iPhone 13 mini Someone explain T-Mobile to me?

[FlyingTexan]

So I’ve decided I don’t like the iPhone 14 really. I love my mini 13. However with the current promos I thought, “why not trade in my 256gb phone at 87% battery for a new 512gb version with a new battery and take advantage of the Tmobile $800 promotion”?

I paid for my phone outright and am a new Tmobile customer. Ported over from ATT and Tmobile was definitely the right move. I fly all over and so far haven’t been anywhere ATT worked that Tmobile hasn’t. Anyway they’re promoting $800 for my 13m ($355 phone and the rest in statement credits).


Am I reading this right? Looks like they say it’s $800 total credit but then $299+tax. That’d be a $1099 phone. Or I could pay outright for $929. Apple shows the mini 512gb as $899 total. Where’s this $200 coming from? Why’s it $929 if I pay outright when it’s $899 at apple as well?

Shouldn’t I just owe $99+tax on MSRP of $899 so I’d owe a total of $173.16?

 

[Cinimod1000]

They made it seem really complicated. I am looking at two trades with T-Mobile, but I can’t seem to make the math work either. Best I can tell is you will get an instant credit for your old phone- and then they will charge you back that same amount over a 24 month period. To keep you locked in.
I would look at trading with Apple and not doing anything with T-Mo.

 

[tis]

There is a $30 upcharge for buying your phone outright unlocked. Apple charges the same fee for all phones under the Pro models.

 

[seezar]

They made it seem really complicated. I am looking at two trades with T-Mobile, but I can’t seem to make the math work either. Best I can tell is you will get an instant credit for your old phone- and then they will charge you back that same amount over a 24 month period. To keep you locked in.
I would look at trading with Apple and not doing anything with T-Mo.

How T-mobile does it when there is a promo. Lets say the promo is trade-in certain devices and get $800 off a new phone.

So they normally have base trade-in values for phones. Lets say they normally value your old phone at $400 for just a normal trade-in value. They would give you a $400 credit on your next bill for the trade-in. Then since the promo is for $800 off total, that means they will give you bill credits spread out over 24 months for that other $400.

The amount of bill credits and the amount of upfront credit all depends on the base value of your phone being traded in but the total amount of credit you get will be equal to the promo deal they are advertising. You just have to make sure you want to stay with them for 24 months to get the full credit amount.

 

[FlyingTexan]

How T-mobile does it when there is a promo. Lets say the promo is trade-in certain devices and get $800 off a new phone.

So they normally have base trade-in values for phones. Lets say they normally value your old phone at $400 for just a normal trade-in value. They would give you a $400 credit on your next bill for the trade-in. Then since the promo is for $800 off total, that means they will give you bill credits spread out over 24 months for that other $400.

Right. So how the hell is there a $800 promo but I’d owe $299 plus tax for a $899 phone?!?

 

[seezar]

Right. So how the hell is there a $800 promo but I’d owe $299 plus tax for a $899 phone?!?

That is kind of strange, maybe it might be your credit profile with them requiring a down payment to buy a phone from them in general?

 

[TheMacGuy96]

Right. So how the hell is there a $800 promo but I’d owe $299 plus tax for a $899 phone?!?

It’s based off your credit rating with T-Mobile and the phone will always be $30 more every where unless you buy it from Apple than they give you that savings when you do it with a carrier. If the phone is $929. And they are having you put down $299. That’s taken from the $929. So you will owe $630 left on that phone. Now the $800 credit they give you will be spreader over 24 months meaning, your original payment $630 over 24 months is $26.25 with the $800 promo T-Mobile actually owes you $7.08 on each bill. Sounds complicated but over all that’s how it works.

 

[FlyingTexan]

It’s based off your credit rating with T-Mobile and the phone will always be $30 more every where unless you buy it from Apple than they give you that savings when you do it with a carrier. If the phone is $929. And they are having you put down $299. That’s taken from the $929. So you will owe $630 left on that phone. Now the $800 credit they give you will be spreader over 24 months meaning, your original payment $630 over 24 months is $26.25 with the $800 promo T-Mobile actually owes you $7.08 on each bill. Sounds complicated but over all that’s how it works.

Ok. Im just going to walk in lol

 

[Apple_Robert]

Once you are an established customer, you won't have to pay money down.

 

[webkit]

The retail price of a new 256GB iPhone 13 mini at Apple is actually $929. Some carriers offer a $30 connectivity discount which, if chosen, brings the price down to $899.

T-Mobile pricing is similar for a new 256GB iPhone 13 mini ($929.99). The promotion you chose gives you $800 for your $355 device.

iPhone 13 mini price = $929.99
Down payment = $299.99
Balance of $630.00 financed over 24 months = $26.25/month
Trade-in bonus credit ($800 - $355) $445.00 over 24 months = $18.55/month
Net payment ($26.25 - $18.55) = $7.70/month

The $299.99 may be in part to cover most of the actual trade in until they receive it and confirm its condition at which time you will be credited $355.