Where do buy your cell phone?

[CYdTracked]

Has anyone bought a phone directly from Samsung's website? Seems too good to be true but was pricing S21 5G phones for less than $3 a month pre-order on their website with a trade in. Always seems to be some kind of catch when a deal seems too good.

 

[BCClone]

Has anyone bought a phone directly from Samsung's website? Seems too good to be true but was pricing S21 5G phones for less than $3 a month pre-order on their website with a trade in. Always seems to be some kind of catch when a deal seems too good.

What do you have to trade?

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

From the Verizon store.

 

[CYdTracked]

What do you have to trade?

Galaxy S8

 

[stormchaser2014]

I buy in bulk from the guy in the alley behind the bar.

 

[AgronAlum]

I’ve always bought from the Verizon store.

That being said, I had a phone from work for a good number of years where I didn’t buy one at all. I have bought one since phone prices have gotten crazy and it was a buy one get one on iPhone 10s. I bought mine full price and gave one to my mom for Mother’s Day. Probably the least I can do for mooching off her employer discount.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

When I switched to Google Fi I bought a phone from Google

 

[Clonehomer]

I've started buying from the manufacture's sites almost exclusively. Google phones especially are priced significantly lower than on the Verizon website. Also, often times the unlocked phones are actually cheaper than the Verizon specific phones and work just the same (unless you really like that Verizon logo on the back). Otherwise, if Best Buy is running a sale I'll get them there. I never buy from Verizon website anymore. Their prices are always the high. The Verizon store is even worse.

The nice thing about the manufacturers is that you can typically get a trade in deal that makes the phone inexpensive enough that you can pay outright. I got my Pixel 4a 5g for $200 after trading in my Pixel 3 without Verizon's payment plan.

 

[Drew0311]

MaCloney would be the guy to talk to on this

 

[Tailg8er]

I've started buying from the manufacture's sites almost exclusively. Google phones especially are priced significantly lower than on the Verizon website. Also, often times the unlocked phones are actually cheaper than the Verizon specific phones and work just the same (unless you really like that Verizon logo on the back). Otherwise, if Best Buy is running a sale I'll get them there. I never buy from Verizon website anymore. Their prices are always the high. The Verizon store is even worse.

The nice thing about the manufacturers is that you can typically get a trade in deal that makes the phone inexpensive enough that you can pay outright. I got my Pixel 4a 5g for $200 after trading in my Pixel 3 without Verizon's payment plan.

This is my go to as well. Used to be Ebay, but with the current/recent manufacturer deals, Ebay isn't really much (if at all) better. Plus you know what you're getting with the manufacturer, whereas Ebay can include some risk.

 

[kmcbrid]

I have bought from Samsung's site directly for several years now when upgrading phones. As mentioned above, you can buy unlocked phones (not tied to one carrier) for usually cheaper and their pre-order deals, with trade in, are usually the best I can find anywhere. Shipping and service from the site has always been great and I have had no issues. Deals are always as advertised and I haven't seen any catches.

This makes me, again, consider upgrading as well. Been on the fence about trading in old phones for the S21 to get the pre-order deal with $200 in Samsung store credit as well (basically the price of a cover and wireless ear buds). Might have to pull that trigger today.

 

[DevilDog]

Bought from Ebay for a US Cellular phone then a TMobile phone when I switched carriers. Both we're brand new leftover phones paid a quarter on the dollar for.

 

[1100011CS]

swappa.com - they started off selling phones that software developers and accessory makers didn't need anymore. I think they get most of them from company 'fleets' now. Either way, I have bought several phones off the site and they are always in great condition.

 

[BCClone]

Galaxy S8

The cheap trade ins usually work when you have the very last model and best version of it. I would just going through the order process and seeing what they actually offer. Usually you can do it without having submit payment options. That allows you to see actual numbers.

 

[Isualum13]

Our family is still holding on to our unlimited data plan from Altell that we had before Verizon bought them. When ever anyone needs a new phone, we either pay full price for one from Verizon or find a good deal on a refurbished phone on eBay. We live in a small community so we don't get bogged down when we use lots of data.

 

[CyCloned]

I bought my last couple phones from Swappa. They were in very good condition and at reasonable prices. I not one of those guys that needs the latest and greatest, just has to work as a smart phone.

The last time I tried to upgrade through Verizon they they wanted a fee for the phone, and then they had some other fee because I was getting the phone from them. It was something like $15/month for this other fee, and $15 for the phone. That is when I decided to go buy a phone elsewhere. Hard to tell if it was just my plan or what. Had that feeling you get when you buy a used car.

 

[MJ29]

We're Verizon customers, but after two bad customer service experiences at Verizon stores, we completed our most recent upgrade/purchase at Best Buy. The staff there was very helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[Angie]

For iPhone, I just lease through their Apple Upgrade program. It is pretty low price, and upgrade once a year like the good old days.

 

[CycoCyclone]

Best Buy, no commissions, and they have all the major carriers. Staff is usually knowledgeable about phones and coverage (in DSM anyway). A couple years back we switched to Sprint after getting tired of Verizon costs, but found the coverage to suck eggs, and within 2 weeks best buy helped us return EVERYTHING and re-engage with Verizon, even threw in some accessories for our troubles.

 

[BCClone]

For iPhone, I just lease through their Apple Upgrade program. It is pretty low price, and upgrade once a year like the good old days.

I just buy unlocked through the Apple online store. We hold phones longer. Generally buy the one old model (like buying an 11 when the 12 came out). My oldest and I have 8s (that is how long we keep them). I replace one a year (my accountant thinks I’m hard on phones since I get a new one every year—makes them tax deductible). Cuts the cost to about $300 a phone. Five phones adds up over time.