iPhone X all the fuss about iPhone prices...

[nviz22]

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

but i feel you...i prefer post paid and everything that comes along with that

Not necessarily on phones. Metro PCS offers promos to port in numbers. So does Cricket. There are terms and conditions, so idk if it's just as simple as paying for one month's of service and port out your number to another carrier.

 

[Cashmonee]

The OP and people like him are how Apple and many other companies have essentially figured out a way to put a siphon into people's bank account. Under his scenario, he is sending money to Apple on a monthly basis simply to have the latest and greatest, and not only does he have ways of rationalizing it, but he will fight others that call out his rationalizations. This is the world we now live in.

OP, you are paying full price for your phone. Actually, considering the resale value is often higher than the trade-in, you could be considered to be paying more than full price if you trade it in. Yes, monthly payments soften the blow, but the damage is the same. I once was like you, and after this year have decided that this yearly upgrade cycle is ridiculous and not worth it. I honestly believe no one should upgrade yearly anymore. The prices have gotten to the point where you are just pissing money away.

 

[Ortiz83]

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.

He does not have to pay the balance. He simply turns it in. Which basically the provider is paying the rest of his balance. Then he starts again with the new phone. The only thing he loses on is when he pays the taxes. He has to pay the taxes for the full amount. Even if he doesn’t pay for the full amount at the end.

 

[1050792]

I always pay my iPhones the full retail price and the Max was no exception, it's still expensive and if it keeps like this it's going to hurt Apple in future sales.

 

[Phone Junky]

... Apple and many other companies have essentially figured out a way to put a siphon into people's bank account.

This paints a perfect picture.
Isn't this the world today? It seems people don't care about the price of something. It's 'how much is it a month'.

 

[Deguello]

He does not have to pay the balance. He simply turns it in. Which basically the provider is paying the rest of his balance. Then he starts again with the new phone. The only thing he loses on is when he pays the taxes. He has to pay the taxes for the full amount. Even if he doesn’t pay for the full amount at the end.

He’s paying off the balance with the residual value of the phone. It’s functionally the same as selling it back.

 

[iF34R]

Price for me is too much. Once the subsidized contract prices were gone with Verizon, I stopped getting a new phone. iPhone 7 Plus will have to last a long time for me. I can't justify the full price for a phone.

 

[Ortiz83]

He’s paying off the balance with the residual value of the phone. It’s functionally the same as selling it back.

But you said he has to pay the balance off then sell it. Which isn’t the case. If what you meant is what you wrote here, then say it that way.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

He does not have to pay the balance. He simply turns it in. Which basically the provider is paying the rest of his balance. Then he starts again with the new phone. The only thing he loses on is when he pays the taxes. He has to pay the taxes for the full amount. Even if he doesn’t pay for the full amount at the end.

So then he isn't buying it, he's leasing it.

 

[Ortiz83]

Price for me is too much. Once the subsidized contract prices were gone with Verizon, I stopped getting a new phone. iPhone 7 Plus will have to last a long time for me. I can't justify the full price for a phone.

You still payed for the phone on subsidized contracts. Why do you think plans are cheaper now. Because the price of the phone was included in the plans.

 

[razmonster]

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?

i pay exactly half the price of the phone (+ tax) each year
that's basically what it comes down to. if i decide one year not to get the new model, i don't have to and can continue paying monthly or just pay it off as its a payment plan and not a lease.

my post is about people who complain when they feel that an upgrade or newer model isn't worth the cost. I'm explaining what system i use personally to get the newer model each year.

if i wanted to pay full price for the phone each year i could do that but why? lol I pay $5-600 over the course of 12 months and at the end of 12 months if i want to give it back to AT&T in exchange for a newer model & continue paying about the same amount each month that's a choice. if i decide not to get the new model and keep my current one that's also a choice.

I don't jump between carriers or need my device unlocked so what sense does it make to pay full retail upfront when i can pay monthly with no interest AND trade it in at no cost should i decide in 12 months?

none of this applies to folks who keep their phones over a year

 

[Ortiz83]

So then he isn't buying it, he's leasing it.

Ask him to post his “leasing contract” with his provider. Go ahead. You won’t get it. Because it’s not a lease. You may see it as leasing, but it’s not an actual lease agreement. No matter if you see it that way. Contract shows he can “purchase” the product through payments. He then chooses 24 or 30 months. Just because they give you an “option” to trade it in and they pay the remaining balance does not mean it’s a lease. It’s just an option.

 

[Deguello]

But you said he has to pay the balance off then sell it. Which isn’t the case. If what you meant is what you wrote here, then say it that way.

No, what I said is that he’s paying off the balance owed with the residual value of the phone when he gives it back.

I never said he has to pay off the balance then sell it.

 

[Ortiz83]

No, what I said is that he’s paying off the balance owed with the residual value of the phone when he gives it back.

I never said he has to pay off the balance then sell it.

That was the other guy then.

 

[iF34R]

You still payed for the phone on subsidized contracts. Why do you think plans are cheaper now. Because the price of the phone was included in the plans.

I took that into account. I was on an old plan when the unlimited was required when the Blackberry Tour came out on Verizon. My plan, with all grandfather unlimited, hadn't changed in years. Once they started increasing that g/f plan, subsidized phones were done away with as well. I saved thousands over the years with the subsidized cost of the phones. Now I save about $400 a year with my plan.

Up until a plan last year, that's no longer available, the plans for what I had before were always higher priced than what I had.

 

[CooKieMoNs7eR]

Ok lets do some math

I paid in full for last year's iPhone X 256GB $1149 + tax = $1217

right now if I want to sell it on eBay/craigstlist/offerup its going for $750

so $1217 - $750 = $467 thats how much value I lost over the year


NOW.....lets say I leased the phone and now I want to turn it in and get the new XS

att next lease price for 24 months is $47.88 x 12 = $574.56

$574 - $467 = $107

so the difference between buying the phone and leasing the phone is $107 over the year
of course assuming you upgrade your phone EVERY year, if you keep your phone for 2+ 3+ 4+
years then obviously buying the phone is the smarter option.

 

[Deguello]

That was the other guy then.

As a practical matter — and I get that this isn’t how the transaction is labeled, but as a practical matter — he is paying full price in that the other party is buying back his phone at the agreed upon price which would zero out his account and crediting his account with that money to zero out his account.

I know that’s not how it’s labeled, but the end result is indistinguishable.

 

[Ortiz83]

Ok lets do some math

I paid in full for last year's iPhone X 256GB $1149 + tax = $1217

right now if I want to sell it on eBay/craigstlist/offerup its going for $750

so $1217 - $750 = $467 thats how much value I lost over the year


NOW.....lets say I leased the phone and now I want to turn it in and get the new XS

att next lease price for 24 months is $47.88 x 12 = $574.56

$574 - $467 = $107

so the difference between buying the phone and leasing the phone is $107 over the year
of course assuming you upgrade your phone EVERY year, if you keep your phone for 2+ 3+ 4+
years then obviously buying the phone is the smarter option.

That is basic knowledge and your right. But they are saying your leasing. And the other poster worded something wrong it seems.

 

[razmonster]

The OP and people like him are how Apple and many other companies have essentially figured out a way to put a siphon into people's bank account. Under his scenario, he is sending money to Apple on a monthly basis simply to have the latest and greatest, and not only does he have ways of rationalizing it, but he will fight others that call out his rationalizations. This is the world we now live in.

OP, you are paying full price for your phone. Actually, considering the resale value is often higher than the trade-in, you could be considered to be paying more than full price if you trade it in. Yes, monthly payments soften the blow, but the damage is the same. I once was like you, and after this year have decided that this yearly upgrade cycle is ridiculous and not worth it. I honestly believe no one should upgrade yearly anymore. The prices have gotten to the point where you are just pissing money away.

it's not worth it to you.

Don't pass judgement on others for what they do with their money. some people spend hundreds of dollars a month on video games, drinking, drugs, dining out ...child support etc

Just because you don't justify the expense in your budget doesn't have anything to do with anyone else's. For all you know I could be paying little to nothing for my carrier service with discounts.

FYI when I had TMobile i use to save $100 a month specifically for iPhone release in September (my birth is the 6th) and it was always a gift for myself each year. When i switched to AT&T i preferred to just use their upgrade program instead
[doublepost=1537051728][/doublepost]

That is basic knowledge and your right. But they are saying your leasing. And the other poster worded something wrong it seems.

criaf

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.

pay the balance and then sell it??? what are you talking about? that's exactly what i don't do. over all, I've paid a total of $560 (+tax) for my 256 X. That's it. Now i have a 512 Xs Max on the way and I'll send the X to AT&T which I've effectively sold to them for the remaining $560... and I'll just start paying monthly for my Max
[doublepost=1537051953][/doublepost]

In this case you do not own it, you lease it. I buy everything cash: house, car, phone, camera, food. I do not want to owe anything to anybody. And......one remark, there people that live in other than USA countries

how's your credit?

 

[Ortiz83]

it's not worth it to you.

Don't pass judgement on others for what they do with their money. some people spend hundreds of dollars a month on video games, drinking, drugs, dining out ...child support etc

Just because you don't justify the expense in your budget doesn't have anything to do with anyone else's. For all you know I could be paying little to nothing for my carrier service with discounts.

FYI when I had TMobile i use to save $100 a month specifically for iPhone release in September (my birth is the 6th) and it was always a gift for myself each year. When i switched to AT&T i preferred to just use their upgrade program instead
[doublepost=1537051728][/doublepost]

criaf


pay the balance and then sell it??? what are you talking about? that's exactly what i don't do. over all, I've paid a total of $560 (+tax) for my 256 X. That's it. Now i have a 512 Xs Max on the way and I'll send the X to AT&T which I've effectively sold to them for the remaining $560... and I'll just start paying monthly for my Max

This. People need to learn how to talk or type. Say what you have to say for yourself. Don’t talk for others.

 

[razmonster]

This paints a perfect picture.
Isn't this the world today? It seems people don't care about the price of something. It's 'how much is it a month'.

there's no interest so what difference does it make?

 

[Cashmonee]

it's not worth it to you.

Don't pass judgement on others for what they do with their money. some people spend hundreds of dollars a month on video games, drinking, drugs, dining out ...child support etc

Just because you don't justify the expense in your budget doesn't have anything to do with anyone else's. For all you know I could be paying little to nothing for my carrier service with discounts.

FYI when I had TMobile i use to save $100 a month specifically for iPhone release in September (my birth is the 6th) and it was always a gift for myself each year. When i switched to AT&T i preferred to just use their upgrade program instead

That's cool. I would still consider spending 12 payments worth of money on an iPhone X to trade in and then spend 12 more payments for an iPhone Xs or Xs Max so you can trade in and rinse/repeat to be pissing money away. You are paying a lot of money, into the thousands now, for features that no one needs, and in fact most will never use purposely or notice if they do.

The fact of the matter is that upgrading yearly and signing up to be a slave to Apple and the carriers is poor financial decision. You are signing up to perpetually pay for a device that in reality isn't drastically different than what has been around since the iPhone 6/6 Plus. If Apple are going to start charging computer-like prices, with computer-like upgrade cycles, then we should begin thinking in terms of computer-like purchase cycles, every 3-5 years. Plopping down $1000-$1500 a year is just insane, and make no mistake, no matter how you rationalize it, that is what you are doing.

 

[razmonster]

So then he isn't buying it, he's leasing it.

no because I'm not signing a leading agreement. i am signing a purchase agreement and choosing to exercise my option to sell it back. with a lease you are obligated to return it or pay it off

 

[esaelias]

initially i thought i was getting ripped off with the upgrade phone but trith is i will always upgrade to a new phone yes i know its stupid so if i buy a phone i always made a loss on it put some money and buy the new one....lets say i got on the upgrade and then decide to keep it i will not upgrade and in the end phone wil be mine...

 

[Phone Junky]

there's no interest so what difference does it make?

Because you're negating the fact that a phone cost $1000 by saying "it's only $42 a month. Whether it's $42 a month for 2 years or $21 a month for 4 years, IT'S STILL $1000 FOR THE PHONE. Hence, the title of your thread. The fuss is the $1000 or $1100, not how much you can justify paying a month to give it back in a year.