The AT&T Next Hustle • Hacker News Board

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#11

Post by joshstrange » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 5:19 PM UTC

fengb wrote: post #8

adanto6840 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's closer to a lease though, no? If you use the [upgrade] option prior to making the final payment, you have to return the phone. If you make the final payment, and then choose to upgrade, do you get to keep the phone you've been paying for (i.e. an installment loan), or must you return it (aka, a lease)?

If you pay off the entire amount, you keep the device. If you upgrade before the contract ends, you have the option of paying off the remaining amount and keeping it (or returning it). It's most likely a terrible idea to return the device instead of paying off and selling it, and AT&T probably makes free money from that, but the rest of the plan is pretty reasonable.

This is what I've always understood to be the case, just never return the device, pay it off and sell it on craigslist/ebay (which I've done 4+ times without any issues).

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#12

Post by intopieces » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 5:37 PM UTC

reagency wrote: post #10

Why would you even start down this hideouslly complicated system instead of just getting a T-Mobile or Boost or similar plan, and buying a retail phone. (Preferably a $200 Anroid , or a uaed iPhone, instead of a $600 iPhone) The "hustle" only shows up when you sign up for the incredibly expensive systems and then try to find a loophole.

>buying a retail phone

For the same reason people very rarely pay cash for a house. They can't afford it.

The AT&T Next Plan is a reasonable compromise for people who want a new smartphone and cannot afford to pay 200-500$ up front.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#13

Post by iamstephenliu » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 5:41 PM UTC

bbakkd wrote: post #2

It's actually worse than this article states. If you get the "AT&T Next 24" plan that just means you can upgrade to a new phone after 24 months. You are actually agreeing to make 30 payments so you end up with $56 tax plus $29 x 30 or $926. Edit: Also note that you are only eligible for upgrading after 24 months if your phone is in good condition--no cracks, chips, etc. If your phone breaks not only do you have to bu…

It's nowhere near being "worse" than the article states. The Next plans are literally just $0 down, 0% interest installment plans. It's exactly what T-Mobile is doing, except AT&T does a really shitty job of explaining how it works and, instead of having you pay $10 for Jump to trade-in whenever you want, you can opt to trade it in a few months before the payments finish.

My friend's T-Mobile phone broke halfway through her installment plan. She had to buy a new one and still pay for her old, broken one for the next year.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#14

Post by bgilroy26 » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 5:44 PM UTC

If Apple feels the phone is worth $600, and you're getting the phone new, you're only going to be able to pay $200 for it if AT&T pays the rest for you.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#15

Post by bbakkd » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 6:14 PM UTC

iamstephenliu wrote: post #13

bbakkd wrote: post #2

It's actually worse than this article states. If you get the "AT&T Next 24" plan that just means you can upgrade to a new phone after 24 months. You are actually agreeing to make 30 payments so you end up with $56 tax plus $29 x 30 or $926. Edit: Also note that you are only eligible for upgrading after 24 months if your phone is in good condition--no cracks, chips, etc. If your phone breaks not only do you have to bu…

It's nowhere near being "worse" than the article states. The Next plans are literally just $0 down, 0% interest installment plans. It's exactly what T-Mobile is doing, except AT&T does a really shitty job of explaining how it works and, instead of having you pay $10 for Jump to trade-in whenever you want, you can opt to trade it in a few months before the payments finish. My friend's T-Mobile phone broke halfway thro…

It actually is worse than the article states because he calculated it at 24 months but he should have calculated it at 30 months. And if you lose, break, or even crack your phone before the 30 months--which isn't at all uncommon--you still have to pay for the old one and a new one.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#16

Post by bbakkd » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 6:16 PM UTC

fengb wrote: post #5

I'll never understand how Next disparagers get their numbers. The screenshot [1] clearly shows $21.67 per month for 30 months ($650.10). Next is effectively 0% installment loan for buying a new device with the (admittedly terrible) option of terminating the contract and returning the device for a new Next contract. [1] http://i1.wp.com/don.citarella.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/0...

Yes except you are paying a high retail price for the phone. I paid $100 for a top-of-the-line phone and the rest was subsidized in my contract price, I didn't have to pay an installment plan. Yeah, if the phone lasted more than two years it would be an okay deal but how often does a smartphone ever last that long without being lost, broken, or obsolete?

You are better off buying it somewhere else--even on a credit card--and staying on the old $15/mo contract.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#17

Post by bbakkd » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 6:22 PM UTC

intopieces wrote: post #12

reagency wrote: post #10

Why would you even start down this hideouslly complicated system instead of just getting a T-Mobile or Boost or similar plan, and buying a retail phone. (Preferably a $200 Anroid , or a uaed iPhone, instead of a $600 iPhone) The "hustle" only shows up when you sign up for the incredibly expensive systems and then try to find a loophole.

>buying a retail phone For the same reason people very rarely pay cash for a house. They can't afford it. The AT&T Next Plan is a reasonable compromise for people who want a new smartphone and cannot afford to pay 200-500$ up front.

That doesn't make it any less of a hustle and probably why rent-to-own places still get customers. So yeah if you have to have the most expensive phones but can't afford them you will do this.

The thing is they are pretty much forcing everyone into these plans by almost doubling the old plan prices. Plus the old family plans are no longer cheaper if you don't have a smartphone and don't use data--you pay the same price for all phones.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#18

Post by intopieces » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 6:54 PM UTC

bbakkd wrote: post #17

intopieces wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>buying a retail phone For the same reason people very rarely pay cash for a house. They can't afford it. The AT&T Next Plan is a reasonable compromise for people who want a new smartphone and cannot afford to pay 200-500$ up front.

That doesn't make it any less of a hustle and probably why rent-to-own places still get customers. So yeah if you have to have the most expensive phones but can't afford them you will do this. The thing is they are pretty much forcing everyone into these plans by almost doubling the old plan prices. Plus the old family plans are no longer cheaper if you don't have a smartphone and don't use data--you pay the same pri…

>That doesn't make it any less of a hustle.

Still not quite understanding your use of this word. How can the deal be a fraud or swindle if the terms are given up front? Let's set aside the argument about whether you think it's a good deal or not, as that is not the meaning of the word "hustle".

They're not intentionally selling you a defective product masked as a new one.

They're not signing you up for something and then changing the terms.

As far as I can tell, the word hustle is being used here to mean "trying to convince people that a product is a better deal than it is." But again, this is a matter of opinion and situation. What is a good deal for you may not be available to others because of the up front cost

And here again, the math behind the swindle claim doesn't add up. You are still paying the retail price of the phone whether you sign up for two years contract or with Next. AT&T does not lose money on either contract.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#19

Post by Evolved » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 7:14 PM UTC

Unless my (read: everyone whom this affects) bill(s) actually drops by a corresponding amount of $ then this Next doesn't seem worth it. Many of us pay $200 for a phone and the rest is subsidized by signing the contract for 2 years. Why would I want to pay $650 + the same monthly payment for 2 years for the same phone? Upgrade early? If I stick with iPhones and can tolerate not having the newest one every 1 year vs. every 2 years then this has no benefit. This may only serve to benefit those who A. keep their phones in good condition and B. have Android or other non-iPhones where a newer model is introduced more than once a year.

Re: The AT&T Next Hustle

#20

Post by guelo » Sat, Jul 04, 2015, 7:47 PM UTC

The worst deal is for new users that are stuck paying the $40/month if they don't want Next. Thank goodness they weren't allowed to buy T-Mobile.