newnameman
Platinum Member
- Nov 20, 2002
- 2,219
- 0
- 0
Capt Caveman
Lifer
- Jan 30, 2005
- 34,543
- 651
- 126
And what would you rather not have the option and pay full price on the phone and instead of having it subsidized? It's an option.
Svnla
Lifer
- Nov 10, 2003
- 17,986
- 1,388
- 126
As a former long time ATT customer <it was Bell South years ago>, I jumped to Sprint for their SERO plan. For those that said "because people are stupid for sign up 2 years contract"...do tell me where can I get a cheap smartphone and $30/month for 500 anytime minutes, unlimit text/data/internet/GPS/ect?? Well......??? just what I thought. This is ATOT/internet afterall, easy to blast peple without any merits.
geno
Lifer
- Dec 26, 1999
- 25,074
- 4
- 0
I don't see the big problem with signing a contract. Many carriers will do 1 year, but I usually sign up for two because I've never had any trouble with my carrier in the past 10 years. If they value a contract, fine, they can have it, it's not even a drawback for me. *shrug* Getting a new phone has never been an issue, GSM FTW IMO.
It's basically because people are stupid. Cell phone companies love it because it allows them to lock people into crappy expensive contracts for 2 years, but the bottom line is that consumers are idiots.
I have a prepaid plan where I get 1000 anytime anywhere minutes for $90. That should last 8 to 12 months. Any plan with any of the major carriers would have cost me $400 to $600 for the same period.
No thanks, no crappy plan for me. And if that means I don't get some newer fancier phone every 2 years, that's fine, I don't need a newer fancier one every two years.
I have a prepaid plan where I get 1000 anytime anywhere minutes for $90. That should last 8 to 12 months. Any plan with any of the major carriers would have cost me $400 to $600 for the same period.
No thanks, no crappy plan for me. And if that means I don't get some newer fancier phone every 2 years, that's fine, I don't need a newer fancier one every two years.
It's not like the "contract" means that much. I have "renewed" my 2 year contract with verizon about 10 times in the last 5 years.
For example, got the wife a free phone, contract renewed. A month later added a 3rd line, contract renewed. I'll get a new phone in a couple months, likely for free, and the contract will renew again. I decide to change my plan? Add minutes, texting, data, or remove any of the above, and they will let me, no questions asked.
Whats so bad about a contract?
For example, got the wife a free phone, contract renewed. A month later added a 3rd line, contract renewed. I'll get a new phone in a couple months, likely for free, and the contract will renew again. I decide to change my plan? Add minutes, texting, data, or remove any of the above, and they will let me, no questions asked.
Whats so bad about a contract?
People are too stupid to pay for stuff upfront and like having something become just another monthly payment.
DT4K
Diamond Member
- Jan 21, 2002
- 6,944
- 3
- 81
Because there is nothing wrong or illegal about it.
Why wouldn't they "get away with it"?
If you don't want to sign a 2 year contract, then don't sign one. You just won't get the discount on the phone. Nobody is forcing you to get a cell phone and nobody is forcing you to commit to 2 years.
If the carrier is going to give you a $200 phone for free, they need to know they'll make their money back.
Capt Caveman
Lifer
- Jan 30, 2005
- 34,543
- 651
- 126
Except your not paying any extra per month than someone who bought the phone without a contract.There isn't much downside in signing a two year contract if you are happy with the carrier. Prices on plans are not coming down quickly (if at all), and I don't think service levels change all that much as well over time. So, you might as well sign a contract and get a new phone.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 66,297
- 14,713
- 146
Back in the "golden days" of cellular, it was illegal to bundle services with the phone...so you had to pay high prices for the phone...and a ridiculous monthly rate. (anyone remember the "bag phones?
Finally, in the mid-90's, they got some law passed that allowed them to bundle phones with services...cellular use exploded. Phones got cheaper (to the consumer) plan prices came down, everyone has one..
For the first time since the early 90's, we're without a cell phone. MOST of the time, I don't miss it a bit, but occasionally, something comes up and "Ah crap...no cell phone....can I borrow your phone for a second?" I think I'm gonna get a TracPhone with a sizeable card so it doesn't expire quickly.
How can there be 2 year contracts? Because people like getting fancy (expensive) phones for next to nothing...and are willing to commit to a lengthy contract to get it.
Finally, in the mid-90's, they got some law passed that allowed them to bundle phones with services...cellular use exploded. Phones got cheaper (to the consumer) plan prices came down, everyone has one..
For the first time since the early 90's, we're without a cell phone. MOST of the time, I don't miss it a bit, but occasionally, something comes up and "Ah crap...no cell phone....can I borrow your phone for a second?" I think I'm gonna get a TracPhone with a sizeable card so it doesn't expire quickly.
How can there be 2 year contracts? Because people like getting fancy (expensive) phones for next to nothing...and are willing to commit to a lengthy contract to get it.
Can you explain to me how signing a contract increases your monthly payment?
As far as I know you get the best plans WHILE on a contract, so contract equals LESS upfront costs AND LESS monthly costs.
Even in Canada with 3 year contracts (which after 1 year usually they'll let you renew and get the benefits over again, so it's really more like a 1 year contract) it's worth it. My phone is worth about $400 and I got it for free. My plan only costs $20 a month (because it's a retention plan to get me on a new contract). Over the life of my contract I will pay about $720 in monthly charges.
Are you telling me that I could manage to pay less than 8.75 for cell service if I bought the phone up front? Including call display?
NFS4
No Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 72,636
- 47
- 91
shortylickens
No Lifer
- Jul 15, 2003
- 80,287
- 17,081
- 136
Appreciate the tip but I still need some help.
I have a one year contract with Verizon that will be up in Oct. I dont like my LG Voyager because it crashes all the time and the 3G is still too slow for web browsing, especially because the phones browser just isnt very good and the screen is too small. Also, the damn thing resets itself constantly and the latest firmware did not fix this issue for anybody. (I am a member of two Voyager fan sites. They all report the same issue.)
Want to go with a reliable phone like the Motorola V195.
http://www.thriftycomputer.com...ed-gsm-cell-phone.html
Will this thing work with Verizon and if so, how? I can't seem to find the SIM on my Voyager.
With Verizon I am able to change plans any time I desire. Would like to go down to basic voice with a simple phone and use my netbook for everything else.
Advice?
No it won't work on Verizon. Verizon is a CDMA carrier, that is a GSM phone. You can't find the SIM card because there isn't one.
shortylickens
No Lifer
- Jul 15, 2003
- 80,287
- 17,081
- 136
That won't work because it's GSM. Verizon is CDMA. How many minutes do you use on your plan? You can go prepaid by switching to Page Plus. They're a prepaid carrier based off Verizon's network, so you won't have to switch phones if you don't want to. Plus if you ported your phone # over they give you 100 free minutes to start with. If you went with them then you can port your number & phone over to PagePlus, then head off to Walmart and pick up an Inpulse phone kit and do an "ESN change" to switch your service to the other phone.
If you need more help, try HowardForums: http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=364
If you went with a third party reseller instead of corp to get service and discounted phones they often put restrictions on plan changes. Amazon for instance levies a $250 penalty if you downgraded your plan.
That phone is a GSM phone and I don't believe will work wth Verizon. Also the Voyager does not have a SIM card. Why not just stick with a 2 year agreement and get a cheap phone from their online store?
QueBert
Lifer
- Jan 6, 2002
- 22,979
- 1,178
- 126
Yeah, it's much smarter to not sign a contract and pay full price for the phone up front plus higher rates on a monthly plan since it's not a contract one. Spending extra money makes people way smarter than these fucking stupid asses who sign a contract, get a phone way cheaper and get cheaper/better plans offered.
If you plan on switching carriers every 6 months for no real reason (I know people like this) I suppose it would be dumb to sign a contract and get everything for cheaper. Aside from that the only stupid people are the ones who pay $400 for a Blackberry that everyone else gets for $50-100 so they're not tied into a contract. Mind you they're still paying every month to use the phone. AWESOME DEAL!
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