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AT&T Pricing?

nb_mitch

nb_mitch

Android Enthusiast
Maybe it is the same with all Carriers, I just have experience with AT&T. Just curious about why all phones are generally higher if you get them directly from AT&T?

I was noticing that the HTC ARIA at Walmart.com or Wirefly is free with free activation, but at ATT is $129.99. I have bought my last 3 Blackberries at Wirefly for this very reason and will buy my Dell Streak from Walmart, Wirefly or BB depending on which I get the best price from.

I even had a Wirefly Blackberry replaced by AT&T under warranty when it was about a month old, no questions. So why pay more when buying direct? And why does AT&T price higher?
 
For the most part it is SOP for the carriers to not only be higher but to screw over their reps as well. They will give the price after rebate for the online store but in store it is price before rebate. Meaning that their reps have to fight for sales against the their own website. And then there is the free activation that they run on the website almost continually yet in store you have to ask for it. You will get it just about everytime if you ask it is just a pain to have to do it.
 
yea its crazy... I didnt realized how bad AT&Ts pricing was till I started researching for the Aria. Everyong Amazon, Wirefly, Wallmart, BB seems to have better pricing/perks
 
It's not just ATT.You can get phones for TMO, SPRINT and VZW cheaper from places like wirefly than directly from your carrier. The terms of purchase are different than buying directly from your carrier.  For instance (and this happened to my friend), he bought a blackberry 9700 for free from wirefly.  The terms of purchase were to keep a data plan and that phone on that line for 180 days or you could be charged full price for the phone.  Well he kept the phone but also got an iPhone and got the iPhone data plan put on his phone.  A week later he got charged for full price of the phone because he didn't maintain that phone or data package on the line.  Eventually, he got it straightened out but if he would have bought the phone from AT&T they would care what you do with the phone after you renewed your contract.

Just make sure you check the terms of use for each place you buy a phone from for a ridiculously cheap price.  Because of this, that's the only reason I don't buy phones from them places because I'm always switching phones.

On VZW they have the Droid for 19.99 while VZW is charging 149.99. They have the blackberry bold for free when VZW is also selling this for 149.99. It's like this with all carriers.
 
One thing about the online stores like wirefly, amazon..., you have to pick one of the plans they have listed on their website when doing an upgrade. Also, to get the low price it must be the primary line.
 
I have bought my last 3 Blackberries from Wirefly, no problems. Yes, depending on the promotion they may try to sell you more plan than you really need, but overall I had a good experience every time.

I do recall having to be careful, because their on-line ordering system will add almost every option and you have to go through and decline everything. But it was doable.

I hope to buy my Streak from Wal-Mart, since I am an associate at the Corporate Office, I will get a discount if the Streak isn't free with contract. But our moto is "Save Money Live Better" and I have no problem with buying from whoever will give me the best deal :p
 
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