ernest_t_bass;1487926 wrote:I'd consider straight talk, but their phones are incredibly expensive!

gut;1487927 wrote:
I thought you could save this fee if you bought online and avoided the store.

Midstate01;1487960 wrote:So with straight talk you can get unlimted everything for a year for $495? There's gotta be a catch. Or shitty service or something, right?

ernest_t_bass;1487983 wrote:Phones are full price. I have 2 iPhones on my plan with AT&T, and I pay $135/ month. Would be $90/month with straight talk, but would have to break the bank on a new phone(s).

6. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED TALK, TEXT AND MOBILE WEB ACCESS PLAN INTENDED USE: Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plans may ONLY be used with a Straight Talk handset for the following purposes: (i) Person to Person Voice Calls (ii) Text and Picture Messaging (iii) Internet browsing through the Straight Talk Mobile Web Service and (iv) Authorized Content Downloads from the Straight Talk Mobile Web Store. The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous mobile to mobile or mobile to landline voice calls; (ii) automated text or picture messaging to another mobile device or e-mail address; (iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (iv) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (v) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses may have his/her service terminated without notice or a refund.

I Wear Pants;1488260 wrote:Next is a huge ripoff.

I Wear Pants;1488260 wrote:Next is a huge ripoff.

ernest_t_bass;1488261 wrote:Yep. I calculated, and you be paying $540 for an iPhone 5.

sherm03;1488568 wrote:It's not a huge ripoff, it gives you an option. You're essentially paying full retail price for the phone, just spread out over 20 months. That's why you are not tied to a contract and why you're not charged upgrade/activation fees.

You can get the discount on the phone and pay $199.99, but then you have to play by the carrier's rules and pay their upgrade/activation fees and agree to a two year contract.

If your bitch is with upgrade fees, then there is an option where you don't have pay them...you just have to pay full price for the phone. If you want the cheapest overall option, take your discount on the phone, pay the upgrade fee when you sign your contract, and be done with it.

I Wear Pants;1488727 wrote:No, it's still a ripoff.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4528404/att-next-phone-upgrade-plans-a-huge-ripoff

Though bitching about upgrade fees is silly, you do it what, once every year or two so $36 is not a big deal.

thavoice;1488735 wrote:Those new programs to upgrade early are a ripoff.

I Wear Pants;1488739 wrote:Except you don't actually own the phone through Next until you've paid in full. If you're using it as a way to spread your payments for a phone out over a few months then maybe it might make sense. However the way they're selling Next is as a way to upgrade more frequently. In that usage case it is definitely a ripoff. You pay more per month and don't get the benefit of selling your phone.

I Wear Pants;1488758 wrote:That's assuming their customers are too stupid to do basic math to realize it's costing them much more than buying the phone outright and then selling it when they get a new one.