Best Way to Buy a new GS7?

artbytes · Apr 4, 2016

I'm on ATT and have always had the 2 year contract in which I got a new phone every two years. I had to pay $200 plus a $35 upgrade fee for a new model Galaxy. Now, I've found that ATT is no longer doing that. My contract is up and I assumed I'd be getting a new S7, but am now having sticker shock at the price I'm going to have to pay. There are various plans, but it always ends up being $695 total.

There are international unlocked phones available on eBay. Are they preferable? They say they are compatible with ATT - but I'm wondering about the specs.

What do you all do for buying your phones? What have you found is a good deal?

Bodycount · Apr 4, 2016

Newegg was running a sale last week on the S7 for $599 unlocked. Not sure if they are still running it.

itsallgood · Apr 4, 2016

I know what you mean. Upgrades for me have changed now that I have to pay full price for the phone. I went with the AT&T Next with down payment of $209, $17 a month for 28 months. I plan on paying it off in the next month or so. The thing I don't think people realize, depending on the plan you get, you have to turn in your current phone to upgrade, unless your phone is paid off. It's a lose to the consumer, but good business for companies.

artbytes · Apr 4, 2016

If I did a plan, I thought I liked that one the best. If something happened to the phone and you had to get a new one, you can do it after 1 year. I talked to the rep at Costco. She told me that right now the companies aren't requiring the customers to turn in the old phones. Of course, you can't count on that.

artbytes · Apr 4, 2016

I am looking at the unlocked phones available different places - like Newegg and Amazon and eBay. They are a little cheaper, and you can save sales tax - which is $56 where I live. I am a bit nervous about buying the phone if there isn't a good return policy in case there is something wrong, though.

I'll have to see what the differences are among the phone versions. I know that with some older phones, the International versions did not have the same specs as the ATT phones. Guess I have to do my homework on that. If anyone has any advice on that, I'd like to hear it.

itsallgood · Apr 4, 2016

artbytes said:
If I did a plan, I thought I liked that one the best. If something happened to the phone and you had to get a new one, you can do it after 1 year. I talked to the rep at Costco. She told me that right now the companies aren't requiring the customers to turn in the old phones. Of course, you can't count on that.

I wouldn't count on it either, unless its in writing. Everyone interprets things differently and this is a new thing for AT&T. I see a lot of confusion coming when its time for people to upgrade next year.

KupKrazy · Apr 4, 2016

One thing I hate about the AT&T Next plan is that they still charge you an upgrade fee now that you are paying full price. I am not familiar with other companies and their similar plans, but I think it's really a crock of shit that these companies get to arbitrarily pull these fees out of their butts. It's one thing if they were subsidizing the phone for you, but if you're paying 100% of the cost, it should be the same as if you bought the phone elsewhere and just changed the SIM card - and no upgrade fee. Also, don't say that it's "interest free" and then charge an upgrade fee either.

artbytes · Apr 5, 2016

Upgrade Fee? I hope not. That's one thing it said. You didn't have to pay an upgrade fee. Maybe it's only the first time you get into the Next Program that you don't get an upgrade fee. Maybe you pay it when you want to "trade-in" your phone at the trade-in time. That makes just buying a phone - like an unlocked version - more and more attractive.

artbytes · Apr 5, 2016

Best Buy has a plan where you get a store gift card if you trade in an old phone. It's a little complicated as to how it works. However, it looks like you might get the value of the trade-in (very little) off the price of the new phone, and the what's left of $200 off merchandise at the store. I'll have to ask about that to be sure. You'd have to really need something at the store, though, to make it worthwhile, I think. They were also offering a free wireless charger, but I'm not sure if that's still on.

Costco offers a store gift card with the purchase of the phone.

monicakm · Apr 5, 2016

I just upgraded (Verizon) to the S7 after my 2 yr plan was up. I've always used the two year contract. IIRC, what you pay each month (for the phone it's self) ends up being about the same as buying it out right. I bought the S7 from Best Buy for $100 on contract. I think they're phasing that out tho and new customers can't do a 2 year contract. They have to pay for it in full or do the DPP (Device Payment Plan). Verizon rep figured it up for me and said the DPP would be about $100 more over the course of 2 years.

artbytes · Apr 7, 2016

Well, I just got one. The BestBuy special for this week seemed like the best thing I would find for awhile. Basically, you can take any working smart phone in and get a $200 gift card. I had an old Samsung Infuse that was really in perfect condition and working well. With the $200 gift card, I was able to pay most of the $209 down payment for ATT Next plan that makes the payments $17.32. That worked really well, and I feel much better about paying $200 less for the phone. If anyone wants a GS7, you have until Saturday to take advantage of this offer. It's for ATT and most of the other carriers.

PS - There was no upgrade fee. I did have to pay the sales tax on the entire retail price.

Best Way to Buy a new GS7?

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