Develop Bugs

Sprint now requires credit card payment for new phones?

Forgive me if this is already a known quantity around here, but I only just found out this evening that orders placed through Sprint for new devices can no longer be billed to your account. Apparently we now have to pay by credit or debit card up front when we want a new device.

dead78 said:
Forgive me if this is already a known quantity around here, but I only just found out this evening that orders placed through Sprint for new devices can no longer be billed to your account. Apparently we now have to pay by credit or debit card up front when we want a new device.
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yup found out a couple of months ...........i believe there should b a couple of threads on it

lballer69 said:
yup found out a couple of months ...........i believe there should b a couple of threads on it
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they're saying it changed it on October 5. yet another way we're taking it in the pants as a result of Sprint getting the iPhone and another reason to never bother ordering a phone from Sprint.

yep blame that on the iphone
apple started this a few years ago, so no cash at all, even in person at the apple stores for iphones, as people were buying them stateside, and selling them overseas for huge markups, since they were not available at the time
gotta love Apple lol

Amd4life said:
yep blame that on the iphone
apple started this a few years ago, so no cash at all, even in person at the apple stores for iphones, as people were buying them stateside, and selling them overseas for huge markups, since they were not available at the time
gotta love Apple lol
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yep, you're 100% right.
man, I was on the fence before about upgrading my Epic...there's no way in hell I'll do it now. when you look at everything that's gone lately, Sprint's shown they're willing to screw over their entire customer base for the sake of luring in new customers with this gimmick Apple crap. now they've got their big sales figures and they can all pat each other on the backs for a job well done.
do the other carriers require up front payment for their devices?

Just so you guys know, sprint is actually the last of all the big 4 carriers to get rid of bill to account for new phones. Its a fight against fraud. Cutting costs is necessary to keep providing the unlimited data plans. Saving money by reducing fraudulent purchases is one of the best ways to do this. There is a reason behind every choice the company makes. It may not always sound like the best when you first hear it but the reasons why typically justify the changes. Sprint tries really hard to provide what other carriers no longer do but there at reasons that other carriers have cut things, and with sprints new high end world phone lineup we are running into the same things.
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lookout4theyeti said:
Just so you guys know, sprint is actually the last of all the big 4 carriers to get rid of bill to account for new phones. Its a fight against fraud. Cutting costs is necessary to keep providing the unlimited data plans. Saving money by reducing fraudulent purchases is one of the best ways to do this. There is a reason behind every choice the company makes. It may not always sound like the best when you first hear it but the reasons why typically justify the changes. Sprint tries really hard to provide what other carriers no longer do but there at reasons that other carriers have cut things, and with sprints new high end world phone lineup we are running into the same things.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
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frankly, the "we need to do this to keep unlimited data" excuse has lost its appeal. all I'm seeing is a fledgling company pulling back on service in order to accommodate the iPhone and keep itself in business. as it stands now, I live in an area where my data service is horrendous. calls to Sprint are essentially pointless since I'm given an endless string of excuses as to why I can't download faster than .2 Mbps on 3G and why I can't stay connected to 4G for more than a couple of minutes. I've been with Sprint for over 10 years and I've seen all aspects of quality within the company deteriorate considerably in that time. The simple fact is that they're network couldn't accommodate the demand of all the Android devices on it; I can't even imagine what the surge of new iPhones is going to do to service.
meanwhile, we're told that every courtesy we received is being taken away in order to assure a high level of service. that would be fine except there is no longer a high level of service to maintain. I've actually had Sprint tell me that their changes aren't so bad because they're simply doing what all the other carriers do; therein lies the crux of why having 3.5 carriers dominate a nation of roughly 400 million people isn't good for anyone. a struggling company in that setting has no incentive to do anything but keep its doors open. they've lost the will to differentiate because they no longer have to; their sole concern is to avoid being subsumed by one of their competitors. most investors (myself included) doubt Sprint's ability to sustain itself beyond the next couple of years because they're a poorly managed company who've become notorious for making extremely poor decisions - this recent backpedaling from WiMax is one of the worst.
so yeah, great we get unlimited data. we'll see how well that unlimited data that Sprint's stripped away all incentives for holds up when an already super-saturated capacity is unable to withstand the demand from this gadget they've bet the farm on.

I am usually on the side of the consumer but, this time, I think if you don't have the money to pay for it, why are you upgrading? Wait a month and get it when you have the money. I don't see why it was ever an option to begin with.
The only reason I am still on Sprint is becaue they have the number one best plan for my situation. If I didn't want unlimited data, or the best cutomer service, or the coolest new phones, I would go with MetroPCS. They have the best plan for someone like that. Shop around. Get what is best for you. I'm not preaching. I just want every customer out there to be as happy as can be.

It is probably better this way. When you charge to credit card, they don't add the weird few dollars here and there taxes in the taxes and surcharges sections (this is in addition to the tax they charged on the phone purchase itself) I probably got another $5-$6 in random taxes I had to complain about to get back.

I agree that data speeds on Sprints unlimited plan sucks. I will contest to that. Sprint's network simply is being overwhelmed from all the traffic they get from all the smartphones out there. So Sprint came up with a plan. The plan is going to cost $10b over time I think it was. To come up with the money Sprint has to cut cost and create more revenue. To cut cost Sprint got rid of certain luxuries we were receiving as consumers. To create more revenue Sprint fought to get the Iphone on board (Sprint announce this was their biggest sales day ever). Simple economics. Remember Sprint is a far 3rd behind the top two cash cows we know as AT&T and Verizon. Sprint is not financially stable right now but, making these necessary moves will help us as consumer in the long run. I know you pay now, and, you want it now, but, all we can really do is wait till Sprint finish's with their $10B project in your area.

Seriously? You all look at this as "exploiting the customer"? What they got rid of was effectively an interest free credit card that people were abusing. No, doesn't make any business sense at all, certainly not.
True exploitation would be them deciding to charge interest on your balance.
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buggerritt said:
I am usually on the side of the consumer but, this time, I think if you don't have the money to pay for it, why are you upgrading? Wait a month and get it when you have the money. I don't see why it was ever an option to begin with.
The only reason I am still on Sprint is becaue they have the number one best plan for my situation. If I didn't want unlimited data, or the best cutomer service, or the coolest new phones, I would go with MetroPCS. They have the best plan for someone like that. Shop around. Get what is best for you. I'm not preaching. I just want every customer out there to be as happy as can be.
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Ive been doing bta for years without problems from sprint. The problem was me, with the subject the post is about. Im pretty impulsive at times. More that once ive had financial department calling me wanting money because im past due. I couldnt pay the price of the phone (usually full price because i was in mid contract) and my bill up to date in a month or less. I kept telling myself, after i would get my account completely paid up to date, that i wouldnt do this again and would only get another phone if i had the money in hand to pay for the phone. Sometimes financial emergencies happen that are unforseen and they can really put a person behind for awhile and its a struggle to get caught up. Thats one of my character defects, i admit it (for the first time). Its not sprint's fault for this, its mine for being impulsive and irresponsible when it comes to finances.
I dont know why i felt the need to say this, but it had something to do with the subject and i shared my experience (and foolishness) with you guys.
Shame on me, i know!

I'm right there with you man! I sold a Dell Venue Pro so I could get my Epic Touch and I still have an Atrix on At&t and am looking at over $500 if I leave At&t. All that so I could get a 1/2 inch bigger screen and a slightly faster phone. Oh well at least I got a good one, no Los or any other issues thus far.
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I just paid my Sprint bill the other day. With activation, the phone, and my normal bill, it was $578.06. No more bta? Who cares. If you don't have the money, you probably shouldn't buy the phone anyway.
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Verizon still allows billing to your account. This last carrier nonsense isn't true

heygrl said:
Verizon still allows billing to your account. This last carrier nonsense isn't true
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that's what I thought. quite frankly, this argument that deadbeats have ruined the bta is a bunch of b.s. because that would be a punitive major and not something supposedly introduced to insure a high level of future service. the reason why bta is a solid option is that it means not having to rely on Sprint to refund your money in the event you decide to return a recently purchased phone. what this new move does is allow Sprint access to the customer's money immediately, which is actually a better move from an accounting standpoint since funds collected can be immediately invested. however, my biggest beef with this change of policy is that like all the other changes we've endured in recent weeks, they're all being done to accommodate the iPhone. like many others, I'm not remotely convinced of Sprint's able to even stay in business long enough to see all these supposed service improvements take place, so right now (and for the immediate future) all that's happening is Sprint is pulling back on customer services to pander to the iPhone.

Like another poster said this is to accommodate fraud. I work for another big name phone company and this is a way to keep people from calling in and ordering multiple phones on an account and having them shipped and once you see that these phones were ordered and you did not order them you call sprint and they have to foot that bill. If there is a credit card used it is tied to the person who used it and fraud is dealt with easier through the CC companies because they have more info. The FCC are coming up with all these rules to help us as consumers. It kinda makes it harder but safer. Anyone who knows your information can order on your account and that is scary. We see people on this forum who call in and tell lies all the time. Fruad is no joke. If it makes it safer why not?
Sent from my hand crippling Epic 4g Touch

Thanks for sharing this. I think you hit the nail on the head and I wish more people were willing to look at their own situation objectively and take some personal responsibility.
Sprint is a business, making business decisions. If they need to make changes to stay viable, then they should make them. If I decide at some point I don't like them, I can go somewhere else. It's the beauty of free enterprise and consumer choice.
oscarthegrouch said:
Ive been doing bta for years without problems from sprint. The problem was me, with the subject the post is about. Im pretty impulsive at times. More that once ive had financial department calling me wanting money because im past due. I couldnt pay the price of the phone (usually full price because i was in mid contract) and my bill up to date in a month or less. I kept telling myself, after i would get my account completely paid up to date, that i wouldnt do this again and would only get another phone if i had the money in hand to pay for the phone. Sometimes financial emergencies happen that are unforseen and they can really put a person behind for awhile and its a struggle to get caught up. Thats one of my character defects, i admit it (for the first time). Its not sprint's fault for this, its mine for being impulsive and irresponsible when it comes to finances.
I dont know why i felt the need to say this, but it had something to do with the subject and i shared my experience (and foolishness) with you guys.
Shame on me, i know!
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Who orders from Sprint anyway? There's always some place cheaper to get the phone of you're eligible for an upgrade. Ordering from places like Amazon or Wirefly at the very least saves you tax.
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My local Best Buy is great about returns and will price match any other vendor that has a unit in stock. I've never ordered from Sprint.
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ya gotta read this. Bend over.

It's short and sweet...http://androidspin.com/2012/02/09/is-the-iphone-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-carriers-bend-over-and-lets-find-out/. Have a go.

Indrid Cole said:
It's short and sweet...http://androidspin.com/2012/02/09/is-the-iphone-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-carriers-bend-over-and-lets-find-out/. Have a go.
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But it's not fair. I don't even buy apple stuff and they're [inadvertently] ruining everything

Apple is a menace to the tech world.

What I never understood is how carriers don't make a profit until the 11 month mark. Take two Epic Touches at $499 a pop, Sprint eats $300 of the cost if they offer it at $199. Then factor in the cost of a data plan with TEP and the data charge at around $175 for two phones. That equals $1925 in 11 months, minus the $600 Sprint ate on the devices equals $1325. So how are they losing any money? Unless my math is wrong they're making profits only a few months in to the contract based on the plan price alone. Some one explain this because I don't rightly get it.
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ccline84 said:
What I never understood is how carriers don't make a profit until the 11 month mark. Take two Epic Touches at $499 a pop, Sprint eats $300 of the cost if they offer it at $199. Then factor in the cost of a data plan with TEP and the data charge at around $175 for two phones. That equals $1925 in 11 months, minus the $600 Sprint ate on the devices equals $1325. So how are they losing any money? Unless my math is wrong they're making profits only a few months in to the contract based on the plan price alone. Some one explain this because I don't rightly get it.
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Sure, it looks like a profit on the phone, and you can argue that. However the company will not consider it a profit until all other costs are covered. Figure it from a business owner standpoint. You have the cost of your store overhead that sold it, the employees hourly pay and commission from the sale, etc.. on a larger scale you have all the other costs you can imagine. Offices, higher ups wages, network maintenance, the list goes on. The "profit" can only be considered a true profit after a profit/loss analysis on a bigger scale. Many preferred retailers use the profit loss analysis approach to their stores when figuring how to pay employees. You have to determine how much it costs to run the business, and how much money you bring in. The difference is your profit or loss. That's why it takes so long to make a profit.

At the same time Didn't Sprint also say that another part of their loss for this past quarter was part of Network Vision as well? It's not just the iPhone for them right now considering they are building out a brand new LTE network.

So are people really saying that when phones are sold to us at a subsidized rate, that carriers actually spent more than the subsidized rate to acquire them initially & HOPE to make up or exceed the difference in the service plan?
I highly doubt it (though I could be wrong). Even when selling the phone at a subsidized rate there is always some type of markup over the initial investment, even if marginal (again I could be wrong)
How much do you think Sprint actually pays per Epic Touch?

I read that Apples subsidized rate was something like 40 or 60% more than other high end phones.

Hahaha apple they wont last long

EL TEJANO said:
So are people really saying that when phones are sold to us at a subsidized rate, that carriers actually spent more than the subsidized rate to acquire them initially & HOPE to make up or exceed the difference in the service plan?
I highly doubt it (though I could be wrong). Even when selling the phone at a subsidized rate there is always some type of markup over the initial investment, even if marginal (again I could be wrong)
How much do you think Sprint actually pays per Epic Touch?
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very close to the retail price, i promise you. Trust me, it really is a "hope" type business. That's why we worry so much about customer churn.
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squshy 7 said:
very close to the retail price, i promise you. Trust me, it really is a "hope" type business. That's why we worry so much about customer churn.
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i guess its kinda like gas... the business can only mark it up so much/state taxes and competitors
but honestly if sprint bought $630 million dollars (if im reading right) on iphones... and didnt get a "bulk" deal from apple (or any manufacturer for that matter) its their own fault....
im not gonna start a business and pay retail on 1000s of products to sell them cheaper in hope that the customer becomes a "regular"
sprint can kiss my ass there is NO way a business would make it in todays economic state if they play the foolish "hope" card
and if all carriers REALLLLLLLLY pay retail for **** plastic devices over seas then looks like i know what im gonna be investing in....
my opinion leave it at that if im wrong im wrong but seriously.... no fortune 500 company (investors/CEO's/ANYONE) would be so careless
its in my opinion its all a lie or atleast "stretched" truths
"I worked at T-Mobile for 5 years. I was the go to guy for Android phones and training. That passion didn't stop even after my departure from the company. I currently moved up from my MyTouch 3G to a Samsung Vibrant. A lot has changed in a very short time. I look forward to all the latest and greatest every time I wake up. "
no offense to the writer but you went from a mytouch 3g to a samsung galaxy s vibrant??!?!?!?!?!?!? lol they BOTH came out last year for god sakes

Can they say the same thing about Android? I am certain there are supporting numbers that account for loss for every device on the market. With so many makes and models of Android available I can imagine that we cost the carriers just as much if not more than the iPhone does. The difference is they aren’t linked to one specific device. Even though the numbers point towards iPhone as the devil, the consumers and the manufacturers are more to blame
Its the discount structure as a whole...

Bear gri11z said:
i guess its kinda like gas... the business can only mark it up so much/state taxes and competitors
but honestly if sprint bought $630 million dollars (if im reading right) on iphones... and didnt get a "bulk" deal from apple (or any manufacturer for that matter) its their own fault....
im not gonna start a business and pay retail on 1000s of products to sell them cheaper in hope that the customer becomes a "regular"
sprint can kiss my ass there is NO way a business would make it in todays economic state if they play the foolish "hope" card
and if all carriers REALLLLLLLLY pay retail for **** plastic devices over seas then looks like i know what im gonna be investing in....
my opinion leave it at that if im wrong im wrong but seriously.... no fortune 500 company (investors/CEO's/ANYONE) would be so careless
its in my opinion its all a lie or atleast "stretched" truths
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Any monthly subscription service is the same way. You get people in the door (so to speak) with a loss leader, and then make all your money on the OTHER things the customer buys.
Even if you paid $500 for your ET, Sprint probably wouldn't make a profit straight out on it. Say it cost them $450 to purchase it from Samsung. It also cost something to get it shipped to the store. They have rent and utilities to pay each month. They have a manager and a salesguy to pay. By the time you shell out your $500, they MIGHT be breaking even.
But then you buy a screen protector for $25 and a carrying case for $30. Those two items probably cost them a combined $10. NOW you've made them a profit on the transaction.

Dalmus said:
Any monthly subscription service is the same way. You get people in the door (so to speak) with a loss leader, and then make all your money on the OTHER things the customer buys.
Even if you paid $500 for your ET, Sprint probably wouldn't make a profit straight out on it. Say it cost them $450 to purchase it from Samsung. It also cost something to get it shipped to the store. They have rent and utilities to pay each month. They have a manager and a salesguy to pay. By the time you shell out your $500, they MIGHT be breaking even.
But then you buy a screen protector for $25 and a carrying case for $30. Those two items probably cost them a combined $10. NOW you've made them a profit on the transaction.
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yeah i got it but seriously WTF lol
i mean how does wirefly/letstalk.com get their phones and sell them cheap... do they buy from sprint? or from the manufacturer? ( i know they have their own ETF if you cancel in before a certain period) but my god i wouldnt put my business in customers hand who dont even get a REAL credit check done
sprint and tmobile are the easiest carriers to get into with horrible/no credit and not pay a HIGH deposit or NONE at all... i mean seriously lets give someone with poor credit a contractual obligation for 2 years with hope that they dont just bail and leave us with the bill (like they have done already) and cry about our profit margins and increase the prices/change policies on our current customers to make up the difference.... horrible business ethics... and that is coming from a person that dropped out of college.... a CEO cant figure this out?
or the investors who put their money into a ticking time bomb? i give zero ****s to sprint and there profit margins.... for all i care they can merge with big red or go bankrupt making a deal with apple to buy 30-35 million iphones in the next 4 years was a bad move.... and if they couldnt see that from AT&T after how many years of struggling with the iphone... then they are as naive as Lance Ito (the judge for OJ simpsons murder case)

Freeroot said:
But it's not fair. I don't even buy apple stuff and they're [inadvertently] ruining everything
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higher termination fees, no multiple purchases of world phones on accounts with spending limits, no more sprint premier... you're right, it ISNT fair to those of us who have been customers for years... ONE of the many reasons i hate apple.
ccline84 said:
What I never understood is how carriers don't make a profit until the 11 month mark. Take two Epic Touches at $499 a pop, Sprint eats $300 of the cost if they offer it at $199. Then factor in the cost of a data plan with TEP and the data charge at around $175 for two phones. That equals $1925 in 11 months, minus the $600 Sprint ate on the devices equals $1325. So how are they losing any money? Unless my math is wrong they're making profits only a few months in to the contract based on the plan price alone. Some one explain this because I don't rightly get it.
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EL TEJANO said:
So are people really saying that when phones are sold to us at a subsidized rate, that carriers actually spent more than the subsidized rate to acquire them initially & HOPE to make up or exceed the difference in the service plan?
I highly doubt it (though I could be wrong). Even when selling the phone at a subsidized rate there is always some type of markup over the initial investment, even if marginal (again I could be wrong)
How much do you think Sprint actually pays per Epic Touch?
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Click to collapse
i work at a preferred retailer, and i have no idea what the epic touch cost. i CAN tell you though, that the HTC Evo 4G cost my store $375 per phone, with an MSRP of $449.99. we buy ours from a vendor named Brightpoint. i have no idea what brightpoints investment is on these devices, but i believe they are owned by sprint, so it IS possible that they are taking a hit from the manufacturer to me, hoping i sell them. i REALLY hope we arent WAGERING with my employer's future here...
squshy 7 said:
very close to the retail price, i promise you. Trust me, it really is a "hope" type business. That's why we worry so much about customer churn.
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yes, it really is close to retail. the iPhone 4S 16 GB costs my store $645 from our vendor... the MSRP is $650... either apple or brightpoint are bending us over here. in fact, its so bad, that the managers at my store wont sell iphones out of store inventory to upgrades, only to new lines. our franchise gets more commission from sprint for new lines, thus making it more "worth it". i think this is a TERRIBLE idea, you should never treat new customers better than current ones (or am i just too old fashioned? )
Dalmus said:
Any monthly subscription service is the same way. You get people in the door (so to speak) with a loss leader, and then make all your money on the OTHER things the customer buys.
Even if you paid $500 for your ET, Sprint probably wouldn't make a profit straight out on it. Say it cost them $450 to purchase it from Samsung. It also cost something to get it shipped to the store. They have rent and utilities to pay each month. They have a manager and a salesguy to pay. By the time you shell out your $500, they MIGHT be breaking even.
But then you buy a screen protector for $25 and a carrying case for $30. Those two items probably cost them a combined $10. NOW you've made them a profit on the transaction.
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Click to collapse
loss leaders make more sense than gambling on the prospect of future business. i think this is probably what is happening. ill give you a hint though. my store's cost for a case and screen protector? >$10
and since sprint REQUIRES we go through a certain accessory vendor, i am led to believe they get kick backs from the vendor (or what would it matter?)
as for the 11 month thing with tmobile, i dont know how sprints works, but i have an idea. when a customer cancels their line from sprint within the first 181 days, our commission is charged back (to the franchise, and then in turn to the salesperson). if its beyond that, franchise gets to keep the commission. if sprint is still losing money at this point, why arent they pulling the commission back? idk, i dont run a bazillion dollar (legit amount) corporation.
thats just my 47 cents.

I had a feeling this would get some plps gears grinding. It did me.
Let's go spam the IPhone boards with this link.lol.
Come on some one do it. I will give ya all my thanks.

Indrid Cole said:
I had a feeling this would get some plps gears grinding. It did me.
Let's go spam the IPhone boards with this link.lol.
Come on some one do it. I will give ya all my thanks.
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Dude Im going to go over to the iPhone forum to start a thread. Watch ill shoot you the link.
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---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 PM ----------
I went looking, I need a link to an iphone forum. Im totally ready to start some trouble...

jasone4gt said:
Dude Im going to go over to the iPhone forum to start a thread. Watch ill shoot you the link.
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---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 PM ----------
I went looking, I need a link to an iphone forum. Im totally ready to start some trouble...
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Inthe find your device box here in XDA type in IPhone.
Do it do it do it do it.

Indrid Cole said:
Inthe find your device box here in XDA type in IPhone.
Do it do it do it do it.
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LOL I totally went looking, but there are no iphone forums on xda. None... I even went and googled iphone forums, but the ones I went to, wanted me to start an account before I posted anything. LOL that would have been awesome though

Ok fukit I'm gonna do it. Brb.

Sprint launches early upgrade promo

In an industry where customer churn can be likened to the fearsome troll under the bridge, Sprint has launched a program designed to keep its favored subscribers around for another two years. While not everyone is eligible -- those who've upgraded less than eight months ago, corporate outfits and those in collections need not inquire -- the program lets customers buy their way out of their current commitment and become eligible for a new, subsidized handset. The promotion begins February 12th and is set to run through the 14th of April, where the amount you pay correlates to the time since your last upgrade. So if you're currently pining for the Epic 4G Touch or the iPhone 4S, just give your local Sprint store a call this Sunday. They just may be able to hook you up.
Source:http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/sprint-launches-early-upgrade-promo/

Nice C/P skills -_-
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It's more like they want to get rid of Wimax phones and other inventory it seems like. It's a ripoff, hardly worth the price. Ebay is cheaper
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Cleaning house getting ready for LTE

My OG Epic (Now NS4G) line is due for an upgrade in 5 months...may be perfect timing for once
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IMO opinion this is more of a contract buyout to get new user pricing than it is an early upgrade promo like the Sprint Premier Gold program was.

It makes 0 sense to pay $55 to buy out for early upgrade if you're like 1-4 months out.

cds0699 said:
It makes 0 sense to pay $55 to buy out for early upgrade if you're like 1-4 months out.
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Keep in mind though, that we live in a world where people will happily spend well in excess of $55 to "upgrade" from something like a IPhone 4 to a 4s. Sometimes, "sense" takes a back seat to a desire to be instantaneously satisfied... lol

CoppertoneSPF15 said:
Keep in mind though, that we live in a world where people will happily spend well in excess of $55 to "upgrade" from something like a IPhone 4 to a 4s. Sometimes, "sense" takes a back seat to a desire to be instantaneously satisfied... lol
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I have to agree, people at my store will pay a lot to get their upgrade now to get the phone they want now. I think a lot of it comes from people who buy cheap phones and just can't take having them anymore and will do anything to get out of that phone.
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newalker91 said:
This actually isn't a promotion. It's just a last resort offering by Retention as of right now. You pay on average $10/month remaining on your contract with an average maximum of 6 months to move your upgrade up. We've been doing it for months for customers in my stores, but it's never really been publicly advertised.
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Are you working for a corporate store or a preferred retailer? I'm a preferred retailer and would love to know how you go about doing it, and compare that to the way we do it at our store. Shoot me a PM, love to compare notes!
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JasonK75 said:
Are you working for a corporate store or a preferred retailer? I'm a preferred retailer and would love to know how you go about doing it, and compare that to the way we do it at our store. Shoot me a PM, love to compare notes!
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can i be included in this? i only have a way for 2 weeks early... preferred retailer

My wife is only 2 months away from an upgrade; if she waits, she still pays 36 dollars "activation fee", or, if she does it tomorrow, its the same 36 dollars, so, if you are a month or 2 away, it doesn't cost you a dime more to do it now..
yes, i am sure its to clean out the existing inventory before the "new" network is in full swing..
WOOT, 3000 POSTS!!

I work at a preferred dealer as well, just tell your customers to call customer care and see if they can do an early upgrade. If that doesn't work have them be transferred to retentions and say someone they know was able to buy out their remaining contract and get an early upgrade. That easy. I have my upgrade still, saving it for the GSIII because I'm not stupid like some people.
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ccline84 said:
I work at a preferred dealer as well, just tell your customers to call customer care and see if they can do an early upgrade. If that doesn't work have them be transferred to retentions and say someone they know was able to buy out their remaining contract and get an early upgrade. That easy. I have my upgrade still, saving it for the GSIII because I'm not stupid like some people.
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i have an airave for that

Ok I called Sprint customer care today inquiring about the upgrade. My girl's line is due for upgrade in October and I am tired of her complaining about her Evo3d restarting all the time. So I called to see if I can get that upgrade for an Iphone for her. I was told that the new promo is only for people who's upgrade is in April or earlier and are also having phone issues. I think I'm going to call a corporate store tomorrow. Any advice or am I wasting my time? The Engadget article said if you upgraded within the last 8 months your or not eligible. I didn't upgrade this line within the last 8 months.

To upgrade or not to upgrade....
I saw this on Friday and wandered into a Sprint store on Sunday. The fella at the desk told me this was all legit and that I would need to call customer service because he could not do anything from the store (he said to ask for the "retentions" department).
I've been suffering with a Hero for the last 18 months. Loved the phone when I first got it, but it didn't take long to realize that it was not powerful enough to keep me happy. My wife is on her third Moment because everything about that phone just doesn't seem to work. I was hoping to hold out for an LTE phone but it appears those won't be dropping until late summer, and I'm not sure if we can hold out that long.
On the Sprint website, I get a message that I am eligible for $150 off a new phone on April 1 (remnants of the Premiere Program). From what I read, I'll have to pay $36 to upgrade in April or I can pay $55 now.
So my question(s) to all you Sprint people out there, am I reading all this correctly? Will I still qualify for the $150 off the new phone? Am I absolutely crazy for not waiting for LTE? Should I take the SGS2E4GT (Galaxy S 2) or hold out for the Nexus?
Thanks for the input.

dabigoh said:
I saw this on Friday and wandered into a Sprint store on Sunday. The fella at the desk told me this was all legit and that I would need to call customer service because he could not do anything from the store (he said to ask for the "retentions" department).
I've been suffering with a Hero for the last 18 months. Loved the phone when I first got it, but it didn't take long to realize that it was not powerful enough to keep me happy. My wife is on her third Moment because everything about that phone just doesn't seem to work. I was hoping to hold out for an LTE phone but it appears those won't be dropping until late summer, and I'm not sure if we can hold out that long.
On the Sprint website, I get a message that I am eligible for $150 off a new phone on April 1 (remnants of the Premiere Program). From what I read, I'll have to pay $36 to upgrade in April or I can pay $55 now.
So my question(s) to all you Sprint people out there, am I reading all this correctly? Will I still qualify for the $150 off the new phone? Am I absolutely crazy for not waiting for LTE? Should I take the SGS2E4GT (Galaxy S 2) or hold out for the Nexus?
Thanks for the input.
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Click to collapse
I would buy a used phone off Craig's list or something now and hold onto you upgrade for an LTE device. You can get an E4GT for around $300 and EVO 3D for much less or an Nexus 4G for even less then that.
That is what I would do because once the GN drops you know you will want it or whatever cool LTE phone comes out soon after that...

The way I read this is that they are just pro-rating your ETF (the way they all should do anyway).
In theory, it works like this:
A high end handset costs ~$600 but in exchange for signing a 2-year contract, the cell phone carrier will subsidize $400 of the cost and roll the cost of that "loan" into the cost of your monthly service. You get a new phone without as large an initial outlay of cash and they gain a steady source of income for at least the next 2 years.
In theory you should be able to bring your own phone and get service at a lower cost off-contract because you aren't paying off a subsidy but since the top 3 providers don't offer this, there is not really any benefit to not taking the subsidy. You are already paying the same monthly rate so other than not being locked into a service contract, you gain nothing financially from not taking the $400 subsidy.
Along with this, in theory, your ETF should drop by 1/24th every month as you are basically paying off the subsidy one month at a time over two years. Once again, it doesn't quite work that way. At least this is an attempt to let people pay off the remaining subsidy before signing a new contract and taking a new one.
I would prefer to just pay $600 for my phone and then pay $17 less per month (approx 1/24 of $400) with no contract but since the US market seems accustomed to cheaper subsidized handsets on contract I don't know it would ever take off much. The contracts, handset exclusives, and lack of porting options have made it so the carriers have little incentive to compete on price or plan options..but that's another topic for another day.

Well I got mine it was 40 bucks but.my Gf needs a new phone had so, iPhone 4s and she can have my day 2week old epic touch 4g
Update: I got my upgrade and the fee was added to my bill and my upgrade is now waiting. Pretty cool. I have another upgrade in August so I will se what they have then.
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I have a upgrade in October, but I'm debating to hold off for the s3 which could be a long way off or get the epic touch. I have a 3d right now but the white epic touch looks sexy.
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Am I silly to buy a SII now?

Hey guys,
I currently use a Nexus One, however I'm looking to upgrade. The n1 is getting to the point where I'm running out of internal space and I'm disappointed there are no more software updates on it.
I'm really yearning for a HTC One S, but there is a caveat. I am on an older T-Mobile EM+ plan so I do not get a subsidy on my phones and I'm uncertain I want to migrate to a new classic plan. Because of this, I feel like the One S will end up being too expensive. I'm assuming T-Mobile will price it at a minimum of 599 like the current Amaze and SII. Further after the 6% sales tax, I might regret spending 635 dollars on the phone.
The thought of a Galaxy Nexus has crossed my mind, but I figured if I was spending $450 on a phone I should be buying one that is HSPA+ 42, which the galaxy nexus is not. However, vanilla ICS is a big plus in my book.
So then comes the T-989. I found one on Craigslist for 400. It includes a one month old phone, extra battery, 16gb class 2 microsd, charging stand and a body glove case. It seems like the value is there. Furthermore, after contacting the person, they end up going to my university so I have a good feeling about the transaction trust wise. I'm going to check out the phone today.
I'm wondering, is this the phone for me? Am I silly and should wait for the S3, or go for the GN or One S instead? Will I be happy with the SII, especially because it will end up being cheaper than all my other options.
Thanks for the insight,
Mike

well there's one thing you can try to do... Tmobile recently altered their terms and condition where data roaming is no longer free. so if you ever used data roaming, you could fight it and get an early termination without ETF and sign up with them again using a different account holder of course. You can legally try to fight it without ever use data roaming because it is a breach in contract... but it is a lot harder to do... you can check out SD, they have a whole giant thread on it.
okay about the phones
1. i would not wait for any HTC phones because their recent releases have been disappointing.. I have used or played with every HTC phone for t-mobile... and they have fallen since the mt4gs.
sooo i wouldn't hold my breath for any htc phones yet.. maybe after some great reviews from xda members..
2. when the s3 is released, it is going to be very expensive... you're talking about not wanting to spend 635 or not even 450 so I would rule the s3 out of your budget.
3. you can't really go wrong with the galaxy nexus or the tmobile t989.. besides we just got ICS.. well still in the works lol
4. ASK yourself.. is there really a need to upgrade from the n1?
yes our phone is everything better than the n1.. but in terms of usability... do you really need to fish out $400+ for a phone you're already questioning about dropping money on. You can do anything on the n1 that you can on the gs2, don't fall for the hype that our phone has because of all the commercials and stuff.
alternatives:
1. why don't you exchange your phone or any cheap "smartphone" (bb, old iphone, etc) with the microsoft store promo, it's free... you should check that out. although they're WP phones... it would be nice to be rocking the htc radar, titan, or samsung focus by trading a crappy phone.
2. Are you out of contract? since you're on the EM+ plan... you can get a lot of deals by extending your contract another 2 years. If so, I can give you few pointers.
---------- Post added at 04:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 AM ----------
holy ****, just noticed this is your first post after 1.5 years lol

Thanks for the reply Teo032!
1,2 & 3 - Thank you for the advice. It is very assuring to hear such things.
4 - This is the hardest question to answer. I don't need to upgrade. However, I have the phone bug itch. I want a new phone. You do raise a good point though, the actual functionality won't differ too much.
A1 - I did not know about that challenge! I would definitely do that if I could. A new WP for free is exactly what I need to fix my itch for a new phone. I live in eastern PA. The closest MS Store would be Bridgewater Commons, which is about an hour away. Unfortunately, that store is still stated as "coming soon" and the promotion ends March 29, 2012. Hopefully they extend it once that location opens, since that would have been worth the drive...
A2 - For a contract extension, I'm a little hesitant since I am moving in about 1 yr and don't want to be locked into a 2 yr contract. Although I would probably have no coverage issues, I would not be too happy if I had poor reception at my new place but it wasn't bad enough for t-mobile to allow me to leave w/o an ETF.
Again thanks for the insight. You brought up some really great points. At this point I really don't know if I can answer that I need to upgrade and I think that might be my answer to whether I should buy the SII or not. I'm really disappointed the Bridgewater MS store isn't open yet, since I would have had made that drive today...
P.S. - Yes! My OP was my first post. After years of lurking, I finally made the leap. If I purchase a new phone today or not, I hope to continue contributing to the community through posting.

Why don't you check the coverage at where you're moving? If anything, use wifi calling.
If you're eligible for an upgrade, you won't get "discounted" phones since you're on em+... but if you talk to the retention department, simply ask them, what is the best deal they can give you if you plan to sign up for another 2 years. Each rep will give you different offers, you can call multiple times to try to get better offers. some will match a previous offer or even best it.
Common offers
$250 credit (this is actually the "discount" for the phones, although you would still be paying the full price for the phone but $350 isn't too bad for a new phone)
or $10 off each month for your contract ($240)
Your rate might even be better depending on what you need. My 5 line is actually paying about $20 less with a better plan now, which is NOT available to new contracts, only loyalty plans.
I called about 4 different reps. I made sure I told them to let me think about the deal and to call me back at certain times.
One guy was able to give me $200 credit + $10 off each month.. they're not suppose to do this, it's usually only one choice... but this guy sounded like a supervisor and hooked me up with a lot of stuff. I asked him to call me back, hoping to get $250 + $10/month from another rep.
next rep told me that it is impossible to apply both deals etc etc, And i was like are you sure? he told me yeah because the system only allows us to apply one discount and what the other guy told me was misinformation. He told me I only could get one or the other... The other guy called me back and I told him, I talked to another rep about the situation, and he simply told me, well lets just say I can do more things than any other rep can.
So my rate for 5 lines, unlimited talk text and 5 gb for 3 lines, 2 with premium insurance (7.99 each) is $155 without the tax and fees + 200 credit.
well unlimited for the 2 primary lines, and 500 minutes EACH for the remaining 3, which is still a lot.
EDIT: oh and after a year.. the ETF should be about what? $100? $150?
another tip: in my area, the skyrocket goes for less than the hercules. about $50 less, so I would look into that if you're planning to just CL

throw MIUI on the N1 and hang on to it for a bit longer. will feel like a newer phone.
otherwise yea what he said. S2 is still a great phone and will be for quite some time. best phone i've ever owned and I also love my N1

U not silly, I just bought my sII for 29.99 plus tax on Feb. 17...

Deals on an off-contract HTC One?

Anyone know of any tips or tricks?
I'm stuck on a GSIII I re-upped my contract to on 12/2012.. they say I'm stuck until 12/2014.
Need an HTC One badly, but not $650 badly..

dbornack said:
Anyone know of any tips or tricks?
I'm stuck on a GSIII I re-upped my contract to on 12/2012.. they say I'm stuck until 12/2014.
Need an HTC One badly, but not $650 badly..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well you can sell your GS III here http://swappa.com/buy/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-verizon/us then buy the htc one off contract for full price.

+1
Sell your sg3 on swappa save up and pay difference for an HTC one on swappa. It's a great site.

If you don't mind spending a little extra each month you can do what I did, I just added a line and I'm fine paying the extra 40 a month.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda premium

Got mine on swappa for $540
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk 2

Not too bad of a deal, but I had already planned on claiming a refurb replacement on the GSIII, and selling it for $250.. But I'm talking like.. no additional cost. Like, tips on how to con my way into an early upgrade with Verizon..

Kiyuubi said:
If you don't mind spending a little extra each month you can do what I did, I just added a line and I'm fine paying the extra 40 a month.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda premium
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An extra $40 a month!! $960 for the phone over the contract term. I would not be ok with that. Can you still add lines if you have grandfathered family share plans?
EDIT: Why don't you swap a dumbphone on there to at least lower your costs?

I can sell you mine. Accessories in box are still unopened. No scratches dings or blemishes. $500
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk 2

dbornack said:
Not too bad of a deal, but I had already planned on claiming a refurb replacement on the GSIII, and selling it for $250.. But I'm talking like.. no additional cost. Like, tips on how to con my way into an early upgrade with Verizon..
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Not going to happen.
Since they have you and you no longer have unlimited to bargain with, it's a "pay to play" game.
You could always switch to the edge or maybe the "max" plan for phone leasing and upgrades.
Don't know what else.

dbornack said:
Not too bad of a deal, but I had already planned on claiming a refurb replacement on the GSIII, and selling it for $250.. But I'm talking like.. no additional cost. Like, tips on how to con my way into an early upgrade with Verizon..
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You just got a new phone 9 months ago. They hurt a lot of feelings when they stopped giving upgrades at 22 months. And they stood firm on the 24 month upgrade pricing.
What incentive do they have to give you a discount after only 9 months? They already have you legally trapped for another 15 months. You would owe THEM an early termination fee. They hold all the cards here. You leave.. they make money. You stay... they make money. They give you a new upgrade... they lose money.
Your only out is to do what the rest have recommended. Buy it outright at full retail, or from Swappa. OR add a line and use that line's new equipment for yourself. I know several people who do that. And then just use those line's upgrades when they roll around. I'd just sell the GSIII and pay for an gently used one on Swappa.

one4thewings said:
They give you a new upgrade... they lose money.
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Wrong, they re-up me for two years and keep me as a customer that much longer. Hardware is a commodity. No one makes money on hardware except when people pay full price on it before their upgrade.
I'm willing to bet the money they make on continuing to keep me is more than the money made on hardware if the upgrade me every 9-12 months except in my case, where I went and did that and ended up with a phone that sucks at pictures. Looks like I'm gonna just return it and live with GS3
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app

Swappa! bought a new one myself for $480. works perfectly and just send it out for s-off in fact

dbornack said:
Wrong, they re-up me for two years and keep me as a customer that much longer. Hardware is a commodity. No one makes money on hardware except when people pay full price on it before their upgrade.
I'm willing to bet the money they make on continuing to keep me is more than the money made on hardware if the upgrade me every 9-12 months except in my case, where I went and did that and ended up with a phone that sucks at pictures. Looks like I'm gonna just return it and live with GS3
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Click to collapse
Hey, don't get me wrong. I hope it works for you. But the logic there is flawed. The "that much longer" they keep you is only 9 months longer than they would have had you anyway. Of course they are making money on the hardware, no matter if they give it to you or you pay full price from them for it. But that's not the point. The point is that they have you under contract.
Imagine you cut lawn for work. You have a giant lawn mowing business. You're making crazy money. A man asks you to mow his lawn for the next year. You estimate the job, pitch it. He's good. He signs the contract. After you mow his lawn for a month he says, "I want you to start mowing my neighbors lawn too. No extra cost. I'm paying you good. Just when you reach the end of my plot, keep going. It's only an extra 3 acres." Are you really going to add a whole new lawn to the job just because he says so and insists that's what it's going to take to keep his business? You have him in a legal bind. You are guaranteed the contract amount OR a early termination fee. The other is just his promise that he'll sign with you next year. You don't NEED his contract. Your business is steadily growing. And what is his word worth? He told you that he was happy with you mowing his lawn and now he's tacked this new condition on. There are no guarantees that even if you mow his neighbor's lawn that he'll resign with you next season.
Again, I hope it works for you but unless some local mom and pop shop wants to manipulate the system for you in some way, I don't see it happening. And if you work directly with Verizon, I really don't see it happening. Sincerely hope I'm wrong here... but business is business. And business, for Verizon, is good.

Pretty good analogy there, but to lay it out in more mathmatical terms, when you got your s3, you probably paid $99 for it, for the sake of argument though, lets say you paid the full $200. Most VZW retailer's cost on an S3 is around 600. That's $400 they lost selling you that one phone. Now, analysts have broken down costs of the cell networks, and found that you're paying around $20 extra a month for the discount you got on the phone. You've had the phone 9 months at $20 a month, or $180. That means Verizon is still down $220. Why would they let you resign and take ANOTHER loss on a phone for a customer who has a perfectly working phone? No, its not "customer loyalty" or any of that nonsense, its you not understanding that phones are an expensive piece of hardware.