Cingular 8525 Available for $199 (after Rebate)?

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=424034' target='_blank'>http://forums.slickdeals.net/showth...ad.php?t=424034</a><br /><br /></div>Looks like Amazon's selling the 8525 now, and as usual, with a huge discount. SlickDeals has a forum post about how you can not only get the Amazon discounted price, but can also apply an additional $50 Cingular rebate to get the price down to $199 (or is it $189 based on this screenshot? 8O).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20070118-Amazon8525.png" /><br /><br />If you don't have a Cingular service plan yet and was looking at this phone, now might be the time to jump. :D Hit the link above for more details from SlickDeals. Note that the Cingular rebate expires on January 20, so start planning soon. ;)

[fwellers]

I just paid $599 without a contract. I was told that I was paying about 200 more than someone who can update to a new 2 year contract.
But this $239 for new customers ?
What am I a FOOL ?

Maybe I should turn it back in, and go find another similar phone from another provider and switch off of cingular.

I feel like a fool for being a loyal cingular customer.
: :oops: :cry: :evil:

[Janak Parekh]

I just paid $599 without a contract. I was told that I was paying about 200 more than someone who can update to a new 2 year contract.
That's correct, from Cingular's pricing standpoint. Amazon offers discounts above-and-beyond Cingular. You really can't blame Cingular for that; I think Amazon is eating the cost difference (which they make up, at least partially, from the phone subsidy) to get business.

Maybe I should turn it back in, and go find another similar phone from another provider and switch off of cingular.
Well, keep in mind no other US carrier has this phone. ;) If you can cancel Cingular, that means your contract is up, right? Why would you buy the phone without a contract?

--janak

[fwellers]

Yes, my contract is up. I bought the phone out of contract because I wanted a new phone and didn't want to wait another year. I like the phone, and I didn't mind paying $200 extra to buy it out of contract. But now that I find out I really paid about $360 extra makes me feel like crap.

Are these amazon phones the real deal ? Or is there possibly a gray market on phones ? Do the amazon phones have the full warranty etc.. ?

I'm pissed because all I've been seeing about the latest crop of pc phones and smart phones, they all seem to cost around $500 to $600 from buying from the store. I had no idea you can get them so much cheaper elsewhere.
Plus, I feel disgusted that instead of being rewarded for my loyalty to cingular, they stab me in the ass by charging me so much more for a phone than they'll sell it to a complete stranger for.

I know they all do that, and I think it's disgusting.
I'm going to write a letter to cingular, and from now on, I'm going to flit around from carrier to carrier just to get the best deal on a phone. If that's what they reward, then that's what I'll do.

Man I'm pissed.

[SteveHoward999]

I'm pissed because all I've been seeing about the latest crop of pc phones and smart phones, they all seem to cost around $500 to $600 from buying from the store. I had no idea you can get them so much cheaper elsewhere.


That's why I buy my phones from eBay. I bought a Nokia E62 for $140, when the Nokia price is about $400 - $450. I could have got the same phone for $0 - $100 from Cingular, but this way I am free to do what I want.

Early last year I bought a Nokia 6682 for a similar price - $130. At the time the 'going rate' was $300 or more for a new 6682. I think the Cingular deal was around $200.

Obviously remember Buyer Beware, but there are great bargains to be had on eBay if you do your research and take your time to spy out the real deals and the scams.

[Janak Parekh]

Yes, my contract is up. I bought the phone out of contract because I wanted a new phone and didn't want to wait another year. I like the phone, and I didn't mind paying $200 extra to buy it out of contract. But now that I find out I really paid about $360 extra makes me feel like crap.
8O I don't understand. If your contract with Cingular is up, and you want to stay with them, you sign a new contract and buy the phone at the subsidized price. Unless you have specific reasons for avoiding the contract, why would you want to buy the phone at full price? Methinks something is very wrong here.

Are these amazon phones the real deal ? Or is there possibly a gray market on phones ? Do the amazon phones have the full warranty etc.. ?
It's completely legit. The original prices are the same; Amazon is discounting it themselves.

--janak

[packetstorm]

I just paid $599 without a contract. I was told that I was paying about 200 more than someone who can update to a new 2 year contract.
But this $239 for new customers ?
What am I a FOOL ?

Maybe I should turn it back in, and go find another similar phone from another provider and switch off of cingular.

I feel like a fool for being a loyal cingular customer.
: :oops: :cry: :evil:

Considering they are only offering this like for 2 days, I wouldn't sweat it. I bought the Orange SPV M3100 (HTC TyTN) unlocked for about the same price which is the same phone as the 8525 but with the video camera "enabled" in the front. I wanted to be able to do video calls with friends while I travel back in forth to Europe consulting. It pisses me off when manufacturers (Cingular now AT&amp;T or whoever) remove features in phones that manufacturers have put there for a reason. I wanted this phone unlocked and unneutered so I could use a Cingular SIM card while in the states and a Vodafone or Orange SIM card while in Europe for video calls.

You are not alone so cheer up 8)

[fwellers]

I don't understand. If your contract with Cingular is up, and you want to stay with them, you sign a new contract and buy the phone at the subsidized price. Unless you have specific reasons for avoiding the contract, why would you want to buy the phone at full price? Methinks something is very wrong here.

What I mean is that I bought a phone less than 2 years ago, so I am unable to do an update. I guess that means my contract is NOT up.

[fwellers]

You are not alone so cheer up

Thanks. I guess Misery loves company. :lol:

[Janak Parekh]

What I mean is that I bought a phone less than 2 years ago, so I am unable to do an update. I guess that means my contract is NOT up.
Ah, yes, that's correct. You probably couldn't use Amazon's promotion either, then, unless you were to terminate your current contract (and pay the termination fee) and sign up for a new contract -- and you'd lose your phone # as well.

And, I hate to say it, but this is the way all of the carriers in the US are. They offer promos to new and renewing customers, specifically to lock you in.

--janak