Cingular online purchase cheaper than in store?

I'm looking for a new phone from Cingular, and while I'm browsing their site on the web, something just occured to me. The online price is way cheaper than what I would pay in the store it seems. The Cingular site claims you can get the Samsung ZX10 for $49.99 online, but in the store it's listed as $99.99. The discount is listed as "online discount". There is a similar online discount for the LG CU500. Both of these appear to have a mail-in rebate of another $50, at least on the web site. I didn't see anything about a mail-in rebate at the store.

What am I missing? Are they really charging that much less for buying online?

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Originally Posted by bolker

I'm looking for a new phone from Cingular, and while I'm browsing their site on the web, something just occured to me. The online price is way cheaper than what I would pay in the store it seems. The Cingular site claims you can get the Samsung ZX10 for $49.99 online, but in the store it's listed as $99.99. The discount is listed as "online discount". There is a similar online discount for the LG CU500. Both of these appear to have a mail-in rebate of another $50, at least on the web site. I didn't see anything about a mail-in rebate at the store.

What am I missing? Are they really charging that much less for buying online?

Yes, online is usually cheaper.

SOLUTION: Cingular does price matches (atleast here in Va). Just print out the online price (from thier own website only) and go into a store and they will match it. Also, they have a special MIR (mail-in-rebate) for people coming form other carriers. If you mail in your old phone from a different service provider, they will give you an EXTRA $50 MIR!!!!

bolker,

I was in a store in Northern CA today and the ZX10 was $49.99 with rebate. Maybe it's different where you're at but at the stores I've been to they say they'll give me the internet price if it's lower.

I'm still amazed at how few phones they offer. I suppose it's easier for them to deal with inventory and ordering when they only carry a small number of phones, but I'm sure they're also losing customers who go with another carrier to get the phone they want.

yeah cingular offers different prices through customer service (most expensive) and the stores and internet offer less expensive prices always. it's just the prices they are allowed to offer at the time, and most the time the internet is the cheapest price. it's best to find out all 3 prices before ordering to make sure you get the best price

Online is always cheaper!!!!!

Stores and kiosk try to stress that what you are getting when you deal with them is customer service, and you also get to choose what area code you prefer in your state. I'd prefer just to go online and save the $$.

The resason it's cheaper online is to get people to buy things online.

Usually the stores will match the price on their own websites but not all the time.

One good example is check Walmart online and go to their store. You will notice a price difference. The store will not match their price on the Internet since it's internet special.

Thanks a ton for the info! It REALLY helps!

Hi. My girlfriend has Cingular service, but a crappy phone. I was hoping to buy her one before we went off to college, but I wanted to know a couple of things. First, would it be possible for me to just buy a phone from them even though I do not have Cingular? She told me that whenever she went before to get a new phone, they made her dad sign a new contract, because they would not just let him buy a phone and just a phone. Second, would I be able to purchase the phone online and would it really be cheaper? Also, if I try to print the online price out and take it to a Cingular store in my area, would they honor the online price? I am unsure of all these things, because I have Sprint and not Cingular. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by theyaodynasty1

Hi. My girlfriend has Cingular service, but a crappy phone. I was hoping to buy her one before we went off to college, but I wanted to know a couple of things. First, would it be possible for me to just buy a phone from them even though I do not have Cingular? She told me that whenever she went before to get a new phone, they made her dad sign a new contract, because they would not just let him buy a phone and just a phone. Second, would I be able to purchase the phone online and would it really be cheaper? Also, if I try to print the online price out and take it to a Cingular store in my area, would they honor the online price? I am unsure of all these things, because I have Sprint and not Cingular. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

If you just go in and buy one, i would suggest telling them you want to get a "gophone pay-as-you-go" (prepaid) for a friend, but you dont want to buy a refill card, because you will let your friend get that, and you MIGHT get a discount, depending the model. you can only get a "deal" if you extend your contract, and you have to be on the account to do something like that. And no, they wont price match for you in that case because you are not able to sign a contract. Try my "gophone" advice, it just might save you a few bucks...



my advice???? get one off eBay!!!!!! you can get a steal off there without signing ****....



goodlukk

My Cingular store here in Florida did match the online offer I was interested in. In fact, the store can do whatever they want within reason. They have sales quotas to meet and can adjust price to save a sale.