raulrAug 7, 2012, 9:29 AM
"Rare"
Is it really rare that about a month before the launch of a new iPhone, carriers start offering discounted prices on the current model? Seems to me they do this every year for the iPhones.
It's all random, last year a few months before the iPhone 4S came out, Best Buy was offering a buy one get one free special.
Radio Shack and similar retailers sometimes find ways to offer special deals, but carriers usually have tighter contracts with Apple and/or they usually only adjust iPhone pricing when a new model comes out.
Target
Target stores have been selling the Sprint iPhone 4s 16g for $150 and the 4 8g for 3 months now..
I don't know how much truth there is to it, but.... When I bought my iphone at Target the salesman indicated that Target was subsidizing the price themselves and it was a special agreement between Apple and Target.
When Apple sold the 4S to the regional carriers like Ntelos and others, they agreed to the $149 price point so this is nothing new, the 4S is obviously getting long in the tooth and Apple is trying to maximize sales to all channels that can take it, h...
(continues)