I remember reading about stacking when I did the iPhone 4 hardware upgrade form 3GS but I thought it meant just adding 3 years from when you do the hardware upgrade (for a total of 4 years), but 6 years?!!? That's beyond crazy.
For me my account online said my contract was a total of 4 years, it eventually changed back to 3 years total so I can get the iPhone 5 now.
I'm getting dinged $280 to get out of my Fido contract. Add the $179 for the 16GB phone it is still cheaper than the $699 from the Apple store. Plus I can use my Fido $ to bring my phone price down.
Not sure when people will smarten up. So many are seduced by the subsidized phone, believing that there is such a thing as a free lunch!
So I am happy with my contract... $50 unlimited north america calling and texting and $30 for 6GB of data. I don't have any "end of month" surprises when my bill comes in.
Since I plan on keeping my contract, and I don't plan on much in the way of overseas traveling (needing an unlocked phone) how is paying $179+$280 worse than paying $699?
Not sure when people will smarten up. So many are seduced by the subsidized phone, believing that there is such a thing as a free lunch!
I could see that if you actually got a discount for having a phone not tied to a contract but you don't. The plans are the plans regardless of if I'm in a contract or bought an unlocked phone so really if you aren't planning on traveling buying unlocked doesn't make sense for most people IMO.
Folks, Folks, I just don't understand you. At this point in the game have you not seen the trend. Iphone 3G 3GS, Iphone 4, 4S and now Iphone 5. The big changes happen every 2 years!!! If you are in the US fine it's a two year contract, but in Canada it's 3 years and with Fido you are in a stacked contract so you are now out every 4 years!!! If you want the to keep to the every major release schedule, don't get into a contract! I can't believe people are actually going to pay ECF to get a LOCKED PHONE, that's nuts!! You are not doing the long term math.
Easiest thing is buy a unlocked phone, two years sell it and uses the money towards the new phone voila, and choose the provider that gives you the best deal.
Folks, Folks, I just don't understand you. At this point in the game have you not seen the trend. Iphone 3G 3GS, Iphone 4, 4S and now Iphone 5. The big changes happen every 2 years!!! If you are in the US fine it's a two year contract, but in Canada it's 3 years and with Fido you are in a stacked contract so you are now out every 4 years!!! If you want the to keep to the every major release schedule, don't get into a contract! I can't believe people are actually going to pay ECF to get a LOCKED PHONE, that's nuts!! You are not doing the long term math.
Easiest thing is buy a unlocked phone, two years sell it and uses the money towards the new phone voila, and choose the provider that gives you the best deal.
I get this logic. In my experience, the only downside has been traveling. While I still think it's unethical for Canadian businesses to offer only 3 years contracts, contract stacking, and dubious unlocking policies, the reality is that i've saved enough cash getting the 3G and 4 (no upgrade fee) through contract that I could now buy an unlocked outright. I just think length of contract should be the customers choice and that the amount of subsidy should be proportional to the length of the contract. Heck, I don't care if they offer 10 year contracts for people who know they are never moving but it just doesn't make sense for most of us except in retrospect. Any savings I may be able to boast about now are purely by luck.
I'm just saying there advantages for some people to getting a cheaper phone if they know who their carrier is going to be. It doesn't always automatically make more sense to go unlocked all the way. It also doesn't mean I agree with the current system.
Folks, Folks, I just don't understand you. At this point in the game have you not seen the trend. Iphone 3G 3GS, Iphone 4, 4S and now Iphone 5. The big changes happen every 2 years!!! If you are in the US fine it's a two year contract, but in Canada it's 3 years and with Fido you are in a stacked contract so you are now out every 4 years!!! If you want the to keep to the every major release schedule, don't get into a contract! I can't believe people are actually going to pay ECF to get a LOCKED PHONE, that's nuts!! You are not doing the long term math.
Easiest thing is buy a unlocked phone, two years sell it and uses the money towards the new phone voila, and choose the provider that gives you the best deal.
Hey chief, I might be wrong, but I think your long term math doesn't add up. So let's say over a 10 year period you get 5 new iPhones. In the unsubsidized world you pay at minimum $699 for a new phone. If they are release every two years that is 5 new phones (once every two years).
5 x $699 = $3495
Now if I am going the subsidized route I have to buy out the remainder of my contract for the last 12 months (Fido tells me this is $20/month left on my contract) of my three year contract. That is $240. The subsidized cost of the phone is $179. So, here comes the mathemagic...
5 x ($179+$240) = $2095
Is your math different?
The reason this a better approach is because there is NO real competition between the carriers in Canada. I can't get a better deal for my monthly contract at any other carrier because all plans suck for Canadians. So switching my unlocked iPhone doesn't benefit me. You are better off being a long term customer (better retention plans) and customer loyalty points than switching carriers every time a new phone comes out.
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