 gigahurtzPremium
join:2001-10-20
Palm Coast, FL
 ·Bright House
| I don't like the mandatory data plan, but... If you aren't happy with it then switch to a pre-paid provider. There are many options now that are just as good as AT&T and cost much less. Buy a Nexus 4 and get T-Mobile's pre-paid plan for $45 a month including data.
It should be considerably less than what you're paying with AT&T and the service should be decent. Unfortunately, the only way the consumer can send a message is if they talk with their wallets. |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | said by gigahurtz:Buy a Nexus 4 and get T-Mobile's pre-paid plan for $45 a month including data. Or better yet, the $30 plan that I just signed up for while I'm back in the states. |
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said by gigahurtz:It should be considerably less than what you're paying with AT&T and the service should be decent. Unfortunately, the only way the consumer can send a message is if they talk with their wallets.
"Math is hard. Let's go shopping!"
Consumers generally cannot do math. That's why they get fleeced.
If they could, then it would not have taken until this year for T-Mobile's no-subsidy plans to take hold. And prepaid would be far more popular than it is. |
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Boost Mobile does this too. They're prepaid iDEN phone ($10 /3 months) became $55/month when I switched to an Android phone due to iDEN shutting down. |
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fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | reply to gigahurtz
said by gigahurtz:If you aren't happy with it then switch to a pre-paid provider. There are many options now that are just as good as AT&T and cost much less. Buy a Nexus 4 and get T-Mobile's pre-paid plan for $45 a month including data.
It should be considerably less than what you're paying with AT&T and the service should be decent. Unfortunately, the only way the consumer can send a message is if they talk with their wallets.
Yes, you are correct! ... you should just continue and sit back and let the machines roll over you..
While I agree with capitalism and the power of the consumer, the fact is that the fascist mentality of the corporate bosses, having infiltrated every area in government, the power of people to influence to any great extent has been diminished. In the 90's, there were some decent consumer protection laws that were put in place to stop mandatory buy through in some industries, cable included. That was one rule I agreed with.. but given time, that was removed and look where we are today.. cable bills averaging $80 a month now.
No.. this is one thing I disagree with. WE as people should stand up and demand that forced purchase of a product you do not intend to you should not be allowed. They can VERY easily block your access to data should you choose not to use it. If you own the handset, or received no subsidy from them, then they need to back the F off. If data is mandatory in providing service then a basic rate should be included in the service. It's amazing how they never wanted to itemize anything, and now they all the sudden do.
Screw them. |
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 Lone WolfIndependent Voter, Buy Gold and GunsPremium
join:2001-12-30
USA
kudos:1
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
| reply to tanzam75
said by tanzam75:"Math is hard. Let's go shopping!"
Consumers generally cannot do math. That's why they get fleeced.
Even funnier than the math game with data plans is the math game with subsidized phones. People are paying up to $1600 for a $400 phone because they bought a subsidized phone for $1 ( or so they thought).
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Another 4 years of Hope and Change.
The rich will still get richer and the poor get an Obamaphone and Food Stamps. lol
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | reply to fiberguy
In addition to blocking, they could just charge you $30 the first time you use data. When you reach 1GB of usage and $20/GB after that.
They used to do this with text messages. Either buy a plan with a set amount of minutes or get charged 35 cents/msg. |
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 joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5
·Comcast
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said by gigahurtz  Buy a Nexus 4 and get T-Mobile's pre-paid plan for $45 a month including data. [/BQUOTE :But the entire point is that you DON'T WANT DATA.
Get H2O Wireless on AT&T's own network for $30 a month for unlimted talk and text.
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PRescott7-2097 |
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I think the real issue is that the best smartphones are usually on at&t and verizon.. |
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 Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT | reply to gigahurtz
said by gigahurtz:If you aren't happy with it then switch to a pre-paid provider. There are many options now that are just as good as AT&T and cost much less. Buy a Nexus 4 and get T-Mobile's pre-paid plan for $45 a month including data. T-Mobile isn't everywhere. Doesn't work here. ST does work great on either CDMA (VZ) or GSM (at&t). |
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Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to tanzam75
said by tanzam75:said by gigahurtz:It should be considerably less than what you're paying with AT&T and the service should be decent. Unfortunately, the only way the consumer can send a message is if they talk with their wallets.
"Math is hard. Let's go shopping!" Consumers generally cannot do math. That's why they get fleeced. If they could, then it would not have taken until this year for T-Mobile's no-subsidy plans to take hold. And prepaid would be far more popular than it is. If you got the exact same network footprint as the contract side, it would be a no-brainer. |
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 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to tanzam75
The reason is simple, Americans buy everything on credit and are mortgaged to the hilt. They want the shiny new phone, but they aren't coming up with $400-$600 for it. However, those "Free" or $20 or $49 phones (Plus a two year contract) mean instant gratification now. That's the real reason more people haven't adopted prepaid.
For example, I bought a new GS3 off a guy on Craigslist for $480. I have a $30+tax prepaid plan. So, assuming I only used the phone for two years and then replaced it, that would be $20 a month + service. Contrast that to a 2 year contract where I pay $79 a month for similar service but get the phone for free... still cost me an additional $696 over prepaid--- and if I keep it for longer then 2 years, the numbers get dramatically better still.
The catch is, of course, you have to come up with that $480 upfront.... and you can't insure your phone. Break it or get robbed and you're out the money. Still for me pre-paid is a no brainer.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to Lone Wolf
said by Lone Wolf:Even funnier than the math game with data plans is the math game with subsidized phones. People are paying up to $1600 for a $400 phone because they bought a subsidized phone for $1 ( or so they thought).
Can you give an example, please? |
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cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to KrK
said by KrK:For example, I bought a new GS3 off a guy on Craigslist for $480. I have a $30+tax prepaid plan. So, assuming I only used the phone for two years and then replaced it, that would be $20 a month + service. Or you can go say with T-Mobile Value plan where a GS3 costs $99 up front and $20 a month for 20 months for a total of $499 or...$20.79 over 24 months + the price of service. So it requires $380 less up front but $19 over the 2 year contract.
No it's not $30, but you also aren't comparing plans apples to apples. If a $30 plan suits you, that's great. But some people want or need more minutes or data. |
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Lone WolfIndependent Voter, Buy Gold and GunsPremium
join:2001-12-30
USA
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
| reply to cdru
said by cdru:said by Lone Wolf:Even funnier than the math game with data plans is the math game with subsidized phones. People are paying up to $1600 for a $400 phone because they bought a subsidized phone for $1 ( or so they thought).
Can you give an example, please? Here's a quick example.
»Does Anybody Ever Look At What They're Buying?
I just went to the verizon site and entered all of the info to purchase the 16gb Siii with 2gb data and unlimited talk/text.
It came to $200 for the phone and $120 monthly for the service.
Now comes the fun!
120 month x 24 months = $2880 add $200 for the phone and you have spent $3080 plus taxes and other fees for 2 years for cell phone and service.
I can buy the phone outright anywhere for around $600 without a service plan. Personally I would only buy a GSM phone (worldwide) rather than the CDMA model (US only). Then I would buy an unlimited everything service plan from an MVNO for between $40 to $60 monthly.
$50 month x 24 months = $1200 plus $600 for the phone and I will have spent $1800 (no taxes or anything else added) for 2 years for cell phone and service. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to cdru
Yes, that is another option, but again you're in for the two years, pay $579 for the phone. It's a good middle ground option, T-mobile seems to be more flexible with it's offerings than either Verizon or AT&T, but of course their service isn't nearly as universal.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to Lone Wolf
said by Lone Wolf:said by cdru:said by Lone Wolf:Even funnier than the math game with data plans is the math game with subsidized phones. People are paying up to $1600 for a $400 phone because they bought a subsidized phone for $1 ( or so they thought).
Can you give an example, please? Here's a quick example. » Does Anybody Ever Look At What They're Buying? But that example is not what you said. You said they are paying $400 for a phone, but then you use a $600 phone as an example.
Your plan pricing might have been correct when you posted your message, but 2GB data+unlimited voice on Verizon is now $100+taxes/fees.
Your $40-60 MVNO plan doesn't include LTE data as Verizon's does. And depending on which MVNO you go with, you may be stuck with just 3g speeds, not even HSPA+.
Also depending on which MVNO, data or voice coverage may be less then what a MNO's coverage is, due to the MVNO not having the same roaming agreements or favoring one network over one that has a better signal at a location.
Going with a carrier directly isn't a requirement for everyone. But a MVNO doesn't meet everyone's requirements either. Just saying people are paying $1600 for a phone is a little bit of a characterization of the situation. |
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said by KrK:The reason is simple, Americans buy everything on credit and are mortgaged to the hilt.
Not this American. We use Verizon mainly because they have coverage in the places we need it.
Walk into a Verizon store, point at a phone and ask "I want to just buy that phone outright so how much is the monthly plan cost?" vs "I want that phone but don't want to pay up front so how much is the monthly plan?" or "I have this phone I want to use, how much is the monthly plan?". Then note there is no difference in monthly cost. Carriers like Verizon are quite disingenuous about phone subsidies. |
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