how are there still 2-year cell phone contracts?

[LS21]

in an age with so much consumer power, and ubiquitous ownership of cell phones, how are 2 year contracts so pervasive? i figure thered be some sort of lawsuit here or there, or crazy lobbying to lawmakers to ban the practice.

i mean, you dont see this stuff with anything else? yearly tv/internet contracts are the only thing i can think of

 

[Scouzer]

your 2 year contract in the US is our 3 year, and we still often pay more for phones.

that said, we don't have to dick around with MIR's

 

[AnonymouseUser]

It's the best way for the communications corporations to deal with the "masses of stupid". Prepaid ftw.

 

[benzylic]

You signing a two year contract is how the cell phone companie knocks $200 off the price of a new cell phone

 

[Hacp]

There isn't enough quality frequency.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: mxrider
You signing a two year contract is how the cell phone companie knocks $200 off the price of a new cell phone

That's the only reason I would sign a contract. Probably the same reason why others do too.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: mxrider
You signing a two year contract is how the cell phone companie knocks $200 off the price of a new cell phone

 

[Parasitic]

Do yourself a favor and buy your phones off places like Newegg, Amazon, Buy.com, J&R and get them unlocked. Then you can sign up with AT&T without a contract. I think T-mobile still requires at least a one-year contract unless you specify that you want their "flexpay" plans. If you need a phone for Verizon try this:

http://www.thriftycomputer.com...gory/Cell-Phones.html/

There are a ton of new but not recently released phones for VZW there. Try to refuse contracts if possible.
If you want Sprint, well then I can't help you - they can burn in hell IMO.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Because people are stupid.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

But only because people are stupid.

 

[Cuda1447]

Why would there be any kind of lawsuit? I don't understand why people think they are entitled to cheap phones with no contract. Here's a news flash, you can get cell phones without a contract if you want. You just have to pay what the phones worth, no more subsidized products.

 

[nageov3t]

I haven't seen a compelling reason to switch off of sprint sero, so I don't really mind the contract to get a discount on a phone.

 

[mugs]

When you sign up for a 2 year contract, they subsidize the cost of the phone. Those phones don't actually cost $0-50. If you don't want to stay with the carrier for 2 years, just pay back the subsidy in the form of the early termination fee. You can also get a 1 year contract or even no contract with some carriers

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

And cell companies get away with it because.....?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Reckoner

Originally posted by: mxrider
You signing a two year contract is how the cell phone companie knocks $200 off the price of a new cell phone

This. You're not forced to sign a 2-year contract. However, you don't get the discount on the phone.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

But only because people are stupid.

Call me stupid but find me a cheaper data plan than Sprint's. It suits my needs and I know I will have cell phone service for at least two years. I don't see what the big deal is here. I could have paid more for the phone up front and had no contract (or maybe 1 year?) so it was a choice and not forced.

 

[MovingTarget]

You can still get a one-year contract or even no contract subscription to most US carriers. However, if you cannot afford to plop down an ungodly amount on a phone, you have to get a contract. It shouldn't be that way, but honestly who is going to call them out for price collusion? The Antitrust laws here have no teeth.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

And cell companies get away with it because.....?

exactly

THIS is the question.

we know how the phone subsidization works. but how come the practice is still prevalent without some sort of back-fire?

or, how come premium television providers do the same thing? internet connection? satellite radio. etc

 

[rudeguy]

because people want cheap phones
period
end of discussion

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

And cell companies get away with it because.....?

tell me kind sir, what disadvantage is it by signing up for a two year contract w/ a cell phone company if it provides great service and i can get phone for cheap? i've been w/ ATT for 6 years and signed 3 2 year contracts. if i didnt sign any i'd probably still have the old phone from 2001.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

No, because cell companies can get away with it.

And cell companies get away with it because.....?

Because its the cheapest way to do it. You could do prepaid but cheapest you get there is 10c a min. While with contracts you get better phones and better plans. You could say stupid people get stupid plans. Or stupid people get phones when they dont need/use them.

I got rid of my cell phone about 1.5years ago but I understand the contract.

Do you people really not understand this...

 

[DaTT]

I have been with my carrier for 12 years or so....I always sign contracts to get decent phones at a lesser cost up front. I have no plans in the future of switching carriers, I fail to see how this makes me stupid.

 

[Reckoner]

Just buy a phone when dell or newegg has a deal, or ebay for that matter. If you don't want to shell out the $$$ and want a free/heavily discounted phone, sign away for 2 years. Pick your poison, and stop bitchin'

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: Reckoner
Just buy a phone when dell or newegg has a deal, or ebay for that matter. If you don't want to shell out the $$$ and want a free/heavily discounted phone, sign away for 2 years. Pick your poison, and stop bitchin'

2 years that you otherwise would be paying for service with the phone you purchased on newegg though, so what's the negative aspect of signing away 2 years?