Buying phone outright

MSRP. If they even allow it. It will be a struggle. Retailers aren’t in the business of selling phone hardware, they are in the business of selling overpriced carrier plans. The phones are just used as bait.

I'm unclear what the problem is here.

Unlocked phones are widely available for outright purchase with no attached carrier plan. Apple sells their phones directly, both online and at their retail stores. Many (but not all) Samsung phones are available from Staples. Costco sells Motorola phones to the general public and Apple phones to Costco members. If you can stomach Best Buy, they sell both Apple and Samsung phones. Prices are on their respective websites.

Check in Amazon refurbished phones if you are ok , check if it's reliable, also best buy sells with deals for unlocked price , wait for boxing day.

Buying phones outright is expensive. What's your budget?

You may want to look at phones such as iPhone SE or Samsung A71.

Teletran wrote: ↑ Buying phones outright is expensive. What's your budget?

You may want to look at phones such as iPhone SE or Samsung A71.

Expensive on day 1 - yes!

If you work out the math, it makes sense to bite the bullet today to buy the phone. Then you can negotiate the best plan for your needs, versus possibly compromising on which carrier gives you the lowest phone payment. And it also gives you the flexibility to jump on the next best deal, if you want.

With moderate apps installed (i.e., used more like a phone than a mini computer), phones these days will easily last lot longer than 24 months carriers have you believe!

sprinter wrote: ↑ Expensive on day 1 - yes!

If you work out the math, it makes sense to bite the bullet today to buy the phone. Then you can negotiate the best plan for your needs, versus possibly compromising on which carrier gives you the lowest phone payment. And it also gives you the flexibility to jump on the next best deal, if you want.

With moderate apps installed (i.e., used more like a phone than a mini computer), phones these days will easily last lot longer than 24 months carriers have you believe!

That entirely depends.

I worked out the math on my current phone and plan. It was far more lucrative to sign the contract for 2 years.

Dynatos wrote: ↑ That entirely depends.

I worked out the math on my current phone and plan. It was far more lucrative to sign the contract for 2 years.

I agree with this. I'm paying $40 a month for the cell phone plan from Koodoo which includes 6GB of shock free data. The top up is $20 for the Pixel 5 and I paid $0 up front for the Pixel 5 on Black Friday Weeks. 6GB is way more than enough for me and even pre-pandemic, I rarely reached 4GB.

So the Pixel 5 cost me $480 + taxes over the span of 2 years.

This for me is better than buying a phone outright

Dynatos wrote: ↑ That entirely depends.

I worked out the math on my current phone and plan. It was far more lucrative to sign the contract for 2 years.

It's definitely worth it to do the math. But it's highly dependent on what your usage needs are. The lower your data/voice/SMS needs and the cheaper plan you pick, the more likely it is that buying the phone outright for MSRP will be a better deal.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ It's definitely worth it to do the math. But it's highly dependent on what your usage needs are. The lower your data/voice/SMS needs and the cheaper plan you pick, the more likely it is that buying the phone outright for MSRP will be a better deal.

$1200 phone

or

$37/month for unlimited talk/text and 5GB of data +$13/month for that same $1200 phone. I rarely exceed 1GB usage.

I chose the $900 savings on the phone. I have yet to see a plan that would amount to $37/month in savings on a $37 plan.

Dynatos wrote: ↑ $1200 phone

or

$37/month for unlimited talk/text and 5GB of data +$13/month for that same $1200 phone. I rarely exceed 1GB usage.

I chose the $900 savings on the phone. I have yet to see a plan that would amount to $37/month in savings on a $37 plan.

Yes that is an exceptionally good (and rare) deal. Deal long over I'm guessing? Which phone and carrier?

Kiraly wrote: ↑ Yes that is an exceptionally good (and rare) deal. Deal long over I'm guessing? Which phone and carrier?

Rare and YMMV. It was a winback offer from Virgin about 6 months ago, after following through with my threat and jumping to Zoomer.

Phone on sale at the time + an extra $400 off + $50 bill credit + what amounts to a BYOP plan.

Dynatos wrote: ↑ That entirely depends.

I worked out the math on my current phone and plan. It was far more lucrative to sign the contract for 2 years.

I got a discount on the finance option from Rogers. I'll save at least 300 at the end of 2 years.

typically the best offers are koodo tab plans. use that as a benchmark to start and look up the blackfriday deals (walmart did have a decent BF one)