
= $2190 total ($1950 in service plan costs for 30 months + $200 phone cost + $40 renewal/upgrade fee
There seems to be only about $20 difference between the two. What matters to me is what happens in the event I want to upgrade next April to a new phone with the Next plan, or what happens at the end of my Next contract.
Upgrade: My understanding is that in the event I want to upgrade to a newer phone in a year, I pay off the phone balance, turn in the phone and presuming it's in good condition, I get the latest-and-greatest. I can only do this once in any given Next plan, but if I do, there's a question about who owns the phone (see below).
Contract End: Who owns the phone? In the case of the traditional 2-year contract, I know that the phone is mine. But under the Next plan, if I get to the end of the 30 month period and have paid off the phone (whether I've upgraded or not), is it mine to keep or do I have to turn it in?
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beaverslayer said:
Once you make all the payment, the phone is yours. If you upgrade early without paying it off, they get the phone back as a trade in. You have to make a minimum number of payments before you can upgrade which I believe is based on which next program you choose. Course after you've had it a while you could then pay it off and upgrade. Would be better than paying all up front.
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OK, so let's say I qualify for an upgrade at 12 months. If I upgrade to a new phone, I pay off the remaining balance, turn in the old phone (let's use the S6 as an example) and get a new phone to replace it, say it'll be the S7. Do I have to begin making payments on the new phone, or is it mine to keep?
BillTheCat said:
OK, so let's say I qualify for an upgrade at 12 months. If I upgrade to a new phone, I pay off the remaining balance, turn in the old phone (let's use the S6 as an example) and get a new phone to replace it, say it'll be the S7. Do I have to begin making payments on the new phone, or is it mine to keep?
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Click to collapse
Let's say you get the AT&T Next 12 which is 20 payments at $34.25 for the Galaxy S6. After 12 payments you can give back the S6 and get the S7 and the payments start over depending on which phone you pack along with which Next plan. If you keep the phone for the full 20 payments the phone becomes yours and you can keep it. Let's say you want to upgrade your phone after 10 payments (12 is minimum), then you would have to pay an additional 20 payments at 34.25 before you can upgrade your phone and give back the S6.
xeni said:
Let's say you get the AT&T Next 12 which is 20 payments at $34.25 for the Galaxy S6. After 12 payments you can give back the S6 and get the S7 and the payments start over depending on which phone you pack along with which Next plan. If you keep the phone for the full 20 payments the phone becomes yours and you can keep it. Let's say you want to upgrade your phone after 10 payments (12 is minimum), then you would have to pay an additional 20 payments at 34.25 before you can upgrade your phone and give back the S6.
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Click to collapse
Alright, let's go with your scenario because I still have a week to change my mind.
What I hear you saying is that if I were to go with the Next 12 plan and upgrade at one year, it will look like this for an (imaginary) S7, presuming it will be the same price as this year's phone:
$411 for the S6 phone RENTAL FEE over the course of a year (because I'd be turning in the phone)
+ $685 for the cost of the S7 which would require a NEW F'n CONTRACT that resets all over for another 20 months of payments
= 1096 for a next generation phone that would retail for $685 on a straight purchase by the end of year two
I see no reason why anyone would want to bother. It would make more sense to just buy the phone outright from Amazon at a discount (because AT&T charges more - this is the only business I can think of where the retailers charge more than the manufacturer!) and keep the old phone as a backup or sell it on Ebay.
Do I have it right?
BillTheCat said:
Alright, let's go with your scenario because I still have a week to change my mind.
What I hear you saying is that if I were to go with the Next 12 plan and upgrade at one year, it will look like this for an (imaginary) S7, presuming it will be the same price as this year's phone:
$411 for the phone RENTAL FEE over the course of a year (because I'd be turning in the phone)
+ $685 for the cost of the S7 which would require a NEW F'n CONTRACT that resets all over for another 20 months of payments
= 1096 for a next generation phone that would retail for $685 on a straight purchase by the end of year two
I see no reason why anyone would want to bother. It would make more sense to just buy the phone outright from Amazon at a discount (because AT&T charges more - this is the only business I can think of where the retailers charge more than the manufacturer!) and keep the old phone as a backup or sell it on Ebay.
Do I have it right?
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Click to collapse
If you buy out the phone today at $685 and then buy the S7 at $685 (presuming the price stays the same) then you are paying $1470 over the course of 1 year and you would be owning both handsets outright. When you make 12 payments at 34.25 and you want to upgrade you have the option of paying off the remainder of the loan (8 payments at 34.25) and keeping the phone so you are back at $1470.
Also good luck finding the phone on sale on Amazon for the forseable future and remember the more you wait the less months you have until S7 comes out. So if you wait until July for an S6 sale on Amazon you are now 3-4 months back and the phone is 3-4 months old meaning that you are $105-140 back on payments so technically the phone is only worth $545-580.
Either way you look at it, you are paying for the phone full price, whether you are buying it outright today or paying it off over 20 months (unless you give it back after 12 months and get a new phone and start a new payment plan).
BillTheCat said:
Alright, let's go with your scenario because I still have a week to change my mind.
What I hear you saying is that if I were to go with the Next 12 plan and upgrade at one year, it will look like this for an (imaginary) S7, presuming it will be the same price as this year's phone:
$411 for the S6 phone RENTAL FEE over the course of a year (because I'd be turning in the phone)
+ $685 for the cost of the S7 which would require a NEW F'n CONTRACT that resets all over for another 20 months of payments
= 1096 for a next generation phone that would retail for $685 on a straight purchase by the end of year two
I see no reason why anyone would want to bother. It would make more sense to just buy the phone outright from Amazon at a discount (because AT&T charges more - this is the only business I can think of where the retailers charge more than the manufacturer!) and keep the old phone as a backup or sell it on Ebay.
Do I have it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are getting what you are paying for. You are buying on a payment plan. You wouldn't go out and buy a new car this year with 60 months of payment ahead of you and trade it in after one year and not expect to loose money in the deal now would you. You are making the decision to trade it in before it's paid for, not AT&T.
---------- Post added at 05:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------
I've always heard the cheapest way to get a phone ls to sign a 2 year contract then go home and call AT&T and say you want to do an early termination which cost roughly $350, which means you at out about $550 and get to keep the phone.
beaverslayer said:
Once you make all the payment, the phone is yours. If you upgrade early without paying it off, they get the phone back as a trade in. You have to make a minimum number of payments before you can upgrade which I believe is based on which next program you choose. Course after you've had it a while you could then pay it off and upgrade. Would be better than paying all up front.
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Click to collapse
I'm thinking that's what I'll do. I guess I'll ride it out and see what the landscape looks like next year.
xeni said:
If you buy out the phone today at $685 and then buy the S7 at $685 (presuming the price stays the same) then you are paying $1470 over the course of 1 year and you would be owning both handsets outright. When you make 12 payments at 34.25 and you want to upgrade you have the option of paying off the remainder of the loan (8 payments at 34.25) and keeping the phone so you are back at $1470.
Either way you look at it, you are paying for the phone full price, whether you are buying it outright today or paying it off over 20 months (unless you give it back after 12 months and get a new phone and start a new payment plan).
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I guess it just seems that $411 for one year's use seems a tad steep considering for a couple hundred more, you can use it forever. Though there is the benefit of the lower pricing on the Next plan compared to the 2 year contract.
beaverslayer said:
You are getting what you are paying for. You are buying on a payment plan. You wouldn't go out and buy a new car this year with 60 months of payment ahead of you and trade it in after one year and not expect to loose money in the deal now would you. You are making the decision to trade it in before it's paid for, not AT&T.
---------- Post added at 05:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------
I've always heard the cheapest way to get a phone ls to sign a 2 year contract then go home and call AT&T and say you want to do an early termination which cost roughly $350, which means you at out about $550 and get to keep the phone.
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Click to collapse
An interesting strategy. I might consider it, but it seems 'dishonest' in some strange way. And I'm sure there will be repurcussions, I wonder what the chance of getting a new plan might be after cancelling another one.
BillTheCat said:
I'm thinking that's what I'll do. I guess I'll ride it out and see what the landscape looks like next year.
I guess it just seems that $411 for one year's use seems a tad steep considering for a couple hundred more, you can use it forever.
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Click to collapse
You can buy it out for the remainder of the balance, you don't have to give it back if you pay it off. After 12 months you have a few choice, either give it back and get a new one, buy out the remainder of the balance or continue your payments until you have it completely paid off and it is yours to keep.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using XDA Free mobile app
BillTheCat said:
I'm thinking that's what I'll do. I guess I'll ride it out and see what the landscape looks like next year.
I guess it just seems that $411 for one year's use seems a tad steep considering for a couple hundred more, you can use it forever. Though there is the benefit of the lower pricing on the Next plan compared to the 2 year contract.
An interesting strategy. I might consider it, but it seems 'dishonest' in some strange way. And I'm sure there will be repurcussions, I wonder what the chance of getting a new plan might be after cancelling another one.
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Click to collapse
Not dishonest at all. That's a reason they have ETF. You won't need a new contract. You shouldn't want one either. You'll be paying for the service month to month as people do when their contracts expire.
It's actually brilliant and I'm an idiot for not thinking of it myself
DigitalUnderground said:
Not dishonest at all. That's a reason they have ETF. You won't need a new contract. You shouldn't want one either. You'll be paying for the service month to month as people do when their contracts expire.
It's actually brilliant and I'm an idiot for not thinking of it myself
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Click to collapse
I would worry that they might not start new service with you if you were to cancel, even if you did pay the ETF.
I suppose I could just change my Next 24 plan to a Next 12, accelerating the payments, pay the 'balloon' at a year to own the phone, and see what things look like at that point. It seems there's no point in buying the phone from the carrier anymore.
I know that I probably just need to drag my ass down to Best Buy or Verizon, but thought that I'd ask here first.
I am currently on a two year contract. Actually the contract expired last year, but the point is that I go with the whole two year contract thing. If I take advantage of Best Buy's offer on the Verizon, how will that affect my contract? You get the phone through BB, and it is $150 off. The monthly payment is something like $33 per month. Is that a contract price? Or do I lose my contract?
It's difficult to keep up with this stuff. I have always had contracts and never gone with anything else.
usmaak said:
I know that I probably just need to drag my ass down to Best Buy or Verizon, but thought that I'd ask here first.
I am currently on a two year contract. Actually the contract expired last year, but the point is that I go with the whole two year contract thing. If I take advantage of Best Buy's offer on the Verizon, how will that affect my contract? You get the phone through BB, and it is $150 off. The monthly payment is something like $33 per month. Is that a contract price? Or do I lose my contract?
It's difficult to keep up with this stuff. I have always had contracts and never gone with anything else.
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Click to collapse
That would be the monthly payment for the phone itself, in addition to your Verizon plan cost.
Very few phones are subsidized anymore. They care more about the device payment than the contract. I have been out of contract for 2 years. When they used to subsiduze the phones they would lock you into a 2 year contract on the phone. That is no longer done by VZ. If you have a contract it's either because you got a subsidized phone less than 2 years ago or you added a VZ tablet or smart watch to your account. They still provide minimum subsidies on VZ tablets and smart watches.
I just cancelled my VZ preorder and paid off my S7. I then pre ordered from Best Buy to save the additional 150. Plus, I'll get 425 for my mint condition S7 Edge. I paid 786 with the 150 off, 56 dollars in tax and will get my Note 8 for 361 excluding tax or 15.04 per month. I also get to keep my Pixel XL as a spare.
Mike02z said:
Very few phones are subsidized anymore. They care more about the device payment than the contract. I have been out of contract for 2 years. When they used to subsiduze the phones they would lock you into a 2 year contract on the phone. That is no longer done by VZ. If you have a contract it's either because you got a subsidized phone less than 2 years ago or you added a VZ tablet or smart watch to your account. They still provide minimum subsidies on VZ tablets and smart watches.
I just cancelled my VZ preorder and paid off my S7. I then pre ordered from Best Buy to save the additional 150. Plus, I'll get 425 for my mint condition S7 Edge. I paid 786 with the 150 off, 56 dollars in tax and will get my Note 8 for 361 excluding tax or 15.04 per month. I also get to keep my Pixel XL as a spare.
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I actually completed my contract last October. I've had this Note 4 for almost three years. Turns out that I'm kinda dumb, because I've been paying the same price that I did when under contract, and my phone has been mine for almost a year. I pre-ordered a couple of Note 8s from Best Buy and once I get them, I'm going to knock my plan down to 2GB. With the 2GB plan and the two phones on payment plan, I'll be paying just a few more dollars than I'm currently paying.
I didn't keep up on what's going on with phones now, but it almost seems like this is a better way to go. I can pay this phone off any time I want, get a different phone, and sell it. Seems like more freedom.