One was able to purchase iPhones on instalments (and interest free), whether they were associated with a carrier, or not. The only way to buy them on instalments now is if the are associated with a carrier; otherwise one gets charged the full amount up front.

So, yeah, going to return a couple of those this weekend.

@bender I hate vendor lock-in too 🤣

@prologic in this case it isn't vendor lock-in. I believe they do it because the carrier "eats" the costs (the interest part of the instalments). The phones are fully unlocked.

I will return the two we got for parents, and re-buy them again, this time on an instalment plan. Why pay $2,000 up front when you can split the cost in convenient monthly payments, all interest free, right?

@bender Fair enough 🧐