Warm: Phone upgrade deal for T-Mobile customers

[OldPro]

Deal first of all assumes that your one year (or whatever it was) commitment has expired. I have mine scheduled to expire in first half of December so I can get the Christmas deals.

I called T-Mobile Customer Service and verified with the CSR that my contractual obligations had been satisfied (or would be in a couple of weeks). Then I mentioned all of the great deals out there for new customers and asked if they had any deals for existing customers. I wound up getting a Motorola V66 for $50 + tax (and maybe shipping? under $60 total at least) in exchange for extending my contract another year. Certainly not as good as some of the phone deals at Amazon, but I didn't have to pay an activation fee or anything. Just swap the sim card, configure the new phone, and go!

I'm not sure you should mention AnandTech, but if you call you could certainly mention that "an acquaintence" got this deal if you think it'd help. If you're not T-Mobile, as long as your contract has expired, I'm sure your provider will have some sort of deal on a phone in exchange for your agreeing to stay as a customer for another term.

 

[freakrck]

It can get better than that. I had an old Motorola T-193 that was a piece of junk (falling apart after < 1 year), and decided I wanted to upgrade to a T-Mobile Sidekick (which completely rocks). The phone is normally $250 retail without a contract, and $100 AR on Amazon.com.

I talked to the CSR, who offered it to me for $195 based on my length of service and contract amount (I last upgraded my phone a year ago using a similar approach, and spent the past 6 months @ $39.99 plan, and the 6 months before that @ $29.99 plan). I told them that I had been a loyal customer, that my phone was junk, and that I was willing to switch carriers to get a good phone at a good price. I asked if there was any way to get better than what they had offered. They asked if I would like to speak to a customer service manager. I said yes, and after waiting a few minutes, I explained the situation to them. They IMMEDIATELY offered the same phone for $95, which is LESS than the Amazon.com deal, and no rebate hassle. YMMV, but I've found it critical in any customer service setting to get past the first-line CSR and speak to a manager to get the best deals.

 

[Kevin]

Retention always works best - "What do I have to do to keep you with us?"...

 

[OldPro]

freakrck
You're making me feel I "left money on the table" as it were. Good job! Oh well, the the V66 is for my daughter, anyway. I'll just have to wander off and use my free s105 phone to call my wife on her free s105 phone and have her comfort me.

 

[SherEPunjab]

OldPro:

the v66 can ususally be found for free with 1 yr. activation. to PAY for it isn't exactly a great deal IMHO. couldn't you have started a new contract and gotten your daughter an s105 too? thats a nice phone.

 

[BuddyLee]

Originally posted by: freakrck
It can get better than that. I had an old Motorola T-193 that was a piece of junk (falling apart after < 1 year), and decided I wanted to upgrade to a T-Mobile Sidekick (which completely rocks). The phone is normally $250 retail without a contract, and $100 AR on Amazon.com.

I talked to the CSR, who offered it to me for $195 based on my length of service and contract amount (I last upgraded my phone a year ago using a similar approach, and spent the past 6 months @ $39.99 plan, and the 6 months before that @ $29.99 plan). I told them that I had been a loyal customer, that my phone was junk, and that I was willing to switch carriers to get a good phone at a good price. I asked if there was any way to get better than what they had offered. They asked if I would like to speak to a customer service manager. I said yes, and after waiting a few minutes, I explained the situation to them. They IMMEDIATELY offered the same phone for $95, which is LESS than the Amazon.com deal, and no rebate hassle. YMMV, but I've found it critical in any customer service setting to get past the first-line CSR and speak to a manager to get the best deals.

I slipped in the snow and my phone got crunched a month short of my contract with T-Mobile. No option to extend the contract, no option to pay it off early and get a new phone, or anything else of the sort. They wanted to charge me $70 for the phone replacement, $36 activation of a new SIM card, and $35 for a new battery. I spoke to a CSR, his supervisor, and a manager and they wouldn't budge. For $60 less than what they wanted to charge me to replace my phone I am now a happy Verizon customer with a Motorola V60.

 

[NauTiKa128]

Originally posted by: SherEPunjab
OldPro:

the v66 can ususally be found for free with 1 yr. activation. to PAY for it isn't exactly a great deal IMHO. couldn't you have started a new contract and gotten your daughter an s105 too? thats a nice phone.

i agree.. v66 is old news.. =)

 

[tuan121]

I just did this also. Got the new Motorola t720 for 50 and they even threw in one month service for free. But I had to extend my contract an extra year.

 

[itslave]

I am not sure if T-Mobile still does this but I went in to one of the local T-Mobile B&M's (not an agent for T-Mobile) to buy a phone and get new service for the wife unit. I told the sales type I could get much better deals on the net for T-Mobile and other carriers. He told me to bring in a printout of a phone deal from the web abd they would match it. As long as the phone was one that T-Mobile carried they would do the deal.

I brough in a deal I found for a free Moto V-60 (Can't rememebr the model for sure) after rebate. The guy gave me the phone for free without rebates and no activation charge either. Only had to sign up for a one year contract.

I thought this was a pretty good deal but I am sure I will be flamed if someone thinks otherwise.

 

[Akira13]

Originally posted by: NauTiKa128

Originally posted by: SherEPunjab
OldPro:

the v66 can ususally be found for free with 1 yr. activation. to PAY for it isn't exactly a great deal IMHO. couldn't you have started a new contract and gotten your daughter an s105 too? thats a nice phone.

i agree.. v66 is old news.. =)

It is only free if you are a new Tmo customer, or have been deactivated for 120+ days (they know it's you by SSN, so you can't just start a new contract). For those of us who got in on the ground floor (like 3 years ago with a 6190...) they don't offer very good deals.

As for the V66, I think it's cool, but $50 is what I'd pay with my upgrade discount ($150retail - $100upgrade). I think kevin000 has the best idea. I hear they give great deals there. I'll probably try them in January.

 

[SpyKey]

Made a trip to a local T-Mobile store (not agent). Nothing, they would not budge.

Next I'll try to call 611 and see if a CSR can offer me something.

Why is everyone getting Motorolas? Does T-Mobile feel easier giving them away? I'd much rather have a Nokia or SonyEricsson or Siemens at least.