AT&T Wireless - AT&T Mobility Do Not Buy Here. Retail Markup is 600%. Camarillo California

Apparantly you have not worked in retail much if you expect just a 10% to 30% markup. It depends on the nature of the business. FOr example: At a local grocery store I might pay 1.19 for a 2 liter of soda, if I go to the local convience store that same soda is 1.79 and if I get it from domino's with a pizza it would be 1.99

That all has to do with middle men and bulk buying. Your 5$ item was more than likely a cheap knockoff. Even if it wasn't, you bought it direct from the manufacturer. It was not sold to a distrubutor who would mark it up and sell it to att who will them mar it up AGAIN to sell in their store. Of COURSE things are more expensive in a brick and mortar store than online.

I doubt your 600% increase in price. You would have to show me an invoice with what ATT paid for the item to get me to believe that.

You are absolutely correct that their is mark up on retail accessories in a retail location. I have a hard time believing it is 600% but I iwll give you the benefit of the doubt. The reason for my comment is that I would like add a few suggestions.

1. If you decide to purchase your accessories online, make sure that you buy brand specific accessories. If you have a Nokia phone, buy Nokia branded car chargers and cases. I have personally seen an off brand car charger ruin a $450 phone and because the consumer used an off brand accessory it was not covered under warranty. You also want to make sure your case is brand specific as they often tend to not fit properly and can cause it to scratch your display.

2. You mentioned insurance as a hard sell? I have worked in the wireless sector for 4 years now and I am a retail sales manager for a wireless company. DEFFINETLY get the insurance on your phone unless you purchase a phone that has a retail value of less than $100. It can be a life saver. I have it on my blackberry and I work for a wireless company. If that doesn't prove that I see the value in the insurance I don't know what will. I try not to let a customer leave without insurance. If they still will not accept the insurance we require them to sign an insurance decline form. You would be amazed how many people refuse insurance on an expensive phone and are back in the store with in 45 days because they have damaged thier phone. If you don't have insurance, you must pay full retail for the phone. You do NOT get the promotional price that you got when you first signed up. I have see a customer buy a phone and walk out the front door and drop thier phone in a puddle of water. If they would not have had insurance I would have had to charge them full retail... Who wants to do that?

3. The upgrade fee..... Most wireless carriers have some form of upgrade fee. My wireless company will not waive the fee period. They would rather let you leave than to waive that fee! Don't ask me why but they would!!! I can tell you this, I personally would not resign with a company because of an $18 upgrade fee. Think about it this way..... If you choose to leave then you are going to have to find another provider where you will have to pay an even higher activation fee that may or may not be waived. The worst part is, you will be subject to the new rates!!! The longer you stay with a specific company on a specific company the better your deal becomes. It is called inflation!