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That’s similar to a car lease plan where you pay monthly over a fixed term and have the option to pay a fee at the end to own the car. The same with the iPhone you don’t legally own the device until you commit to buying it via the final fee. You are essentially renting a phone and not taking up the option to buy it.

The iPhone upgrade program and carrier equivalents are just posh names for rental schemes.

How is it the same? You don’t pay a fee to own the phone like a leased car.
 
It's more or less what they used to call leasing with the option to buy. If you keep it for one year and turn it in to get another new iPhone, then you never really owned it.

On the flip side, I paid $749 upfront to buy an unlocked iPhone 7 two years ago and I just sold it for $350 cash. So I owned that phone from day one and I effectively paid $399 for the two years that I used it.

In the end though, people need to simply do what works best for them. For some the carrier deals work better and for some like me, I prefer buying outright and then selling it for cash once I want something else.
 
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Hear me out, the full iPhone prices are steep to pay for the first time. However, once you invest in that, the prices aren't so bad. First of all, iPhones are lasting longer. Second, iPhone resale values are so high, even if you decide to sell it and get a new one, you're not going to lose that much money or be paying that much more money than you would've if iPhone prices were lower.

Can't agree with this. I see 256 GB iPhone X selling used for something like 800-900 euros, for a phone that cost about 1349€ last year. In percentage that's probably a similar loss you would take selling a Samsung Galaxy S8/9 a year after release. It just hurts more because the initial price is a lot higher.

I won't even consider buying a phone with monthly payments unless the cost is the same as buying it full price.
 
Or your paying $600-$700 for a new phone every year. You can save and keep the phone for 3 years and not have the latest. Or you can spend and have the latest. It’s what the person wants. There is not right or wrong.

Nobody is suggesting it is wrong but to imply that the cost increase in the phone is mitigated in anyway by the upgrade program is just flat out wrong.
 
yes you are right and its a privilege that i prefer and that works for me. while similar to how a lease works...it's not a lease. that's all i amount saying. I'm not lost on the fact that I'm using it in a same way.
Fair enough. Your money, your call, and you’ve obviously put thought into it.

I know you don’t like the car comparison, but there’s a psychological reason why car salesmen pitch payment amount and not sales amount. It makes them more money because people generally — not directed at you in particular — are pretty bad at assessing cost over time.

But, hell, if you can afford the payment and having new phones makes you happy, be happy.
 
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Resale is almost always more than half the full price which puts buying and selling outright a smarter choice if you want a new phone every year.

no its not lol. until a year or so ago i always sold my own phones and it's only worth that much when it's 1 (maybe 2) models old depending on specs and upkeep
 
Can't agree with this. I see 256 GB iPhone X selling used for something like 800-900 euros, for a phone that cost about 1349€ last year. In percentage that's probably a similar loss you would take selling a Samsung Galaxy S8/9 a year after release. It just hurts more because the initial price is a lot higher.

I won't even consider buying a phone with monthly payments unless the cost is the same as buying it full price.

It is the same price on the apple upgrade program.
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no its not lol. until a year or so ago i always sold my own phones and it's only worth that much when it's 1 (maybe 2) models old depending on specs and upkeep

The person youre responding to is talkinf about selling a 1 year old phone.
 
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Fair enough. Your money, your call, and you’ve obviously put thought into it.

I know you don’t like the car comparison, but there’s a psychological reason why car salesmen pitch payment amount and not sales amount. It makes them more money because people generally — not directed at you in particular — are pretty bad at assessing cost over time.

But, hell, if you can afford the payment and having new phones makes you happy, be happy.

lol I'm actually the complete opposite on cars. my car is 11yrs old....it's not something i care about as much plus I use uber alot
 
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Resale is almost always more than half the full price which puts buying and selling outright a smarter choice if you want a new phone every year.
To be fair, selling on your own is not cost or risk free. And there’s something to be said for the certainty of a known transaction at the end of the year.
 
It is the same price on the apple upgrade program.
[doublepost=1537047878][/doublepost]

The person youre responding to is talkinf about selling a 1 year old phone.
yes but they are responding to me talking about phones 2-3yrs old that's what i was replying to

what they are saying is correct and that's why i give it right back to the carrier
 
If your prerogative is to get an upgrade yearly with monthly payments with a loaner phone, that's fine. However, a lot of us like to own phones and have flexibility to switch carriers or to resell old devices to upgrade to new ones.

I wouldn't want to tie myself into IUP again. With an unlocked XR, I can use CDMA or GSM carriers. If I need to go get Metro PCS or Boost Mobile, a BYOD option allows me to choose a basic plan without too much hassle. I like that freedom to choose between MVNOs or main carriers. Plus, I plan on using my future XR for 2-3 years minimum. I will pass on the 2019 iPhones.
 
Whether people want to call it a rental or a payment scheme is not really important. Upgrade programs allow users to pay a premium to upgrade each year so unless you do this, it makes little sense. Not everybody needs a new iPhone every 12 months or is interested in doing so which is why 24 and 36 month contracts are popular. Whatever works.

The prices at the top end have got rather obscene and personally I’d rather buy last years device and have more money for other things I enjoy.
 
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i turn it in as a down payment towards a new one. when you lease something...it's in Your agreement that it's to be turned back in after a certain amount of time/payments regardless.

i decide when/if i want do that....it's no different than with buying a car.
people often trade in their vehicles towards the purchase of a new one.
only difference is there's no interest with phones

i did not say i was saving money --- the point was about shock value of sticker price vers what most people end up actually paying

Maybe his point isn’t about saving money? Maybe for you it is.

I thought that was the whole point of the original post. That you aren't paying full price. How is that not about saving money. But ok....one more question. If you turn it in as a down payment, you had to pay the balance right? So you do pay exactly the same as everyone else, you just feel better about it because its only 30 bucks or whatever a month? Is that the point?
 
Maybe his point isn’t about saving money? Maybe for you it is.

The entire point of the post is that the price increase isnt as impactful when using the apple upgrade program. That is false. It has nothing to do with how to choose to soend your money.
 
I thought that was the whole point of the original post. That you aren't paying full price. How is that not about saving money. But ok....one more question. If you turn it in as a down payment, you had to pay the balance right? So you do pay exactly the same as everyone else, you just feel better about it because its only 30 bucks or whatever a month? Is that the point?

He clearly ask how many people are for real paying full price.
 
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It's more or less what they used to call leasing with the option to buy. If you keep it for one year and turn it in to get another new iPhone, then you never really owned it.

On the flip side, I paid $749 upfront to buy an unlocked iPhone 7 two years ago and I just sold it for $350 cash. So I owned that phone from day one and I effectively paid $399 for the two years that I used it.

In the end though, people need to simply do what works best for them. For some the carrier deals work better and for some like me, I prefer buying outright and then selling it for cash once I want something else.

yup and if i didn't want the new iPhone every year I would probably do the same
 
He clearly ask how many people are for real paying full price.
Whether you're paying full price or making payments, the subject of the thread is "iPhone prices". Shouldn't matter how you're paying, the price of the phone is the price of the phone whether you're pay monthly installments or full price. Just because your monthly installment is "only a few dollars more" doesn't negate the fact that the price of the phone increased considerably.
 
If your prerogative is to get an upgrade yearly with monthly payments with a loaner phone, that's fine. However, a lot of us like to own phones and have flexibility to switch carriers or to resell old devices to upgrade to new ones.

I wouldn't want to tie myself into IUP again. With an unlocked XR, I can use CDMA or GSM carriers. If I need to go get Metro PCS or Boost Mobile, a BYOD option allows me to choose a basic plan without too much hassle. I like that freedom to choose between MVNOs or main carriers. Plus, I plan on using my future XR for 2-3 years minimum. I will pass on the 2019 iPhones.

well when you use prepaid carriers you don't have a choice BUT to buy it full price o_O

but i feel you...i prefer post paid and everything that comes along with that
 
It’s all about if you want to have a new phone every year. I always do and would rather do the upgrade program via carrier.

I would never keep a phone for 2-3 years. I get the people who would rather own it then sell or keep or move to a new carrier and not get locked into contracts. Personally loaning a phone and getting a new one is the route I’m happy with. I know this doesn’t work for everybody
 
He clearly ask how many people are for real paying full price.

He very clearly said he was only paying half for his phone. Which isn't true. He has to pay the balance and then he sells it back. So he does pay full price.
 
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