Why are there never hot deals on cell phones?

[BillGates]

Grrr, I'm trying to find a decent (recreational) cell phone plan. I will admit that I am somewhat picky when it comes to the phones, but why don't the cell phone companies ever offer any decent hot deals? I would like to find something in the $40/mo range and the best I have found is 700 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends. This is about right for me. Other companies come in a little bit below that level of minutes in the same price range.

I don't even want to get into it with phones. I like flip phones vs. the "stick phones" as I call them but it seems like every freaking flip phone is silver. If it were brushed aluminum or stainless steel or something, silver would be cool, but painted plastic is cheesy. I do like the Samsung/Audiovox 9500 but it's huge! I wish they made trimode phones the size/shape of the older StarTacs yet.


Okay, I'm done ranting -- anybody know of any hot cell phone deals or know of good forums to check? I've checked howard's forums and wirelessadvisor.com but both seem to be more focused on the phones themselves and company ranting.

 

[ElFenix]

is it painted plastic? i thought the color was molded in

 

[theNEOone]

umm, dood you never hear of "hot deals" because they're happening all the time. by signing contracts and such you get $500 phones for only $200.

 

[BillGates]

They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end. I don't know - I'm new to phones and all, but it seems like all the competition is pretty passive and laid back.

 

[RichieZ]

I don't even want to get into it with phones. I like flip phones vs. the "stick phones" as I call them but it seems like every freaking flip phone is silver. If it were brushed aluminum or stainless steel or something, silver would be cool, but painted plastic is cheesy. I do like the Samsung/Audiovox 9500 but it's huge! I wish they made trimode phones the size/shape of the older StarTacs yet.

Yea the silver color is kind of annoying, but try the samsung S300, its fricking tiny!

 

[NutBucket]

I like the silver on my phone but I do wish it was molded in so scratches and dings wouldn't be visible. I really like my old StarTAC for that.

 

[poopaskoopa]

They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end.

They really are giving them to you. Cell phones are subsidized by operators.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: BillGates
They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end.

You are wrong.

 

[Pliablemoose]

You have heard of Amazon.com, right?

Browse through their cell phones, they've usually got a few promotions going all the time, and you might see something you like😀

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Spac3d

Originally posted by: BillGates
They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end.

You are wrong.

So all those cellular service companies are losing money?

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: Spac3d

Originally posted by: BillGates
They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end.

You are wrong.

So all those cellular service companies are losing money?

On the initial cell phone, yes.

On service, after a year, no.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Elemental007

Originally posted by: Cyberian
So all those cellular service companies are losing money?

On the initial cell phone, yes.

On service, after a year, no.

I concur.

That's why so many companies have stingy upgrade policies that discourage buying phones too often (ya can't get a "good" price again until 10 months have passed, they make you pay $30 to switch ESNs, etc.).

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Elemental007

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: Spac3d

Originally posted by: BillGates
They SAY they're $500 phones when they "give" them to you for $200, but I suspect they're still making out well in the end.

You are wrong.

So all those cellular service companies are losing money?

On the initial cell phone, yes.

On service, after a year, no.

That is what I was implying. The celluar phone market is not all that profitable. Why do you think they started making people have contracts again? Because people would get a phone for real cheap then cancel service. The cell phone companies were losing millions of dollars from people not continuing service.

 

[isekii]

You want Hot Deals on Cellphones ?

Go to china town