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Why doesn't AT&T say this in their commercials against Verizon?
- Thread starter TheSpaz
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Umm..because the early cancellation fee implies that you are going to end that provider's service. Also, saying that we only cost $175 isn't the best framing. Also, that addresses none of the problems with their network, except that if you leave AT&T to go to Verizon it will be cheaper then doing it vice versa.
Verizon is still $175 for dumb phones, since they don't have a huge subsidy.
It wouldn't be surprising if ATT followed with the higher ETF. They also followed Verizon's lead in pro-rating ETFs, which didn't used to happen.
why would they state that?
my point is that in utilizing the etf, you are leaving att lol and thats not the goal
my point is that in utilizing the etf, you are leaving att lol and thats not the goal
Alright, if you think they're outrageous, then pay full price for the phone. Verizon will gladly not charge you an ETF then as you're not locked into a contract. They DO give you that option.
What I want is for carriers to charge me _less_ monthly if I don't have a subsidy (a.k.a. phone loan) to pay back.
If I have paid off the phone, or buy the phone secondhand, or pay full price from the carrier, then by golly my monthly fee should be lower than someone who's subsidized for hundreds of dollars.
If I have paid off the phone, or buy the phone secondhand, or pay full price from the carrier, then by golly my monthly fee should be lower than someone who's subsidized for hundreds of dollars.
hmmm
We are AT&T we are cheaper to leave then the other guy! So if you decide to leave us it will cost you less. Because we at AT&T and we are cheaper to quit!
yep that will work!
We are AT&T we are cheaper to leave then the other guy! So if you decide to leave us it will cost you less. Because we at AT&T and we are cheaper to quit!
yep that will work!
I thought of it as a bad thing that Verizon is so desperate to hold onto their customers by raising the price of cancelation, and then they're releasing commercials bashing the iPhone and what it can't do.
AT&T should take Apple's lead and really pound the fact that GSM's 3G (AT&T) allows for concurrent voice and data, while CDMA 2000's 3G (Verizon) only allows for one or the other at a time. In other words, while Verizon has tons more 3G coverage, we can still do much, much more with our 3G than they can with theirs.
They did not follow Verizon lead there. All the cell companies were forced to do the prorated ETF by the government cracking down on the abuse of the ETF.
A better case to point out is AT&T following Verizon lead on the manditory data plans for all smart phones. It is safe to bet that the other companies will be following the leader on raising the ETF for smart phones as well.
Why does it have to be one or the other? AT&T doesn't lose money by subsidizing the phones. They more than make that up with their over pricing.
But again, my point was that customers wouldn't want to leave if their product is good. So locking them into long term contracts wouldn't be necessary to make money. If AT&T wants to keep making a profit they can start by not spending it on legal action against Verizon. Especially since all Verizon did was point out AT&T's lack of 3G coverage. That money could have been used in expanding their 3G coverage.
Lets also not forget it was AT&T that degraded the iPhone in the U.S. by allowing other countries to get MMS before we did, which is shameful considering the iPhone is an American product. AT&T knew the iPhone was going to eventually get MMS prior to the release of the first iPhone.
C'mon guys, this is not ancient history
Verizon voluntarily started national ETF pro-rating in Fall 2006, partly in reaction to a class action lawsuit filed in California. (Which wasn't settled for another two years.)
A year later, in 2007, ATT followed, and Sprint was forced to do so a year after that.
The FCC's inquiry into ETF's started in 2008, a couple of years _after_ Verizon began pro-rating.
The iPhone did that first, remember? I always figured that Verizon got that idea from ATT & Apple. They must've seen how many millions were willing to be forced into a data plan, and drooled.
I agree. It would be nice to bring your phone with you (purchase elsewhere). The carriers certainly aren't paying retail for the units.
Maybe one day with LTE...
Eat at McDonald's and your bathroom-going experience will be slightly less unpleasant than if you ate at Taco Bell!
Yeah. I don't see that airing anytime soon either.
Yeah. I don't see that airing anytime soon either.
They don't make that money up if you cancel two months into the contract, which is exactly what people are doing. Yeah, they make LOTS of money on other people who fulfill their contracts, but that doesn't mean its ok to let other people take advantage of the system just because you make enough money off other people. Business is business and profit is profit. Shareholders care about the latter.
No not on that one person but they do on other people with all their over charges.
They could do that, but AT&T has been advertising that EDGE is an acceptable solution outside of their 3G area. By advertising that Verizon 3G is not acceptable they are also saying their EDGE is not an acceptable solution.
hmm... in the UK it's worse than just an early termination fee.. you have to pay off the whole contract. If you're 9 months into an 18 month contract at £45 a month ($72), you have to pay 9*£45 = £405 ($648) as your early termination..
yes, that does drop month by month, but at least you can get out early with a standard fee..
M
yes, that does drop month by month, but at least you can get out early with a standard fee..
M
Yea, but in America the attitude of "the world revolves around me and my needs" is rampant which is obvious here. Complaining over the ETF is stupid. You think it's outrageous? Fine, don't participate. I can bet before the next iPhone is released AT&T matches Verizon's policy. Then what?
Verizon offers these options:
-Pay full price for the phone and go contract free.
-Get the phone partially subsidized and get a one year contract instead of a two year
-Get the phone fully subsidized and get a two year contract
Plus we tend to forget cell phones are optional luxuries. If you argue that you *need* a cell phone, then there are super cheap flip phones or prepaid phones that give you the basic functionality you need. Nobody needs an iPhone, it's a matter of want.