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Samsung A660 Long Dead-now about rebates

allisolm

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Staples in-store
edit: extended until Dec 17. Rebate form https://www.stapleseasyrebates.com/prom...html?productId=1062058&bundleId=673906">here</a>.

STi mobile Samsung A660 prepaid phone
Free after easy rebate
Valid Nov 27 - Dec 3 In-Store Savings

? Airtime carried on the Sprint nationwide PCS Network
? Full-color screen
? Voice-activated dialing
? $99.99 - $100 easy rebate = free
#624062

Don't know if this link will work. I haven't had much luck with Staples links lately. If not, you can view it in their circular online.http://staples.shoplocal.com/staples/de...802&pagenumber=4&listingid=-2096138494
 
How do pre-paid phones work and how expensive are they to use? I'm basically a cell phone hater but would like to have an "emergency phone" for when I'm away from home.
 
dont do it! you need 90 day of consistant usage to be qualified for the rebate. i returned mine after reading over the rebate information
 
Thanks for OP Allisolm!

My brother picked up one for his daughter and I picked up one for our dad who wanted something just like this to keep in his car for emergency or occasional use. He use to have a TracFone which needed to be refilled on a regular basis and minute useage was expensive, although he had wide coverage.

There are several threads on STi Mobile's service on another board - FW

Rebates are being paid out by STi on earlier sales through other vendors. btw, STi Mobile uses Sprints network and other phone models are available via their website or from other nationwide stores. Refill cards are available for small discounts online and at local stores (near me: CompUSA, Staples, Ralphs Supermarkets, etc).

See Anandtech thread here

google STi mobile a660 for more info😉

 
I got one of these. It seems OK -- I talked to Sprint Cust. Svc via *2 even tho I haven't activated it with STi yet. I'm wondering how this phone compares to the LG 5225. I asked the same question in the other thread.
I can still take this one back to Staples if the LG is better.
 
kaborka:

Assuming you read about getting the LG through cheapphonecards.com, then you know that you get a $10 card with it and will need to buy some card for use with the Samsung.

The display screen on the A660 is both larger in size and of higher color resolution. It also has more ringtones. Game, small apps, wallpaper, and more ringtones can be downloaded to the A660 whereas I believe (not sure) that you can get cell web access to do so with the LG. If you live or travel within the Sprint PCS net, you'll likely get good connections with either. My niece has this same phone from Sprint for the past couple years and it works fine for her needs.

Above all, this is a pay-as-you-go phone for occasional use. Do your own math as to monthly costs vs a std 1-year to 2-year plan where you'd likely get a free phone. I believe that Verizon is currently offering the same phone (their version) where you get 2 phones for $39.99 plus incidentals on a two year K.

 
Originally posted by: eunsang
dont do it! you need 90 day of consistant usage to be qualified for the rebate. i returned mine after reading over the rebate information
Click to expand...

This is nonsense. To get the rebate you have to be ACTIVATED and to be a current user. To get activated you need to buy a $10 refill card, from which $4.95 will be deducted to activate your phone (so you keep $5.05). Depending on which plan you choose, minutes are either 10-12 cents or 18 cents.

Now, to keep your phone in good standing for the 90 days you have to ensure you either make or receive a whopping ONE (single) call each 60 days. So sometime between the point where you activate the phone and 60 days after that point, you need to make a single 1 minute call to/from the phone, for a cost of 10-18 cents debited to the $5.05 you have left. After that, you can keep the phone active indefinitely for another 10-18 cents (depending on plan) every 60 days...

Yeah, one call about 60 days from now sure seems pretty onerous. I can see why you'd return the phone. No way you'd be able to keep up with that requirement to get the rebate...

Kwad
 
russw, thanks for the detailed review. I found reviews of both phones at cnet, and they seemed to be pretty comparable. I think I'll keep the Sammy just 'cuz I have it in hand, despite the $10 time that comes with the LG deal.

This phone is for the gf to use for urgent calls. She lost her CallPlus number cuz she didn't make the one call needed to keep her airtime current. Sprint seems to have better coverage in her area than Cingular, which was poor.

I read at FW that you can activate with STi via their website, and they won't ding you the $5 if you do so.
 
Originally posted by: kaborka
russw, thanks for the detailed review. I found reviews of both phones at cnet, and they seemed to be pretty comparable. I think I'll keep the Sammy just 'cuz I have it in hand, despite the $10 time that comes with the LG deal.

This phone is for the gf to use for urgent calls. She lost her CallPlus number cuz she didn't make the one call needed to keep her airtime current. Sprint seems to have better coverage in her area than Cingular, which was poor.

I read at FW that you can activate with STi via their website, and they won't ding you the $5 if you do so.
Click to expand...

Not correct. You will still get charged $5. And if you think you'll be clever and ignore that probabilty and not buy a phone card, remember that if your phone has a negative balance for > 14 days it gets deactivated...and you get no rebate. Are you willing to take that $100 gamble?

Kwad

 
edited OP as this has been extended. There's a new rebate valid 12/04-12/17. Same FAR price.
 
Originally posted by: allisolm
edited OP as this has been extended. There's a new rebate valid 12/04-12/17. Same FAR price.
Click to expand...

If you want to update this thread to reflect the reality of the deal, it should be:

Samsung A660 color prepaid phone + $5.05 in phone credit for $10 AR. Because you have to spend $10 to get the rebate...

Kwad

 
The rebate says your must enter the ESN# online. I did not get prompted for it doing it online. Did anyone else get that?
 
Originally posted by: Slaimus
The rebate says your must enter the ESN# online. I did not get prompted for it doing it online. Did anyone else get that?
Click to expand...

For some reason, some people don't get prompted for the ESN when filling out the online rebate. I did, but others report not getting prompted. However, you will get notified later by Staples requesting the ESN. Staples won't pay your rebate until/unless STI pays them, and STI won't pay them without the ESN. So until Staples has your ESN, there's no way you're gonna get the rebate...

Kwad

 
Note that you get a 14 day Free Web Access upon activation unless you opt out. And there's been some discussion as to whether one can cancel during the first 30 days if you choose to opt in. Also, I think I meant to say that the LG doesn't offer the same Web/WAP access but I might be mistaken (see the info at the cheapphonecards.com website.

Web access isn't important for my purposes, but they charge 19cents a day for it. I'm still awaiting email confirmation from STi as to whether that is a flat rate charge per day with no time/$ per min charges added. But if it is just 19-cents only per day, it would be worthwhile to at least try the Free Trial and download some games/pics/tones.
 
Originally posted by: russw
Note that you get a 14 day Free Web Access upon activation unless you opt out. And there's been some discussion as to whether one can cancel during the first 30 days if you choose to opt in. Also, I think I meant to say that the LG doesn't offer the same Web/WAP access but I might be mistaken (see the info at the cheapphonecards.com website.

Web access isn't important for my purposes, but they charge 19cents a day for it. I'm still awaiting email confirmation from STi as to whether that is a flat rate charge per day with no time/$ per min charges added. But if it is just 19-cents only per day, it would be worthwhile to at least try the Free Trial and download some games/pics/tones.
Click to expand...

I've used the free unlimited web access, and it definitely does NOT generate per minute charges. At 19 cents a day, or $6/month, it's a pretty hot deal for unlimited internet access. I'm thinking I might keep around, it in addition to my other cell phone, just for the wireless acess. On my "real" cell phone (Cingular) I have unlimited calling anytime anywhere, but web access is charged by the kb and is REALLY expensive.

BUT...it's not clear if it's really 19 cents/day or 29 cents/day. On the first page of activation it says 19 cents/day. On the last page of activation it says 29 cents/day. Which is it?

Kwad
 
I picked up one of these phones on Black Friday, and think it was an excellent decision. I was proud of the fact that I didn't have a cell phone while everyone around me paid exhorbitant monthly fees for the priviledge of ignoring traffic while using them, and while ignoring the sweet litle lady checking them out at the grocery store -- I really hate that! However, this deal seem too good to pass up.

I purchased a $25.00 card and activated it online. I was not charged the $5.00. In fact, When I made my first call, it announced that I had a balance of $25.75. A week and a half later, I've made 4-5 brief calls, and have a balance of $24 and something. I will be surprised if the $25.00 card doesn't last me at least 3-4 months. Calls are $.12/min during the day (m-f), and $.10/min nights and weekends. You have full access to the Sprint PCS network. You can make international calls for a reasonable amount -- for example, an additional $.05/min to call Mexico. The A660 is a nice looking phone and seems to have a lot of bells and whistles -- although, as indicated earlier, I'm a newbie to the cell phone world.

I had a minor problem with the rebate. I tried to do it online, and I entered the wrong serial number (I entered the one on the battery cover instead of the one on the phone). The rebate submission was rejected. It took a call to Staple EasyRebate to get it fixed, but they took care of it and entered the right serial number for me, and told me all was well.

Hope this helps.
 
Originally posted by: FAS284
so has anyone actually gotten their rebates?
Click to expand...

Read - 60 to 90 days. Rebates have been paid out on other STi Mobile rebates submitted on other offers.

Kwad:

Isn't the 29-cents/day the fee for Web with Pictures, as opposed to straight Web access?
 
I got my airtime from cheapphonecards.com before the coupon expired, STi did not charge me for activation on their website, and the stapleseasyrebates site DID prompt for the ESN. I'm a happy camper! The sound quality on the phone could be better, but it's basically OK.
 
Originally posted by: Kwad Guy
Originally posted by: eunsang
dont do it! you need 90 day of consistant usage to be qualified for the rebate. i returned mine after reading over the rebate information
Click to expand...

This is nonsense. To get the rebate you have to be ACTIVATED and to be a current user. To get activated you need to buy a $10 refill card, from which $4.95 will be deducted to activate your phone (so you keep $5.05). Depending on which plan you choose, minutes are either 10-12 cents or 18 cents.

Now, to keep your phone in good standing for the 90 days you have to ensure you either make or receive a whopping ONE (single) call each 60 days. So sometime between the point where you activate the phone and 60 days after that point, you need to make a single 1 minute call to/from the phone, for a cost of 10-18 cents debited to the $5.05 you have left. After that, you can keep the phone active indefinitely for another 10-18 cents (depending on plan) every 60 days...

Yeah, one call about 60 days from now sure seems pretty onerous. I can see why you'd return the phone. No way you'd be able to keep up with that requirement to get the rebate...

Kwad
Click to expand...

what can you say about people who read the rebates (and incorrectly at that) after they make their purchase....

And of course you gotta use the phone at some point, otherwise why buy it?

 
Originally posted by: Nessism
How do pre-paid phones work and how expensive are they to use? I'm basically a cell phone hater but would like to have an "emergency phone" for when I'm away from home.
Click to expand...

Depends on how you define emergency. If you define it as 911 calls, from what I understand, ALL cell phones whether expired, out of time, out of service, deactivated etc are supposed to still be able to call 911. Might as well pick up the cheapest ebay phone for this case to skip rebate hassle.

As for the rest, depends on your usage patterns. Typically with the better companies you can buy a $25 card that will last 90 days. The card will last basically forever until you apply it to the phone. So theoretically you could have that free phone sit around until you went on a vacation, then activate it with a $25 card.

In general you cannot get much below costs of $8 or $10 a month if you keep minutes on a prepaid phone.

It all just depends on your usage. If you are going to use 500 minutes a month, its DANG expensive to use a pre-paid and best to go with a 500 minute a month plan. If you use it for a few short calls a week, then it might be a good choice.
 
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