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Can you buy just service with T-Mobile?

c230mike

May 20, 2004, 10:36 PM
I am considering purchasing an unlocked 900/1800/1900 phone. Does anyone know if T-Mo will just sell you a SIM with a service plan. No need for a phone
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hp

May 20, 2004, 11:24 PM
Why??? 😳 😕 When u can make $50+ get a base phone; so why not do that get an extra phone and make $50. That is what i did got my phone while traveling in europe got a free phone and made 50 from www.lowbills.info. And switched the sim once i got my tmo phone to my unlocked phone.....just my 2 cents 😉
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JDigital

May 21, 2004, 2:35 AM
I don't know what T-Mo's policy on that is in their retail stores, but I run an indirect store and we can certainly do that. It's not always the smartest thing, since by buying a phone from the carrier you get a warranty on your handset should you need it. I acquired a couple of Song Ericsson Z600's recently from another vendor and sold them with T-Mobile SIM cards no problem. I suppose since they were new they are warrantied through Sony Ericsson.
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muchdrama

May 21, 2004, 9:16 AM
JDigital said:
I don't know what T-Mo's policy on that is in their retail stores, but I run an indirect store and we can certainly do that. It's not always the smartest thing, since by buying a phone from the carrier you get a warranty on your handset should you need it. I acquired a couple of Song Ericsson Z600's recently from another vendor and sold them with T-Mobile SIM cards no problem. I suppose since they were new they are warrantied through Sony Ericsson.

Yeah, but you might be some guy with 9 of the latest and greatest handsets at home and you don't want another phone for the collection. We certainly don't do this at Circuit City, even though I have people ask for it all the time. I just tell the...
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JDigital

May 22, 2004, 2:07 AM
Actually, in wireless you are selling the service... the phone itself is a negative profit without the activation commission. It's actually more profitable to activate a customer without selling them a handset, because you aren't absorbing any loss on the equipment.
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Idra82

May 21, 2004, 10:12 AM
😁 Yes they will, but you still need to consider they will ask you to stay under contract for one year.
Also, in case your phone turns out to be defective, only the manufacturer that made the phone will warranty it, Not T-Mobile. Hope this helps.
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Starr06

May 21, 2004, 10:24 AM
Yes but as stated by others, you will have to sign a one year contact and the phone will not be covered by T-Mobile for any defects so if you want to take the risk, you can certainly get the phone activated at a T-Mobile retail store.
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Aleq

May 27, 2004, 11:41 AM
You can buy a SIM alone from a direct corporate store, then call 800-937-8997 and ask to be transferred to Activations. You will be billed the $35.00 activation fee, you'll be agreeing to a one year contract, and quite frankly I don't see why you'd want to do this, since if your phone glitches out you'll have to send it back to the manufacturer for service and it would be a REALLY good idea to have a backup phone in case of emergencies such as this. In addition, depending on the model of phone you have you could experience difficulties if it doesn't get along with our network on some features, so again a backup plan is smart. Just activate normally, get the free phone and put your SIM into whatever phone you like, that's why GSM is so coo...
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luckygirl8411

May 28, 2004, 5:28 PM
Actually, you cannot just buy an unactivated sim from a corporate store. That sim must be activated before it leaves the store. You are more than welcome to purchase just the service, but it's in your best interest to purchase a phone at the time of activation for several reasons. 1. You won't get another price that cheap until you've had service for at least 1 year and 2. the equipment won't be covered under T-Mobile's warranty. The rep activating you should let you know this for those 2 reasons and because they also make commission on equipment sales.
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pranu

Jun 16, 2004, 11:32 AM
Correct me if I am wrong

1. TMo makes money on the service NOT the phone
2. The reason for contracts is to make sure they recover at least SOME of the money lost on the discount on the phone.

So if the above two are true - then why not just sell an active sim without a contract and just make money - without the initial loss?

More customers would be willing to do that. Outside the US a lot of people buy phones outside of the carrier and just buy the service. Especially in the US the phone introduction by the carriers is far slower than their availability otherwise

(Yes I am ignoring the fact that TMo wont support the phone - and honestly if I am actively buying the phone in Europe or SEA then I do understand that I will have to ...
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JDigital

Jun 16, 2004, 12:11 PM
You are exactly right, but what the others are saying is that if the phone you provide yourself craps out, you will be thusly boned: No warranty support from T-Mobile.
No discount on another handset until your contract is up.
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pranu

Jun 16, 2004, 12:34 PM
JD - My point is that there should be NO CONTRACT at all if I am signing up ONLY for service.

I have a phone with Starhub (provider in Singapore). I havent bought a phone from them but just the service and I am on a month to month basis. But I also know that if my phone craps out I can go and get a phone from them at their deeply discounted rates - but the catch is that, then at that point of time i will have to sign their 1 or 2 year contract (depending on the level of discount). The time that I have spent with them as a customer until that point will have no benefit to me in getting a phone.
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JDigital

Jun 16, 2004, 4:13 PM
I see your point, but unfortunately we have a bunch of spoiled consumers in the US demanding expensive wireless equipment be given to them for free. Even though you personally wouldn't be a loss for them on the equipment, they simply don't have a system in place to activate post-paid customers without a contract, and I doubt that they would ever start making exceptions.
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sherryberry

Jun 20, 2004, 10:55 PM
I know that currently at Sam's Club... at least here in IL but might be nationwide since it's Wireless Retail that does this, they are giving you a $75 rebate for a Samsung X105 that costs $40 for you to buy. So you'd be getting money back for it. That would be an even better idea than just getting the service. Plus, the phone isn't like the worse looking thing ever heh so it's not too bad.
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