When shopping for a phone, no one wants to get into a deal they hate. In my opinion, there is not much education on the internet that reveals the proper ways to go about getting a phone. Today, I have put together four different Factors that you should look into as the consumer when you are going to shop for these devices.
The four factors are PHONE FUNCTIONALITY, SERVICE PLAN, COMPETITION, AND CONTRACT!
Now let’s start with the first one!
Phone functionality
In today’s time, most phone offer more than just calling, internet surfing, and multi-media messaging. One question that you must ask yourself when shopping is, will you need all of these features? How much can you save by skipping some of them?
Service Plans
This in my opinion is the most important when it comes to saving money. When searching for a plan you must be very greedy. Only get the plan that will give you the bare minimum of your needs. As of 2017, there are so many apps and free services being offered to help you get anything your heart desires. Once you get the phone, you can always download the free apps. In addition, the salesperson’s job is to gt you into the door with a low price and overtime raise it without you knowing, in my opinion.
Competition
Just like any product or service, do not buy from the first salesman you come by. I would recommend that you get several quotes from different providers and compare them on your spare time. While some associate may not be able to price-match against a competitor, it never hurts to ask the manager if price-matching is available.
Contracts
Most phone consumers do not realize that most contracts are negotiable. They simply just go with what the provider tells them. Do not get me wrong, It will take some strong negotiating on your part, however, it is possible to get a three-year contract down to two if you are persistent enough. As a consumer, I would advise you to always go after the shortest contract. Never give yourself away to a slave deal to the provider.
Bonus Tip
Credit
Your credit score can play a valuable role when it comes to shopping for a phone. If your credit score is high enough, you might be able to walk into a store and walk out with the phone with no cash that comes out of pocket.