confused about buying new iphone

I feel like an idiot for asking this, but I'm totally confused about how to get the best price on a new iphone.  I have a 5, and would like to trade it in for a 6S.  I know if I go to Verizon Wireless (my current carrier) or the Apple store, I can just buy the new phone and pay for it in installments over the next 24 months.  At Apple this would come out to about $360.  But, at Best Buy, the phone is only $99 with a two year contract (I like Verizon so I'm ok with the contract). So Best Buy seems like a no-brainer... am I missing something?  Is there a reason to get the phone at Apple or Verizon instead??

This is for the exact same phone?  (i.e. same amount of memory)

What will the monthly cost for the contract be for each?  I think that the $99 price is subsidized by your paying a higher monthly charge for the service.  Also, is that for new customers or is it also good for existing customers?

Yup.  Iphone 6S, 16gb.  Wait... I just looked at the Apple store again and it's actually $199 with a Verizon contract.  Still cheaper at Best Buy though.

Good point about the pricing and the contract, though I guess the only way to get answers to that is to ask at the store?  What a p.i.t.a.

Here's a question also - I also dont' know much about these phones....I have a 5s- it's great -has 64 gb storage....what does a 6 do that I don't already have?

BestBuy often passes some of the commission they get from a renewal contract to the customer as a discount on the phone. I've done it back in the days when I was still living in contract land. No string attached usually.

OliveBee said:

Here's a question also - I also dont' know much about these phones....I have a 5s- it's great -has 64 gb storage....what does a 6 do that I don't already have?

If you are happy with your 5s, I would NOT upgrade to a 6 and probably not upgrade at all.  But if you do upgrade, I would go to the newest model (6s).  Why change from a phone you like that works well to another one that isn't even the latest model?  Here's an article I found about differences:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/iphone-6s-vs-iphone-5s

(I have an iPhone 6 and my previous phone was an iPhone 4s.  I upgraded at that time because the OS upgrades were getting a bit flakey on the older models, so it was time.)

If you are a costco member they usually have better packages (free phone charger, etc) plus they usually have the same price as Best Buy.  

but if I was going to switch, I would to a 6S I would get more memory if you take a lot of pictures.  16gb does not go very far.  and of course that is more expensive. 

by the way, it is fairly easy to sell your old iphone on Ebay or similar and get at least $100.00 if it is in decent shape.  When you buy the new one, after they transfer the data, they can reset it so no data/pictures/apps are on the old phone.  That will cover the cost of the extra memory.