> 0$ phones are also not magically “free” in the US.
Yes, they are -- the only benefit will be contract/no-contract. Pay full price and come back two years later and tell me it's not free.
> The subsidized price is never a meaningful metric for comparison
It's not subsidized when you pay the same monthly rate regardless (T-Mobile being the exception)
> I have always been puzzled by this attitude which seems to be rampant with Americans
It's not an attitude; it's an acceptance of reality. I'd like a discount with Verizon if I bring my own phone but I'm not counting on it anytime soon. Not sure what's puzzling about that.
Wow. You pay the same price even if you bring your own phone?! That’s just crazy. How is that even possible? You should get pitchforks!
The phones are obviously still subsidized, you just don’t get a phone for free. It’s just that they presumably also overcharge you if you bring your own phone. Wow! That wouldn’t fly in Europe.
I think it stems from incompatible networks (GSM vs CMDA).
Since you can't take an out-of-contract phone anywhere else (with some exceptions), signing a new contract for a free or reduced-priced phone is your best option. Other companies can't use reduced rates as an incentive to bring in newly-out-of-contract customers with a perfectly working phone.
It's created a consumer mentality where getting your phone from the carrier is just the way it's done and signing a contract is the best value.
> It’s just that they presumably also overcharge you if you bring your own phone.
Sure, you can look at it that way but the average consumer here has accepted that you get your phone from the carrier so the idea of being overcharged doesn't even cross their mind. They look at it as getting something in return for signing a contract and making a commitment.
Yes, they are -- the only benefit will be contract/no-contract. Pay full price and come back two years later and tell me it's not free.
> The subsidized price is never a meaningful metric for comparison
It's not subsidized when you pay the same monthly rate regardless (T-Mobile being the exception)
> I have always been puzzled by this attitude which seems to be rampant with Americans
It's not an attitude; it's an acceptance of reality. I'd like a discount with Verizon if I bring my own phone but I'm not counting on it anytime soon. Not sure what's puzzling about that.