Handsets are often way cheaper when purchased at big-box retailers like Wal-Mart or Best Buy, or from online giant Amazon.
That tip is courtesy of SmartMoney, which hedges that advice with some caveats:
For one, [big retailers] tend to carry only the most popular — and so most incentivized, phones – [ABI Research senior analyst Michael] Morgan says. What’s more, retailers are seeking to get you into the store with low-cost phones — and keep you there to make more profitable purchases, including phone accessories. “It’s a highly profitable business,” says R.J. Hottovy, a senior stock analyst for Morningstar who covers the industry…
Still, consumers shouldn’t make a beeline for the mall when it’s time to buy. Sales and promotions can vary widely, so it’s worth shopping around.