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A friend of mine and myself got into a bit of a disagreement last night over bestbuy etfs. Long story short he got a phone from bb cancelled the service and kept the phone. Will bb come after him with a etf?
I know sprint didn't charge him a etf but will bb come after him for a etf! I made a $75 bet with him that bb would come after him with a seperate etf. But he showed me his receipt/contract paperwork and other than the info about sprint etf, there's NOTHING that states anything about bb etfs. And he paid with cash so its not like bb can just charge his credit card. I searched google and everything and really didnt find any info on this. I know companies like wirefly, letstalk etc charge their own etf if you cancel service and don't return the device. Which they even indicate when you go through their application process and is also indicated in their paperwork.
So my question is, am I out of $75? Did I just lose this bet against this fool...lol? If someone have any insight into this, it'll help me out a lot. I'd love to show him some post that bb is going to come after him. So let me know what you all think.
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plmiller0905 said:
A friend of mine and myself got into a bit of a disagreement last night over bestbuy etfs. Long story short he got a phone from bb cancelled the service and kept the phone. Will bb come after him with a etf?
I know sprint didn't charge him a etf but will bb come after him for a etf! I made a $75 bet with him that bb would come after him with a seperate etf. But he showed me his receipt/contract paperwork and other than the info about sprint etf, there's NOTHING that states anything about bb etfs. And he paid with cash so its not like bb can just charge his credit card. I searched google and everything and really didnt find any info on this. I know companies like wirefly, letstalk etc charge their own etf if you cancel service and don't return the device. Which they even indicate when you go through their application process and is also indicated in their paperwork.
So my question is, am I out of $75? Did I just lose this bet against this fool...lol? If someone have any insight into this, it'll help me out a lot. I'd love to show him some post that bb is going to come after him. So let me know what you all think.
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I believe you lost yourself 75 bucks .... as far as I can remember when you purchase an item from a store that authorized to sale the item you are only under contract with the item provider.
Bestbuy typically give you instant rebates at the register because they send their rebates directly to the manufacturers and not the provider. Hence it is no lost to them only the provider who takes the hit
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craigbailey1986 said:
I believe you lost yourself 75 bucks .... as far as I can remember when you purchase an item from a store that authorized to sale the item you are only under contract with the item provider.
Bestbuy typically give you instant rebates at the register because they send their rebates directly to the manufacturers and not the provider. Hence it is no lost to them only the provider who takes the hit
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Wow..are you serious. I kinda thought that I may lose the bet because there was nothing mentioned in the paperwork about a bb etf and if it was I didn't find it. I thought bb was just like wirefly and letstalk.com when it comes to cancelling service. But like I said sprint cancelled the service with no questions asked. Oh well...if I lose, I'll pay up...lol.
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plmiller0905 said:
Wow..are you serious. I kinda thought that I may lose the bet because there was nothing mentioned in the paperwork about a bb etf and if it was I didn't find it. I thought bb was just like wirefly and letstalk.com when it comes to cancelling service. But like I said sprint cancelled the service with no questions asked. Oh well...if I lose, I'll pay up...lol.
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from my knowledge you don't sign a contract with BB, just sprint
Are you your friend's personal accountant or money manager? I mean even if he gets an ETF all he has to do is say he didn't and collect your money lol
deathsled said:
Are you your friend's personal accountant or money manager? I mean even if he gets an ETF all he has to do is say he didn't and collect your money lol
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No I'm not...and he better not play me like that...lol. We made bets before in the past and he paid up....
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Sorry dude but as an employee of bb mobile I can tell you that you just lost $75. An etf is strictly through the carrier. After the contract is signed we have no part in it.
nyclone03 said:
Sorry dude but as an employee of bb mobile I can tell you that you just lost $75. An etf is strictly through the carrier. After the contract is signed we have no part in it.
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Ok..then...look like I'll be paying up.
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ETF
If anything he will get a Sprint etf. It wont show up for a month or 2 as was the case when I switched From At&t. Best buy is in the cell phone business, not the carrier business which subsidizes the cost of the phone so they cannot charge an etf
Clarify the bet with him because I'm sure Sprint didn't give him a hassle about canceling but he will get a separate bill from Sprint for the remainder of his contract. Around $200 for early cancellation.
You said he paid cash. did he pay the whole amount or contract price, and did he cancel in the first 30 days? Not sure if BB does does the same but the store I got mine from told me if I canceled without returning the phone they would charge me an additional $250 for it.
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Not sure how Best Buy works, but I know that where I work, if you sign a contract and cancel, and DON'T bring the phone back to us, we charge a portion of the total cost.. I can't remember the amount, but that's how we do it..
Well what he did was call sprint and cancelled the service. Sprint didn't hassle him because he's well within his 30 days so they cancelled it with no questions asked. They said that he wouldn't be charge any SPRINT etf. However, he will have to pay for what he used prior to cancelling the service.
I am over his house watching the football game right now and had a chance to look at the paperwork again. And I just don't see anything that indicates a bb etf. Everything I see is in regards to sprint etf, that's it. I just thought that bb is like wirefly and letstalk. That is you have to return the device within a certain time frame if you cancel service or you'll be charged their etf. But I'm starting to think that's not the case.
Plus when I bought the Nexus S and tried to cancel my service with T-mobile, I tried to cancel my service like 3 days after I got the phone and I had to go to bb so that they can give tmobile some code that informs them that I returned the device. Sprint doesn't have a system like that. Which I know because I bought an Epic from Radioshack like 2 months ago and I returned it like 2 weeks later. However, before I took it back to radioshack, I called sprint to cancel the line that the Epic was on and they cancelled it with no questions asked again. Radioshack gave me my money back and I went to Sprint and bought me a brand new Evo for full price, I believe $500.
Oh well, I'll be paying $75 this Friday. thanks everyone for all your responses.
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Cole28 said:
You said he paid cash. did he pay the whole amount or contract price, and did he cancel in the first 30 days? Not sure if BB does does the same but the store I got mine from told me if I canceled without returning the phone they would charge me an additional $250 for it.
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He paid contract price. But even if they told him about a possible bb etf if he were to cancel service and not return the device, its not indicated anywhere in the paperwork. They gave him copies of everything he signed and and not one indicates a bb etf.
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This is an interesting scenario, especially if the device was paid for by cash.
Although the receipt has his sprint info, I don't think BB can go after sprint to collect anything, as they are an authorized third party seller in this case.
Now, there is this clause on the receipt under SERVICE AND SERVICE OPTIONS
....Thank you for purchasing your sprint phone and service at Best Buy. If you wish to change or cancel your Service please return with your phone to a best buy store.
As stated previously, BB is not in the carrier business, they are merely a third party reseller of sprint products. Also, nowhere on the receipt is anything else stipulated regarding cancellation of service and potential fees that may be charged [by best buy].
So, this may very well fall through the cracks.
Btw, some other resellers such as amazon and wirefly do have clauses that say if you cancel service within 180 days, you will be charged additional etf's outside of what the carrier may charge you.
ymmv.
Subscribed! <popcorn emoticon>
I believe Sprint will send a bill, and if he does not pay they will lock the ESN.
I can't speak for Best Buy since I've never worked there but I know Radioshack (and CompUSA before they went out of business) charge their own etfs if the service was cancelled within 90 days without the device being returned. At CompUSA you would get a separate paper contract about this additional etf. At Radioshack you get an electronic contract that shows up on the Verifone credit card device that requires the customer to read and sign that mentions this separate etf. I'm not sure if this is also mentioned on the receipt or not, I've never actually read it.
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This is something Sprint has recently changed. Anytime a new account (within 30 days) is going to cancelled, the phone must be returned to the original point of purchase, meaning if he purchased it at BB, Sprint will not cancel the service, Best Buy has to contact NSS and have them process the 30-day cancellation. In your particular instance, if someone at Sprint cancelled them, he got lucky. In normal instances, your friend would not be allowed to cancel over the phone, meaning if he kept the phone past 30 days he'd be under contract with Sprint and then your friend would be charged $200 ETF if he chose to cancel or keep receiving Sprint bills until his account was disconnected and sent to collections.
Your friend, was really lucky to have spoken with a new hire that mistakingly cancelled the account (or line).
I, like many others I assume, bought the Xoom from Best Buy on a month-to-month Verizon contract with the intention of canceling the contract immediately. Today I called and tried to cancel the contract and had a frustrating 60 minute phone call. The agent, working with her supervisor, was telling me that there is no way I can possibly cancel my plan with them and that if she were to cancel my account, my Xoom would become a brick. She told me that in order to get the device to work in wifi only mode I would have to return it to Best Buy and go to a Verizon store to purchase one with Wifi only. She indicates that there is no way possible to convert my existing device, even if I brought it into a Verizon Wireless store. I just got off the phone and she said she will be calling me back after contacting the best buy store on my behalf and trying to work out a solution.
Has anyone had success with this situation? What did you do? Is there a secret code word I have to give to Verizon? Is she actually correct... if she cancels my account will my Xoom turn into a brick?
There is no wifi model yet. Turning off your cell service shouldn't brick your tablet. I would call back and talk to a different rep.
Don't have one yet. But that is just BS. Call them back and just cancel it. If they say it will be a brick (complete lie) then tell them so be it. You want nothing to do with Verizon. You only wanted the Xoom.
They sold you a load of crap. There's no tie in to the OS and cell service. Tell them to cancel your account and you'll "risk" it. Verizon has been known to say anything to keep people from canceling...its happened before.
i just wanted to clarify. the person you talked to was full of bull.
i walked out of best buy with an unactivated tablet (meaning no verizon data) and wifi and everything works beautifully.
also i would like to point out the obvious error with this "reps" logic. if a tablet without verizon data was a brick, it wouldn't be possible to activate one in the first place.
She is insinuating that it will brick the device because it was set up with Verizon in the first place. That is the only fear I have... that there is some sort IMEI check when the device boots and if it can't authenticate with a Verizon tower it will fail in the bootloader.
If that was the case, they wouldn't be able to sell tablets without Verizon service. I imagine they would also be looking at a major lawsuit if people couldn't cancel the service.
I can't be the only one that is trying to do this... would someone who has done this please give me some peace of mind?
padanfain said:
She is insinuating that it will brick the device because it was set up with Verizon in the first place. That is the only fear I have... that there is some sort IMEI check when the device boots and if it can't authenticate with a Verizon tower it will fail in the bootloader.
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no, again, i would like to point out that if you were out of range of a tower (which can and does happen that would result in a "brick" as you call it).
your fine, call cancel be happy.
padanfain said:
I, like many others I assume, bought the Xoom from Best Buy on a month-to-month Verizon contract with the intention of canceling the contract immediately. Today I called and tried to cancel the contract and had a frustrating 60 minute phone call. The agent, working with her supervisor, was telling me that there is no way I can possibly cancel my plan with them and that if she were to cancel my account, my Xoom would become a brick. She told me that in order to get the device to work in wifi only mode I would have to return it to Best Buy and go to a Verizon store to purchase one with Wifi only. She indicates that there is no way possible to convert my existing device, even if I brought it into a Verizon Wireless store. I just got off the phone and she said she will be calling me back after contacting the best buy store on my behalf and trying to work out a solution.
Has anyone had success with this situation? What did you do? Is there a secret code word I have to give to Verizon? Is she actually correct... if she cancels my account will my Xoom turn into a brick?
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Click to collapse
She lied to you. The first CS Rep gave me trouble to, but a seperate completely bull**** story. She told me that since I went to costco, and they are an "indirect retailer", that I would have to go to them to cancel the line.
After calling Costco I was informed that this wasn't true, and that Verizon lies . She told me to make up a story that I needed to cancel the data plan because I couldn't use it right now but I would be reactivating in a few months.
Due to impatience, and stubbornness I called Verizon again, without a fake story, just adding that I'd been "misled" by one CS Rep, and that I had already called Costco. The second rep was very helpful, did my cancellation with no problem. She informed me, as I already knew, that the device would work perfectly fine without activation. At this point I had skipped activation and hadn't use a single byte of Verizon data and had been using wifi for hours.
When you call, and get a better rep, make sure that they waive the activation fee, as it's not automatically waived when doing a quick cancellation.
So to recap.
Don't Take No For An Answer.
Inform them that your device is off contract, and you are keeping it, just getting rid of the data plan.
Make sure they waive the activation fee.
You're device will not brick, and you can just turn off verizon data in the settings.
So YES. I have successfully cancelled month-to-month data and kept a fully functional XOOM.
padanfain said:
I can't be the only one that is trying to do this... would someone who has done this please give me some peace of mind?
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just call again and get it done. You called Verizon right and not Best Buy. Verizon can easily do this they are just trying to keep you on your data plan. Threaten if that you dont have your plan canceled then you will report them to the BBB. Im sure that will get you some attention
I work for Verizon in customer service and we had a training the other day that stated if a customer signs a two year contract and gets a discount and then cancels the data plan within the two years they will be charged the 200 difference. I hope this is not true and just something they told us, but for your case I again hope it isn't true. Good luck man and I will try to find out more today at work.
call them back. My cancel phone call took 30 seconds, I explained the situation, she said ok let me cancel that...... there you go, activation fee waived, service canceled. We'll let you know about the 4g upgrade.
padanfain said:
She is insinuating that it will brick the device because it was set up with Verizon in the first place. That is the only fear I have... that there is some sort IMEI check when the device boots and if it can't authenticate with a Verizon tower it will fail in the bootloader.
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No, that does not happen.
First, Verizon has officially said you do not need service to purchase the device anymore. Motorola will sell you the Xoom directly without service.
Second, when you start the device for the first time it asks you to begin the setup which the first step is to activate the device on Verizon. Immediately under it states you can continue with wifi setup by click the button.
The OS is not locked. This was mearly a strong arm approach by Verizon and Best Buy to get at least 1 month ($20) of service and connection fee ($35) from anyone purchasing.
angermeans said:
I work for Verizon in customer service and we had a training the other day that stated if a customer signs a two year contract and gets a discount and then cancels the data plan within the two years they will be charged the 200 difference. I hope this is not true and just something they told us, but for your case I again hope it isn't true. Good luck man and I will try to find out more today at work.
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They key point is that he didn't sign a contract. He is on a month-to-month plan with no obligation to continue service.He did not get a subsidized price. This is how I purchased mine.
EDIT: I could be wrong. The OP says "month to month" which implies no contract, but then states he's on a contract. Hmm....
She called me back and after talking to best buy she did exactly what I told her to do in the first place -- cancelled my account and prorated my two day's usage which was 1.50. I had to pay the activation fee. I know there are others who didn't, but frankly, after arguing with them for an hour just to cancel, I really didn't feel like having it out again with them just for $35 bucks -- my time is worth more than that.
Thanks for all the responses guys and gals.
Wow, I'm glad I didn't end up picking one up from costco given all the hassle to cancel with Verizon. Ugh, don't think I'm ever going to activate it based on this.
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padanfain said:
She called me back and after talking to best buy she did exactly what I told her to do in the first place -- cancelled my account and prorated my two day's usage which was 1.50. I had to pay the activation fee. I know there are others who didn't, but frankly, after arguing with them for an hour just to cancel, I really didn't feel like having it out again with them just for $35 bucks -- my time is worth more than that.
Thanks for all the responses guys and gals.
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Just FYI, I think there's a 72hr return policy on the activation fee. A google search will get you verification.
I just called and cancelled. Took 5 minutes. Device still works just fine! I just have to pay for the 1 day of usage.
padanfain said:
She called me back and after talking to best buy she did exactly what I told her to do in the first place -- cancelled my account and prorated my two day's usage which was 1.50. I had to pay the activation fee. I know there are others who didn't, but frankly, after arguing with them for an hour just to cancel, I really didn't feel like having it out again with them just for $35 bucks -- my time is worth more than that.
Thanks for all the responses guys and gals.
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They gave me ****, i just told them i know it can be canceled and i don't want the data package. You have 72 hours to cancel and not pay the activation. If you did sign a contract, then yes you will have to pay the ETF.
Im thinking of crossing the border tomorrow to Buffalo and pick up a Xoom to bring back... but my question is, I know its not gonna work with our networks here but I'm mainly going to be using it over WiFi and hoping to tether using my Desire HD.
Questions:
1) Is it true I need to activate the WiFi by signing up for data plan? If so, is there a way around it?
2) Can I just go to Best Buy or Verizon and purchase the device straight up?
Your answers will determine how my plans for morning will be tomorrow... =)
cue_32 said:
Im thinking of crossing the border tomorrow to Buffalo and pick up a Xoom to bring back... but my question is, I know its not gonna work with our networks here but I'm mainly going to be using it over WiFi and hoping to tether using my Desire HD.
Questions:
1) Is it true I need to activate the WiFi by signing up for data plan? If so, is there a way around it?
2) Can I just go to Best Buy or Verizon and purchase the device straight up?
Your answers will determine how my plans for morning will be tomorrow... =)
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Activation is not required for wifi. If you convince them you don't want to activate it, you can get away with it.
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No, you don't have to activate the data plan, Best Buy was the only one saying that, and they backed off on it.
You can go and just outright buy one, yes.
USA!! USA!! USA!!
Here I come!
ocdtrekkie said:
No, you don't have to activate the data plan, Best Buy was the only one saying that, and they backed off on it.
You can go and just outright buy one, yes.
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Costco still requires activation.
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Sirchuk said:
Costco still requires activation.
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Not true. I bought mine there and although he said I needed to, I told him that Engadget and other sites confirmed that Verizon backed off of this requirement. He made a few calls and confirmed that is the case and I walked out without any Verizon service.
keitht said:
Not true. I bought mine there and although he said I needed to, I told him that Engadget and other sites confirmed that Verizon backed off of this requirement. He made a few calls and confirmed that is the case and I walked out without any Verizon service.
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It depends on the store. The Costco I bought mine from said I had to activate it. I told them that Verizon didn't require it and they said it's Costco's policy, which it is. This will vary store to store for Costco and Best Buy, depending on who is sticking to the corporate policy.
My advice is to go to Verizon. They are the only store that has said on a corporate level that they don't require activation.
Yep, I also picked up mine at Best Buy and wasn't required to activate it. I did though through my local Vzw store and to get my 25% Discount on accessories.
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This is some great info guys.. Buffalo is pretty limited in terms of options and so far I've only seen 2 Best Buys in the area I go to. Good to know I got CostCo and Verizon as an option.
Jrockttu said:
It depends on the store. The Costco I bought mine from said I had to activate it. I told them that Verizon didn't require it and they said it's Costco's policy, which it is. This will vary store to store for Costco and Best Buy, depending on who is sticking to the corporate policy.
My advice is to go to Verizon. They are the only store that has said on a corporate level that they don't require activation.
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I am not a Costco expert on policies but I do not believe this has anything to do with Costco. I think it is the Verizon reps not knowing what they are doing. I could be wrong but like you said, go elsewhere if you need to but Costco has the best return policy out there so it is worth the fight.
It has nothing to do with Costco or Best Buy policy -- they both follow Verizon's corporate policy, which was originally going to be that you had to activate a data package to purchase the device.
But due to customer blowback, Verizon's policy changed on the day of release. However, they did an incredibly horrendous job disseminating that information to sales staff -- both at corporate Verizon stores and at resellers like Best Buy.
For example, yesterday afternoon, I called a corporate Verizon Wireless store directly and they absolutely insisted activation was required.
Then I called VZW's toll-free number and they confirmed it wasn't. I asked them to talk to the store, they did, and I was able to purchase a device activation-free.
Bottom line, this isn't a matter of places following their own policy, it's a matter of places not yet knowing the policy has changed. Give it a couple of days, and I'm sure the problem will go away.
The guy at my Costco called his regional managers and a few minutes later received a corporate email saying their policy was unchanged, activation was still required. It may have varied in a few cases, but I went to 2 stores with the same results.
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Sirchuk said:
The guy at my Costco called his regional managers and a few minutes later received a corporate email saying their policy was unchanged, activation was still required. It may have varied in a few cases, but I went to 2 stores with the same results.
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Find the info (Google it) from reputable sites and take it with you to Costco and make sure the Verizon rep tells the person on the other side the links to the article(s). Engadget was one of the first sites to post the change. It is a complete fact that activation on Verizon is no longer required anywhere. Again, it is worth it to buy at Costco with the return policy so if it were me, I would keep pressing it.
Costco in my area required it as well. I got mines from Best Buy.
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Where can i buy one off contract? The tmo store will not sell it as of yet.
A few options:
- Non T-Mobile phone stores (In Houston, I tend to look for cell phone stores in Chinatown)
- Craigslist (Always ask for seller's ID due to the blocked IMEI scam on the rise)
- E-bay
- Market place on here (I think I've seen a few)
- Did you try calling T-Mobile directly? Also, just FYI, my friend bought her 16GB White T999 from a T-Mobile store here in Houston TX for full price (payment plan) about two weeks ago. So I'm not sure why (I'm assuming) you were told that T-Mobile store will not sell it yet or why the store wouldn't sell it to you.
belly1026 said:
A few options:
- Non T-Mobile phone stores (In Houston, I tend to look for cell phone stores in Chinatown)
- Craigslist (Always ask for seller's ID due to the blocked IMEI scam on the rise)
- E-bay
- Market place on here (I think I've seen a few)
- Did you try calling T-Mobile directly? Also, just FYI, my friend bought her 16GB White T999 from a T-Mobile store here in Houston TX for full price (payment plan) about two weeks ago. So I'm not sure why (I'm assuming) you were told that T-Mobile store will not sell it yet or why the store wouldn't sell it to you.
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please elaborate on the ID, you mean ask them for the IMEI?
I want to buy it off craigslist but it's obvious people stole bulks of these phones off somewhere.
I called the TMo stores directly, not the company. They all told me they have a memo from Tmo not to sell off contract s3's until further notice.
They are available for their value plans but you will be making payments on $599 plus tax.
.. via SGH-T999 by TT2
On craigslist make sure they give you the receipt is one way to go. Or have them meet you at a T-Mobile store (preferred) when you do the exchange. Kinda like buying a used car and meeting at the dmv to change title.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
EpicSurge said:
please elaborate on the ID, you mean ask them for the IMEI?
I want to buy it off craigslist but it's obvious people stole bulks of these phones off somewhere.
I called the TMo stores directly, not the company. They all told me they have a memo from Tmo not to sell off contract s3's until further notice.
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Click to collapse
No. Not asking for the IMEI number because the IMEI will be on the phone and on the box.
What I mean was this: A lot of people buy their phones on Craigslist and the phone will be working for a few weeks or a month before it will eventually stop working. When you call it in, you will be told that the phone was reported stolen and as such, the IMEI was blocked, rendering the phone to be useless on T-Mobile's network. What had happened was, the person selling the phone on CL would have claimed the phone to be stolen and received a replacement phone through insurance. This way, he would have your money and still own a galaxy S3.
For example of what I think is an example of such scam, click me
So, when you do a transaction on CL, take a screen shot of the CL ad, do the transaction at a T-Mobile store. Always ask for a receipt or any kind of proof of purchase, and ask for their personal ID so you can track them down in case the phone was reported stolen so you can have support for when you go to the Police (if you choose to go to the police).
belly1026 said:
No. Not asking for the IMEI number because the IMEI will be on the phone and on the box.
What I mean was this: A lot of people buy their phones on Craigslist and the phone will be working for a few weeks or a month before it will eventually stop working. When you call it in, you will be told that the phone was reported stolen and as such, the IMEI was blocked, rendering the phone to be useless on T-Mobile's network. What had happened was, the person selling the phone on CL would have claimed the phone to be stolen and received a replacement phone through insurance. This way, he would have your money and still own a galaxy S3.
For example of what I think is an example of such scam, click me
So, when you do a transaction on CL, take a screen shot of the CL ad, do the transaction at a T-Mobile store. Always ask for a receipt or any kind of proof of purchase, and ask for their personal ID so you can track them down in case the phone was reported stolen so you can have support for when you go to the Police (if you choose to go to the police).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. First time with tmo and was going to return my Costco s3 and try to get one on CL so Im not stuck on a contract. Now that I know this ill be more weary with phones off contract. Quick question. Besides getting their ID info which could be difficult to do, could you technically let T-Mobile know that you just bought it off craigslist and have the seller give his info to them which the seller would most likely do rather than give you his ID. Assuming ofcourse that he is also with using tmo service so his account can be noted.
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belly1026 said:
No. Not asking for the IMEI number because the IMEI will be on the phone and on the box.
What I mean was this: A lot of people buy their phones on Craigslist and the phone will be working for a few weeks or a month before it will eventually stop working. When you call it in, you will be told that the phone was reported stolen and as such, the IMEI was blocked, rendering the phone to be useless on T-Mobile's network. What had happened was, the person selling the phone on CL would have claimed the phone to be stolen and received a replacement phone through insurance. This way, he would have your money and still own a galaxy S3.
For example of what I think is an example of such scam, click me
So, when you do a transaction on CL, take a screen shot of the CL ad, do the transaction at a T-Mobile store. Always ask for a receipt or any kind of proof of purchase, and ask for their personal ID so you can track them down in case the phone was reported stolen so you can have support for when you go to the Police (if you choose to go to the police).
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Wow thats crazy.
Here's my short story.
The family decided to start a new 2 year contract and everyone got Galaxy S2's. This was like in April. Sold the S2 because I wanted the S3.
Started looking on Ebay, then Craigs. I checked on Craigs one day and found a pretty good deal for a sealed blue 16gb (though I had to give up the micro sim in the deal). Jumped on it that same day and met locally. I get to the spot and it turned out the seller is the older brother of this dude I knew in middle school/high school (they were both there at the spot). In my head I was like oh nice, this should be easy.
Opened it up on the spot, paid the guy, and left.
I feel pretty lucky for that to happen. I mean, of all chances I was able to meet up with someone on Craigs that I know.
But hearing these stories of people scamming people through IMEI is crazy.
EpicSurge said:
Where can i buy one off contract? The tmo store will not sell it as of yet.
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I bought mine from through mytmobile it gave me no problems buying it at full retail... I am on a grandfathered even more + plan though, not sure if that changes anything though
T-Mobile stores won't sell them off contract? I bought mine full retail at a factory T-Mobile store almost 2 weeks ago. No issues what-so-ever.
Radioshack and calling T-Mobile (You have to be a client)
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
I bought mine off contract at T-Mobile store the first day it came out. I have the prepaid 30 bucks plan with the 100 min and 5 gigs of internet at 4g
..
wailord said:
Newegg has the 16gb unlocked for $600 right now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875176350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875176348
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That's the international version. You won't get 4g on T-Mobile with that phone
The last phone I purchased directly from VZW was a full-price Note 2. To upgrade the phone, I went to VZW website, selected my full-price Note 4 and attempted to check out. However, to complete the checkout, VZW required me to make changes to my plan where continuing the Unlimited Data feature was not an option. Manager at the local VZW outlet confirmed the same; they can't sell me a full-price phone without changing the plan.
Had to purchase my VZW, carrier unlocked phones from Amazon.
well that's bs. good thing is it seems more companies are making universal phones that can be activated anywhere... like the nexus 6, and the new moto x and new nexuses comin out... meaning, I'll never again buy a phone from Verizon itself with their ugly branding. yay!
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4
Wow that is messed up. Verizon is trying anything at this point.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
I wonder if the new phone came with a new Sim? When I upgraded last, the procedure to keep unlimited is to toss new Sim (burn with fire then microwave) and install old Sim for first activation.
Funny, I just ordered my phone on the 13th and it did nothing to my unlimited data. Bought from the Verizon Web site. It was a certified pre owned.I have been out of contract with unlimited data for years.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
maybe you just had bad luck in store.. we all know how corporate verizon employees aren't the most truthful people.
just asked my old boss who runs his own retailer... they can sell off contract no problem. it's like when you goto verizon and buy off contract, they still want your number and stuff.. but it's like, i'm just buying a phone full price, you don't need to know anything about me... yet again, another reason why I never buy from corporate verizon and only use retailers.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4
I bought one 3 days ago and kept unlimited data no problem. I would call CS and complain LOUDLY. A few months back I had a sim card go bad and when I took it in to get replacement, the rep changed my plan to 2 GB. Month and a half later I get an email about overuse of data and when I called in and explained what happened they gave unlimited back to me. She said within 30 days it is much easier to correct, but, they had to put in a service request for mine, which, took about 2-3 business days to reinstate. Good luck!
I can't see a corporate store do this, so must be a franchise store to screw up like that.
The people in the stores have been told to do what ever it takes to cheat you out of the unlimited data, that is first hand knowledge from a store manager in the family. As far as the phones go, you should not have been able to buy the phones without changing your plan, all phones from verizon are full price no more upgrades and require changing your plan, wether you pay cash or on the little deal on a monthly basis.
How about buying an unlocked compatible phone from Amazon or elsewhere? Will they try to force you out of the unlimited data plan to activate?
tbparkey said:
How about buying an unlocked compatible phone from Amazon or elsewhere? Will they try to force you out of the unlimited data plan to activate?
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not if you're buying full price. I got the new moto x.. has nothing to do with your plan. it's just like buying any product on amazon. click buy, bam, done. throw your sim in, and it activates. verizon had absolutely nothing to do with the process and I love it.
Sent from my Moto X Pure Edition