Upgrade charge?

I was thinking about getting a new phone, but I see they add a $35 upgrade charge. The contract I had expired, and I get the gov't rate, so would I be able to sign another contract, keep the same number, but not have to pay the extra $35? If not then you're basically paying $35 to keep the same number since a new customer doesn't have to pay that.

Has anyone here went and upgraded there phone without having to pay the upgrade charge? I can get the i930 for $258.99, but then it ends up being $293.99. Isn't buying the phone enough of an "upgrade charge"?

i had to pay 425 for the i930 because of nextels new upgade policy

they have had that policy for a good 5 months now

the i930 is disappointing, u cannot use AIM on it, and it is not even available i am gonna cancel my order and get an 870

The $35 upgrade fee is if you go to a store. If you call telesales it is only $10 but then you have to pay for shipping and programing.. As far as the new customer thing, Nextel/Sprint has been doing this a long time and can get you coming and going. New customers pay an account set up fee of $36. So you are going to pay it no matter what. It is becoming standard practice for all the carriers to charge an upgrade fee.

It is just like the 411 charges!!! If one does it all can do it, the sky is the limit! I can remember selling comcast metrophone (prior to sell out to cingular) and all plans came with 3 free 411 calls. Now what are they $1.40.

Does anyone ask Nextel what happen to the rounding to the sec instead of min? Or what about the automatic credit for a dropped call... Where did that go? I guess a lot of people would have free service if it was still around!! Where is the free detailed billing, free caller id, and free voicemail that has been given away with ever carrier since anolog days!!

What I am saying is you b_it_ch about a $35 processing fee when you are buying a $400 overrated, over troubled phone???? But wouldn't mind be milked monthly!

Nice concept Mighty!!

Well Mighty, I know what you're saying. At the same time though that's kind of what ticks me off, shouldn't paying their crazy prices for a phone be enough of an upgrade charge?

I was on the Nextel website when I saw that they added an upgrade charge in my shopping cart. But if I added the phone to the cart on the private government store, there was no upgrade charge, and you get free account set up. I wouldn't doubt that they would still get you somewhere else, but without knowing where it looks like if I were a new customer and bought through the private webstore I wouldn't get charged the extra fee.

I agree nextel phones are EXTREMELYTOO HIGH!

well the iden division at motorola is the most profitable division motorola has! There is no compition Nextel customers only have 2 choices Blackberry or Motorola so why should they lower the pricing. Now Sprint's CDMA side the phones are at least half the price for a comparable model on Nextel. This is because Sprint uses Sanyo, Samsung, Nokia, Audiovox, and Motorola. The manufactures have to compete for the carriers business. I think in the next 2 years you will see a big shift in pricing as they do away with the Nextel Iden system and shift gears for the CDMA EVDO PTT (Iden Killer) service.

alot of the "agent" locations dont charge upgrade fees. (i only know of verizon and cingular agents that dont though)

best way if you are upgrading is still buying a used phone or a new phone from ebay. Just buy it from a power seller with high feedback. It can save you hundreds of dollars.