Inflated handset prices at the expense of loyal customers

I am intending to cancel my contract with MTN as I would prefer to go the prepaid route for greater flexibility. I contacted MTN for a quotation to terminate my contract early. The calculation which they use to determine the termination fees I feel is pretty fair. They add one month's fee to any outstanding fees and then add any outstanding device pro rate fees.

The issue I have is that the device fee they use for the calculation is inflated a lot. In my case I have a Galaxy S10 which I got at the end of February 2019. At that time the retail price at all the mayor retailers were R18 999. The retail price that MTN is using to calculate the termination fees is R22 011. As of yet MTN has not been able to clarify how the retail price they use is more than R3000 more than where you could have bought it at any reputable shop.

I feel that the handset prices are deliberately inflated by MTN at the expense of the customer. It is a shame that cellphone operators take advantage of customers in these ways.

I do not mind paying the fees it is a matter of principle to being treated fairly.