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   Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Mar-2026 07:41:16 JST Rich Felker

   • Raymond Russell

   @raymierussell It's not that US cellular service is expensive. It's that carriers' flagship brands get away with duping most customers into getting a "free" iPhone that's actually paid for by the extra $100/mo they pay "for service".

   • Embed this notice
     Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Mar-2026 08:12:38 JST Rich Felker

     in reply to

     • Raymond Russell

     @raymierussell Exactly. Because selling service is low-margin but selling exorbitant loans is extremely lucrative.

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     Raymond Russell (raymierussell@mastodon.scot)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Mar-2026 08:12:40 JST Raymond Russell

     in reply to

     @dalias

     Yeah, fairly similar in the UK. You are really entering into a credit agreement to buy an expensive piece of hardware over 24/36 months with some air time added on.

     I have mostly bought Moto G's over the years Unlocked SIM free with separate SIM only deals. Its the best way to do it unless you absolutely have to have the latest flagship phone and don't have the cash up front.