[unluky]

So I see the advantages of buying away from the carrier. I have never done that and always bought from AT&T directly due to price. I am on a corporate plan and just pay the upgrade price and go on.

What are the disadvantages, if any, of NOT buying direct from carrier?

Besides price and availability anyway.

Any?

Posted via CB10

[Joao Oliveira]

other than being more expensive, I see none.

[Empyrean]

Well there's the inconvenience of not having a loaner phone if/when you need to send it in for service.

Posted via CB10

[Empyrean]

Also, to add -- there are issues with SIM card NFC payment. Case in point was the Rogers suretap SIM. My phone was listed as being supported by suretap but I had bought it via ShopBB and never could get it to work. Reps had said it could do with the fact that it wasn't a Rogers phone.

Posted via CB10

[BB-JAM215]

other than being more expensive, I see none.

How can it possibly be more expensive when the carrier charges you full retail price even when the device is not new over the term of an expensive contract in which you are ultimately the one who is subsidizing the carrier's high costs?

[Bay 13]

Umm...to me unlock is much better. I visited At&t this week and they stated the Priv was $740.00 US dollars. Unlocked from Blackberry is $699.00. Also, you may wait longer for OS updates on AT&T. If you go contract your monthly bills will be higher also.

[ToniCipriani]

How can it possibly be more expensive when the carrier charges you full retail price even when the device is not new over the term of an expensive contract in which you are ultimately the one who is subsidizing the carrier's high costs?

And the phone is locked...

[unluky]

I don't see how it could be more expensive? I have been on this corporate plan for 10 years. I upgraded a few time and I pay the $100-$200 upgrade fee and my plan charges never change. There is no change when I bring in a phone, with a new employee, so if my plan does not change with or without a phone I see it as me saving $450 if I upgrade and extend 2 years.

What am I missing?


Posted via CB10

[sunsetberry]

I would go unlocked but if I lose the phone... I would like insurance to buy separate for lost or stolen phones that's the only reason im iffy about getting it unlocked. ... imma wait a little for either Verizon or Tmobile to have it.... I have the Passport for Att and my bill be around 140-160 I use a lot of data.

Posted via CB10

[Joao Oliveira]

How can it possibly be more expensive when the carrier charges you full retail price even when the device is not new over the term of an expensive contract in which you are ultimately the one who is subsidizing the carrier's high costs?

On some carriers it's cheaper to buy it locked from them

[tickerguy]

There is no downside other than possible instant swap if it goes poof during the warranty -- but these days, that's gone and you wind up doing a swap with the warranty folks at the carrier anyway. It USED TO BE they'd swap it on-site in the stores -- no more.

If you think you're getting a "deal" with the on-contract price you're wrong. You're paying more, sometimes materially more, in higher monthly costs.

[BB-JAM215]

I don't see how it could be more expensive? I have been on this corporate plan for 10 years. I upgraded a few time and I pay the $100-$200 upgrade fee and my plan charges never change. There is no change when I bring in a phone, with a new employee, so if my plan does not change with or without a phone I see it as me saving $450 if I upgrade and extend 2 years.

What am I missing?

The $100 to $200 "upgrade fee" doesn't tell you what you are actually paying for a new phone, just that the balance of whatever that unknown cost might be is being paid by you as a portion of your monthly fees.

[anon4226395]

How can it possibly be more expensive when the carrier charges you full retail price even when the device is not new over the term of an expensive contract in which you are ultimately the one who is subsidizing the carrier's high costs?

Not always true. I am paying 799 for locked, vs 899 unlocked from shopBB (cdn)

[BB-JAM215]

On some carriers it's cheaper to buy it locked from them

So then the carrier appears to be giving you a discount on the cost of the phone simply because they're making such good money on the monthly fees?

[BB-JAM215]

Not always true. I am paying 799 for locked, vs 899 unlocked from shopBB (cdn)

Again, you're not taking into account how much of your monthly fees go to the cost of the phone. You could think you're paying $799 but end up paying $999. How would you know when the actually costs are hidden in your monthly fees?

[unluky]

The $100 to $200 "upgrade fee" doesn't tell you what you are actually paying for a new phone, just that the balance of whatever that unknown cost might be is being paid by you as a portion of your monthly fees.

But if my bill does not change no matter where I buy my phone (corporate plan) then how am I paying more I guess is what I am asking. I don't plan to leave AT&T, so I am not worried about that.

Posted via CB10

[GapBoyPCS]

But if my bill does not change no matter where I buy my phone (corporate plan) then how am I paying more I guess is what I am asking. I don't plan to leave AT&T, so I am not worried about that.

Posted via CB10

It really depends on the conditions put on your corporate plan. If it's an older plan that's not the current one, there's a chance the retailer might not honour the upgrade unless you agree to a newer plan. For some carriers, older plans have grandfathered features. So if someone that was not experienced handled the renewal, they could mess up some grandfathered features.

There's also a chance that your employer might one day say bye-bye AT&T and tell everyone they have to switch to another carrier to get the plan. Sometimes when that happens, the older carrier might strip you of the old plan because they no longer have the business with that corporation. So, you're either left having to find another AT&T plan (probably more expensive), or having to go with the new carrier. If your phone was unlocked, you could go to that new carrier with no issues. If your phone was locked to AT&T, then you'd have to pay to get the phone unlocked or buy a brand new device so it'd work with the new carrier.

[Joao Oliveira]

So then the carrier appears to be giving you a discount on the cost of the phone simply because they're making such good money on the monthly fees?

At least in 2 countries I know its common to see locked devices from carriers cheaper than buying unlocked in other stores. If you have to unlock you have to pay for it, and selling you a locked phone means you have to stick with their network (so they keep making money of you) unless you pay them to get it unlocked. They never loose.

[ajwan]

I'm on Citifone. My plan is only $40 and that's with 1GB data for a contract of 2 years. Lower monthly cost in exchange for a higher upfront cost. But get this...I got a Q5 for signing up when I did during the Christmas special last year. Don't know how the cost of the Q5 was able to be amortised considering the cheap plan. But I think they were trying to get rid of them! Lol!

www.citifone.net

Posted via the CrackBerry App for Android

[anon4226395]

Again, you're not taking into account how much of your monthly fees go to the cost of the phone. You could think you're paying $799 but end up paying $999. How would you know when the actually costs are hidden in your monthly fees?

what are you talking about?

[raino]

How can it possibly be more expensive when the carrier charges you full retail price even when the device is not new over the term of an expensive contract in which you are ultimately the one who is subsidizing the carrier's high costs?

Don't Canadians pay the same monthly rate for service regardless of where their phone came from? I remember on AT&T it used to be that way, so customers would reason "might as well get it for $200."

[unluky]

It really depends on the conditions put on your corporate plan. If it's an older plan that's not the current one, there's a chance the retailer might not honour the upgrade unless you agree to a newer plan. For some carriers, older plans have grandfathered features. So if someone that was not experienced handled the renewal, they could mess up some grandfathered features.

There's also a chance that your employer might one day say bye-bye AT&T and tell everyone they have to switch to another carrier to get the plan. Sometimes when that happens, the older carrier might strip you of the old plan because they no longer have the business with that corporation. So, you're either left having to find another AT&T plan (probably more expensive), or having to go with the new carrier. If your phone was unlocked, you could go to that new carrier with no issues. If your phone was locked to AT&T, then you'd have to pay to get the phone unlocked or buy a brand new device so it'd work with the new carrier.

Well my company pays for the phone either way, but still try and get the best deal I can. Even my employer switches, they will have to provide a new phone. I guess it boils down to being able to walk out of a store tomorrow with one in my hands. I'll give up being able to switch (don't care about that) and maybe (probably) getting updates faster if I bought an unlocked on instead.

Posted via CB10

[anon4226395]

Don't Canadians pay the same monthly rate for service regardless of where their phone came from? I remember on AT&T it used to be that way, so customers would reason "might as well get it for $200."

I pay about 45$ to Rogers: if I didn't own it outright, it would be 25$ more. For the Priv, I was told I would have to change my plan to about 65$ if I didn't buy it outright. They don't "subsidize"

[BB-JAM215]

Don't Canadians pay the same monthly rate for service regardless of where their phone came from? I remember on AT&T it used to be that way, so customers would reason "might as well get it for $200."

As far as I can tell, it's similar to the US. Every carrier has a number of different plans, some which are contracts connected with the purchase of a phone, either through the carrier or a retail store and some which are monthly plans that don't involve the purchase of a phone.

[anon4226395]

As far as I can tell, it's similar to the US. Every carrier has a number of different plans, some which are contracts connected with the purchase of a phone, either through the carrier or a retail store and some which are monthly plans that don't involve the purchase of a phone.

I have a friend from N Ireland, who is a Maths grad from Cambridge, worked for Rogers for a number of years, then Air Miles, the data mining company. The effort Rogers puts into getting people to watch porn on cable, and buying ridiculous Cable TV combo's, and getting a cell phone/plan which gouges them is utterly amazing