so i lost my cellphone, t-mobile is offering me crappy phones with a two year commitment.....

[statik213]

so I lost my v330 two weeks ago, suspended the line... phone hasn't shown up yet, so it's a goner....
I was abt 4 months into my famillytalk basic plan, then made them match my plan with the now standard package (700 mins vs 500) for the same monthly, which reset my commitment, 3 days later i lost my phone. I have 4 phones on this plan.
they are offering me either the samsung x495 or nokia 6010 both for free with a 2 year commitment or $40 for a 1 yr.
can i do better than this? for a 2yr commitment i figure i should be getting a much better phone -- at least a v330 or 360.... what should i do?

cliffs:
lost my v330
t-mobile willing to give me crappy phone for free + 2 yr commitment or $40 w/ 1 yr commitment.
where can i get a better deal? or how can i negotiate a better deal

 

[Captante]

Thats why its a good idea to get insurance on your phone ... the ones they want to give you for free are almost always not the ones you really want for obvious reasons. If your happy with T-mobile, I'd suggest seeing what they'll give you off towards the purchase of one of the models you want... they'll almost always work with you.

 

[MidasKnight]

Buy another V330 off eBay .........

 

[Viper GTS]

Your best bet is to buy a used phone.

Wireless providers spend a lot of money on hardware subsidies, you cannot realistically expect them to hand you another "free" phone. Either insure your handset or be prepared to replace it at full value if you lose/break it.

I actually worked for T-Mobile for a while, it's unbelievable how many people don't understand this.

Customer: I dropped my brand new video phone in the toilet!
Me: Well I can send you a new one for $250
Customer: $250? Are you crazy? I got this for free just last week!

:roll:

Stupid people.

Viper GTS

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Your best bet is to buy a used phone.

Wireless providers spend a lot of money on hardware subsidies, you cannot realistically expect them to hand you another "free" phone. Either insure your handset or be prepared to replace it at full value if you lose/break it.

I actually worked for T-Mobile for a while, it's unbelievable how many people don't understand this.

Customer: I dropped my brand new video phone in the toilet!
Me: Well I can send you a new one for $250
Customer: $250? Are you crazy? I got this for free just last week!

:roll:

Stupid people.

Viper GTS

When I lost my LG Verizon phone, I attempted to do this at a VZW retail store. I was laughed out the door, and then promptly switched to another provider. While it doesn't make sense financially, it certainly doesn't hurt for them to at least throw you a small bone in an attempt to keep you as a customer, especially if you're a long-time one on a premium plan.

 

[thehstrybean]

I never lose my phone...hopefully...I just got the Samsung PM8200 this summer for $30 (since my old phone was older than Moses)...I :heart: Sprint...except for the fact that they haven't made their ReadyLink compatible with Nextel yet...but soon...

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

When I lost my LG Verizon phone, I attempted to do this at a VZW retail store. I was laughed out the door, and then promptly switched to another provider. While it doesn't make sense financially, it certainly doesn't hurt for them to at least throw you a small bone in an attempt to keep you as a customer, especially if you're a long-time one on a premium plan.

The key here is that it doesn't make sense financially. Keeping you as a customer is useless if they end up losing money on your account.

Viper GTS

 

[George P Burdell]

NO two year contracts :|

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

When I lost my LG Verizon phone, I attempted to do this at a VZW retail store. I was laughed out the door, and then promptly switched to another provider. While it doesn't make sense financially, it certainly doesn't hurt for them to at least throw you a small bone in an attempt to keep you as a customer, especially if you're a long-time one on a premium plan.

The key here is that it doesn't make sense financially. Keeping you as a customer is useless if they end up losing money on your account.

Viper GTS

Exactly. Look at the standalone cost of an unlocked phone directly from the mfr ($400-500) and then ask yourself why your provider would give you two for free. The first one is like the proverbial crack dealer offering the first hit - the next one, "joo gotta pay up mang."

- M4H

 

[Sphexi]

Whole point of signing a contract is getting a deal on the phone. If you lose the phone within a few days of that, months, or whatever, they're not going to give you a great phone as a free replacement. Even if you extend your contract, chances are they won't be making any money off you.

Last I saw, Verizon didn't make money off a customer on the $40 plan until the 13th month of their service. Everything you get up front (phone, accessories, etc.) plus their expenses means that you sign a 2 year contract, they only make profit off of 11 months. If you lose your phone in the 2nd year, you MAY get a replacement, but it'll be a refurb.

Get the insurance, or keep a backup. I told every customer I sold Vzn to that they needed to have at least one backup phone, don't toss it or donate it away, and if they lose their phone we can reactivate the old one.

Edit:

BTW, the v330 isn't a completely current phone, so doubtful you'd get it as a replacement. The v360 is more current though, although it's still $180 or so if you get it unlocked. Might be better than renewing yet again, probably not though.

 

[beer]

I got a Moto V505 off ebay for slightly more than $100ish. ($110 NIB, actually). It might be a sensible move for you.

By the x495 isn't a bad phone, either. Way better than the 6010.

 

[GTJoe]

Another option is to get a pay as you go phone from T-Mobile. You don't have to sign a new contract, and they can activate the phone on your account.

 

[Xionide]

Just buy a new sim card from them and pick up this v330 in the fs/ft:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=45&threadid=1782676

 

[eminemrh25]

Buy a new phone on eBay..

I personally dislike T-Mobile's insurance, their deductibles are way too high... If you have high value phones like I do, (Razr, Sidekick 2, ect) then the deductible is $110, but then I have to pay the $5.99 monthly.

Here is my story...
I had just bought a brand new sidekick 2 6-7 months ago. I am doing my laundry and I go upstair to check my email on my sidekick. Oh no, I look EVERYWHERE. Then I remember I had changed right before doing the laundry... I run downstairs, open the washing machine to find my Sidekick2 in the pocket of my jeans....

Well, lets add up the cost, 6x6 is $36 plus the $110 deductible would have totaled up to $146 for a refurbished Sidekick 2 through T-Mobile. 4 hours after my sidekick 2 went through the washing machine, I was home with my BRAND NEW sidekick 2 that i bought for $125...

 

[oboeguy]

When I broke my phone instead of signing my life away to the phone company for a meager discount, I replaced the phone with the same model, buying a used one on eBay.