Home  ›  Carriers  ›

AT&T

Info & Phones News Forum  

all discussions

show all 52 replies

Amazon Phone Prices, yet another example of Cingular' overpricing of equipment!

moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 1:35 PM
FYI Amazon is selling Moto phones w/o contract for less than 2 year agreement price with cingular ($150.00 mail in rebate).
...
deltasigmatheta

Dec 14, 2004, 2:03 PM
What about NOKIA?
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 2:24 PM
Are you done? Authorized agents such as amazon or radioshack can sell at whatever they want.

But just so you know, Amazon is THE WORST place to buy a cell phone from.

This topic is as old as dirt.
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 2:35 PM
Great we have your opinion of these companies.

"Authorized agents such as amazon or radioshack can sell at whatever they want."

exactly so why does Cingular insist on charging more, with a two year contract, than they will still it for outright!

Last time I looked all they do is send me a phone I'll stick my SIM into and I'm off and running. Seems like a seamless transition to me?

"This topic is as old as dirt." so if something is "old" we cannot talk about it?

I'll never bring it up again, I'll tell everyone to pay more and to buy it directly from Cingular!
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 2:45 PM
Yeah... you'll show them... 🙄
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 3:05 PM
Why does cingular sell at a specific price? ask the corporate office.

And just becuase it's old doesn't mean you can't talk about it, it's just that you keep bringing it up, and no one cares.

Tell them what you want...I told you to say nothing.
...
bizkitsngravy

Dec 14, 2004, 3:39 PM
Well, if I may interject, there is a logical reason.

Though liscensed to sell cingular's (or any other) carriers products and services', they are still not owned by the carrier. The inventory is theirs, the store, the company, the people working for it, etc...The only thing carriers can govern from those indirect resellers/authorized agents, etc...is their terms and conditions.

Being as how the indirect dealer is not part of cingular, but they sell cingular products, they are in actuality a business competing against cingular corporate. Now, their pay/compensation structure is a bit different than any carrier's direct retail agents which normally are hourly employees, and receive an "at-risk" commission. Dealers often times are commi...
(continues)
...
deltasigmatheta

Dec 15, 2004, 12:48 AM
You don't have to post on the subject.
...
AGENT DEBIT

Dec 14, 2004, 4:51 PM
WHETHER ANYONE WANTS TO BELIVE IT OR NOT WIRELESS COMPANIES DO NOT MAKE A ****ING PENNY FROM A PHONE.THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS THE MANUFACTURERS SELL THE PHONES WHETHER ITS A A CARRIER OR A CUSTOMERS AT THEIR MSRP, THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE,THEY DON'T GIVE BREAKS TO CARRIERS,THEY SELL THOSE TO MAKEMONEY, CARRIERS SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT HOWMUCH THEY AFFORD TO LOSE ON A PHONE BASED ON SIMPLE MATH= LENGTH OF CONTRACT X AMOUNT OF MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGE FOR A PLAN = THE DISCOUNT FOR A PHONE, NOW WITH BEING SAID

AUTHORIZED DEALERS LIKE RADIOSHACK, INPHONIC.COM, AMAZON, AMONG COUNTLESS OTHERS BUY THOSE PHONES FOR THE SAME MSRP, BUT THEY MAKE A COMISSION OF THAT PHONE TO THE CARRIER YOU ARE GETTING IT FOR THE COMISSION GENERALLY R...
(continues)
...
deltasigmatheta

Dec 15, 2004, 12:52 AM
Rant!
...
Vox Dei

Dec 15, 2004, 4:10 PM
Did anyone bother reading this? All caps and very long. way to tough to read and way too much effort. Of course this post is just as meaningless so who am i to talk?
...
jwbass1985

Dec 15, 2004, 9:19 AM
It depends on what phone your'e buying. Amazon may have a buttload of them and need to get them gone.
...
BetterThanJake

Dec 14, 2004, 3:29 PM
JessiCSR said:
But just so you know, Amazon is THE WORST place to buy a cell phone from.

Why is that? Does it have anything to do with it being inconvenient to have the phone serviced if anything goes wrong?
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 3:32 PM
"Why is that? Does it have anything to do with it being inconvenient to have the phone serviced if anything goes wrong?"


hello, last time I looked I now have to mail off my phone to cingular for repairs!!!
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 3:37 PM
Ok upon review, Rebates require 1 year agreement..... But for $519 I can buy a Razor w/o contract. Cingular gives $19 off to sign a two year agreement! What a bargain!!!

Tell me again why I would buy from Cingular.

I know so I can buy Insurance, no wait, They will not insure this model!
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 3:40 PM
Razr is $499.99 Online w/ 2 yr contract
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 3:44 PM
My bad, not to strong with the math!

Cingular gives you 19.01 off to sign a two year deal!!!
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 3:50 PM
Why are you so angry about this?

You act as if we're the only carrier that keeps high-end phones at a high-end price...

I mean... Do you actually yell @ Wal-Mart because they're asking $14 for a mouse you can buy @ pricewatch.com for $5?
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 4:01 PM
You missed the POINT $20.00 off for two year commitment is weak.
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 4:04 PM
But it's 100.00 off...I'm looking at it on the cingular website right now.

You're crazy.
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 4:05 PM
just to add...I'm looking in our pricing system for stores, telesales and online...

it's 499.99 with a two year agreement. 599.99 w/o and agreement.
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 4:11 PM
JessiCSR said:
just to add...I'm looking in our pricing system for stores, telesales and online...

it's 499.99 with a two year agreement. 599.99 w/o and agreement.

Exactly I can buy w/o contract from Amazon for $519.99! 19.01 more than Cingular with a two year agreement.
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 4:23 PM
YOU'RE the one that's missing the point... It's $100 off of the retail price WE offer...

Amazon starts at a different pricing... and that is Amazon's pricing...

We don't pricematch so if you find a better deal then go with it... We do plan to make profit regardless if you think it's "weak"... Once again, I reiterate... We're not the only carrier that wants to make a profit...

On a sidenote... What about the other phones in our 20+ lineup? Some go for free and some are HUGELY discounted than anything else you'd find online... You're only beef is that the Razr V3 is too expensive for your taste...

Tell a BMW dealership it's weak that they sell the Z8 for $80,000+ when you can get it at a police auction for less... Let me know wh...
(continues)
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 4:40 PM
just so you know there is a difference between being cheap and being informed....Not everyone can buy at police auction, everyone can buy a Razor for 20 more without a contract.....

I give cingular two years of my cellphone life, they should give me more than $20 bucks off...

I pay $159.98 + per month, ruffly $4,000 for cell service over 2 years. The best they'll do is $20 off what I can go out and buy it for on the internet!

How do they stay in business giving the farm away!!!!!!
...
ralph_on_me

Dec 14, 2004, 4:49 PM
If Motorola could give Cingular the phones at a lower price that would be a more likely possibility. I know they mark up the phones when they sell them to agents to sell at their stores, how much is unknown. I do know how much we pay for every phone we get from Cingular and how much we charge to sell them. Every single phone I sell on a one or a two year contract I lose money on. Cingular pays me the difference, but without them I wouldn't let a phone leave my store without a $50 mark up. Yes, I'm sure Cingular marks up the price from what they get it for and what agents pay for it, but the cost of phones also lies on the manufacturers. I honestly wish every person would buy their phone directly, so I could be paid for selling service ...
(continues)
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 4:52 PM
What you THINK you deserve is irrelevant... And it has nothing to do w/ being informed... If you found it for a better deal... Then go with it... I can't say that enough...

You are under no means obligated to buy the phone from Cingular... If you don't like the discount then don't buy it from Cingular... Simple as that...

You didn't like the police auction analogy? How about this...

Do you call dell and complain that they're computers aren't discounted enough because you can build yourself a computer for less $$?

It's the barter's way... Find it cheaper elsewhere... Buy it... But by no means piss and moan because it's cheaper elsewhere... Pat yourself on the back for finding a better deal.

And to sit there and use the rate pla...
(continues)
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 5:04 PM
"Do you call dell and complain that they're computers aren't discounted enough because you can build yourself a computer for less $$?"

As a matter of fact, the last Dell I bought I did call and got them to lower the price of a laptop I was looking at!!

I pay for service all day long, just don't Cingular does a good job pricing equipment.

Are they not better off getting people to buy web and camera phones? They charge extra to use them, AKA make more money, why not deeply discount to get customers hooked.

Toyota and Honda's now come with xm /Sirus, ask anyone who's sampled service (free first 3 months)they get hooked and gladly shell out 12.99 monthly for service. The subsidise equipment to get subscribers.

Tivo is another ...
(continues)
...
ralph_on_me

Dec 14, 2004, 5:15 PM
The cost of phones falls on the manufacturers, not the service providers. Cingular doesn't make a single phone they sell, but they do give it to you below cost with a contract.
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 5:15 PM
This is hopeless isn't it?

It's like trying to convert a heathen... So i'll end it with think what you may... It is what it is... I grow weary of this discussion. 😎

Let me know how your Amazon purchasing experience goes.
...
JDigital

Dec 14, 2004, 5:22 PM
The sad thing is that a moron like this will never understand what he is giving up by buying from a faceless online third party dealer. If he has a problem or needs to make a return he will bitch and complain about the lack of customer service he receives from Amazon too. I get people like this in my store too... they are completely driven by price alone, and cannot understand the value and convenience of personal service. Like somebody else said, let him buy it at Amazon. I don't know why he bothers to get on here and berate the carrier. He obviously is convinced that everybody is out to cheat him and gouge him. It must be exhausting to be such a paranoid a$$.
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 5:34 PM
or another scenario is...

He'll purchase the phone @ Amazon, maybe the order itself goes well... maybe it doesn't... He has problems w/ it and will want Cingular to fix it... We tell him we can't since he bought it from Amazon... So he'll threaten to cancel and ship his phones back... Two months down the road he'll get a bill w/ Early Termination Fees on it, call in and dispute, piss and moan... escalate... say he returned the phone to Amazon... We'll advise him Amazon has not informed us of this... So of course he'll blame Cingular for his inconvenience and say we should track down the phone for him through amazon... blah blah blah... It's Cingular's fault... blah blah blah... still Cingular's fault.... Then he'll use the highly reasona...
(continues)
...
jinx7676

Dec 14, 2004, 6:33 PM
moneyb said:
"Do you call dell and complain that they're computers aren't discounted enough because you can build yourself a computer for less $$?"

As a matter of fact, the last Dell I bought I did call and got them to lower the price of a laptop I was looking at!!

I pay for service all day long, just don't Cingular does a good job pricing equipment.

Are they not better off getting people to buy web and camera phones? They charge extra to use them, AKA make more money, why not deeply discount to get customers hooked.

If you only knew how much money wireless companies ACTUALLY make off each customer, you'd think differently.
Toyota and Honda's now come with xm /Sirus, ask anyone who's sampled service (free
...
(continues)
...
jinx7676

Dec 14, 2004, 6:35 PM
Don't know why my post didn't show up under the quote, but here's another try...

If you really knew how little money Wireless companies ACTUALLY make off a user per month, you'd think differently
...
megs72979

Dec 14, 2004, 6:36 PM
moneyb, you are just cheap cheap cheap.
seriously, why even post one here when you have to know that most of us work in the industry unless you want people to tell you you are WRONG.
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 6:39 PM
His name certainly indicates his hunger for money..
...
MightyJoeYoung

Dec 14, 2004, 6:45 PM
moneyb said:
JessiCSR said:
just to add...I'm looking in our pricing system for stores, telesales and online...

it's 499.99 with a two year agreement. 599.99 w/o and agreement.

Exactly I can buy w/o contract from Amazon for $519.99! 19.01 more than Cingular with a two year agreement.



Errr.... No you can't. The phone is 599.99 from Amazon.com with NO contract. The phone will cost you 519.99 on either a 1 year OR a 2 year contract. Why would you come in here claiming that? It's not true. Anyone who can type "amazon.com" can find out that you are wrong. 🙄
So.... I guess Cingular isn't "ripping off" anyone at all.
...
Bigbmc26

Dec 14, 2004, 6:47 PM
that's what i just said 🙂
...
MightyJoeYoung

Dec 14, 2004, 6:54 PM
lol... i was typing when you posted it...
...
megs72979

Dec 14, 2004, 6:51 PM
19.01 more?? even so, i'd spend 20 dollars more to have a real live person sell me a phone, activate it, and be there to support me when i need it on my phone with issues.
When you are spending that kind of money, i'd spend a little more to make sure i was getting what i paid for.
besides, what if you have warranty issues with the phone, one of the reps i work with had to send his back to motorola, and mine isn't holding a charge like it should. you think cingular is going to support a phone that you didn't buy from us?? Honestly, please leave cingular, if you came into my store i'd have to laugh at you.
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 6:52 PM
Wow....what an idiot.


You notice he's stopped posting? 🤣
...
BetterThanJake

Dec 14, 2004, 8:47 PM
JessiCSR said:
Wow....what an idiot.

You notice he's stopped posting? 🤣

Not trying to defend that guy (since he seemed pretty shrill) but when I went to Amazon there seemed to be a $150 mail-in rebate on that phone, making it $369 through Amazon with a plan:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006I ... »

If Cingular has a similar rebate, or someone else already mentioned this, then never mind, my bad. I don't come to this forum often.
...
JessiCSR

Dec 14, 2004, 9:14 PM
Oh that's fine...he's just admant about the 519.99 price without the rebate and with a cotnract..our price is cheaper than teh 519.99...if there is a rebate online at amazon...I luagh at him if he thinks it's going to work...I've heard so many horror stories about Amazon.com's rebates.
...
moneyb

Dec 14, 2004, 10:24 PM
Sorry about the 519 price confusion, I was using a coupon code link from techbargins.com.

With Code price was 519, so I can see why the confusion....(expired today)

You smacked at me for not replying, funny thing is I was sitting on press row at a college b-ball game as a guest of cingular rep doing promo.......
...
AGENT DEBIT

Dec 14, 2004, 10:41 PM
Did anypne read the actual info for that offer for the RAZR, you have to order by DEC 15,2004,tomoroow, and there is a Rebate, but open the rebate and see it really closely, the 80.00 off is with a minimum 1 year contract.

The 150.00 rebate states that you HAVE to sign for a minimum 1 year contract and your service has to be active for at least 180 days to get the rebate, so guess what, that $150.00 you don't see till after 6 months,and with NEW ACTIVATIONS not for existing customers,plus new customers cannot have that service turned off for any reason during that 180 days, so no lost/stolen, temporary suspoensions or even suspension for non payment on the service.

That deals is good, if you have no interuptions and are a new customer ...
(continues)
...
JessiCSR

Dec 15, 2004, 12:39 PM
Yeah....we all knew that already. Read the thread.
...
speck

Dec 14, 2004, 7:27 PM
That's beautiful... i couldn't verify the pricing as much as I wanted to behind this proxy so I gave him the benefit of the doubt... But this recent discovery put such a smile on my face... 😎
...
Bigbmc26

Dec 14, 2004, 6:41 PM
it's $599.99 on amazon as well, you have to have a sevice plan to the $519.99. it says it right beside it, what are you looking at moneyb?
...
BetterThanJake

Dec 14, 2004, 4:06 PM
Hey, I'm just asking for reasons why. Don't flip out, ace 😉
...
MightyJoeYoung

Dec 14, 2004, 3:18 PM
Really? No contract? Less than a 2 year contract price???? BOLOGNA! 🙄
...
Rich Brome

Dec 14, 2004, 3:44 PM
Really? Without contract? Do you have an example?

That's common for phones with contract, because of the commission structure. When you buy from most places, including a company store, someone usually gets a nice big commission when you sign a contract (more than $100 in many cases).

But with a place like Amazon, there's no salesperson, plus they have everything super-streamlined and automated with razor-thin margins... so they can just pass that commission directly to you in rebate form.
...
Bigbmc26

Dec 14, 2004, 6:49 PM
...
AGENT DEBIT

Dec 14, 2004, 10:47 PM
This is the link for the rebate, read in the middle of the page as to minimum 1 year contract and how it has to activated for at least 180 days, so yeah you want to wait 6 months before you get processed, and yeah any suspension of your service for ANY reason means you lose out

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006I2E1O.01.RB32 ... »
...
joef3

Dec 15, 2004, 3:40 PM
the 150 dollar rebate says right there

rule #1: "Purchase any of the above listed products with a one year service agreement"


rule #3 (note: this rebate does not apply
to phone purchases for use on an existing phone number")


Now, as far as I know, a service agreement is just a fancy name for a contract. And rule #3 makes it sound like you can't do an upgrade.

So the original post: "
"FYI Amazon is selling Moto phones w/o contract for less than 2 year agreement price with cingular ($150.00 mail in rebate). "

Is dead wrong. Thanks for wasting everyone's time.
...

You must log in to reply.

Please log in to report a message to the moderator.


all discussions

Subscribe to Phone Scoop News with RSS Follow @phonescoop on BlueSky Follow @phonescoop on Mastodon Follow @phonescoop on Threads Phone Scoop on Facebook

 

Playwire

All content Copyright 2001-2025 Phone Factor, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Content on this site may not be copied or republished without formal permission.