Buying the galaxy 3 or evo lte outright

[Luke0536]

What are the benefits to buying a new smart phone outright on the sprint network? Does it offer monthly savings, or any other benefit? What are the Pros to buying outright?

[BenChase7]

I plan on buying the EVO LTE outright here in the next month or two, myself. There is no discounts on your plan. Pros are you keep your upgrade eligibility for the future and you are not in contract. So, That being said, if i had an upgrade, I'd probably use it.

[4ginnc]

I plan on buying the EVO LTE outright here in the next month or two, myself. There is no discounts on your plan. Pros are you keep your upgrade eligibility for the future and you are not in contract. So, That being said, if i had an upgrade, I'd probably use it.

 

Whether you are on a contract or not is a tricky question. I wanted to add an old phone I had to a new line on my account for my in-laws who were in town for a couple of months. Sprint told me the new line had to go under a 2 year contract even if I had my own phone.

 

If you're just switching an existing line that you've had for more than 2 years over to the new phone that you bought, I would agree. Still keep your upgrade eligibility and not in a contract.

[irev210]

There is no real advantage (which is a shame).

 

Usually, it makes more sense to stay under contract, take the savings, and if you want to port out, pay the pro-rated ETF. It's not that straight forward, but doing the math typically points in that direction.

 

Other options include buying used off eBay after a phone has been out for a month or so, the price falls a lot from the non-contract price.

 

Bottom line, every month you are not under contract you are essentially not getting a subsidy. I am always under contract, I'll take those subsidy payments any day of the week.

 

For example, on a 650 dollar iPhone, you pay 200, which equals a 450 dollar subsidy from sprint spread across 22 months. Every month you are not under contract, you are losing 20 bucks with the iPhone.

 

On the EVO, it's a little less. Assume you pay 150 from amazon wireless, that's only a 400 dollar subsidy... only 18 bucks a month.

 

Still, any time you are not under contract, you are giving up between 15-20 bucks a month for that privilege.

[S4GRU]

I always renew for the reasons irev210 mentions above. I will sometimes hold a renewal for a certain device, but the only reason not to renew is flexibility to leave. If you plan on staying, you might as well renew and get the subsidy on the next device. Losing approx $20 per month in value per line on your bill seems pointless.

 

In my case, I have 4 lines. That's $80/month in value total. Cant let that get by. Right now, 2 of my lines are out of contract. However, I just preordered the GS3 today on contract. I will be left with just one line off contract...ready for a new device should something tickle my fancy.

 

Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

[twospirits]

^ thats what i usually do. keeping them about a year apart, so when the new updated phone comes out, I'm able to get it.

[Luke0536]

Thanks guys. I couldn't find any information on it. Looks like I'll wait for my upgrade. Kinda salty about rint changing my contract from one upgrade a year to one every two years.

[strung]

The money play is to buy an iPhone with the subsidy as its the highest subsidy, then you can resell the iPhone and purchase whatever device you prefer.

[pyroscott]

The money play is to buy an iPhone with the subsidy as its the highest subsidy, then you can resell the iPhone and purchase whatever device you prefer.

 

That works the best right after the next model is released. Now, I'm not so sure that you would do too well with that plan.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[ericdabbs]

That works the best right after the next model is released. Now, I'm not so sure that you would do too well with that plan.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Agree with that. Best time to strike is after the next model is released.