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T-Mobile CEO Misleads on 'No Strings Attached' Free Data, New Customers Require $20 Data Plan to Finance iPads
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Stop Whining!
You people who are not T-mobile customers and complaining about the fact that you have to pay outright for an iPad Air (which you would do anyways if you go to Apple's store or website) to get 200 MB of free LTE/4G data and no overage fees are unreal. It clearly states on their website how you can get the free data.
You people who are not T-mobile customers and complaining about the fact that you have to pay outright for an iPad Air (which you would do anyways if you go to Apple's store or website) to get 200 MB of free LTE/4G data and no overage fees are unreal. It clearly states on their website how you can get the free data.
Sure, but doesn't make it right ...
NBC's interpretation was based on the information T-Mobile itself was spreading around, so I think they did the best they could to report on what they read. (I read the information posted on T-Mobile's own website and concluded the same, mistaken, thing from it.)
I get that marketing likes to use trickery, and it's even legal. Note I'm not one of the people on here screaming about a lawsuit over this. I'm just saying there's a difference between what's legal but sneaky and underhanded, and clear, honest marketing. I'd rather deal with companies who do the later.
NBC's interpretation was based on the information T-Mobile itself was spreading around, so I think they did the best they could to report on what they read. (I read the information posted on T-Mobile's own website and concluded the same, mistaken, thing from it.)
I get that marketing likes to use trickery, and it's even legal. Note I'm not one of the people on here screaming about a lawsuit over this. I'm just saying there's a difference between what's legal but sneaky and underhanded, and clear, honest marketing. I'd rather deal with companies who do the later.
Because most people think of it as free money and forget that they still owe the extra $609 after the first month's payment and assuming people set their bank account up to pay the monthly payment automatically is a huge dumbass assumption. And I buy my stuff outright because it's a tax writeoff and I'm not interested in drawing out payments. Financing it like that also turns off my AMEX Platinum benefits such as double warranty and purchase protection against loss, theft, and damage. I find far more value in that and my 5000 shares of AAPL than financing a $929 iPad over whatever amount of time for a measly $100 profit.
In summary, if you finance the iPad and don't have an existing T-Mobile account, you will be required to pay for monthly service (and get an additional 200MB free).
If you pay for your iPad outright or bring your own iPad to T-Mobile, or choose to finance when you have an existing T-Mobile account, you get 200MB for free, no questions asked.
A little confusing, yes...
If you pay for your iPad outright or bring your own iPad to T-Mobile, or choose to finance when you have an existing T-Mobile account, you get 200MB for free, no questions asked.
A little confusing, yes...
my question is say i finance ipad air with the $20 dollar fee, then what happen when Ipad mini 2 come out.
Technically i will be an existing tmo customer, so will i be able to finance it for free? (TRUE FREE)
Ah, I see. My misunderstanding then.
As for that offer for current customers, that's sporting of them. That's also probably contributed to the confusion about what exactly the terms of the deal are. I'll bet they are wishing they'd of created a simple two row, two column chart showing current/new customers and financed/non-financed right from the start to make it blindingly obvious what the deal is. Would have saved everyone a lot of upset and angst.
You mean after they changed it? Because that's not what it said on Friday or before.
ETA. edited to add that I was just told by a CSR that I won't owe for a plan. Hopefully that is true.
If you want to finance the iPad, both Apple (through Barclays Bank) and Best Buy offer a interest free loan. You can then get a T-Mobile sim card and get the 200MB free data plan. You have now got the same thing as the T-Mobile EIP and the free 200MB data plan.
Posters in other threads have said that they're using T-Mobile SIMs in their Verizon iPad Airs. It's not going to work with older Verizon iPads.
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Straight from T-Force aka Tmobile Social Media Help Line:
"I'm sorry for any confusion. I was able to confirm why this plan was not allowing EIP. In order for our system to allow the free 200MB data and an EIP plan, you must have a voice line with T-Mobile on a postpaid account; otherwise if you only wanted a data line with no voice options, you do have the option of a prepaid account, but no EIP. At this time your plan would need to be corrected to a prepaid line if you would like to keep just a data line, please let us know."
Yeah no ****, I don't want your garbage anymore, you mislead the customer. Just cancel my **** already!
"I'm sorry for any confusion. I was able to confirm why this plan was not allowing EIP. In order for our system to allow the free 200MB data and an EIP plan, you must have a voice line with T-Mobile on a postpaid account; otherwise if you only wanted a data line with no voice options, you do have the option of a prepaid account, but no EIP. At this time your plan would need to be corrected to a prepaid line if you would like to keep just a data line, please let us know."
Yeah no ****, I don't want your garbage anymore, you mislead the customer. Just cancel my **** already!
What the hell are they thinking?
T-mobile should've honored their original deal instead of suffering a massive PR hit. Giving out 200/mb a month gratis as a loss leader isn't a big deal, screwing over potential customers certainly is.
I ordered online before they changed the offer. I'll be holding them to it and if they play ball, I'll have some more business for them.
T-mobile should've honored their original deal instead of suffering a massive PR hit. Giving out 200/mb a month gratis as a loss leader isn't a big deal, screwing over potential customers certainly is.
I ordered online before they changed the offer. I'll be holding them to it and if they play ball, I'll have some more business for them.
Bait & Switch
I called T-Mobile today to verify my order which was the $26.25/month plus $10.00 for the On-Demand. These are the fees on my email order and what I agreed to when placing the order.
I've now been told I would be charged $26.25 + $20/month. Total bait and switch without any authorization. I just cancelled the order. They just lost a potential T-Mobile customer because I previously was interested based on their aggressive pricing. They also are scamming people by charging $10 for a SIM Starter Kit when the SIM should be included.
I'm going to order an AT&T or Verizon iPad and not deal with useless T-Mobile.
I called T-Mobile today to verify my order which was the $26.25/month plus $10.00 for the On-Demand. These are the fees on my email order and what I agreed to when placing the order.
I've now been told I would be charged $26.25 + $20/month. Total bait and switch without any authorization. I just cancelled the order. They just lost a potential T-Mobile customer because I previously was interested based on their aggressive pricing. They also are scamming people by charging $10 for a SIM Starter Kit when the SIM should be included.
I'm going to order an AT&T or Verizon iPad and not deal with useless T-Mobile.
T-Mobile iPad SUCKS!
Ok, I posted earlier that activation of the free data wasn't an issue. Spoke too soon. The gotcha is they have Parental Controls turned on by DEFAULT. I can't even view most of the webpages that I normally go through.
What's worse, in order to deactivate the parental controls
I need to have a T-Mobile number to sign in. So yep, I have to go to the T-Mobile store and get a T-Mobile number. I have a gimped, $1K tablet.
I'm taking this piece of crap back and will either just keep my WiFi iPad 2 or get an ATT iPad, but I'm almost out of contract with them and desperately want to get rid of them. So yeah. I'm pretty upset.
So, finally able to get in. They had automatically sent an email with the phone number when I initially signed up. Now I can't get past the stupid security screen because the website is broken. I never knew T-Mobile was this AWFUL. I've tested their LTE service in the past for work and it was always pretty darn good - better than ATT. But this initial experience is awful, so yep, think I'm taking it back if the website isn't working tomorrow. I'm really frustrated by this, there is no way they should have Parental Controls turn ON by default! Just freaking ridiculous! Like everyone is buying iPads for their spoiled kids???? Is that what T-Mobile thinks??
Ok, I posted earlier that activation of the free data wasn't an issue. Spoke too soon. The gotcha is they have Parental Controls turned on by DEFAULT. I can't even view most of the webpages that I normally go through.
What's worse, in order to deactivate the parental controls
I need to have a T-Mobile number to sign in. So yep, I have to go to the T-Mobile store and get a T-Mobile number. I have a gimped, $1K tablet. I'm taking this piece of crap back and will either just keep my WiFi iPad 2 or get an ATT iPad, but I'm almost out of contract with them and desperately want to get rid of them. So yeah. I'm pretty upset.
So, finally able to get in. They had automatically sent an email with the phone number when I initially signed up. Now I can't get past the stupid security screen because the website is broken. I never knew T-Mobile was this AWFUL. I've tested their LTE service in the past for work and it was always pretty darn good - better than ATT. But this initial experience is awful, so yep, think I'm taking it back if the website isn't working tomorrow. I'm really frustrated by this, there is no way they should have Parental Controls turn ON by default! Just freaking ridiculous! Like everyone is buying iPads for their spoiled kids???? Is that what T-Mobile thinks??
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Ok, I posted earlier that activation of the free data wasn't an issue. Spoke too soon. The gotcha is they have Parental Controls turned on by DEFAULT. I can't even view most of the webpages that I normally go through.
What's worse, in order to deactivate the parental controls
I'm taking this piece of crap back and will either just keep my WiFi iPad 2 or get an ATT iPad, but I'm almost out of contract with them and desperately want to get rid of them. So yeah. I'm pretty upset.
This just gets weirder and weirder, it's like they don't want new business and they would really like a lawsuit right now.
I was told by 2 different CSR's that I would not owe as well. Very emphatically and in no uncertain terms I was told tonight and Saturday when I signed up that I will have a $10 charge and a $10 credit on every bill.
I think it's possible that they are grandfathering in people who already bought and changing the deal for those after. They certainly aren't being clear.
i am all confused.
i ordered a sliver T-mobile version 64GB iPad Air at apple.com and picked it up at my local Apple store on Friday. Can't activate the SIM card came with it until Sunday night. I was not asked for CC information during the activation process and successfully activated at the end. 2 emails received after the activation. First one informs me the phone number assigned to my account and a password in case i need to contact them. 2nd email confirms a "Promotional Pass", which they called "Mobile Internet Starter Data" pass, with 200MB of high speed data for use until 12/02/2013.
Does this mean one only gets first month 200MB free? or WHAT?
PS: i am not a T-Mobile customer of any kind.
i ordered a sliver T-mobile version 64GB iPad Air at apple.com and picked it up at my local Apple store on Friday. Can't activate the SIM card came with it until Sunday night. I was not asked for CC information during the activation process and successfully activated at the end. 2 emails received after the activation. First one informs me the phone number assigned to my account and a password in case i need to contact them. 2nd email confirms a "Promotional Pass", which they called "Mobile Internet Starter Data" pass, with 200MB of high speed data for use until 12/02/2013.
Does this mean one only gets first month 200MB free? or WHAT?
PS: i am not a T-Mobile customer of any kind.
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12/02 is a month away. Your 200mb is for a month. So naturally that ends and starts over in a month. 12/03 will be a new month with 200mb. So no, not just one month. It's every month.
I'm a current T-M customer and ordered two for my wife and I. I was told is exactly the same thing about being charged $10 with a $10 credit at the same time. Reading all the ranting here is =pretty discouraging that this may not be the case, but we will see when the iPads get here and I confirm the billing.
For what it's worth I think this is a great thing to give current T-M customers who also use them for voice service, as a reward for being a customer. If you are not a current or don't plan to get their voice service, I'm not sure you should be able to complain too much about getting completely free iPad internet service. Last time I checked you wouldn't work for free, so why should T-M.
Yes. I just asked for one after I bought my Verizon iPad Air. I took out the verizon SIM card, put in the tmobile one & was able to activate the free 200 MB/month free plan, no credit card info required.
All this confusion & anger is with people expecting free financing on a new iPad.
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It WILL work with older Verizon iPads. You won't get LTE, just HSPA+/4G. The 3rd/4th gen Verizon iPads don't support tmobile's LTE frequency.