difference in contracts if purchasing 3rd party store

Answer Best answer as chosen by user chromehorse2

That depends which retailer you buy from

by Pepe7 - 3/29/12 2:37 PM

In Reply to: difference in contracts if purchasing 3rd party store by chromehorse2

Some third parties have sub-contracts that penalize you for breaking their contract/ending service before a specific time period. And that's separate from the typical big-carrier ETF (early termination fees). Read the fine print, that's always a must. Normally though, Best Buy & Walmart are safe havens, with the same phones that you would find (not always the entire selection of models) at Verizon or ATT. Some Best Buys are better than others, so shop around accordingly. They get paid from the carriers to sell their products & services, which is primarily intended to lock you into additional 24 month contracts. Very little money is made on the handset sales. Some of the money is shared with these official third parties to keep it interesting for them.

It's important to separate independent wireless retailers from corporate owned ATT & Verizon locations. The former entities will usually tack on the extra written contract that can include additional penalties if you change anything inside a specific time period. Best Buy Mobile, for example, doesn't do this.

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target vs. walmart

by chromehorse2 - 3/29/12 7:16 PM

In Reply to: That depends which retailer you buy from by Pepe7

thank you, so basically walmart is ok and doesn't do the extra written contract that can include additional penalties if I change anything during the 2 year contract with the carrier i choose? I have always signed a 2 year contract and stuck with it so that is not going to be a problem.

I don't have a Best Buy nearby. What about Target their salesperson seems knowledgeable and not pushy or trying to sell you the most expensive/new phones like the Verizon or AT&T salespeople, thanks again.

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When you enter the discussion with the salespeople...

by Pepe7 - 3/30/12 10:09 AM

In Reply to: target vs. walmart by chromehorse2

@ Wally World, simply ask if there is a secondary contract. It's that simple. Ditto for Target. And *read* the entirely of what you sign. *Always* do this(!) Even if it takes an extra ten minutes of your time.

Re-upping for another two year isn't the issue with you as you suggested, only covering for some odd penalty otherwise unknown to you until you ask

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did ask never really a clear answer

by chromehorse2 - 3/30/12 2:13 PM

In Reply to: When you enter the discussion with the salespeople... by Pepe7

I did ask and radio shack says that they do have me sign a secondary contract but it is basically a contract that says I am acknowledging that I know and accept the terms of the first contract.

Walmart said they have three contracts all exactly identical to Verizon's/At&ts. So yes if I buy from one of these stores i will read the contracts, just wondered if anyone had any issues in the past with contracts from outside retailers.

Walmart said they can sell the phones cheaper because they buy in bulk and most the phones are older models. thanks for your answers

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