Deals that seem too good to be true, but are they?

[John105]

Long story short Apple watch disaster for 11 y.o. Was supposed to use it to track him and for him to call parents, with cell service on Verizon.

Instead, we're getting him a 16 Pro for free. Phone is free. Service is free (add a 4th line for $30/mo and the tier makes it free since wife/me/mom are 3 lines already).

$200 e gift card, what?!

I have screen shots to prove all of the above, but will it actually pan out? My over/under is yes. They want all of the above because, it's really a 36 mo. agreement.

For the phone to be net free, they pay a discount of $27.77/mo over 36 mos. You don't keep it 36 mos, you don't get $27.77 x 36 = seems to be $999.72, where's the other 27 cents? I guess it's not free, it's 27 cents. lol

Headed to the store to get it now... if all goes well, kid never sees this phone. His watch number shares with it and I can use it to video him playing hockey (my phone is full)

edit...right on the receipt, it has the link to claim the $200 egift card and shows the promo This is a joke, right? lol

 

[dishdude]

Just like you said, they want the additional line and 36 month commitment. The providers are chasing subscriber numbers.

 

[Ausfahrt]

We are one of only a couple of countries where you don't buy a phone and then shop for a service provider, you buy a package.

There are ways around this but the service providers make it as troublesome as they can.

 

[dogememe]

Yes, Verizon kept offering me this now that my iPhone 13 is paid off. Instead I switched to Mint Mobile for $15/month for a year. Instead of spending $90/month at Verizon.

If I need a new phone in a year when my Mint is up for renewal I’ll go back to Verizon and get another “free” phone… but in the mean time, I’ll enjoy my $75/mo savings.

 

[97prizm]

We are one of only a couple of countries where you don't buy a phone and then shop for a service provider, you buy a package.

There are ways around this but the service providers make it as troublesome as they can.

My gripe is that they should reward you for the longer you stay with them. Instead there's always a deal for new subscribers

 

[alarmguy]

Nothing is free, it’s in the price we pay, with a few exceptions

 

[maduroman]

If you don't fulfill the 36 month agreement there could be penalties, read the fine print

 

[andrew_j]

The “free” phone commits you to 3 years on their service at their top tier rates, you can’t switch without a slew of penalties.

 

[John105]

The “free” phone commits you to 3 years on their service at their top tier rates, you can’t switch without a slew of penalties.

Doesn’t seem to be the case. 36 mos yes. But we added a $30 plan and as the 4th line, the overall bill didn’t change as per the preview of the next bill. All 3 other lines dropped in price so it’s net $0.

Again, I see the catch as every month $27.77 charge, and $27.77 credit. After 1 month, if cancelled, $999 - $27.77 is owed. After 2 mos, $999 - 2x$27.77 is owed. Until 36 mos has passed nothing is owed.

Dunno what is meant by top tier rates. All discounts still apply.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

I just did this with Verizon. Four unlimited lines, 30 bucks a month each. Got a Samsung S25+ on each line with trade in of a worthless S10 for free ($27.77 credit each month). Not a new customer.

Considering the phone credit, each line costs me $2.23 a month plus de minimis taxes and fees (about 5 bucks a line). Plus I get a big break on 5G home internet. Considering the old plans I had, I added new phones and high tier home internet and saved about $40 a month over my previous Verizon plans.

In order to get this rate, I stacked auto pay and military discounts. For me, there is no downside, especially since my wife insists on Verizon based upon her coverage experience.

 

[John105]

I just did this with Verizon. Four unlimited lines, 30 bucks a month each. Got a Samsung S25+ on each line with trade in of a worthless S10 for free ($27.77 credit each month). Not a new customer.

Considering the phone credit, each line costs me $2.23 a month plus de minimis taxes and fees (about 5 bucks a line). Plus I get a big break on 5G home internet. Considering the old plans I had, I added new phones and high tier home internet and saved about $40 a month over my previous Verizon plans.

In order to get this rate, I stacked auto pay and military discounts. For me, there is no downside, especially since my wife insists on Verizon based upon her coverage experience.

Exactly, the downside is if you genuinely want to switch, there are strings. But if you didn’t, you’re getting a free phone and free service.

 

[alarmguy]

We are one of only a couple of countries where you don't buy a phone and then shop for a service provider, you buy a package.

There are ways around this but the service providers make it as troublesome as they can.

I Agree 100% however as a consumer there are many choices but many people do not bother. I hate to say it but many of us, Americans are to lazy to learn and do things for ourselves. Not only that but they are goobled up by marketing bait and switch and what is called "FREE" yet is far from free.

Anyone can buy a phone direct for example Apple or any of the others not just them. Then go to US Mobile and buy service from ATT, Verizon or T-Mobile. Same thing with Red Pocket. These sites also sometimes offer discounted phones but you cant get "free" because they dont inflate the price of cell service to pay for the "free" phone.

I know what you are saying. In much of Asia people buy their own phones and many just buy monthly data plans and use third party apps to text and talk.

 

[alarmguy]

I just did this with Verizon. Four unlimited lines, 30 bucks a month each. Got a Samsung S25+ on each line with trade in of a worthless S10 for free ($27.77 credit each month). Not a new customer.

Considering the phone credit, each line costs me $2.23 a month plus de minimis taxes and fees (about 5 bucks a line). Plus I get a big break on 5G home internet. Considering the old plans I had, I added new phones and high tier home internet and saved about $40 a month over my previous Verizon plans.

In order to get this rate, I stacked auto pay and military discounts. For me, there is no downside, especially since my wife insists on Verizon based upon her coverage experience.

SO you laid out $4000 for the phones and will get $27.77 a month x 4 for 36 months. Then also have to maintain their premium cell service? At least that is what is showing on their website. Plus taxes and fees
or you got a great deal some other way. Maybe as a customer. Just asking in case something was missed in your post. Knowing after you get for first two bills what the total payment is per month would be great to know.

Anyway, the S25 is an awesome phone and they also have the Pixel 10 and Iphone 16 available. Though for the iPhone it would pay to wait for the 17
https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/

Ps if I switch to Verizon I have to pay a min of $70 a line plus taxes and fees for anything "free" Currently I pay $17.50 (seventeen dollars and 50 cents) if I upgrade to unlimited it goes to $25 per line including taxes and fees depending on the plan. SO I buy my own phones. Not saying your plan is bad, We did one with T-Mobile 3 years ago but that plan expired in 2 years and never offered again so we went back to MVNO's which we used for a decade or more.
At the time two "free" iPhones 13s cost us an extra $480 over the two year period, taking into account we gave them our old iPhones one an 11 and the other an X the higher cost of the plan was that $480 extra for both lines over two years so was certainly worth getting the $1,600 phones by giving in the old ones. Once I was done with the two years I got the unlock code very easy through TMobile site and switched to US mobile.
wife still likes her iPhone 13. I Bought a "new" iPhone 15plus direct from Apple and sent them my old iPhone 13 for $250 6 months ago.

 

[IndyIan]

Exactly, the downside is if you genuinely want to switch, there are strings. But if you didn’t, you’re getting a free phone and free service.

You own the phone at the end too? I guess enjoy it while you can!
There will be some accountants analyzing all the numbers and it will probably disappear soon if the company finds too many people get something for nothing.

We were getting premium grocery store points card discounts at their "No Frills" cheap price grocery store chain, but someone must've run the numbers and realized that a careful No Frills shopper was losing them money.... We are paying ~25% less at those stores, and then getting ~10% off that with points...

What you does your family spend overall for all the services and devices?
There maybe competitors that are offering cheaper deals and your provider is matching them, so even if you do shop around, they are competitive?

 

[John105]

SO you laid out $4000 for the phones and will get $27.77 a month x 4 for 36 months. Then also have to maintain their premium cell service? At least that is what is showing on their website. Plus taxes and fees
or you got a great deal some other way. Maybe as a customer. Just asking in case something was missed in your post. Knowing after you get for first two bills what the total payment is per month would be great to know.

Anyway, the S25 is an awesome phone and they also have the Pixel 10 and Iphone 16 available. Though for the iPhone it would pay to wait for the 17
https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/

Ps if I switch to Verizon I have to pay a min of $70 a line plus taxes and fees for anything "free" Currently I pay $17.50 (seventeen dollars and 50 cents) if I upgrade to unlimited it goes to $25 per line including taxes and fees depending on the plan. SO I buy my own phones. Not saying your plan is bad, We did one with T-Mobile 3 years ago but that plan expired in 2 years and never offered again so we went back to MVNO's which we used for a decade or more.
At the time two "free" iPhones 13s cost us an extra $480 over the two year period, taking into account we gave them our old iPhones one an 11 and the other an X the higher cost of the plan was that $480 extra for both lines over two years so was certainly worth getting the $1,600 phones by giving in the old ones. Once I was done with the two years I got the unlock code very easy through TMobile site and switched to US mobile.
wife still likes her iPhone 13. I Bought a "new" iPhone 15plus direct from Apple and sent them my old iPhone 13 for $250 6 months ago.

$70 a line? There is no point in debating here when the debate should be with the carrier so the effort results in savings.

We just got an iPhone 16 pro for free. $27.77/mo for 36 mos, $27.77/mo credit. Net free.

The 5G plan is $30/mo. But, being the fourth line, the other 3 lines came down 3x$10. It’s not net free in reality as there is a $7 surcharge and tax. This is the rental car at the airport conundrum.

We got a $200 e gift card.

Imho it can be fact checked with verizon, but why waste time unless this sounds like an attractive deal? It falls apart if one isn’t going to stay 36 mos with verizon.

To say it’s a $70 premium plan simply is not true and not based on fact. Why are you saying this?

I dunno I kinda feel like Obama and his birth certificate. Maybe I’ll post the invoice if I end up feeling compelled at some point. The 5G welcome plan is $30. It’s not $70.

Edit OK you twisted my arm. Now I coulda photochopped this but now it’d be getting far fetched. It’s from the app and on the free 16 pro

Here’s the most expensive plan. It’s $45 net because we have >= 4 lines. Full price is $55.

 

[javacontour]

We are one of only a couple of countries where you don't buy a phone and then shop for a service provider, you buy a package.

There are ways around this but the service providers make it as troublesome as they can.

It's easy.

Apple sells unlocked phones. You buy one there.

You can go to AT&T, Boost, T-Mobile or Verizon if you want carriers who run at least some of their network.

There are also MVNO options like US Mobile, Red Pocket, Tello, Mint, Visible and Cricket to name a few.

Some are on their own. Others are flanker brands owned by AT&T, TMO and VZN.

I buy phones from Apple and service from Boost, US Mobile and Tello.

I've also used AT&T, Mint and Red Pocket in the past.

Right now, US Mobile is my darling. They offer plans on ATT, TMO and VZN networks.

If you want my referral link, PM me. I don't think I'm supposed to post it outright. I don't want to spam the forums.

I buy a flagship phone every year. I'll order oilBabe's upgrade in a week or two when the new iPhone 17 series drops. Her iPhone 15 Pro Max will go to my MIL and I'll sell her 13 Pro Max or use it as an extra phone.

With eSIMs, it's not that hard today. No real reason to step into a cell phone provider store.

I just pick up my new device at the Apple store and continue on with life. No sitting in an AT&T or other store waiting for a representative and hoping they don't slip things into the deal.

I just buy a phone and then buy service.

The phones maintain enough value that my iPhone 16 Pro will probably end up costing me $1/day after two years of use given the resale value.

Just buy your phone outright and call it a day.

 

[John105]

You own the phone at the end too? I guess enjoy it while you can!
There will be some accountants analyzing all the numbers and it will probably disappear soon if the company finds too many people get something for nothing.

We were getting premium grocery store points card discounts at their "No Frills" cheap price grocery store chain, but someone must've run the numbers and realized that a careful No Frills shopper was losing them money.... We are paying ~25% less at those stores, and then getting ~10% off that with points...

What you does your family spend overall for all the services and devices?
There maybe competitors that are offering cheaper deals and your provider is matching them, so even if you do shop around, they are competitive?

No trade if that’s what you mean. That seems to be true when the line is a new line.

Trade seems to come into play when upgrading an existing line.

Truth be told I’d rather just be given a phone like at my last employer. Current is byod

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

SO you laid out $4000 for the phones and will get $27.77 a month x 4 for 36 months. Then also have to maintain their premium cell service?

Nope. Total out of pocket was sales tax on the phones and a relatively minor switch fee. Different than when I got the S10 where I paid for the phones, then got credited monthly.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Just buy your phone outright and call it a day.

Yup.

My wife didn't secure her brand new iPhone two years ago and it flew out while she was riding an amusement park ride. We bought a new iPhone a few days later and so it goes.

But we pay $55 per month for both of us for service so I don't mind buying our phones. I still chuckle
every time I see these pics.

 

[John105]

Nope. Total out of pocket was sales tax on the phones and a relatively minor switch fee. Different than when I got the S10 where I paid for the phones, then got credited monthly.

Where’s the notion of maintaining $70 premium service coming from . $30/mo is entry level and $55/mo is premium.

Anyone can pay or not pay what they want or do not want. Was just sharing what worked for us. Free 16 pro. Free entry level service. $200 e gift card. Seemed too good to be true, but was not.