Anyone else disappointed by AT&T's Bold pricing?
 

I've got to be honest... $399 is just a bit much to justify for me. Even though it's $299 after a mail-in rebate, it still made me turn my head when I saw that pricing. Plus, I'd have to pay the $75 early upgrade fee.

Here's the thing.... I've really been wanting to have a device with 3G and Wi-Fi for quite a long time now, and I've been sticking it out for the Bold. Normally, I won't have a problem waiting for a phone to come down in price, but these are two features that I'm really salivating over. This may be hubris in this forum... but I'm starting to think about an iPhone.

The way I see it, I've got 3 options: Take the plunge, spend more than $400 and wait for a rebate... wait until the Bold comes down in price (who knows how long that might be), or get another device. And I would never get Palm or Windows Mobile... so that pretty much leaves me with one other option ;)

Now, I guess I should really consider myself lucky that this is the biggest decision in my life right now :)

But anyway, I'm looking for some advice here. I really don't want to pay this much money for a device, I don't want to wait (potentially) months and months for a price drop (I'm almost salivating over 3G and Wi-Fi), and I really don't think I want to drink the Apple kool-aid. Although the browser on the iPhone is damn impressive.

So... two questions: Is anyone else here having this same dillemma? And does anyone here have an iPhone (this would be in addition to their BlackBerry, of course)? I've played with other peoples' iPhones quite a bit, but you all know as well as I that you can never really get to know a device unless you own it and spend hours playing with it. What kinds of things would I miss from the Berry? I'm sure the push email and PIN messaging will be at the top of that list.

Don't take this to mean that I've made my decision yet... but like I said, I'm really interested in the 3G and WiFi, but I don't think I'm $375 interested in it ;)

yeah, a little high, but for companies and enterprises picking it up, it's just another biz cost. for individuals, yes, a little steep.

I feel it is very reasonable. It is very hard to balance our demand for cutting edge technology and not wanting to pay a lot for it.

Troy: I totally agree. That's why I'm still actually considering it. And to be honest, I am leaning toward the bold. It's just that it's a lot of initial expense... so I need to be able to really justify the cost to myself :)

I have spent a lot of time playing with the Bold, a few hours with the Storm and a little with the Javelin.

I think the Bold is a very solid device that operates well. I really like the Javelin but no 3G. The Storm is in a league of its own and you will have to be a touch screen fan to enjoy it.

Well the Storm is definitely out for me. I'm still under contract with AT&T (the store is going to allow me to upgrade for the new customer price + $75), and a lot of my friends that have VZW seem to drop calls a lot around here. It might just be their phones, but I've been really happy with AT&T.

And I probably wouldn't get a Javelin because it doesn't have 3G.... and come to think of it, I'd wonder if AT&T priced the Bold where they did so that they can still charge a decent amount for the Javelin when it comes out... they wouldn't want to charge too little for it, but at the same time, they probably wouldn't want to have it be at the same price point as the Bold.

Wirelessly posted (8130 Pearl (Sprint))

As far as I heard, the javelin was for tmo only as we (att) got the bold. But I could be wrong.

I'm kinda ticked at the pricing. Especially since I just lost my job...

Check this out:

ATxxx038;T begins field testing the 8900 Curve (Javelin) | BlackBerryNews.com

Yes!!! $199 after a rebate would be a more attractive price for me. Or less :) The Bold looks like it is geared towards business users just like the 8800. The Bold has a higher price point just like the 8800.

I may just wait until 1/2/09 when my wife's line is eligible for an upgrade this way I won't have to pay the $75 exceptional upgrade fee. That's only two months away. And maybe the price will drop by then.

I am in the same boat as you - my wife and I are eligible for an upgrade on 12/8 and I am hoping the folks at RIM and ATT see the reality of the day and drop the price by another $100 :)
I don't understand folks justifying this purchase at $299 and arguing that its geared at the business community and they would suck this up! The fact is that many businesses (including the one I work in) are curtailing a lot of biz expenses and upgrading their employees phones are definitely not a priority these days.... We have had to really complain to upgrade our phones after 3 years of use and that too for our production support folks who are our critical users :(

It's a waste of money at $299. Wait for it to come down, get it with a company discount, or have your company flat out buy it directly for you.

Wirelessly posted (off to see the wizard)

It will come down in price. Remember the 8800 was pricey at first as well. We are soiled with low cost 299 is a fair price.

Here's my 2 (euro) cent(ime)s

I went from a Curve to an iPhone, loved it for a while until a few things managed to tick me off (no running background apps, push email not really pushing at all, horrible battery life, and the lack of a few basics - which may or may not be important to others - such as no delivery notice on SMS, complete lack of MMS, spotty 3G reception). I also didn't realise how much I'd come to rely on PIN messaging and BB messenger (or actual physical buttons for that matter - try bouncing about in the Paris metro and tyiping on an iPhone at the same time, and you'll see what I mean). As for the browser, nothing really gets close to the iPhone. It is an amazing piece of software. But in terms of practicality, the rest of the phone didn't match up to what I needed.

I took the plunge back in September and got the Bold. Have updated the firmware a couple of times, and couldn't be happier. Each to their own I suppose, but having used both phones, I'd have to recommend the Bold.

ha whoops.... i must have missed the javelin on my viigo feeds.... (gaaahhh)

i would rather take the javelin if it was 3g. boo

but i stick behind that i think the bold is too expensive. i think that the price will eventually drop given it a few monthas on the us market.

i mean, it only takes RIM 127 dollars to make.. so att could drop it to at least 225 or something like that

Just an FYI, it is actually 299 with plans over 65 bucks w/data and without rebate

Where do you see that? I'd like to check it out and possibly bring something to the store to make sure I get that pricing.

did you get that with an upgrade? Sounds like you got a discount as an existing customer with a high revenue acct

Now add in marketing, retail rent, Employees pay, theft and any more number of things that get calculated in to come up with final price.

that may be the cost of the components involved, got factor engineering, design, marketing and such. How much does RIM charge ATT?

I am trying to get a hold of the invoice to see what ATT's cost of the device is from RIM

FYI don't go to corporate and you will not have to pay the extra $75. Go to and agent and ask them to process an exception upgrade. They will have to call it in instead of doing it in their system but it will save you $75.

just a suggestion.

LOLOL, in Milan, Italy it's 469 euro = over 550 $!!!!