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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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I think he was agreeing with the OP as the key word was "have" as in no other option but to finance it because you can't afford to do it any other way. I always take advantage of free financing if it is available.
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I apologize if this had been posted already, I don't have the time to read all of the replies right now. This is a non-story. I just bought 2 iPads from T-mobile and you do have to sign up for the $20 a month data plan to make the purchase as their system is not setup to handle this properly yet. After you purchase you call customer service and have them switch you to the $10 on demand plan which will get credited back to you each month. I did it online with both my iPads.
Now if we are saying that they are going to force us back onto the $20 plan, then that's a different story.
Now if we are saying that they are going to force us back onto the $20 plan, then that's a different story.
It sounded too good to be true from the beginning for me. The other plans though aren't bad though.
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Everyone is missing it here. This is ONLY if you did not pay fully for your iPad. If you finance it through them, you're required to pay more. If not, you walk in, pay full price for an iPad, and get free data.
If you only pay part of the price of your iPad, OF COURSE they're going to have to subsidize the iPad somehow. YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT.
This is still an incredible deal. Buy an iPad ANYWHERE, get free data. Finance it because you can't really afford it, and you get to use T-Mobile's money INTEREST-FREE for two years - but you have to pay for a data plan which STILL gives you the free data once you go above the initial 500 megs.
Boo hoo.
No lies here that I can see... Article is linkbait.
If you only pay part of the price of your iPad, OF COURSE they're going to have to subsidize the iPad somehow. YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT.
This is still an incredible deal. Buy an iPad ANYWHERE, get free data. Finance it because you can't really afford it, and you get to use T-Mobile's money INTEREST-FREE for two years - but you have to pay for a data plan which STILL gives you the free data once you go above the initial 500 megs.
Boo hoo.
No lies here that I can see... Article is linkbait.
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Thinking about this a bit more. I think the logical approach is to NOT buy the IPAD from T-Mobile. In the event that you want to head to another carrier that doesn't want to activate your ipad because it doesn't match one of their numbers, why not pick up a VZ ipad, so the number will be valid, and then remove sim and put in the t-mobile and get the free data. This gives flexibility to later go back to VZ if one wants or just stick with t-mobile or try their luck with another carrier.
Or, if I were to buy a VZ IPAD, would they try to make me activate it with VZ, or can I just buy it outright. I would assume apple could care less as long as I buy it from them. Just my thoughts.
Or, if I were to buy a VZ IPAD, would they try to make me activate it with VZ, or can I just buy it outright. I would assume apple could care less as long as I buy it from them. Just my thoughts.
Tonight when I get home I will post a screen shot of the T-Mobile website ad from Friday.
Then you will see who the silly goose is.
Exactly, People who were not involved in the original deal don't see the HUGE bait and switch from what the website claimed over the weekend to what it claims now.
They are. You are basing your statement on not getting the free 200MB data plan *if* you are financing it through T-Mobile *and* are a new customer. Bring your own iPad, buy the iPad outright from T-Mobile, or be a current T-Mobile customer and you get the free 200MB data plan. I am getting the free 200MB data plan.
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Even if there was a bait and switch, there is an easy solution. TAKE IT BACK. I talked to my local store and they have a 14 return policy. If you don't like what is being offered now vs 2 days ago. Speak with your actions. Take your device back. Then, head to apple store, finance it with them. And come back to t-mobile and get your free data. OR, just pay for the device you are financing and get your free data. seems easy enough solution to me.
I was told that the return polcy is 20 days by T-Mobile sales department that handles the iPad.
Thanks, I appreciate response.
Like you said, this could have been (still could be) a good way to lock in customers and get them to switch.
I would definitely recommend a trial run first. For me personally, I can't get the same signal building penetration with T-Mobile as I can with AT&T. Something about the lower bands that AT&T uses is better for building penetration. Inside some large buildings I get 1-2 bars with ATT, and no signal with T-Mobile.
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I was able to sell it for $399 with free shipping and got a buyer. I also included my Smart Cover though (since it's now too large for the ipad air).
Tip: It fits, original box and all, in a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box.
After all of the fees, I was able to pocket around $325.
Considering it cost us $729 just 18 months ago, I originally hoped to get $500 and had no serious offers on a buy it now or best offer. After researching a bit more, it looks like they sell closer to $375-400, depending on the day.
Gazelle is only offering $220.
I bought into the no-contract crap from AT&T so bought iPad 4 with cellular. Turned out not to be true-- the connect charges will kill you if you only need cellular access temporarily.
The only saving grace is one needs the cellular chips in order to have GPS.
I'm annoyed that a company branding itself as the "uncarrier" and that pokes fun at other companies for being confusing then goes on to be misleading itself to such a degree that virtually everyone doesn't understand.
It seems reasonable to me too. What's unreasonable is tweeting "no strings attached" and then three days later explaining that there's a paid monthly data plan required. Which is a pretty big string IMO.
Totally misleading.
The problem lies with CEO John Legere's comments. He stated everyone gets the 200mb free "No strings attached." That's the problem. There are plenty of strings attached to the deal. The EIP program for non T-Mobile subscribers is not interest free as the want you to believe. If you are forced to pay $20 a month for data just for the privilege of getting 0% financing then it is absolutely a bait and switch tactic, it's a play on words period. By financing on the EIP program that alone makes you a customer. They run your credit and establish an account which you agree to pay over a fixed amount of time. If they would have made it clear upfront by stating in order to get free data you must pay for the device in full, which they did not, then no one would be debating this issue. The $20 minimum fee for data is essence interest because they are forcing you to buy data for privilege of financing at 0%. The total amount you would have to pay for the so called free data ($20 for 500MB + 200MB free total 700MB) is $480 over 24 months. Once the device is paid off then the real free data would kick in and the $20 would be able to drop off. So in reality the $20 a month is a finance charge of 480.00 over 24 months. Do the math, $630 for a 16GB iPad air and $480 fee to get the free data, Total $1110 over two years. It equates to 76.2% interest charge over two years. THATS CRAZY. It would be better to charge the device on a credit card and add data as needed. I had a online chat with customer service yesterday and they are so confused that they actually told me the purpose of the fee is to prevent fraud. That doesn't make sense either as they wouldn't extend credit if you were a credit risk. T-Mobile needs to get their act together.....or at least be more transparent regarding this issue.
The problem lies with CEO John Legere's comments. He stated everyone gets the 200mb free "No strings attached." That's the problem. There are plenty of strings attached to the deal. The EIP program for non T-Mobile subscribers is not interest free as the want you to believe. If you are forced to pay $20 a month for data just for the privilege of getting 0% financing then it is absolutely a bait and switch tactic, it's a play on words period. By financing on the EIP program that alone makes you a customer. They run your credit and establish an account which you agree to pay over a fixed amount of time. If they would have made it clear upfront by stating in order to get free data you must pay for the device in full, which they did not, then no one would be debating this issue. The $20 minimum fee for data is essence interest because they are forcing you to buy data for privilege of financing at 0%. The total amount you would have to pay for the so called free data ($20 for 500MB + 200MB free total 700MB) is $480 over 24 months. Once the device is paid off then the real free data would kick in and the $20 would be able to drop off. So in reality the $20 a month is a finance charge of 480.00 over 24 months. Do the math, $630 for a 16GB iPad air and $480 fee to get the free data, Total $1110 over two years. It equates to 76.2% interest charge over two years. THATS CRAZY. It would be better to charge the device on a credit card and add data as needed. I had a online chat with customer service yesterday and they are so confused that they actually told me the purpose of the fee is to prevent fraud. That doesn't make sense either as they wouldn't extend credit if you were a credit risk. T-Mobile needs to get their act together.....or at least be more transparent regarding this issue.
That's because it's a screen shot from the Apple Store website, where you HAVE to buy the iPad Air at full price, which makes it eligible for free, no strings attached, 200mb of data.
This is unlike buying directly from T-Mobile, where financing is an option, and there is a big string attached if you choose to finance the iPad.
Confusing because of the statements and stories from Friday, I know..
I really can't understand why T-Mobile doesn't come out and say something like...
"We weren't clear in our communications. We're taking the blame and any new customer who purchased an iPad between Friday and Sunday qualifies for interest free financing and 200MB data per month free for life. Going forward, any new customer who wishes to finance an iPad will be required to purchase a data plan until the iPad is completely paid for."
It would go a long way towards clearing everything up and would earn them back a lot of goodwill. And it probably doesn't cost them THAT much when you factor in people who will be upgrading their data plans anyways.
"We weren't clear in our communications. We're taking the blame and any new customer who purchased an iPad between Friday and Sunday qualifies for interest free financing and 200MB data per month free for life. Going forward, any new customer who wishes to finance an iPad will be required to purchase a data plan until the iPad is completely paid for."
It would go a long way towards clearing everything up and would earn them back a lot of goodwill. And it probably doesn't cost them THAT much when you factor in people who will be upgrading their data plans anyways.
Not really since until I saw the Twitter message by the CEO, I intended on buying the WiFi version, which I now am again. So really, it's a bad taste in my mouth about T-Mobile and not even the potential for a customer to them.