costco wont sell me a sprint phone unless i agree to a contract ??

[Clocker]

Can anyone verify or confirm this? I used to always be able to buy a phone at costco without being tied down by a freakin contract.

 

[broon]

If you want the rebates you usually have to agree to a contract. If you want to pay full price then you shouldn't have to.

 

[Clocker]

I know broom. But they changed the rules. You cant buy it full price anymore. I dont know what gives.

 

[FoBoT]

buy it somewhere else

 

[Clocker]

yeah but costco at least for Rocks!!! or at least it used too. Sheesh

 

[mpitts]

It's not an easy thing to find a provider who will sell you a phone with no contract. Number portability makes it very difficult for providers to maintain clients without contracts.

And why would you want a Sprint phone and no contract? I mean, you are going to use their sevice with the phone (you have to). So why not sign a one-year contract?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: mpitts
It's not an easy thing to find a provider who will sell you a phone with no contract. Number portability makes it very difficult for providers to maintain clients without contracts.

And why would you want a Sprint phone and no contract? I mean, you are going to use their sevice with the phone (you have to). So why not sign a one-year contract?

Maybe he's already in a contract and just wants to replace his phone?

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: mpitts
It's not an easy thing to find a provider who will sell you a phone with no contract. Number portability makes it very difficult for providers to maintain clients without contracts.

And why would you want a Sprint phone and no contract? I mean, you are going to use their sevice with the phone (you have to). So why not sign a one-year contract?

Maybe he's already in a contract and just wants to replace his phone?

I am sure that if he has already satisfied his contact that Sprint will provide him a discount to upgrade.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: mpitts
It's not an easy thing to find a provider who will sell you a phone with no contract. Number portability makes it very difficult for providers to maintain clients without contracts.

And why would you want a Sprint phone and no contract? I mean, you are going to use their sevice with the phone (you have to). So why not sign a one-year contract?

Maybe he's already in a contract and just wants to replace his phone?

I am sure that if he has already satisfied his contact that Sprint will provide him a discount to upgrade.

maybe he's in the middle of his contract and wants to upgrade his phone and wants to have costco's return policy to back up his new phone.

I suggest going to sprintusers.com and searching for costco in their forums to see if other people are reporting similar experiences

 

[Clocker]

Contract is bad. I dont want it. Retention wont give out good deals anymore. Also, my rebate is only for 75.00 for a 2 year contract. Since I replaced my phone earlier this year (which i bought on ebay btw and did not apply for rebate yet they still say that you loose the amount you can rebate anyways).

Hey doesnt verizon or cingular offer free phones? I think i may consider a switch.

 

[Rogodin2]

Sprint doesn't sell non-contract phones. Virgin mobile is their prepaid service.

Rogo

 

[Clocker]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
Sprint doesn't sell non-contract phones. Virgin mobile is their prepaid service.

Rogo

I just want to point this out to avoid any misunderstanding. until recently Costco (At least till SEP 2006) use to sell sprint phones without the buyer incurring a contractual obligation. Granted you paid more but you had the option.

Ok I guess no one really buys phones a costco w/o a K anymore.

 

[Oceanas]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
Sprint doesn't sell non-contract phones. Virgin mobile is their prepaid service.

Rogo

Their website sure thinks they do. For every phone you have the option of "Buy without a plan."

 

[novasatori]

maybe someone who wanted commission was lying their ass off?

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
Sprint doesn't sell non-contract phones. Virgin mobile is their prepaid service.

Rogo

not true. I've owned 8 sprint phones in my life and 5 of them have been purchased without signing a new contract or extending a current one.

 

[George P Burdell]

Switch to another network?

 

[Clocker]

Originally posted by: novasatori
maybe someone who wanted commission was lying their ass off?

hmm good point

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Clocker
Can anyone verify or confirm this? I used to always be able to buy a phone at costco without being tied down by a freakin contract.

LOL, the person just didn't want to sell you one because he won't make profit off if it. Ask him to speak to a Sprint customer service rep, and if he refuses, file a complaint.

Nothing pisses me off than greedy phone reps.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Clocker
Can anyone verify or confirm this? I used to always be able to buy a phone at costco without being tied down by a freakin contract.

LOL, the person just didn't want to sell you one because he won't make profit off if it. Ask him to speak to a Sprint customer service rep, and if he refuses, file a complaint.

Nothing pisses me off than greedy phone reps.

Guy was an in-store indirect retailer, phone reps don't get commission, I believe. Either way, that guy was in the wrong.

OP, I'd go back during a different shift.

 

[Clocker]

thanks for the comments everyone. this is the email response i got from costco. at last i dont think i will buy a cell from costco anymore. i think ebay or these forums will be my only options. Here is the message:

Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.

Since we started have Cell Phone Kiosks in our warehouses, members have had to renew (normally a two year contract) with the Service provider to purchase a new phone. This is the contract we have with the Cell Phone companies.

Thank you,

Costco Wholesale Corporation
memberservice@costco.com