Need new phone - how best to proceed?

I signed up for Sprint PCS 5 years ago through a corporate
discount program offered through my employer. I bought a
Motorola StarTac phone at that time, and it has served me
faithfully since then. However, it is now getting flaky --
it sometimes doesn't want to charge the battery and, more
critically, the ear-piece speaker sometimes doesn't want
to work -- no audio unless I fiddle with the up/down buttons.

I'm happy with my plan. It nominally costs $30/mo (it's
the old 300 minute national roaming plan from 1999), but
with the discount, the total bill is about $26.

What is the most economical way of upgrading the phone?

Buy one off Ebay? If I do this, can I activate it without
incurring any additional fees? (I thought you used to be
able to do this over the web, but I cannot find it now.)

Visit the Sprint store?

Visit Radio Shack, Circuit City, etc?

Buy a phone off sprintpcs.com?

Call retention and tell them to either cut me a deal on
a phone or I'll look elsewhere?

Seems Sprint has some good deals on phones, but only if
(1) I sign a contract, (2) I have a $35/mo plan or better
which I don't, and (2) if I sign up for their PCS VISION
package which I don't want.

So, what's my best options?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

---

› See More: Need new phone - how best to proceed?

Rob Stampfli wrote:

> I'm happy with my plan. It nominally costs $30/mo (it's
> the old 300 minute national roaming plan from 1999), but
> with the discount, the total bill is about $26.
>
> What is the most economical way of upgrading the phone?
>
> Buy one off Ebay? If I do this, can I activate it without
> incurring any additional fees? (I thought you used to be
> able to do this over the web, but I cannot find it now.)

That's how we upgraded my wife's Kyocera 2255 and she is still on the same plan
you're on.

Vision is no big deal, you can cancel any time during the free trial.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

"Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I signed up for Sprint PCS 5 years ago through a corporate
> discount program offered through my employer. I bought a
> Motorola StarTac phone at that time, and it has served me
> faithfully since then. However, it is now getting flaky --
> it sometimes doesn't want to charge the battery and, more
> critically, the ear-piece speaker sometimes doesn't want
> to work -- no audio unless I fiddle with the up/down buttons.
>
> I'm happy with my plan. It nominally costs $30/mo (it's
> the old 300 minute national roaming plan from 1999), but
> with the discount, the total bill is about $26.
>
> What is the most economical way of upgrading the phone?
>
> Buy one off Ebay? If I do this, can I activate it without
> incurring any additional fees? (I thought you used to be
> able to do this over the web, but I cannot find it now.)
>
> Visit the Sprint store?
>
> Visit Radio Shack, Circuit City, etc?
>
> Buy a phone off sprintpcs.com?
>
> Call retention and tell them to either cut me a deal on
> a phone or I'll look elsewhere?
>
> Seems Sprint has some good deals on phones, but only if
> (1) I sign a contract, (2) I have a $35/mo plan or better
> which I don't, and (2) if I sign up for their PCS VISION
> package which I don't want.
>
> So, what's my best options?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Rob

To follow up on Steve's post, eBay may be ok, but there's no guarantee or
warranty offered on used phones, if that matters to you. SPCS is not always
the cheapest when it comes to buying their phones. I'd suggest you also look
at the Best Buy, Office Warehouse, Costco and the other big outlets, when
the phones are on sale. Check with Amazon.com as well. Give them a call and
ask what the price would be without initiating a new contract and whether
you can qualify for their $50 rebate.

Bob

In article <[email protected]>,
Bob Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>To follow up on Steve's post, eBay may be ok, but there's no guarantee or
>warranty offered on used phones, if that matters to you. SPCS is not always
>the cheapest when it comes to buying their phones. I'd suggest you also look
>at the Best Buy, Office Warehouse, Costco and the other big outlets, when
>the phones are on sale. Check with Amazon.com as well. Give them a call and
>ask what the price would be without initiating a new contract and whether
>you can qualify for their $50 rebate.

One problem is that everyone seems to be pushing the current Sprint
$150 rebate. I really don't mind the contract if it saves me $150,
but if you read the fine print, the rebate is claimed to only apply
to plans that cost $35/mo or more, and only to non-corporate
accounts, so I doubt I can use it. Without that, none of the
phones I've seen are competitive.

Two questions: I really don't mind the StarTac -- I've learned
how to use most of its features by now -- but it does not have
the tri-mode (1900Mhz CDMA, 800Mhz CDMA, AMPS) that the newer
phones have. How important is 800Mhz CDMA if I generally leave
my phone in Sprint-only mode to avoid roaming charges?

Also, the fine print claims there is a $36 phone activation fee.
Now, five years ago, the activation fee was waived for corporate
accounts, but maybe this has changed in the interim. Is it
possible to swap phones today without paying the activation fee,
and if so, how?

Thanks,
Rob

"Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Bob Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >To follow up on Steve's post, eBay may be ok, but there's no guarantee or
> >warranty offered on used phones, if that matters to you. SPCS is not
always
> >the cheapest when it comes to buying their phones. I'd suggest you also
look
> >at the Best Buy, Office Warehouse, Costco and the other big outlets, when
> >the phones are on sale. Check with Amazon.com as well. Give them a call
and
> >ask what the price would be without initiating a new contract and whether
> >you can qualify for their $50 rebate.
>
> One problem is that everyone seems to be pushing the current Sprint
> $150 rebate. I really don't mind the contract if it saves me $150,
> but if you read the fine print, the rebate is claimed to only apply
> to plans that cost $35/mo or more, and only to non-corporate
> accounts, so I doubt I can use it. Without that, none of the
> phones I've seen are competitive.
>
> Two questions: I really don't mind the StarTac -- I've learned
> how to use most of its features by now -- but it does not have
> the tri-mode (1900Mhz CDMA, 800Mhz CDMA, AMPS) that the newer
> phones have. How important is 800Mhz CDMA if I generally leave
> my phone in Sprint-only mode to avoid roaming charges?
>
> Also, the fine print claims there is a $36 phone activation fee.
> Now, five years ago, the activation fee was waived for corporate
> accounts, but maybe this has changed in the interim. Is it
> possible to swap phones today without paying the activation fee,
> and if so, how?
>
> Thanks,
> Rob

My personal experience has been on my corporate account:
3 phone 'swapouts'. 1 new phone added 10/03 - $0 activation charge
That was this... this is now ... YMMV

Joe Gill wrote:

> My personal experience has been on my corporate account:
> 3 phone 'swapouts'. 1 new phone added 10/03 - $0 activation charge
> That was this... this is now ... YMMV

I asked for and received a credit of my activation fee when adding my second
line with Sprint this summer. Wasn't a shared plan - the new line of service is
a completely separate line. Sometimes, if ye ask, ye shall receive.


--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

"Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Bob Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >To follow up on Steve's post, eBay may be ok, but there's no guarantee or
> >warranty offered on used phones, if that matters to you. SPCS is not
always
> >the cheapest when it comes to buying their phones. I'd suggest you also
look
> >at the Best Buy, Office Warehouse, Costco and the other big outlets, when
> >the phones are on sale. Check with Amazon.com as well. Give them a call
and
> >ask what the price would be without initiating a new contract and whether
> >you can qualify for their $50 rebate.
>
> One problem is that everyone seems to be pushing the current Sprint
> $150 rebate. I really don't mind the contract if it saves me $150,
> but if you read the fine print, the rebate is claimed to only apply
> to plans that cost $35/mo or more, and only to non-corporate
> accounts, so I doubt I can use it. Without that, none of the
> phones I've seen are competitive.
>
> Two questions: I really don't mind the StarTac -- I've learned
> how to use most of its features by now -- but it does not have
> the tri-mode (1900Mhz CDMA, 800Mhz CDMA, AMPS) that the newer
> phones have. How important is 800Mhz CDMA if I generally leave
> my phone in Sprint-only mode to avoid roaming charges?
>
> Also, the fine print claims there is a $36 phone activation fee.
> Now, five years ago, the activation fee was waived for corporate
> accounts, but maybe this has changed in the interim. Is it
> possible to swap phones today without paying the activation fee,
> and if so, how?
>
> Thanks,
> Rob

SPCS does charge an activation fee on new accounts or on additional lines
being added to a new account. As for customers who are just replacing the
phone on their current account, there is no charge to make the change.

Bob

Ask about the waiver for the activation fee.. I just added a second line,
no activation fee...

Burt


"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > Bob Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > >To follow up on Steve's post, eBay may be ok, but there's no guarantee
or
> > >warranty offered on used phones, if that matters to you. SPCS is not
> always
> > >the cheapest when it comes to buying their phones. I'd suggest you also
> look
> > >at the Best Buy, Office Warehouse, Costco and the other big outlets,
when
> > >the phones are on sale. Check with Amazon.com as well. Give them a call
> and
> > >ask what the price would be without initiating a new contract and
whether
> > >you can qualify for their $50 rebate.
> >
> > One problem is that everyone seems to be pushing the current Sprint
> > $150 rebate. I really don't mind the contract if it saves me $150,
> > but if you read the fine print, the rebate is claimed to only apply
> > to plans that cost $35/mo or more, and only to non-corporate
> > accounts, so I doubt I can use it. Without that, none of the
> > phones I've seen are competitive.
> >
> > Two questions: I really don't mind the StarTac -- I've learned
> > how to use most of its features by now -- but it does not have
> > the tri-mode (1900Mhz CDMA, 800Mhz CDMA, AMPS) that the newer
> > phones have. How important is 800Mhz CDMA if I generally leave
> > my phone in Sprint-only mode to avoid roaming charges?
> >
> > Also, the fine print claims there is a $36 phone activation fee.
> > Now, five years ago, the activation fee was waived for corporate
> > accounts, but maybe this has changed in the interim. Is it
> > possible to swap phones today without paying the activation fee,
> > and if so, how?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rob
>
> SPCS does charge an activation fee on new accounts or on additional lines
> being added to a new account. As for customers who are just replacing the
> phone on their current account, there is no charge to make the change.
>
> Bob
>
>

"Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> One problem is that everyone seems to be pushing the current Sprint
> $150 rebate. I really don't mind the contract if it saves me $150,
> but if you read the fine print, the rebate is claimed to only apply
> to plans that cost $35/mo or more, and only to non-corporate
> accounts, so I doubt I can use it. Without that, none of the
> phones I've seen are competitive.

Switch to a non-corporate $35 account. After the rebate clears,
ask for a corporate discount. After the discount, your net cost
increase will be only about $5 per month, which is easily offset
by qualifying for a $150 rebate on a new phone every 18 months
(18 X $5 = $120).

--
John Richards

I'm in the same situation, but my phone is still ok.
My contract is up and I'm on my original $29.99 for 300 min. + free n/w.
I asked at the store about the 18 mo. upgrade and was told I'd have to
upgrade to a 35/mo plan.
So, for now I'll wait until the phones dies.
Or, if they call to renew the contract I'll ask for a new phone or won't
renew and see what happens.

Mike

"Rob Stampfli" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I signed up for Sprint PCS 5 years ago through a corporate
> discount program offered through my employer. I bought a
> Motorola StarTac phone at that time, and it has served me
> faithfully since then. However, it is now getting flaky --
> it sometimes doesn't want to charge the battery and, more
> critically, the ear-piece speaker sometimes doesn't want
> to work -- no audio unless I fiddle with the up/down buttons.
>
> I'm happy with my plan. It nominally costs $30/mo (it's
> the old 300 minute national roaming plan from 1999), but
> with the discount, the total bill is about $26.
>
> What is the most economical way of upgrading the phone?
>
> Buy one off Ebay? If I do this, can I activate it without
> incurring any additional fees? (I thought you used to be
> able to do this over the web, but I cannot find it now.)
>
> Visit the Sprint store?
>
> Visit Radio Shack, Circuit City, etc?
>
> Buy a phone off sprintpcs.com?
>
> Call retention and tell them to either cut me a deal on
> a phone or I'll look elsewhere?
>
> Seems Sprint has some good deals on phones, but only if
> (1) I sign a contract, (2) I have a $35/mo plan or better
> which I don't, and (2) if I sign up for their PCS VISION
> package which I don't want.
>
> So, what's my best options?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Rob

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:14:50 -0500, "MikeRaphael"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm in the same situation, but my phone is still ok.
>My contract is up and I'm on my original $29.99 for 300 min. + free n/w.
>I asked at the store about the 18 mo. upgrade and was told I'd have to
>upgrade to a 35/mo plan.
>So, for now I'll wait until the phones dies.
>Or, if they call to renew the contract I'll ask for a new phone or won't
>renew and see what happens.

You could try what I did.
My dad lost his Sprint phone. (we later found it).
I called in to cancel his service since he had no phone.
They sent him on right away, free. No contract. Nothing.
It was fine.

"MikeRaphael" <[email protected]> wrote ...
> I'm in the same situation, but my phone is still ok.
> My contract is up and I'm on my original $29.99 for 300 min. + free n/w.
> I asked at the store about the 18 mo. upgrade and was told I'd have to
> upgrade to a 35/mo plan.
> So, for now I'll wait until the phones dies.
> Or, if they call to renew the contract I'll ask for a new phone or won't
> renew and see what happens.

Don't wait for the phone to die. That's the position I'm in. I'm 5 months
into a year long contract and my phone died today. I have a $30 plan that
I've had for almost 5 years. After much time on the phone with them, my
options apparently are:
--Pay $150 for a new phone (that's their lowest priced phone) that may not
work in my home (signal is not strong here)
--Upgrade to a plan with even more minutes I won't use ($35) for another
year to get a rebate on a phone that may not even work in my home
--Keep paying a monthly service fee for a phone I can't use
--Downgrade to a $15 a month plan for a one year commitment on a phone I
can't use (seriously, they offered me this)
--But a used phone somewhere

I am tremendously frustrated that almost 5 years of loyalty counts for
exactly nothing in this domain. Someone who's paid $35 a month for the last
year and a half can get a new phone, but my paying $30 a month for 5 years
counts for jack diddly squat.

My inclination is to buy the cheapest used phone I can find, and leave
Sprint when my contract is up in June. The hell with them.

Colin

"Colin William" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I am tremendously frustrated that almost 5 years of loyalty counts for
> exactly nothing in this domain. Someone who's paid $35 a month for the last
> year and a half can get a new phone, but my paying $30 a month for 5 years
> counts for jack diddly squat.
>
> My inclination is to buy the cheapest used phone I can find, and leave
> Sprint when my contract is up in June. The hell with them.

I'm pretty sure the other carriers have similar policies. At $30 per month
in revenue, Sprint barely breaks even on your plan. Why should they go
even deeper in the hole and offer you a rebate? They're not a charity.
The only reason they offer the starter plans is the anticipation that you'll
upgrade in subsequent years.

The $5 extra you'd have to pay is a good deal if you buy a new phone
every 18 months: 18 X $5 =$120, for which you get a $150 rebate.
Cell phones tend to wear out after 18-24 months of steady use.

--
John Richards

"John Richards" <[email protected]> wrote
> I'm pretty sure the other carriers have similar policies. At $30 per month
> in revenue, Sprint barely breaks even on your plan. Why should they go
> even deeper in the hole and offer you a rebate? They're not a charity.
> The only reason they offer the starter plans is the anticipation that
> you'll
> upgrade in subsequent years.

Do they really only break even? I hardly use any of my minutes, so all they
need to do is maintain an ccount in the computer and send a bill every
month.

> The $5 extra you'd have to pay is a good deal if you buy a new phone
> every 18 months: 18 X $5 =$120, for which you get a $150 rebate.
> Cell phones tend to wear out after 18-24 months of steady use.

I'd get the $150 rebate if I re-upped for 2 years. Re-upping one year at a
time I only get a $100 rebate.

Colin

"Colin William" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "John Richards" <[email protected]> wrote
> > I'm pretty sure the other carriers have similar policies. At $30 per
month
> > in revenue, Sprint barely breaks even on your plan. Why should they go
> > even deeper in the hole and offer you a rebate? They're not a charity.
> > The only reason they offer the starter plans is the anticipation that
> > you'll
> > upgrade in subsequent years.
>
> Do they really only break even? I hardly use any of my minutes, so all
they
> need to do is maintain an ccount in the computer and send a bill every
> month.

Yes, on a $30/mo. customer, they barely break even. SPCS makes their money
on the higher plan accounts.
>
> > The $5 extra you'd have to pay is a good deal if you buy a new phone
> > every 18 months: 18 X $5 =$120, for which you get a $150 rebate.
> > Cell phones tend to wear out after 18-24 months of steady use.
>
> I'd get the $150 rebate if I re-upped for 2 years. Re-upping one year at a
> time I only get a $100 rebate.
>
> Colin

Well, it's up to you then on what to do. If you don't want to go on a two
year agreement, then buy a used phone or one of SPCS's lower end phones, and
just do an ESN swap.

Bob