Although the three main carriers have significantly increased costs over the past few years, until recently, they still stood out from prepaid services in several major ways. As I pointed out in another recent feature, that’s less true in 2025. Not only have perks and extras worsened, but recent moves have also undermined one of the biggest advantages postpaid carriers previously held: the presence of physical stores.
Personally, I’ve been shopping without in-store support for decades, but that’s because I’m a nerd and have always found it easier to handle things on my own. For an elderly grandparent or someone who just isn’t into tech or research? In-store support can be an excellent way to learn about new devices and plans, or to receive in-person troubleshooting, or at least it used to be.