Yeah, but if you buy a house with cash upfront, you don't have to keep paying interest to a bank.
In contrast, if you do the analogous thing with a cell phone plan -- buy the phone upfront -- you still have to pay the implicit "interest" in the higher monthly fee. There's no option to take a lower monthly fee in return for paying upfront.
Some marketers noticed they can make people buy more if they stretch out the phone payment over 18 months and add it to the phone bill -- good!
They denied everyone else the option to save money over the long term -- not good.
> if you do the analogous thing with a cell phone plan -- buy the phone upfront -- you still have to pay the implicit "interest" in the higher monthly fee.
You can always choose an MVNO if you want to. They run on same network as the big 4, although they might lack some roaming options. (and access to LTE, if that is important to you)
You absolutely can in the UK. I pay £15/mo for the same service my friend pays £34/mo with a phone. He's in a 24month contract instead of my 12 and will end up some £150 down over the course of the contract.
In contrast, if you do the analogous thing with a cell phone plan -- buy the phone upfront -- you still have to pay the implicit "interest" in the higher monthly fee. There's no option to take a lower monthly fee in return for paying upfront.
Some marketers noticed they can make people buy more if they stretch out the phone payment over 18 months and add it to the phone bill -- good!
They denied everyone else the option to save money over the long term -- not good.