From Newsgroup: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

*Verizon will give you an iPhone 17 Pro free with trade-in right now*
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/verizon-will-give-you-an-iphone-17-pro-free-with-trade-in-right-now-how-the-deal-works/>

Heh heh heh...

After reading that clickbait, I realized, belatedly, why all the Apple
trolls can't believe that I received my phone for free (other than paying sales tax on the MSRP) where the Apple trolls, for years, insisted there
were hidden costs in the service.

For years, I posted my bill and showed the costs, and yet hte Apple trolls couldn't believe there were no hidden costs to the service plan in some
secret way they couldn't figure out, so the Apple trolls essentially
accused aliens of adding the cost without me knowing it.

Turns out, most of these "free phone" deals do have hidden costs.
Like this "free iPhone 17" offer above!

Here's what you get, apparently:
1. Up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 series,
2. which covers the full cost of the iPhone 17 Pro
3. They don't say it, but I'm sure in tax states you pay based on MSRP
4. which could be about $100 in some states, due in the beginning
5. Available to new and existing Verizon customers
6. Eligible trade-in required,
7. which must be an Apple, Google, Motorola or Samsung phone
8. Any condition is accepted
9.It has to have been active on your account for at least 60 days.

The catch? (Where is Steve when you need him on Verizon's plans!)

a. You must sign up for Verizonos top-tier plan,
b. which costs at least $90/month (plus taxes and fees)
c. and you must sign up to pay with Auto Pay.

The $1,100 credit is spread out over 36 months.
If you cancel or change your plan, the remaining credit disappears.

Note that you need to activate a new line or upgrade an existing one.

So why do the Apple trolls always claim I didn't get my phone for free?
I think the answer is that Apple trolls fall for this kind of crap.

They're too stupid to find a real "free" phone.
So they assume everyone else is as stupid as they are.

Apple trolls forfeit that normal people are nothing like they are.
Normal people can do math.

Even though the phone is 'free' via bill credits, you still pay:
A. $101.66 in sales tax upfront (California)
B. $2,141 over 3 years for the required premium plan

So the real extra cost of that 'free' phone is $2,242.66,
(assuming you wouldn't otherwise choose that top-tier plan, of course).

+------------------------+----------------------+-----------------------------+ | Item | Cost | Notes | +------------------------+----------------------+-----------------------------+ | iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099.00 | Retail price | | Sales Tax (9.25%) | $101.66 | Paid upfront | | Monthly Plan | $90.00 | Unlimited Ultimate | | Line Access Fee | $0.00 | Included in plan | | Monthly Credits | -$30.53 | Over 36 months | | Net Monthly Cost | $59.47 | After credits | | Contract Length | 36 months | Required for full credit | +------------------------+----------------------+-----------------------------+ | Total Plan Cost | $2,141.00 | $59.47 x 36 months | | Total Extra Cost | $2,242.66 | Includes sales tax | +------------------------+----------------------+-----------------------------+

Heh heh heh... free iPhone indeed.
No wonder the Apple trolls can't believe my handful of phones were free.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

Marion wrote:

*Verizon will give you an iPhone 17 Pro free with trade-in right now*
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/verizon-will-give-you-an-iphone-17-pro-free-with-trade-in-right-now-how-the-deal-works/>

Heh heh heh...

After reading that clickbait, I realized, belatedly, why all the Apple trolls can't believe that I received my phone for free (other than paying sales tax on the MSRP) where the Apple trolls, for years, insisted there were hidden costs in the service.

I forgot to add a realistic estimated value for the traded-in phone.
Since it has to be on the line, it's gonna be a relatively recent model.
I assume an average of $450 for that trade-in for the updated table below.

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Item | Cost | Notes
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099.00 | Retail price
| Sales Tax (9.25%) | $101.66 | Paid upfront
| Monthly Plan | $90.00 | Unlimited Ultimate
| Monthly Credits | -$30.53 | Over 36 months
| Net Monthly Cost | $59.47 | After credits
| Contract Length | 36 months | For full credit
| Trade-In Value Lost | $450.00 | Estimated resale value
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Total Plan Cost | $2,141.00 | $59.47 x 36 months
| Total Extra Cost | $2,242.66 | Includes sales tax
| Real Cost w/ Trade-In | $2,692.66 | Includes value of phone
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Verizon's 'free' phone deal actually costs $971 more over 3 years when
you factor in the $90 premium plan and the $45 value of your trade-in.

However, if the person was originally on a $45/month plan and upgraded
to $90/month just to qualify for the "free" iPhone 17 Pro, then the real
extra cost is the difference in plan cost over 36 months, not the full $90/month.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Item | Cost | Notes
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099.00 | Retail price
| Sales Tax (9.25%) | $101.66 | Paid upfront
| Plan Upgrade Cost | $45.00 | $90 - $45 monthly delta
| Net Monthly Cost | $14.47 | $45 upgrade - $30.53 credit
| Contract Length | 36 months | Required for full credit
| Trade-In Value Lost | $450.00 | Estimated resale value
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Total Plan Upgrade | $520.92 | $14.47 x 36 months
| Total Extra Cost | $622.58 | Includes sales tax
| Real Cost w/ Trade-In | $1,072.58 | Includes value of phone
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Instead of counting the full $90/month plan cost, we now only count the
$45/month increase over the original plan.

The monthly net cost becomes $14.47 after subtracting the $30.53 credit.

The total cost drops significantly-from $2,692.66 to $1,072.58-if you
were already paying $45/month and just upgraded for the promo.

On the other hand, buying outright and using an existing $45/month plan
keeps your trade-in, and avoids long-term commitments.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Item | Verizon Promo Deal | Buy Outright + $45 Plan
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099.00 | $1,099.00
| Sales Tax (9.25%) | $101.66 | $101.66
| Monthly Plan Cost | $90.00 | $45.00
| Monthly Credits | -$30.53 | $0.00
| Net Monthly Cost | $59.47 | $45.00
| Contract Length | 36 months | None
| Trade-In Value Lost | $450.00 | $0.00 (you keep it)
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Total Plan Cost | $2,141.00 | $1,620.00
| Total Extra Cost | $2,242.66 | $1,721.66
| Real Cost w/ Trade-In | $2,692.66 | $1,721.66
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Steve's type deal:
a. You buy the iPhone 17 Pro unlocked for $1,099
b. You pay 9.25% sales tax in Cupertino California.
c. You use Visible's $25/month plan (promo price)

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Item | Cost | Notes
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099.00 | Retail price
| Sales Tax (9.25%) | $101.66 | Paid upfront
| Monthly Plan | $25.00 | Visible promo plan
| Contract Length | None | Cancel anytime
| Trade-In Value Kept | $450.00 | You keep or resell it
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Total Plan Cost | $900.00 | $25 x 36 months
| Total Cost w/ Tax | $2,100.66 | Phone + tax + plan
| Real Cost w/ Trade-In | $1,650.66 | After subtracting resale
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Steve would be proud of for shilling for the MVNO Visible!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2