Upgrading Sprint Phone Without New Contract

[olds]

Sprint
Anyone know if I can buy a used phone and use it to replace a current phone and transfer the number?
Wife wants to replace her phone but I am out of contract and don't want to sign another one.

If so, what would be a decent replacement for the Evo 4G on Sprint. Say $100 range.

 

[Chocu1a]

Yes, you can just activate a new/different phone on your carrier without renewing contract.
$100 won't get you much, probably not better than the EVO 4G.
Look for a Galaxy Nexus, Epic Touch(Galaxy S2), or Iphone 4. But all those will run you $175-250.

 

[styrafoam]

If you don't have any luck in the local classified ads cowboom.com has the Motorola photon for $109. Going up to $170 gets you either an iPhone 4 or an epic touch.

 

[drbrock]

Go for an Iphone 4 on craigslist. They are getting cheap now. If you can hold out maybe you can pick up a S3 in a month when they go on firesale with the release of the S4

 

[poofyhairguy]

Evo 3Ds can be had for cheap cheap.

 

[olds]

Hmm, almost costs as much as getting two new phones on contract.

 

[olds]

They offer phones at a pretty good discount.
IE: S3 for $99. I put 2 in the cart to see the price and it was $198. Don't they have to charge sales tax at the retail value? At what point to they give you the shocker?

 

[ImDonly1]

They offer phones at a pretty good discount.
IE: S3 for $99. I put 2 in the cart to see the price and it was $198. Don't they have to charge sales tax at the retail value? At what point to they give you the shocker?

They do charge sales tax and I believe it is on the full retail price of the phone, even though you are buying the phone for cheaper.

This may be helpful
http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/5/4066856/sprint-endorses-use-of-old-phones-on-mvno-carriers-byosd

Buy used Sprint phone, activate it on one of their prepaid providers (for a lower monthly cost). Not sure which of their providers have started the program already except for Ting and they don't allow lte phones yet.

Edit
The list of supported devices is kind of small
https://help.ting.com/entries/22537088-Bring-Your-Own-Device-BYOD-What-Works-or-NOT
https://help.ting.com/entries/22352106-My-device-isn-t-supported-for-the-BYO-S-D-program-What-now-
On second look it doesn't seem that great unless you are getting an older phone. Not sure how accurate that list is.

 

[olds]

This may be helpful
http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/5/4066856/sprint-endorses-use-of-old-phones-on-mvno-carriers-byosd

Buy used Sprint phone, activate it on one of their prepaid providers (for a lower monthly cost). Not sure which of their providers have started the program already except for Ting and they don't allow lte phones yet.

Edit
The list of supported devices is kind of small
https://help.ting.com/entries/22537088-Bring-Your-Own-Device-BYOD-What-Works-or-NOT
https://help.ting.com/entries/22352106-My-device-isn-t-supported-for-the-BYO-S-D-program-What-now-
On second look it doesn't seem that great unless you are getting an older phone. Not sure how accurate that list is.

Thanks.
It's not rally a dollar issue. Just don't want to spend 200-400 on phones (2) if I don't need too. Thought I might get away with just upgrading the wife but if it's $200 for a used phone I might as well change to Verizon and get new phones.

 

[Chocu1a]

Well, remember, you are buying the phone over 2 years. So, that 200 is actually 5-600 over 2 years. If you buy a used phone outright, you are getting it paid for up front, not being tied to a contract for another couple of years. It ends up being cheaper. Or just go prepaid. Buy a GS2 from any one of the numerous MVO's, & drop your bill.