There are plenty of touch screen smartphones out there that cost like $150. The expensive ones are still the norm though because people want status symbols
While some may but them for status, I bought the 22 ultra for screen real-estate, a built in s-pen, and a badass camera. There’s definitely reasons to invest in a good device beyond impressing others.
I use my phone a lot. Like 4 hours a day. I don’t use a computer at home, just the phone. Let’s say my phone cost $1000. Oh wait, I upgrade every 2 years so I got $800 for my trade. So it’s $200.
I use the phone 4 hours per day. 2 years is 730 days. (200/730)/4=~7 cents per hour. I pay $50 more and I never worry. You have to get on the ride though, and I understand that’s out of reach for a lot of people.
I agree. I get an insane amount of use from my phone both at home and away from home. Much more than the desktops and laptops I have. Buying a new one for $800 sucks but that only happens once every 3-4 years.
You get 80% of the price you paid for a phone 2 years later?
I’m calling bullshit there. I could buy a brand new iPhone 13 for £599 today when it released at £779 in September 2021. Why would they give you more than the cost of a new one…?
Or for android, a brand new Samsung S22 costs £499 today and released in early 2022 for £769.
No way you’re getting 80% of what you paid for it after 2 years of use.
US. Competition between carriers. Trade in was $1000 for the iPhone 8+ when I got an 11 pro. I paid $4/month on a 11 pro, and traded that for $800 and now pay a little more for a 13 pro. We don’t buy phones with cash here.
If that were the case couldn’t I literally buy a phone with cash and trade it in for more value?Right now in the US you can buy an iPhone 13 for $475 from Walmart, but a carrier will give you a trade in value of $640ish you reckon?
We generally don’t buy phones with cash here either and there are plenty of networks competing, but nobody offers 80% of what you paid 2 years later as a trade in, because they simply aren’t worth it.
Not saying you’re lying, I just don’t see the logic, feel like I’m missing something.
They make all the money off the cell service. If you’re paying for a phone you’re less likely to leave the service. They don’t just hand you cash they give a bill credit. It’s convoluted and not super ideal.
Edit to clarify: a monthly bill credit, usually over 24 months.
Yeah I figured that out by pretending to buy one on the at&t site. They eat the cost of the phone because in the US the network fees are mental from what I could tell.
Jesus I just set up an iPhone 15 purchase with at&t claiming to trade in your phone and yeah it’s $1000 trade in. However I couldn’t work out why it was a final price of 0 so I kept going, the actual network plans are fucking insane prices so I guess that’s where they make their money back. In the UK I pay £20 a month for a Samsung s22 and £20 a month for 200gb data and unlimited calls/texts. The equivalent of about $50 a month total without even trading in my old phone.
I was feeling hard done by until I got to the network plans, fuck me.
If I give you a banana for a dollar and you eat half of it and then trade it back to me for 75 cents, then give me a quarter for a new banana did you pay me $2?
The phone I traded isn’t worth what they’re giving me if I sell it open market. I don’t understand how you got your numbers, but I can see you figured it out by the fact your post is deleted.
Yeah but the 1200 is now spread out over 4 years, making my phone cost go from 500/yr to 300/yr. Let’s say next time it adds 200. Now I’m in for $1400 over 6 years, for a cost of $233.33/yr. Repeat for $1600 over 8 years, now I’m doing better than you and I have a top of the line phone.
You’re speaking like the old phone is money. It’s not. It’s an old phone I don’t want that someone who wants to take advantage of me in another way will pay way too much for.
This isn’t an investment. A car is not an investment. Money will be exchanged for goods and services.
You have to forget about the initial $1200, that’s the entry fee. You will always need a phone. You will never not pay for that privilege. I can afford a nice phone and it makes financial sense to me to do that. I’m not better than you. We’re both doing our best.
I guess what I’m saying is I know the game and I am playing it with intent and the knowledge that another way might be cheaper. What is money for if not comfort?
There are plenty of touch screen smartphones out there that cost like $150. The expensive ones are still the norm though because people want status symbols
While some may but them for status, I bought the 22 ultra for screen real-estate, a built in s-pen, and a badass camera. There’s definitely reasons to invest in a good device beyond impressing others.
I use my phone a lot. Like 4 hours a day. I don’t use a computer at home, just the phone. Let’s say my phone cost $1000. Oh wait, I upgrade every 2 years so I got $800 for my trade. So it’s $200.
I use the phone 4 hours per day. 2 years is 730 days. (200/730)/4=~7 cents per hour. I pay $50 more and I never worry. You have to get on the ride though, and I understand that’s out of reach for a lot of people.
I agree. I get an insane amount of use from my phone both at home and away from home. Much more than the desktops and laptops I have. Buying a new one for $800 sucks but that only happens once every 3-4 years.
You get 80% of the price you paid for a phone 2 years later?
I’m calling bullshit there. I could buy a brand new iPhone 13 for £599 today when it released at £779 in September 2021. Why would they give you more than the cost of a new one…?
Or for android, a brand new Samsung S22 costs £499 today and released in early 2022 for £769.
No way you’re getting 80% of what you paid for it after 2 years of use.
US. Competition between carriers. Trade in was $1000 for the iPhone 8+ when I got an 11 pro. I paid $4/month on a 11 pro, and traded that for $800 and now pay a little more for a 13 pro. We don’t buy phones with cash here.
If that were the case couldn’t I literally buy a phone with cash and trade it in for more value?Right now in the US you can buy an iPhone 13 for $475 from Walmart, but a carrier will give you a trade in value of $640ish you reckon?
We generally don’t buy phones with cash here either and there are plenty of networks competing, but nobody offers 80% of what you paid 2 years later as a trade in, because they simply aren’t worth it.
Not saying you’re lying, I just don’t see the logic, feel like I’m missing something.
They make all the money off the cell service. If you’re paying for a phone you’re less likely to leave the service. They don’t just hand you cash they give a bill credit. It’s convoluted and not super ideal.
Edit to clarify: a monthly bill credit, usually over 24 months.
Yeah I figured that out by pretending to buy one on the at&t site. They eat the cost of the phone because in the US the network fees are mental from what I could tell.
They sure get their money back don’t they?
Jesus I just set up an iPhone 15 purchase with at&t claiming to trade in your phone and yeah it’s $1000 trade in. However I couldn’t work out why it was a final price of 0 so I kept going, the actual network plans are fucking insane prices so I guess that’s where they make their money back. In the UK I pay £20 a month for a Samsung s22 and £20 a month for 200gb data and unlimited calls/texts. The equivalent of about $50 a month total without even trading in my old phone.
I was feeling hard done by until I got to the network plans, fuck me.
deleted by creator
You trade the first phone in.
deleted by creator
Oof.
If I give you a banana for a dollar and you eat half of it and then trade it back to me for 75 cents, then give me a quarter for a new banana did you pay me $2?
The phone I traded isn’t worth what they’re giving me if I sell it open market. I don’t understand how you got your numbers, but I can see you figured it out by the fact your post is deleted.
deleted by creator
Yeah but the 1200 is now spread out over 4 years, making my phone cost go from 500/yr to 300/yr. Let’s say next time it adds 200. Now I’m in for $1400 over 6 years, for a cost of $233.33/yr. Repeat for $1600 over 8 years, now I’m doing better than you and I have a top of the line phone.
You’re speaking like the old phone is money. It’s not. It’s an old phone I don’t want that someone who wants to take advantage of me in another way will pay way too much for.
This isn’t an investment. A car is not an investment. Money will be exchanged for goods and services.
You have to forget about the initial $1200, that’s the entry fee. You will always need a phone. You will never not pay for that privilege. I can afford a nice phone and it makes financial sense to me to do that. I’m not better than you. We’re both doing our best.
I guess what I’m saying is I know the game and I am playing it with intent and the knowledge that another way might be cheaper. What is money for if not comfort?
deleted by creator
deleted by creator
You trade the first phone in