In 1987 I would be more confused by the concept of a phone costing money AT ALL, let alone asking why the fuck it costs $800.
Remember, in 1987, car phones were starting to become a thing, cell phones were either not yet invented, or just barely invented. Either way, only businessmen had them, and only because they needed them for work.
99% of people had only a landline. And you didn't buy it. It was provided by your telephone company.
So the idea of a phone costing $800 would be crazy talk.
Sure, but the cost of it was also baked into your monthly subscription, you were renting it. And if they gave it to you “for free” they were still making tons of profits on your monthly bill
Not saying it’s not worse, but the idea that was like “when corporations were nice” also definitely isn’t true
7 Comments
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 160d
In 1987 I would be more confused by the concept of a phone costing money AT ALL, let alone asking why the fuck it costs $800.
Remember, in 1987, car phones were starting to become a thing, cell phones were either not yet invented, or just barely invented. Either way, only businessmen had them, and only because they needed them for work.
99% of people had only a landline. And you didn't buy it. It was provided by your telephone company.
So the idea of a phone costing $800 would be crazy talk.
kautau@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 159d
It was provided
Sure, but the cost of it was also baked into your monthly subscription, you were renting it. And if they gave it to you “for free” they were still making tons of profits on your monthly bill
Not saying it’s not worse, but the idea that was like “when corporations were nice” also definitely isn’t true
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 3 pts · 159d
By 1987 you no longer had to rent the phone itself.
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 13 pts · 159d
Motorola DynaTAC from 1984 for 4k USD would like to say hello.
FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 160d
I mean, novelty landlines existed.
sik0fewl@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 160d
But you probably rented yours from the phone company.
Kenny2999@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 159d
There were celphones in '87 but not many. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobira_Cityman_900