Anyone paying out-of-contract for Note III?

[NJRonbo]

I must be out of my mind...

Went from being a loyal iPhone user for 5 years to owning my first Galaxy Note II last October. The larger screen size made all the difference in the world for me and up to present, I have been a very happy Android user.

The Note III looks very intriguing -- so much so that I am looking to pay out of contract for it. AT&T wants $725. With tax it will probably be another $50, and then there is the upgrade fee which I am not even certain what that will be.

I can sell my Note II on Gazelle and get $210 for it. Yes, I might do better on eBay, but I have sworn never to do business with them again after all the scam offers I received a year ago when trying to sell my old phone.

If I buy the Note III out of contract this year, I am eligible for contract pricing when the Note IV comes out next year, if I want it.

Anyone else so urgently wanting this new phone that they are willing to pay out-of-contract for it?

 

[bonerp]

I always buy sim free. My n2 will be worth

 

[iamchrisstone]

I must be out of my mind...

Went from being a loyal iPhone user for 5 years to owning my first Galaxy Note II last October. The larger screen size made all the difference in the world for me and up to present, I have been a very happy Android user.

The Note III looks very intriguing -- so much so that I am looking to pay out of contract for it. AT&T wants $725. With tax it will probably be another $50, and then there is the upgrade fee which I am not even certain what that will be.

I can sell my Note II on Gazelle and get $210 for it. Yes, I might do better on eBay, but I have sworn never to do business with them again after all the scam offers I received a year ago when trying to sell my old phone.

If I buy the Note III out of contract this year, I am eligible for contract pricing when the Note IV comes out next year, if I want it.

Anyone else so urgently wanting this new phone that they are willing to pay out-of-contract for it?

I'm with AT&T and in the same boat. Actually, I paid out of pocket for the iPhone 5 last year and they restarted my contract. Then they refused to undo the process because I waited too long to tell them (Didn't realize it until I wanted to upgrade recently).

I've chosen to use their "Next" program. They take the retail price of the phone and spread it out over 20 months. So my monthly bill goes up $35, but there is no interest, PLUS no upgrade fee. So, in the long run I actually save money. If you have the free cash, I'd still do the "Next" program, and then pay off the phone the next month. That should save you at least the $35 or $50 or whatever the upgrade fee is now, because they say you can pay it off early. PLUS, you can upgrade every year, if you want.

Here is more info on that program: AT&T Next - Get A New Phone or Tablet Every Year from AT&T Wireless

 

[NJRonbo]

I hate to use the phrase "cheat the system," but...

Can I select NEXT program, get the cost reduction and just pay it off in full when the first bill comes in?

So, essentially, I am getting the advantage of the lower price and paying it off immediately.

Is the NEXT program a payment option when preordering online via AT&T wireless?

And you are saying no upgrade fee with the NEXT option?

(Okay got the answer to the last question as I am watching the video)

 

[iamchrisstone]

I hate to use the phrase "cheat the system," but...

Can I select NEXT program, get the cost reduction and just pay it off in full when the first bill comes in?

So, essentially, I am getting the advantage of the lower price and paying it off immediately.

Is the NEXT program a payment option when preordering online via AT&T wireless?

And you are saying no upgrade fee with the NEXT option?

As far as "cheat the system", yes. That's what I was saying up there is that you can pay it off early with no penalties. So at least you save the activation fee. I just read an article that they don't waive the activation and/or upgrade fee's for existing customers any longer.

Regarding online, I'm not sure. I think I've seen people on this forum state that they have signed up for the Note 3 using "Next" via online, however the customer service rep that I spoke with on the phone said the only way to sign up for it is call them. So, you can always try!

 

[NJRonbo]

I don't think there is an upgrade fee when buying out-of contract.

This is verbatim what AT&T says about that fee....

Upgrade Fee
The upgrade fee is a $36 one-time charge that applies when you purchase a new wireless device at a discount to replace an old device. The upgrade fee will be added to your next bill.

Out-of-contract phones certainly don't qualify as a discount.

Am I assuming this correctly?

 

[iamchrisstone]

I don't think there is an upgrade fee when buying out-of contract.

This is verbatim what AT&T says about that fee....

Upgrade Fee
The upgrade fee is a $36 one-time charge that applies when you purchase a new wireless device at a discount to replace an old device. The upgrade fee will be added to your next bill.

Out-of-contract phones certainly don't qualify as a discount.

Am I assuming this correctly?

hmmmm good catch. From that wording, it appears that if you pay full price you don't have to worry about the fee.

 

[dropnbassonu]

hmmmm good catch. From that wording, it appears that if you pay full price you don't have to worry about the fee.

I'm with Verizon and paid full price a few days ago with no upgrade fee. I realize it's different carriers, but though I'd let you know..

 

[NJRonbo]

How much did Verizon want full price for the Note III?

 

[dropnbassonu]

699+tax....I think my total was around 740ish

 

[NJRonbo]

With AT&T it was $725 plus $50 tax = $775

 

[The_Chief]

Verizon full price for the Note 3 is $699 plus tax. Mine came to like $768. That's what I just pre-ordered out of my set-aside phone fund.

 

[BobF]

Similar situation for me at Verizon. No activation fee for full retail, so mine came to $763 including tax.

 

[stanw]

I paid full price for the Note 2 in February and am hoping to sell it for at least $400 so I can apply that towards the full price of the Note 3. I have unlimited data with Verizon so I have to pay full price or lose my data, which I am not willing to do....

 

[ntice]

I also pre-ordered through Verizon. Now hoping they beat october 10th since ATT gives an earlier date.

 

[NJRonbo]

I paid full price for the Note 2 in February and am hoping to sell it for at least $400 so I can apply that towards the full price of the Note 3.

Be interested to find out where you can sell it for that price.

Gazelle only wants $210 last I looked.

I hate dealing with eBay because of all the scam offers.

 

[Preach2k]

I am going to do it out of contract with Verizon.. I was going to order today. But I heard from my friend yesterday afternoon that works for Verizon. He told me to hold off if I can. The price will drop between now and Christmas. I am considering it if I can hold out that long.

 

[The_Chief]

The price likely WILL drop... for CONTRACT pricing. Retail pricing, on the other hand, rarely drops and certainly not THAT fast. You might want to clarify that with your friend. I know a lot of people reading this would love to have that verified

 

[Preach2k]

The price likely WILL drop... for CONTRACT pricing. Retail pricing, on the other hand, rarely drops and certainly not THAT fast. You might want to clarify that with your friend. I know a lot of people reading this would love to have that verified

You are right. I will try on Craig's list and eBay. He thought that I was talking about doing the Edge thing. I told him that I want to keep my Unlimited plan.. He told me then there is no reason to wait. I hope that I can find it cheaper like I found the s4 for my sister for $300 3 weeks after it was released. I will be happy paying $500 or $600.

 

[The_Chief]

You can try Swappa too, although it may take awhile to see gently used Note 3s on there.

 

[n0really]

I sure hope the T-mobile variant drops around November. I just sold my S3 in hopes of getting the Note early October, but with the non-contract price at over $700, I'll have to wait.

 

[twister6]

You can try Swappa too, although it may take awhile to see gently used Note 3s on there.

The best place to sell your phone is on Amazon. Create a free merchant account and sell it under existing listing. I just looked it up and see the cheapest used N2 goes for $330 + $5 shipping, and it has scratched screen. Gazelle buys it for dirt cheap and then either resells it for spare parts or for $100 more on Amazon under a different name merchant account.

Early this year I sold my original old DX and Fascinate on Amazon for almost $100 each, Gazelle was offering 1/3 of that

 

[archer75]

Yes, i'm paying out of contract. I sold my Nexus 10 and have my S4 on ebay now to do it.
I have not gotten any scam emails. But if I did, so what? I'd either ignore them or mess with them for a bit. No big deal.

My biggest issue with ebay are the ridiculous fees they and paypal charge.

Gazelle is one of the worst places to sell your stuff. There are several others that pay more. But still not what you'd get on ebay. I've never sold anything on amazon but i'm intrigued.

 

[lennydude]

I agree 100% with Ebay and Pay Pal fees. Quite ridiculous indeed. I just sold a US Cellular S4 for $365 and only got to keep $325.................wow !!
That's something like 11%......................oh well, that is why I do not Ebay any more than I have to.

 

[Thechidz]

I am buying mine on Verizon via the 12 month installation program off contract. there is a $2 per month finance fee but you can pay off the phone whenever you like. Perfect option for keeping my unlimited LTE I use 15-35 gb per month