21–30 of 38 posts
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…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
What I did was simply call and threaten to leave. They offered me over $400 in credits. During that call I found out I can get my normal line price by simply paying off my phones early. Note I had the 2 year contract when I upgraded. The plan was to pay them off once I went through my credit after 3 months and switch to cricket. When the time came I paid off my phones (2 phones at about $350 a piece + tax). When I called to pay them off the lady had to get a manager approval because she didn't know how to do it. Long story short I am not yet with cricket, because I can't find a cheap tablet only option (I travel a lot). This and other billing practices really put piss me off about att (combined billing)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>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…
It seems what AT&T are trying to do is stop losing money to subsidizing phones since other carriers (T-mobile, for example) are doing this. If this is the case then why not just discontinue the subsidization of phones at the $199, $299, etc. price points and just allow you to buy it at 0% interest if you agree to a 2-year contract. They still get their customer locked in for 2 years and they recover the full cost of…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>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…
It seems what AT&T are trying to do is stop losing money to subsidizing phones since other carriers (T-mobile, for example) are doing this. If this is the case then why not just discontinue the subsidization of phones at the $199, $299, etc. price points and just allow you to buy it at 0% interest if you agree to a 2-year contract. They still get their customer locked in for 2 years and they recover the full cost of…
At first I thought this was an obvious scam. Then I realized, when I upgrade my phone, the old one just sits in a drawer. In general, I can't be bothered to actually sell my old devices. So, maybe it isn't so bad.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
signing you up for something and then changing the terms. - fraud
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. - hustle
I've paid $175/month for 3 lines (2 are unlimited data and 1 is 2gb) for over 8 years now and I've always bought the $199 iPhone (with upgrade). A comparable plan with high-capped data (closest you can get to unlimited) runs only a little bit more ($185-190) for 3 lines. When I recently went to upgrade I was offered Next and the monthly cost wouldn't have been any cheaper for the lines yet I'd have had to pay an extra $2X.XX/month for the phone. Trying to persuade me that this is a better deal when it is not qualifies as a hustle. It isn't fraud since there's no bait and switch. They're just bullshitting.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>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…
intentionally selling you a defective product masked as a new one. signing you up for something and then changing the terms. - fraud 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. - hustle I've paid $175/month for 3 lines (2 are unlimited data and…
There are different terms and benefits. They're not exactly alike. What you're saying is, essentially, "The salesman tried to sell me something I don't want and that's dishonest." Well, no, not really. Lots of people find value in the ability to upgrade their phone without having to pay the entire ETF, choosing instead to give back their phone. That you don't find this valuable does not make it dishonest.
You would have a case if the two deals (2 year contract or Next) were precisely the same. They are not. In fact, you summarily ignore the main feature of the offer to make your point!