We have free phones here in the states too - carriers usually give you $200 off the price of a phone for a new 2 year contract, or $100 off for an upgrade (that's how Verizon does it i think). So just like holland, the "cheap" phones are free, but we have to pay for nicer ones. With the iphone, you have to pay full price, because that's what apple wanted, but that is not normal.
The reason why you still have to pay for a Razr in the states even WITH a contract is that our phones suck, so the razr isn't a "cheap" phone compared to most garbage they sell here.
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We have free phones here in the states too - carriers usually give you $200 off the price of a phone for a new 2 year contract, or $100 off for an upgrade (that's how Verizon does it i think). So just like holland, the "cheap" phones are free, but we have to pay for nicer ones. With the iphone, you have to pay full price, because that's what apple wanted, but that is not normal.
The reason why you still have to pay for a Razr in the states even WITH a contract is that our phones suck, so the razr isn't a "cheap" phone compared to most garbage they sell here.
Check out verizon's phones here:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneOverviewByDevice&deviceType=Phones&sortOption=priceSort
(if it asks for a zip code, use 95050 or something)
They have free phones, but they are beyond terrible...
-Taylor