Buy your own phone, lose out on rebates for 18 months

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:16:11 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>"Jackf" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN
>> swap. They have never reset the 18 month clock.

>Were the replacements brand new or refurbished? Used/refurbished
>replacements don't reset the 18 month clock.

That not what the sprint rep said. The phone I got was used and it
reset the 18 month clock.

---

› See More: Buy your own phone, lose out on rebates for 18 months

"TCS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:16:11 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>>"Jackf" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN
>>> swap. They have never reset the 18 month clock.
>
>>Were the replacements brand new or refurbished? Used/refurbished
>>replacements don't reset the 18 month clock.
>
> That not what the sprint rep said. The phone I got was used and it
> reset the 18 month clock.

In that case, Sprint made a mistake. If it was me, I'd complain about
it until the mistake was corrected.

--
John Richards

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:07:31 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>"TCS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:16:11 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>"Jackf" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>>>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN
>>>> swap. They have never reset the 18 month clock.
>>
>>>Were the replacements brand new or refurbished? Used/refurbished
>>>replacements don't reset the 18 month clock.
>>
>> That not what the sprint rep said. The phone I got was used and it
>> reset the 18 month clock.

>In that case, Sprint made a mistake. If it was me, I'd complain about
>it until the mistake was corrected.

I've now talked to four reps and they all say that any activation resets
the 18 months counter. Usually the best offer is to drop the phone number,
get a new one and then I can get a discount on a new phone.

On my last call I said "discontinue service" to the computerized moron call
redirector (formerly "clair") and got a rep who was much more interested
in resolving the issue. My take is that as a 4 year customer, I wanted to be
treated about as well as they do to a complete stranger. The rep made a note
on the account and somebody else will make the decision.

It's now out of my hands. They either make an offer or they don't. If they
don't, I'll simply go elsewhere when my two year contract is up in march.

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:07:31 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>"TCS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:16:11 GMT, John Richards <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>"Jackf" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>>>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN
>>>> swap. They have never reset the 18 month clock.
>>
>>>Were the replacements brand new or refurbished? Used/refurbished
>>>replacements don't reset the 18 month clock.
>>
>> That not what the sprint rep said. The phone I got was used and it
>> reset the 18 month clock.

>In that case, Sprint made a mistake. If it was me, I'd complain about
>it until the mistake was corrected.

According to sprint, there was no mistake. Any activation resets the
18 month clock and If I don't like it I can just **** off. Of course all
of the above was said in weaselspeak, but the meaning was the same.

TCS <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:07:31 GMT, John Richards
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>"TCS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:slrnd17a2a.hg1.The-Central-
[email protected]...
>>> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:16:11 GMT, John Richards
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>"Jackf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an
>>>>> ESN swap. They have never reset the 18 month clock.
>>>
>>>>Were the replacements brand new or refurbished? Used/refurbished
>>>>replacements don't reset the 18 month clock.
>>>
>>> That not what the sprint rep said. The phone I got was used and it
>>> reset the 18 month clock.
>
>>In that case, Sprint made a mistake. If it was me, I'd complain about
>>it until the mistake was corrected.
>
> I've now talked to four reps and they all say that any activation
> resets the 18 months counter. Usually the best offer is to drop the
> phone number, get a new one and then I can get a discount on a new
> phone.
>

If you aren't cemented to your number that *IS* your best option becuase
you get the instant rebate price versus waiting for a check to be
returned to you. I just swapped out 2 N400 for A680's and got two new
numbers so the price out the door was $100.


> On my last call I said "discontinue service" to the computerized moron
> call redirector (formerly "clair") and got a rep who was much more
> interested in resolving the issue. My take is that as a 4 year
> customer, I wanted to be treated about as well as they do to a
> complete stranger. The rep made a note on the account and somebody
> else will make the decision.
>
> It's now out of my hands. They either make an offer or they don't.
> If they don't, I'll simply go elsewhere when my two year contract is
> up in march.
>

> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN swap.
> They have never reset the 18 month clock.

Single phone, my own service.
Original Phone was a Kyocera (only one bought with original activation). A
year after that, I bought my own Samsung N400 from OfficeDepot clearance.
Just had Sprint swap this phone, and take off the Kyocera. It was only a NAM
swap on current service. Last Dec, the N400 decides to up and die. Sprint
replaced it free (with a Samsung i660) as a warranty replacement.

When I check for "New for You" credit , it showed the N400 date of only 11
months service, not the original Kyocera that was over 2 years old since I
signed up. I asked, they told me it was 18months of a phone's original
activation, not the contract date.

Now, my "New for You" date is Dec 04 of the new i660 - even though I have
been with Sprint coming up on 3 years now.

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 09:45:25 -0800, Sept1967 <sept1967@highstream> wrote:
>> I've replaced several phones through Best Buy warranty, doing an ESN swap.
>> They have never reset the 18 month clock.

>Single phone, my own service.
>Original Phone was a Kyocera (only one bought with original activation). A
>year after that, I bought my own Samsung N400 from OfficeDepot clearance.
>Just had Sprint swap this phone, and take off the Kyocera. It was only a NAM
>swap on current service. Last Dec, the N400 decides to up and die. Sprint
>replaced it free (with a Samsung i660) as a warranty replacement.

>When I check for "New for You" credit , it showed the N400 date of only 11
>months service, not the original Kyocera that was over 2 years old since I
>signed up. I asked, they told me it was 18months of a phone's original
>activation, not the contract date.

>Now, my "New for You" date is Dec 04 of the new i660 - even though I have
>been with Sprint coming up on 3 years now.
>


Here's some new info:
one line 1, sprint will give me the $150 mail in and say I should be able
to get the $30 web rebate. I activated a replacement phone on that line
less than a month ago!

On line 2, sprint said in no uncertain terms that there was absolutely
no way I could get any discounts even though I've never had any discount
on any phone on that line.


Meanwhile I checked with t-mobile (was voicestream), cingular (was AT&T),
and verizon. Cingular doesn't have coverage in Denver's north suburbs, and
the others were much more expensive than sprint. Verizon had the best deal,
$50 for a motorola camera speakerphone and a second one for free. However,
1400 minutes shared was $100/mo plus another $10/mo for roaming and long
distance compared to my current plan with sprint of $85/month for 2000
shared minutes. For $25/mo less, I'll stay with sprint and just buy a phone
on ebay and hope it lasts 18 months.

Yep, that $85/2000 plan was one of the best ever. I had it once.

TCS wrote:
> my current plan with sprint of $85/month for 2000
> shared minutes.

--
Frank Harris in San Francisco with an A680

"Frank Harris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yep, that $85/2000 plan was one of the best ever. I had it once.
>
> TCS wrote:
> > my current plan with sprint of $85/month for 2000
> > shared minutes.

One of the reasons I'm still with Sprint (other than the fact that they've
really expanded service in my area) is my $49/1300 plan. I've had this plan
for about 4 years now (I think).

-F

In article <[email protected]>,
"John Richards" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > TCS wrote:
> >> I just found out that if you buy your own phone, you're disqualified from
> >> any sprint discounts for 18 months.
> >
> > No, I don't think so. Only if you buy from Sprint. I thought what you
> > thought
> > too, but it isn't true of phones you get from other sources; I've checked.
>
> Logically, you'd think that was the case. However, I'm pretty sure that
> O/Siris has stated several times that the 18 month clock is reset anytime
> a new phone is activated, regardless of the purchase source. The only time
> it is not reset is when you activate a used (previously activated) phone.

NOOOOO!

It gets reset whenever any phone gets activated, old, or new.

A fe wmonths ago, I lost my newest phone (14 moths old) and moved back
to my old phone (two years older than the new phone). I waited around
for a better phone and for the expiration of the 18 months of the newer
phone. But, no Sprint, had reset my month count and said that I only had
4 months on my latest phone and I needed to wait 14 more months, even
though the phone was my older one that was previously in service. Sprint
has stopped selling that phone for over two years, so it was obvious it
was not a new phone.

Since the battery hardly held a charge, I ended up buying the cheapest
phone I could find out of costco.

They tried that sh*t with me but if you ***** they will reverse that.
Threaten to leave. Say you don't care how much the penalty is.
It worked for me.

"Pedro Gelabert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "John Richards" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> "Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > TCS wrote:
>> >> I just found out that if you buy your own phone, you're disqualified
>> >> from
>> >> any sprint discounts for 18 months.
>> >
>> > No, I don't think so. Only if you buy from Sprint. I thought what you
>> > thought
>> > too, but it isn't true of phones you get from other sources; I've
>> > checked.
>>
>> Logically, you'd think that was the case. However, I'm pretty sure that
>> O/Siris has stated several times that the 18 month clock is reset anytime
>> a new phone is activated, regardless of the purchase source. The only
>> time
>> it is not reset is when you activate a used (previously activated) phone.
>
> NOOOOO!
>
> It gets reset whenever any phone gets activated, old, or new.
>
> A fe wmonths ago, I lost my newest phone (14 moths old) and moved back
> to my old phone (two years older than the new phone). I waited around
> for a better phone and for the expiration of the 18 months of the newer
> phone. But, no Sprint, had reset my month count and said that I only had
> 4 months on my latest phone and I needed to wait 14 more months, even
> though the phone was my older one that was previously in service. Sprint
> has stopped selling that phone for over two years, so it was obvious it
> was not a new phone.
>
> Since the battery hardly held a charge, I ended up buying the cheapest
> phone I could find out of costco.

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> NOOOOO!
>
> It gets reset whenever any phone gets activated, old, or new.
>
> A fe wmonths ago, I lost my newest phone (14 moths old) and moved back
> to my old phone (two years older than the new phone). I waited around
> for a better phone and for the expiration of the 18 months of the newer
> phone. But, no Sprint, had reset my month count and said that I only had
> 4 months on my latest phone and I needed to wait 14 more months, even
> though the phone was my older one that was previously in service. Sprint
> has stopped selling that phone for over two years, so it was obvious it
> was not a new phone.
>
> Since the battery hardly held a charge, I ended up buying the cheapest
> phone I could find out of costco.
>

In 2004, I started with an N400, bought a Sanyo VM4500, Then swapped to
a T608 in June. All were used. As of December, 2004 I am eligible for
the "New For You" mailin rebate.

The system does screw up now and again, but the policy under New For You
is 18 months between *new* phones in order to be eligible.

That did not happen with me. I switched phones to an older, previously
used on the account phone and back and it did not change my rebate
eligibility date.