Carrier Question about buying full-priced iPad from T-Mobile

[Davewithak]

I've been looking at buying an iPad for awhile now and I think T-Mobile has pretty good deal on them. They have the iPad Air LTE for $500. I was wondering if I could go to T-Mobile and just pay in full for the iPad without signing up with them and then use a T-Mobile SIM for 200MB free data. Has anyone tried this? I don't want to do monthly payments and I don't really have any credit right now.

 

[Gregintosh]

I paid for mine fully upfront and got the free data they are advertising.

You may need to be a voice subscriber to be able to take advantage of this pricing, up I'm not sure if that's just for the 1.2Gb free monthly or the purchase price.

Just go there and ask. And then let us know.

 

[midnight555]

I ordered mine from Tmobile over the phone with no problems. I told them that I did not want to sign up for a plan or do a credit check. I paid upfront for the ipad.

 

[MyiBill]

It will work for the free data but I believe you need to have phone service with them to get the better pricing.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

It will work for the free data but I believe you need to have phone service with them to get the better pricing.

That is incorrect. Anyone can go in and buy the iPad at the sale price regardless of phone service.

 

[baypharm]

That is incorrect. Anyone can go in and buy the iPad at the sale price regardless of phone service.

I think maybe the poster was referring to better (generous) data pricing. If you sign with a qualifying voice plan they offer higher data plans for less $$$ for tablets.

 

[rhinosrcool]

I'm confused. Why would T-mobile sell cellular iPads at the same as non without requiring some data plan?

 

[joplinG5]

I'm confused. Why would T-mobile sell cellular iPads at the same as non without requiring some data plan?

TMO presumes the sale of a cellular iPad will result in a data plan being added. It may not happen every time... but the odds are definitely in their favor. Most folks know nothing about these forums or how this offer actually works... so they go into this transaction thinking a data plan is required and are signed up accordingly.

 

[rhinosrcool]

TMO presumes the sale of a cellular iPad will result in a data plan being added. It may not happen every time... but the odds are definitely in their favor. Most folks know nothing about these forums or how this offer actually works... so they go into this transaction thinking a data plan is required and are signed up accordingly.

I don't buy it. On their website, you have to sign up for some kind of data plan.

 

[MyiBill]

Have anyone actually purchased one without having service for the discounted price of the ipad?

 

[joplinG5]

I don't buy it. On their website, you have to sign up for some kind of data plan.

Then don't. Who cares...

This is not a deal that's done via the website. You have to call them. Numerous folks on the web have mentioned being successful doing this including one in this specific thread.

A company's website is not necessarily the "final word" in what products and services they offer. Sometimes you gotta do research and find things out on your own thinking outside of the box.

TMO is making the bulk of their money on this deal with customers who go the EIP route... and that requires a data service commitment. Folks who buy without a commitment are just a tiny fraction of the whole.

 

[bobr68]

Just got an iPad Air from tmobile. It was a nightmare trying to just get the free 200mb of data and nothing else. The store (a tmobile store) said it wasn't possible. We'll, they were wrong. So were the first 4 customer service reps I spoke too including a supervisor who finally did figure out how to do it. Here's what you need to know:
-free 200 only w/o any monthly plan is possible. You must set up the iPad as a prepaid account and pay for iPad in full. This is what I did. But they didn't know about setting it up as prepaid. That's the part that took forever to find out.
-unless you have another account with them, you cannot finance the iPad and only get 200 mb. Must get a data plan or pay in full.

 

[MyiBill]

Just got an iPad Air from tmobile. It was a nightmare trying to just get the free 200mb of data and nothing else. The store (a tmobile store) said it wasn't possible. We'll, they were wrong. So were the first 4 customer service reps I spoke too including a supervisor who finally did figure out how to do it. Here's what you need to know:
-free 200 only w/o any monthly plan is possible. You must set up the iPad as a prepaid account and pay for iPad in full. This is what I did. But they didn't know about setting it up as prepaid. That's the part that took forever to find out.
-unless you have another account with them, you cannot finance the iPad and only get 200 mb. Must get a data plan or pay in full.

Were you able to get the discounted hardware as well?

 

[bobr68]

Were you able to get the discounted hardware as well?

Yes. 498 for 16 gb iPad Air.

 

[MyiBill]

Yes. 498 for 16 gb iPad Air.

Great. May have to pick up a retina mini then! Thanks

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

I don't buy it. On their website, you have to sign up for some kind of data plan.

Go into the store. Buy the iPad. Walk out, it's that simple.

They won't make you do any sort of activation in the store. Once you have it, it is the same as if you bought it from Apple, or any other retailer. You can sign up for the free 200mb. The end.

 

[rhinosrcool]

Then don't. Who cares...

This is not a deal that's done via the website. You have to call them. Numerous folks on the web have mentioned being successful doing this including one in this specific thread.

A company's website is not necessarily the "final word" in what products and services they offer. Sometimes you gotta do research and find things out on your own thinking outside of the box.

TMO is making the bulk of their money on this deal with customers who go the EIP route... and that requires a data service commitment. Folks who buy without a commitment are just a tiny fraction of the whole.

Fair enough. In these cases, I don't mind being wrong.

Pretty nice deal. However, since my retina mini wifi is nice, I'm going to wait for the next Air refresh.

----------

Go into the store. Buy the iPad. Walk out, it's that simple.

They won't make you do any sort of activation in the store. Once you have it, it is the same as if you bought it from Apple, or any other retailer. You can sign up for the free 200mb. The end.

Pretty sweet. Thanks.