CellStudent said:


Cost of buying a smartphone unsubsidized: $400 more than getting a subsidy. AND you are GUARANTEED that you will have to pay the extra $400 for the phone.

Cost of jumping ship after buying a subsidized smartphone: $350 maximum, but with the sliding scale ETF, it could be way under $250 after only a short portion of the contract.

And the cost of monthly service is the same.

The carriers have concocted an environment where it is actually cheaper to have a contract than not have one, even if you decide to jump ship 1/2 way through each 2 year term.

This is why it is idiotic when people on here clamor for no contracts; they really don't understand that its the same either way, you either definitely pay the subsidy up front, or maybe pay the subsidy (ETF) later.