Is AT&T Next still considered a scam? I went to an AT&T store to buy a 5s on a 2 year contract, but decided to try Next. I've read why Next is a scam articles from July and was reading them in the store, but still did not fully understand it. I have 14 days to cancel to do the math. Here is what I found.
The fine print on http://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/next.html.
*Requires 20-month 0% APR installment agreement & qualifying credit. Wireless service req. (voice & data for smartphones/data for tablets). If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on device becomes due. Sales tax due at sale. Qualifying devices only. Upgrade after 1 yr.: Req. min. 12 installment payments, acct. in good standing, plus trade-in of current device in good & functional condition & purchase of new device/wireless agreement & service plan. After upgrade remaining unbilled installment payments are waived. AT&T Next available only at AT&T owned retail stores & att.com. If device is returned, restocking fee up to $35 for smartphones or 10% of tablet sales price may apply. Terms subject to change.
The important part is "After upgrade remaining unbilled installment payments are waived."
iPhone 5s 64GB is $850 unlocked.
Under Next, it is $37 monthly. That is $444 in 12 months and $740 in 20 months or $296 after the 12th month.
However, after 12 months, when you upgrade to the next iPhone, you sell the previous one back for $320 and the $296 is waived, so that is $444 minus $320.
That is $124 to use the latest iPhone for a year and $248 to use the latest for two years.
Compare that to buying an iPhone for $436 and then selling what was an $850 phone two years later for $190. You paid $246 to use the iPhone for two years.
Sell for $200, then $236.
Sell for $300, then $136.
$190 was offered for a good condition iPhone 4S 64GB AT&T at the time of this post.
The fine print on http://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/next.html.
*Requires 20-month 0% APR installment agreement & qualifying credit. Wireless service req. (voice & data for smartphones/data for tablets). If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on device becomes due. Sales tax due at sale. Qualifying devices only. Upgrade after 1 yr.: Req. min. 12 installment payments, acct. in good standing, plus trade-in of current device in good & functional condition & purchase of new device/wireless agreement & service plan. After upgrade remaining unbilled installment payments are waived. AT&T Next available only at AT&T owned retail stores & att.com. If device is returned, restocking fee up to $35 for smartphones or 10% of tablet sales price may apply. Terms subject to change.
The important part is "After upgrade remaining unbilled installment payments are waived."
iPhone 5s 64GB is $850 unlocked.
Under Next, it is $37 monthly. That is $444 in 12 months and $740 in 20 months or $296 after the 12th month.
However, after 12 months, when you upgrade to the next iPhone, you sell the previous one back for $320 and the $296 is waived, so that is $444 minus $320.
That is $124 to use the latest iPhone for a year and $248 to use the latest for two years.
Compare that to buying an iPhone for $436 and then selling what was an $850 phone two years later for $190. You paid $246 to use the iPhone for two years.
Sell for $200, then $236.
Sell for $300, then $136.
$190 was offered for a good condition iPhone 4S 64GB AT&T at the time of this post.