I just saved $850 on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 — here’s how

I merely saved $850 on the Milky way Z Fold 3 — here's how

(Epitome credit: Tom's Guide)

At this calendar week's Galaxy Unpacked issue, Samsung lifted the defunction on both the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Both phones saw price cuts from what previous versions costs, just the Z Fold 3 however sat at a steep $1,799. While the Z Fold 3 looking to retake the throne on our all-time foldable phones list (there's not a ton of competition) that loftier cost keeps information technology out of reach for most consumers.

But upon looking at T-Mobile'due south Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 pre-lodge folio, I took a glance at devices that were eligible for merchandise-in. To go $1,000 in trade-in credit, the obvious contenders were there: iPhone 11 Pro, Samsung Milky way S21, OnePlus 8 Pro and other newer models. But eligible trade-in devices included some older models that however fetched a generous return.

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In my instance, that was the Samsung Galaxy S9, a phone released more three years ago. It also seems that AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 pre-society page is offering the same trade-in deal, but only for the Phantom Green and Phantom Silver colors. Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Z Fold three pre-order page is as well offering $ane,000 for an S9 trade-in, just merely for new lines.

The trade-in value seemed out of whack to me. How was information technology possible for three yr-former phone to cyberspace $one,000 in trade-in credit? For example, iPhones, which are known for holding value, don't arroyo that kind of retentivity. According to sold eBay listings, a 256GB iPhone XS Max is selling in the $350 range.

Getting a phone to trade in for the Milky way Z Fold three

I jumped over to Facebook Market place to see what I'd take to pay for a used 64GB Galaxy S9. Well-nigh individual sellers were asking around $200. But I came across an S9 in good condition that toll $150. I shot over a bulletin.

Turns out, the seller was not an individual, but a local business in the Houston area. Since Houston is a large metropolitan surface area, in that location's a robust and competitive phones and electronics commune. If you've ever ventured into a city in Asia, you might observe that all sellers for a particular category congregate in one area. It's kind of like that.

For Houston, this smartphones district is on Harwin Bulldoze, a street west of downtown and slightly northward of Houston's vibrant Chinatown. In that location, I came upon Wireless Liquidation, a small-scale just humble operation that likely supplies phones to budget-witting buyers or smaller independent sellers.

As I walked in, there were a shelves lined with accessories and phone boxes. I started talking with ane of the employees there, and I explained to him T-Mobile's trade-in promotion. He looked at me in bemusement. But he was also curious. I bought a black Milky way S9 for $150 (before revenue enhancement), and he requested I transport him an update via Facebook afterward trading in the device.

Trading upwards for a Milky way Z Fold iii

At the nearby T-Mobile shop, information technology seems I was the first person to walk in requesting a Galaxy Z Fold iii pre-order. While the foldable phone has generated a decent amount of hype online, it clearly doesn't crusade the waves in demand that a new iPhone release would. (Actually, recent survey data shows that 44% of current U.South. iPhone owners program on upgrading to the iPhone 13. Galaxy S21 sales, past comparison, have been the worst in years, with sales reportedly being 47% lower than the S10 serial.)

The T-Mobile representative began processing my trade-in request. She was besides surprised by the $ane,000 trade-in credit offered, which would be credited to my phone bills over a period of a few months. She looked in the system. If it weren't for the Z Fold three merchandise-in promotion, a 64GB Galaxy S9 would normally merely net $45 in credit.

After signing some paperwork, I was given a shipping label to send in my Galaxy S9, and had reserved a Phantom Green Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3 for $950 (before revenue enhancement).]

In that location's "a desire to boost sales without resorting to outright discounts that erode perceived value," said Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at Techsponential in an email interview with Tom's guide. "And, for carriers, these deals well-nigh ever include a service level requirement, an extended device payment term, or both."

For example, Samsung took the assuming step of assuasive people to merchandise in up to iv devices (upwards to $800 total) toward a Z Fold iii.

And remember, I'thousand being given $1,000 in bill credits, not a Visa souvenir card. Surely, an individual's $100 telephone plan does not cost the carrier that much.

In speaking to colleagues in tech journalism, our best estimate was that Samsung was doing whatever it could to bring in new customers into the Galaxy ecosystem. Its foldables give consumers something they haven't had earlier, which could help the company form a new loyal client base of operations, as it did with the Annotation series. Plus, with the nearest contest beingness the 2019 Motorola Razr, there'south non much else to switch to — at to the lowest degree not until the rumored Google Pixel Fold or iPhone Flip striking the market.

Leading up to the launch of the Z Fold 3, interviews I had washed with industry experts said that big foldable phones would hit the sub-$1,000 marking in the adjacent three years. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has certainly hit that mark with a $999 starting price. And thanks to this trade-in promo for the more fully featured Galaxy Z Fold 3, I'll be able to get in on the foldable fun before 2025.

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Imad Khan is news editor at Tom's Guide, helping direct the twenty-four hours'southward breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a full-time freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Post and ESPN. Outside of piece of work, you tin can find him sitting blankly in front end of a Word document trying desperately to write the first pages of a new book.