how are there still 2-year cell phone contracts?

[gorcorps]

Because contracts aren't bad. Who plans on switching carriers very often anyway? If you're going to stay with somebody, then why not get a huge phone discount while you're at it?

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Because contracts aren't bad. Who plans on switching carriers very often anyway? If you're going to stay with somebody, then why not get a huge phone discount while you're at it?

Because it's better to pay 3-4x times the price for the same phone just so you're not tied down by the man! $300 bucks more to NOT be in a contract should be posted in hot deals. Contracts are bad, why I don't know, but it's worth paying thru your teeth to not be in one. Only suckers want to save money.

 

[moshquerade]

because they dangle a cool free or low cost phone in your face that you JUST HAVE TO HAVE. so you agree to anything they say.

 

[Fritzo]

People don't realize how paper thin the profit on a subscription model is. Verizon, ATT, etc don't make a profit on you until the last few months of your contract- which is why you're locked in.

The real question is "Why are cell phones still so damned expensive?"

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
People don't realize how paper thin the profit on a subscription model is. Verizon, ATT, etc don't make a profit on you until the last few months of your contract- which is why you're locked in.

The real question is "Why are cell phones still so damned expensive?"

Eh, thats not entirely true. They make a profit a great deal earlier than the 16-20 month mark of a contract.

I think a lot of people dont realize just how profitable cell phone companies are. They make an amazing amount of money. Thing is, they are all spending their profits to better their network etc... cold war race if you will, with the other competitors.


<----- Works in the cell phone industry.

 

[JS80]

Boost Mobile? MetroPCS?

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: 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

THis

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: JS80
Boost Mobile? MetroPCS?

Maybe if you never use your, phone otherwise prepay rates go through the roof the more you use your phone.

all this knee jerk talk about how phone contracts suck and people are fucking scum of the earth assholes if they have one is absurd and deserves a facepalm!!! :Q

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: JS80
Boost Mobile? MetroPCS?

Maybe if you never use your, phone otherwise prepay rates go through the roof the more you use your phone.

all this knee jerk talk about how phone contracts suck and people are fucking scum of the earth assholes if they have one is absurd and deserves a facepalm!!! :Q

MetroPCS is $40 for unlimited monthly calling, Boost has a $50 unlimited plan. If MetroPCS is in your area aside from the SERO plan from Sprint you won't find a better deal on plans. On the down side, no contract = full priced phone. But depending on the plan you'd go with on Verizon, AT&T or whoever else. Metro should save you money in the first year.

 

[alkemyst]

I pay $59 for two phones per month from AT&T, I only have 700 minutes but my nights and weekends are 7-7 and I get free mobile to mobile to my wife + roll over, I have a bank of about 3000 minutes. I am grandfathered in though having service back to the 90's

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Because people are stupid.

how are we stupid? im going to be using my phone for two years and they offered a massive discount on my blackberry so i signed a 2 year contract. explain to me why that is stupid?

ive been with T-Mobile for 8 years now and have had ZERO problems with them. unlike nextel which SUCKED.

when i get a new phone you bet i will sign a new 2 year contract.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: 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.

Yup. I don't get the people who claim "because people are stupid"... do they get their phones for the same prices we do? Or do they just go with a cheap phone and think they're better than the rest?

I've been happy with VZW since day 1 for countless years now... at least 6 years... I'd sign a 5 year deal at the same rate if they gave me a free $600 phone.

 

[OCGuy]

Holy shit people are stupid.....


You dont have to sign a contract for your phone, but you are going to pay full MSRP for it.


Why the hell would you sue? They are giving you more cell phone than you could probably afford otherwise.


The risk is on them. If they give you a $400 for $99, and you walk after the first month and dont pay your cancellation, they are out the difference.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need. Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes. Unless your job requires you to be on the go and on the phone all the time, the fact is you don't NEED to be yakkin on the cell all the time. You don't need to be texting stupid drivel to your friends all the time. Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need. Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes. Unless your job requires you to be on the go and on the phone all the time, the fact is you don't NEED to be yakkin on the cell all the time. You don't need to be texting stupid drivel to your friends all the time. Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

AT&T has roll over minutes, as do a few other providers. Pre paid rates are out of control if you talk more than a minute or 2 here and there. Pre paid will be at the cheapest a dime a minute. Pre-Paid, even the 1,000 $100 offerings aren't a good deal to people who use their phone on a daily basis, even for 15 minutes a day. Also no nights and weekends and no free mobile to mobile or favorite 5/10 type calling unless you pay extra - if it's even anb option, which it probably won't be.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need. Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes. Unless your job requires you to be on the go and on the phone all the time, the fact is you don't NEED to be yakkin on the cell all the time. You don't need to be texting stupid drivel to your friends all the time. Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

and how much a minute to you pay?

 

[Atrail]

Once your contract expires can you keep your number and move it to prepaid?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: 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?

Well, in the case of gsm providers, your unlocked phone will allow you to easily switch carriers if needed. Such as if competition is offering a newer/better plan, or you move some place where their coverage sucks.

 

[Yongsta]

MetroPCS, Boost Mobile, or Cricket

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need. Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes. Unless your job requires you to be on the go and on the phone all the time, the fact is you don't NEED to be yakkin on the cell all the time. You don't need to be texting stupid drivel to your friends all the time. Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

and how much a minute to you pay?

$8/month vs $45+ (after taxes and fees for the cheapest contract plan) is what I pay. I don't care about the per minute cost, I still come out ahead.

Even if you do burn through a significant number of minutes, you can still come out ahead through prepaid. eg, 1000 minutes for $100 that only lasts you 3 months = $33.33/month vs $45/month minimum for contract plan (with few exceptions).

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Yongsta
MetroPCS, Boost Mobile, or Cricket

I'm on Cricket. It works well in the Denver area, and surprisingly well up in some of the front range mountains. Their phone selection absolutely sucks though, and flashing other CDMA phones over isn't completely reliable either.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
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.

You can stretch 1000 minutes for an entire year? I think we can chalk you up as a minority in this debate then. Some / many go through that many minutes in a month or two, at which point it would be smarter to go with a contracted plan.

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need. Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes. Unless your job requires you to be on the go and on the phone all the time, the fact is you don't NEED to be yakkin on the cell all the time. You don't need to be texting stupid drivel to your friends all the time. Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

and how much a minute to you pay?

He doesn't use his phone much so he doesn't care, if he used it 20 minutes a day he would be well over his minutes in 2 months. Pre-Paid is only good for people who use their phones very little. Per minute pre-paid is never a better deal, but if he only makes $8 in calls a month it works for him. If I went pre-paid I would be dropping about $100 every 2 months. Right now I drop $45 a month on T-Mobile.

Originally posted by: Atrail
Once your contract expires can you keep your number and move it to prepaid?

Yes, but unless T-Mobile told me wrong, if your number is, or becomes pre-paid you cannot port it again. I had a pre-paid and I signed up for a plan and T-Mobile was unable to port my pre-paid number so I had to get a new one.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: Atrail
Once your contract expires can you keep your number and move it to prepaid?

Yes, but unless T-Mobile told me wrong, if your number is, or becomes pre-paid you cannot port it again. I had a pre-paid and I signed up for a plan and T-Mobile was unable to port my pre-paid number so I had to get a new one.

My SO had prepaid with T-Mobile, ported it to ATT contract plan, and eventually ported it back to T-Mobile prepaid. No problem porting either time.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Yes, that's because you've gotten roped into the mentality the telecoms want you to have: pay up front, lock yourself into a contract, pay for minutes you don't really need.

What did I pay up front for? Do you mean for the minutes each month? :confued;

Then, since you're paying for it anyway, you start using the minutes, and pretty soon you start thinking you actually need that many minutes.

I've had a cell phone for over a decade - never has this been the case.

Get a prepaid and you pay for what you actually need to use, and you'll quickly see how much better it is.

People are starting to get the idea, prepaid is growing much faster than contracts now.....

you pay more for each minute used, just so we have that out of the way Per minute used, the mobile company of your choice is making more off of you than they are me. I get free nights and weekends as well, more utility for what I pay. Until I picked up my family plan, I had a $40/mo plan which gave me 600 minutes with unlimited nights / weekends. That's 6.67 cents per minute, your plan is 9 cents a minute. From the perspective of someone who is going to need more than 84 minutes a month like yourself, it's much cheaper and more valuable to pay the monthly fee and get free nights and weekends on top of it.

And I've had a prepay before, it was pretty lame having to recharge the account and pay an insane amount per minute. No nights and weekends is also for the birds.