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Help getting a new phone

Ghalib

May 21, 2004, 5:35 PM
Greetings,

I've been a T-Mobile (Voicestream when I joined) customer for about 2.5 years. My original contract of course ran out about 1.5 years ago. Considering as long as it's been, my old phone is dying, and I wanted to upgrade and get a new phone.

I called up T-Mobile and asked what my options were considering I'd be more than happy to sign up for a new contract. I was told that I would not qualify for a discounted phone and would have to pay far above what any new customer walking into a T-Mobile store would pay for any given phone. The reason given was that the plan I've been under for the past 2.5 yrs has been a $30/mo plan, and in order to get a discounted phone, I would have had to have been on a $40/mo plan or higher for the ...
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muchdrama

May 21, 2004, 6:46 PM
Ghalib said:
Greetings,

I've been a T-Mobile (Voicestream when I joined) customer for about 2.5 years. My original contract of course ran out about 1.5 years ago. Considering as long as it's been, my old phone is dying, and I wanted to upgrade and get a new phone.

I called up T-Mobile and asked what my options were considering I'd be more than happy to sign up for a new contract. I was told that I would not qualify for a discounted phone and would have to pay far above what any new customer walking into a T-Mobile store would pay for any given phone. The reason given was that the plan I've been under for the past 2.5 yrs has been a $30/mo plan, and in order to get a discounted phone, I would have had to have been on
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fratermus

May 21, 2004, 9:35 PM
I'd pick up a good, working, used T-mobile (or unlocked phone) off eBay.

I do that whenever I wreck yet another phone. :-)
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ricotatl

May 21, 2004, 9:12 PM
On handset upgrades, the carrier takes into consideration; length of contract (if on one), how long you've been with the carrier, payment history and amount of revenue brought to the company, and of course also rate plan, a $40 plan brings in more revenue to the company than say for instance a $30/month plan. When speaking to customer care, threaten to cancel your service and they will probably refer you to "retention" dept in order to keep you as a customer and they have more leverage in qualifying you to an upgrade...of course with possibly renewal of contract.
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JDigital

May 22, 2004, 2:04 AM
Plus I'd try calling again... this doesn't sound like a legit thing. You might try getting ahold of the sales department directly. I wouldn't immediately start screaming and threaten to cancel. I'm an indirect dealer, and I get paid the same for renewals regardless of what plan they are renewing, so if all else fails find a dealer and do it there.
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Ghalib

May 22, 2004, 2:11 PM
Thank you all for your suggestions and insight. Much appreciated!

I'm going to try giving them a call back, then I'll try a local dealer, and if all else fails, head for an alternate carrier.

Btw, does anyone know of a site for searching on reports of quality of a carrier in a given area? I'd like to know who has strong coverage/signal in the Central Florida area amongst the other carriers.

Thanks again, everyone!
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hanz

May 24, 2004, 4:24 PM
Hey guy Sorry to say but what that rep told you was the truth T-mobile changed its upgrade policy. you have to be on a $39.99 plan for at least 12 months before you'll be eligable for a discounted hs. i know its lame but hey. If you were at retail store or you were on t-mobile.com to start service being on $29.99 plan wont get you a rebate for nost phones. And don't call in and ask for sales they only deal with new customers and even if you were on a $39.99 plan you still wouldn't get a free phone
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Ghalib

May 24, 2004, 8:43 PM
Hey Hanz,

I wasn't looking for a free phone, just one that would be similarly discounted as the other ones.

I took the advice of one of the others who responded, and asked to speak to T-Mobile's "customer retention" department, and sure enough, they came through. They offered me the phone I wanted for about $20 less than what it currently goes for in their stores after rebate! I guess even a $30/mo customer is worth keeping around after all. 🙂

Thanks again everyone!
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hanz

May 24, 2004, 11:48 PM
any way to work the system! 😎
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