Carrier T-Mobile cuts promos for First Responder, 55+, and Military plans

[BoMo]

I went into T-Mobile today to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and was told my trade in was only worth $300. I’d been offered the full $830 a couple weeks ago, but apparently as of earlier this month, all Military, 55+, and First Responder plans are excluded from any promos.

I walked out without the upgrade and may well move to another carrier.

 

[eyoungren]

I went into T-Mobile today to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and was told my trade in was only worth $300. I’d been offered the full $830 a couple weeks ago, but apparently as of earlier this month, all Military, 55+, and First Responder plans are excluded from any promos.

I walked out without the upgrade and may well move to another carrier.

I'm trying really hard to sympathize with you, but I just can't get there. I am on none of the plans you mention, because I never served in the military (and don't serve now), I'm not a First Responder (and never wanted to be) and I'm only 54. At 55, I could get on a 55+ plan, but hey guess what? 55+ plans are optimized for 2 lines. And I have nine lines with T-Mobile. I'd end up paying more.

I value my 2015 Simple Choice plan and because of that I do not chase promos or deals. My monthly price for service has never changed and I've never been screwed out of a promo because I've never been on a promo. In fact, the one time I asked about a promo it was a week after it expired (free line on us). I was initially denied, only for it to appear mysteriously on one of my lines a month later. That line has remained free since 2016.

Promos are dangerous. The terms change all the time and you can get screwed at any time. I'll stick with my 2015 pricing.

 

[dave006]

I went into T-Mobile today to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and was told my trade in was only worth $300. I’d been offered the full $830 a couple weeks ago, but apparently as of earlier this month, all Military, 55+, and First Responder plans are excluded from any promos.

I think you had some incorrect information. Here is what T-Mobile announced last month:

• Get iPhone 16 Pro on Us (or up to $1000 off any iPhone 16 model) when trading in an eligible device on Go5G Next or Go5G Business Next.
  • Go5G Next (including business!) includes the freedom to upgrade every year and customers always get the same great phone deals as new customers.
• Get iPhone 16 on Us (or up to $830 off any iPhone 16 model) when trading in an eligible device on Go5G Plus or Go5G Business Plus …
  • And, Go5G customers can get the same deal when trading in and adding a line.

Dave

 

[webkit]

I went into T-Mobile today to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and was told my trade in was only worth $300. I’d been offered the full $830 a couple weeks ago, but apparently as of earlier this month, all Military, 55+, and First Responder plans are excluded from any promos.

I walked out without the upgrade and may well move to another carrier.

T-Mobile is still showing iPhone 16 promos for military, 55+, and first responders online e.g., "Up to $800 off with trade on a 55, Military, or First Responder Go5G Next plan."

 

[BoMo]

I'm trying really hard to sympathize with you, but I just can't get there. I am on none of the plans you mention, because I never served in the military (and don't serve now), I'm not a First Responder (and never wanted to be) and I'm only 54. At 55, I could get on a 55+ plan, but hey guess what? 55+ plans are optimized for 2 lines. And I have nine lines with T-Mobile. I'd end up paying more.

I value my 2015 Simple Choice plan and because of that I do not chase promos or deals. My monthly price for service has never changed and I've never been screwed out of a promo because I've never been on a promo. In fact, the one time I asked about a promo it was a week after it expired (free line on us). I was initially denied, only for it to appear mysteriously on one of my lines a month later. That line has remained free since 2016.

Promos are dangerous. The terms change all the time and you can get screwed at any time. I'll stick with my 2015 pricing.

That's great for you, but for anyone on those discounted plans who moved to the Go5G family of plans for the upgrades, just got screwed.

 

[BoMo]

I think you had some incorrect information. Here is what T-Mobile announced last month:

• Get iPhone 16 Pro on Us (or up to $1000 off any iPhone 16 model) when trading in an eligible device on Go5G Next or Go5G Business Next.
  • Go5G Next (including business!) includes the freedom to upgrade every year and customers always get the same great phone deals as new customers.
• Get iPhone 16 on Us (or up to $830 off any iPhone 16 model) when trading in an eligible device on Go5G Plus or Go5G Business Plus …
  • And, Go5G customers can get the same deal when trading in and adding a line.

Dave

Yes, that was what was announced last month, but then on October 4, they dropped the military, first responder, and 55+ plans from the promotion.

 

[BoMo]

T-Mobile is still showing iPhone 16 promos for military, 55+, and first responders online e.g., "Up to $800 off with trade on a 55, Military, or First Responder Go5G Next plan."

Can you post a link to where you saw that?

The sales associate at the T-Mobile store told me the promotion changed about two weeks ago, and when I called T-Mobile to verify it, I was told the same thing. When I later searched online, I found numerous threads on Reddit and in the T-Mobile Community discussing the change. Apparently, it was leaked on October 1 and became effective October 4.

Interestingly, there is a reported movement amongst T-Mobile employees who are on these plans to walk-out on Black Friday unless the company changes it back.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Phone promos from carriers aren’t really promos one should seek to get, in my opinion. The promos always benefit the carrier. The customer always ends up paying for that “phone on us” gimmick. There is no such thing as “get this phone on us” without the cost being transferred to the account holder.

 

[Fred Zed]

Phone promos from carriers aren’t really promos one should seek to get, in my opinion. The promos always benefit the carrier. The customer always ends up paying for that “phone on us” gimmick. There is no such thing as “get this phone on us” without the cost being transferred to the account holder.

So well said.

 

[webkit]

Can you post a link to where you saw that?

If you go to the cell phones section on the T-Mobile website (link below), above each of the iPhone 16 models it says "See 8 promotions." If you click on that, it will list the eight promos – three of which are specifically for military, 55+, and first responders.

New Cell Phones for Sale | Buy Smartphones Online or In-Store

Explore T-Mobile's selection of the latest cell phones and smartphones. Compare models, prices, and features from the most popular brands today!

www.t-mobile.com

 

[Apple_Robert]

T-Mobile, like the other carriers, is actively trying to get people off the discontinued Magenta plans and onto the new Go5 plans. They are dangling the phone carrot promo to get people focused on the “phone on us” gimmick, and not focus on the fact that falling for this shell game will increase their phone bill by a considerable amount.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I'm trying really hard to sympathize with you, but I just can't get there. I am on none of the plans you mention, because I never served in the military (and don't serve now), I'm not a First Responder (and never wanted to be) and I'm only 54. At 55, I could get on a 55+ plan, but hey guess what? 55+ plans are optimized for 2 lines. And I have nine lines with T-Mobile. I'd end up paying more.

I value my 2015 Simple Choice plan and because of that I do not chase promos or deals. My monthly price for service has never changed and I've never been screwed out of a promo because I've never been on a promo. In fact, the one time I asked about a promo it was a week after it expired (free line on us). I was initially denied, only for it to appear mysteriously on one of my lines a month later. That line has remained free since 2016.

Promos are dangerous. The terms change all the time and you can get screwed at any time. I'll stick with my 2015 pricing.

Or you could have a look at Tello Mobile. Their unlimited plan is $25 per month. I just turned the ripe old age of 66 and they have the best plans because they are all customizable. I put my iPhone 13 on Tello and chose 100 min talk, unlimited text and 2GB of data, $7.62 per month tax and fees included. I plan on switching my primary business phone from Mint Mobile to Tello when my 12 months are up in February. The other good thing about Tello is that they don't ask you to pay a 12 month block to get the savings. It's always per month.

Another benefit to Tello is that they use the T-Mobile network and as far as I can tell, they don't charge you to do eSIM swaps to another phone.

 

[BoMo]

Phone promos from carriers aren’t really promos one should seek to get, in my opinion. The promos always benefit the carrier. The customer always ends up paying for that “phone on us” gimmick. There is no such thing as “get this phone on us” without the cost being transferred to the account holder.

I’d argue it depends on the age of the phones one has to trade in and the number of lines.

In my case, I have four phones for which I might get $200 if I were to sell them. That leaves $600 per phone or $2400 total out of pocket. Or… I can pay an extra $30 per month for two years, or $720 total. That definitely seems in my favor.

Now in two years, when my phones would be only two years old, trading them in again might not be the best option. It would depend on their individual used market price and the promo.

 

[BoMo]

So well said.

But not always right.

 

[BoMo]

T-Mobile, like the other carriers, is actively trying to get people off the discontinued Magenta plans and onto the new Go5 plans. They are dangling the phone carrot promo to get people focused on the “phone on us” gimmick, and not focus on the fact that falling for this shell game will increase their phone bill by a considerable amount.

No doubt, but in this case, they took away the carrot, which is foul play in my opinion.

As for the “considerable amount”, in my case, it was only an extra $30 a month. For $3,320 towards new phones, that’s a good deal.

Things may be different in two years, when I may be able to sell the 16s for more than I can now sell my much older phones.

 

[eyoungren]

Or you could have a look at Tello Mobile. Their unlimited plan is $25 per month. I just turned the ripe old age of 66 and they have the best plans because they are all customizable. I put my iPhone 13 on Tello and chose 100 min talk, unlimited text and 2GB of data, $7.62 per month tax and fees included. I plan on switching my primary business phone from Mint Mobile to Tello when my 12 months are up in February. The other good thing about Tello is that they don't ask you to pay a 12 month block to get the savings. It's always per month.

Another benefit to Tello is that they use the T-Mobile network and as far as I can tell, they don't charge you to do eSIM swaps to another phone.

I could, and if I were single I'd probably have switched long ago. But, I'm not. My wife and two kids are also on my plan and between us there are nine lines.

In the past I've looked around and anything beyond 4 lines for prepaid or MVNOs starts seeming complicated. Most of the sites don't allow you to start with nine lines. You either have to call or go in. Four of my nine lines are data lines for iPads and most of the sites I've looked at don't seem to account for that.

On top of that, I'm going to lose a free line and the pricing for three lines that were originally capped data but are now Unlimited Data. And…I'd be wanting unlimited data, unlimited talk and unlimited texting. Basically all the stuff I get right now for what I currently pay.

Lastly, both me, my wife and my two kids are all use to never having to worry about data usage - which is the whole point. That's one of the reasons I've always gone with unlimited data whenever it first became available. I just do not want to hear and deal with the complaints, especially from my wife. And I would hear about it.

I appreciate it, but again, the math only really works out for me and what I want if all I had was one or two lines.

 

[webkit]

Or you could have a look at Tello Mobile. Their unlimited plan is $25 per month.

Boost Mobile also offers an "unlimited" plan for $25/month (plus taxes) and uses the T-Mobile network. Additionally, if you buy a new phone through them at regular retail price the first year of service is "free" (excluding taxes) for a savings of $300 (12 x $25).

 

[webkit]

No doubt, but in this case, they took away the carrot, which is foul play in my opinion.

What "carrot" was taken away? Are you not seeing multiple iPhone 16 promotions for military, 55+, and first responders on the T-Mobile site?

 

[Timpetus]

That's great for you, but for anyone on those discounted plans who moved to the Go5G family of plans for the upgrades, just got screwed.

I think he's saying some of us correctly believed that was a trap all along, as you're now finding out. It sucks to be right when you're a pessimist... I'm still on my plan from 2016ish and they keep trying to tempt me away with fancy features and "deals" but I'm not gonna pay $60-80 more a month for a temporary, questionable "benefit."

 

[BoMo]

If you go to the cell phones section on the T-Mobile website (link below), above each of the iPhone 16 models it says "See 8 promotions." If you click on that, it will list the eight promos – three of which are specifically for military, 55+, and first responders.

New Cell Phones for Sale | Buy Smartphones Online or In-Store

Explore T-Mobile's selection of the latest cell phones and smartphones. Compare models, prices, and features from the most popular brands today!

www.t-mobile.com

Thanks, and I see that now. Of course, those plans are now offered $630 while the standard plans are still offered $830. While that is an improvement over what I was previously told, it is still less and more importantly less than I was told I would get by the sales agent just a few weeks ago.

To answer your question in your other post, the carrot I guess was not taken away entirely, but it was definitely replaced with a smaller carrot.

 

[dave006]

Of course, those plans are now offered $630 while the standard plans are still offered $830. While that is an improvement over what I was previously told, it is still less and more importantly less than I was told I would get by the sales agent just a few weeks ago.

Well these plans were included in the original iPhone 16 family of device offer and the discounts were reduced after the initial pre-order / launch window.

The offers were reduced after October 10th for Military, 55+, and First Responder plans since they are already discounted rate plans. You got bad information from your recent visit to the T-Mobile store about discounts even if they were reduced they are still offered.

T-Mobile is really trying to increase ARPU. They made a similar bad decision with the one-rate for life offer and so many other older customer plans. Customers are really unhappy.

Dave

 

[BoMo]

Well these plans were included in the original iPhone 16 family of device offer and the discounts were reduced after the initial pre-order / launch window.

The offers were reduced after October 10th for Military, 55+, and First Responder plans since they are already discounted rate plans. You got bad information from your recent visit to the T-Mobile store about discounts even if they were reduced they are still offered.

T-Mobile is really trying to increase ARPU. They made a similar bad decision with the one-rate for life offer and so many other older customer plans. Customers are really unhappy.

Dave

All true, except I believe the reduction occurred on October 4th. And, as this is the first time I am aware of that T-Mobile has reduced the promotions on these plans, it does not bode well for overall value of these plans going forward.

 

[webkit]

I'm still on my plan from 2016ish and they keep trying to tempt me away with fancy features and "deals" but I'm not gonna pay $60-80 more a month for a temporary, questionable "benefit."

$60 to $80 more per month? What plan are you on that is $60 to $80 per month cheaper than current 1-line Go5G plans starting at $75 to $100 ($60 to $85 for military, 55+, first responder) per month including taxes and fees?

 

[webkit]

Thanks, and I see that now. Of course, those plans are now offered $630 while the standard plans are still offered $830. While that is an improvement over what I was previously told, it is still less and more importantly less than I was told I would get by the sales agent just a few weeks ago.

To answer your question in your other post, the carrot I guess was not taken away entirely, but it was definitely replaced with a smaller carrot.

They're not all $630. One of the military, 55+, and first responder promos offers up to $800.

 

[BoMo]

They're not all $630. One of the military, 55+, and first responder promos offers up to $800.

Sure, for the Go5G Next family of plans, which use to offer $1000 and still does for the other Go5G Next plans. My plan, the Go5G Plus, which use to offer $830, as I have pointed out already, now offers two hundred less than the others in the same family. Bottom line, both plan families, Plus and Next, have been reduced significantly.

I could switch to the Go5G Next plan, but it comes with a significant increase in monthly cost, which is too expensive to make the cost v. benefit analysis work for me. And further, I personally think getting a new iPhone every year creates way too much electronic waste.