Contracts
 

I'm just curious for those of you that buy a phone and sign a contract for X amount of years. What are the benefits of doing this? Seems like the salesperson I talked to really wanted me to sign for a contract, I'm guessing they get more money for doing it. Am I missing out on something for buying the phone outright?

EDIT: Forgot to mention, he had said that if I sign on for a 1-3 year term, I can 'lock' the rate in. Do rates (long distance, roaming) fluctuate that much where people sign to lock them down? Or can rates go down, and you get stuck with your rates you signed at?

Only real benefit to signing a contract is the subsidized price on a new phone.

Nowadays the customer loyalty rarely matters as new customers are getting deals that current customers that have been with that company for many years aren't able to get.

Say no to contracts.. once you get suckered in, your done for... what if few months down the road, you find the provider not up to par. like CSRs are dumb as shit or the network is crapping out. what will you do? you cant just up and leave, your stuck and have to endure it.

as Ch28 says, cheaper phones are the only real benefits.

just say no to contracts, its stupid, and ur locked in with them for how ever long.
u cannot negotiate pricing with CSR when ur on contract cause they know no matter what, u wont be able to leave and they wont give u a good discount
u cannot leave the network if u dont like it due to crappy services and dropped calls, they wont do jack cause u'll be stuck with them for how ever long

and no i dont believe they can charge u more for ur monthly plan out of no where.
so the only good to a contract is cheaper phones.

I would avoid contracts.
I've switched providers 3 times since May cause I'm not on a contract and keep finding cheaper rates LOL

Instead of paying $500 for a phone now, you pay $200 + 500 over the course of 3 years. SMRT.