What's with the Epic's price still holding at $200+?

[kristv]

Okay, seriously....the Fascinate only just launched, and Amazon is selling it for $.01. Yes, you read that right. They are selling the Captivate for $59 and the Vibrant for $99 (all with new contracts of course), but the Epic is STILL at $199! REALLY?! I would take any one of these phones if they were with Sprint, but because the Epic is the only Galaxy S phone Sprint carries and it's the only carrier I will get a discount through work with, I'm stuck paying $200 for a phone that should really be no more than $100 with a new contract. I know it has a physical keyboard and front-facing camera, but come on.

I really hope the price comes down on this phone before it's time for me and my family to buy in 6 weeks.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. Rant over...

 

[jessep28]

I don't think it's necessarily fair to look at one source and say that's the norm.

Amazon is a third party online seller and they set their own prices. If you check AT&T, their online price for the Captivate is $199 for a new contract. If you want to look at another third party seller, Best Buy's online spot price is $149.

 

[dan330]

here is my guess to the answer...

facts...
- we all know that the end driving force is $$$.
- what ever they do.. they have to make $$ and a particular profit margin.
- sprint pricing scheme is the cheapest of the major players.
- what discount they give customers, they must make back and more.

AT&T and Verizon charge more and over a 2 year contract period can equal to $240 to $480 or even more. So you can see how they can sell the same phone for a lot less! They also have a higher cost to break the 2 yr contract. Sprint also give you the benifit to upgrade your phone in 1 yr, this cost they also have to try to make it back.

so in the long run.. you have 2 options:
1. Pay more now and save $$ later.
2. sign up with low cost to enter.. but pay much more later.

what does this marketing plan remind you of?
first hit is free.. but you are locked/hooked in at the higher cost

 

[jim2point0]

That's pretty much the reason why Sprint phones don't drop in price really fast. Also, the Epic was the most expensive Galaxy S phone at launch (with a contract... I paid full price), so I expected it to stay at full price longer than the others.

Has the EVO dropped in price much since it launched back in June?

 

[cruiser771]

i paid 350 and am still waiting for my 100 rebate to come in, but my bill will be about 40 cheaper than i paid with at&t and i get more. i dont know why you think this phone should be only 100 bucks after launching 3 weeks ago. the fascinate is only a penny times an extra 30-40 a month for the next two years!

 

[kristv]

I don't think it's necessarily fair to look at one source and say that's the norm.

Amazon is a third party online seller and they set their own prices. If you check AT&T, their online price for the Captivate is $199 for a new contract. If you want to look at another third party seller, Best Buy's online spot price is $149.

True, although Walmart is also selling all of these phones for similar prices as well.

I'll end up buying the Epic either way, really. I just don't understand why it's coming in an such a higher price than the others. It has to be Sprint driving that price and not Samsung, or we'd see the other Galaxy S phones costing a lot more (on average).

Ah well....I guess I can't complain too much when the family package from Sprint is much cheaper than AT&T or Verizon (even after you consider the extra $10 4G fee). We'll also be getting 16% off our monthly service which will actually equalize the 4G fees. I just want the phone to be a little cheaper, I guess!

 

[lefty421]

Why are you guys paying $350+/- and dealing with the hassle of mail in rebates when Wirefly has only been charging $189 for the Epic from day 1 ?!?

 

[dan330]

Why are you guys paying $350+/- and dealing with the hassle of mail in rebates when Wirefly has only been charging $189 for the Epic from day 1 ?!?

me, personally....

1.. I have come to accept the high potential of issues with high-end / cutting-edge / new-buggy technology. once you get a good item, it tends to work great for a long time. Or when I just dont like it and want to return it. I prefer to deal with local brick-n-motar retail in these situations.

2.. I get Sprint Employee discount.. to get the great plan deals, we have to purchase from Sprint. I wish there was a way around this.. I would purchase from RS or BB for the deals they offer.

 

[taylormah]

I don't think it's necessarily fair to look at one source and say that's the norm.

Amazon is a third party online seller and they set their own prices. If you check AT&T, their online price for the Captivate is $199 for a new contract. If you want to look at another third party seller, Best Buy's online spot price is $149.

Can you share a link for $149 price. I checked BB web site and it is still for $229 for 2 year contract. Even if I could get it for $149, that is a deal.

 

[PoundSand]

Okay, seriously....the Fascinate only just launched, and Amazon is selling it for $.01. Yes, you read that right. They are selling the Captivate for $59 and the Vibrant for $99 (all with new contracts of course), but the Epic is STILL at $199! REALLY?! I would take any one of these phones if they were with Sprint, but because the Epic is the only Galaxy S phone Sprint carries and it's the only carrier I will get a discount through work with, I'm stuck paying $200 for a phone that should really be no more than $100 with a new contract.

supply and demand. you have a choice of 2 high end android phones on sprint. one of them is constantly sold out. i would guess the other- the epic- is selling well. so why should they sell it cheaper?

verizon has 4 high end android phones.

tmobile, well, is there really a high demand for anything on tmobile?

att, besides having the iphone, is a ******ed choice for buying an android phone to begin with, apparently also doesn't have a high demand for the captivate (given by their 4 day ota rollout at 15k phones per day).

 

[dr g]

The simple answer is because it's a better phone on a better carrier.

 

[iwillfearnoevil]

have you noticed the phones you compare with are different carriers? i've been speculating for weeks here that you can't do that. other carriers have different promotions and business plans than sprint. personally i think you need to compare to evo pricing especially now that the supply is up.

 

[daddyd302]

Can you share a link for $149 price. I checked BB web site and it is still for $229 for 2 year contract. Even if I could get it for $149, that is a deal.

I like to see that link as well.