When did cell phone pricing change?

[Ruffdaddy]

Im looking at the upgrade prices and they all force you to pay the phone out over monthly installments which are way higher than the 200 or so it used to cost at the upgrade period.

Is this the only way to go now?

[71chevellejohn]

You can buy the phone outright and bypass the monthly charge.

[sc281]

People bitched about an etf fee, and now are fucked into paying for the whole phone, plus a monthly service fee on top of it.

Fucking ridiculous.

[dcs13]

Ive been on straight talk wireless for a few years now. $45 a month, unlimited talk,text,data. Gotta buy your phone though. Best deal out there.
I live in the sticks and the phone works fine here.

[Ruffdaddy]

Damn im out of the loop on this shit

[Baba Ganoush]

Lmao @ financing a phone. Shits gotten out of hand.

[Nash B.]

Lmao @ financing a phone. Shits gotten out of hand.

it's not much different than before. The price of the phone was rolled into your contract and monthly bill.

[David]

Lmao @ financing a phone. Shits gotten out of hand.

And it's reported on your credit which I guess will help people build a credit history. I have a $675 installment plan now.

[HarrisonTX]

Check out my Nexus phone thread in the tech section
There are great options other than what you see in the stores.
Oneplus
Nexus

[Baba Ganoush]

Ballin!

I wouldn't use more than $200 worth of phone, ever.

[BP]

Google just opened up project fi to everyone yesterday, it's probably the best deal out there assuming you don't blast through data out of wifi range.

[CexMashean]

Ballin!

I wouldn't use more than $200 worth of phone, ever.

Well aren't you fucking special?

I bet you use photobucket too.

[Broncojohnny]

I think I am posting this from a 4S. Enjoy your debt lifestyle, phone slaves!

[Baba Ganoush]

Well aren't you fucking special?

I bet you use photobucket too.

I do! I hate it though. The hell does that mean?

[Cobraman]

I use my phone a ton so $30 a month for a new phone every 12mo is fine with me.