Phoenix I agree wholeheartedly with you. If the carriers did not subsidize the phones maybe the manufacturers would only charge retailers and carriers modest prices for the handsets.
I think we could agree that it would reduce the CPGA by more than half.
It would, however slow the new customer acquisition because Americans are so discount happy.

by SPCSVZWJeff    Today, 1:03 AM
Phoenix I agree wholeheartedly with you. If the carriers did not subsidize the phones maybe the manufacturers would only charge retailers and carriers modest prices for the handsets.
I think we could agree that it would reduce the CPGA by more than half.
It would, however slow the new customer acquisition because Americans are so discount happy.

Discount happy?

Hold on a second.

So it's the consumer's fault that American's are "discount happy?" Pray tell where did this phenomenon originate? A hint: how is it that almost every price you'll see these days ends in $.99? Answer: marketing. Marketing focuses on ways to promote sales. As an industry it has shaped the buying...
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Actually I believe you can. One issue with consumerism is that it pits the consumer against american industry. There need not be an either-or mentality. When a company does business correctly, makes an adequate profit and provides a good value for the customer then it is a win-win situation.

American consumers continue to demand a $150-$500 handset for nothing. If they drop it in the toilet then they want someone else to pay for them to get another piece of equipment at no cost. Wireless carriers are very generous with the prices they charge for handsets when their actual cost is taken into consideration.

Often what the consumer wants is not feasable.
It would be great if you could get a phone at a retail store and activate it with...
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The problem is two fold,carriers dfon't trust each other to ALL not offer free phones, cuz they use it as such a powerful selling tool, the problem is that its like when we were kids, daddy give you a free 'toy' or something else.

you'd play with it then get bored and tired with it, and either discard or break it, then cry you want or need another.When you don't buy the item yourself, you don't understand or apreciate yourself, and when it comes to cell phones, that customers who get a free phone. don't generally appreciate it, like the kids.they break ,cuz the figure, oh well it was free, so i'm not any money, and besdies , they most not cost anything, since they gave it ot me for free, they can do it again.

People mostly think we mak...
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Phone subsidies are not legal business practices in most of the world.
I agree consumers don't understand the true price of the handsets, that is except for Sprint customers who see full retail on all handset prices with an instant rebate. It is easier to sell a replacement handset to a Sprint customer than a Verizon or USCC customer. And from what I see on the Cingular and T-Mobile forum they have the same problem.
We frequently sell $150.00-$300.00 handsets to Sprint customers. They are not entirely happy about paying that much but they do it anyway. Other carriers customers get angry enough to pay the ETF and go elsewhere. I don't know why, but there is a difference in expectations.

The problem is that carriers in the us have shot themselves in the foot.
Carriers offered free phones because customers weren't buying.
The discounted phones were used to get customers in, because no one wanted to pay 1000.00 for a stupid phone that weighed 10 pounds.
Now customers customers expect free phones.
Most customers blow a gasket when they are told non-contract pricing because they are used to 49.99 deals everywhere.

The problem could be fixed real quick.
All the US carriers should stop subsidizing.
Even pass a law that prohibits contract subsidies.
Every carrier will have a fair chance and no more stupid contracts.
Customers would also be able to take their non contracted phone to what ever carrier they choose. ...
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by SPCSVZWJeff    Today, 2:52 AM
Actually I believe you can. One issue with consumerism is that it pits the consumer against american industry. There need not be an either-or mentality. When a company does business correctly, makes an adequate profit and provides a good value for the customer then it is a win-win situation.

American consumers continue to demand a $150-$500 handset for nothing. If they drop it in the toilet then they want someone else to pay for them to get another piece of equipment at no cost. Wireless carriers are very generous with the prices they charge for handsets when their actual cost is taken into consideration.

Often what the consumer wants is not feasable.
It would be great if you could ge

...
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