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T-Mobile's 'Un-Carrier 4.0' Initiative Offers Up to $350 Per Line to Switch Carriers
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$280 vs. $360? Not really. You're forgetting the early term fee. T-Mobile essentially is offering you closer to $600 ($280 phone + @$300 early term fee), but it will cost you $750 to replace with new T-Mobile phone. Gazelle is the one trying to rip you off only offering $360 for a phone which sold for $750 4 months ago.
You didn't buy your AT&T phone for $399. You essentially bought into the subsidized plan. The rest of the $849 is financed over the life of your contract. Whether or not switching makes sense in terms of your finances depends on what your monthly contract costs at AT&T in relation to what it would cost at T-Mobile - not the cost of the phone. If you can finance the same phone at T-Mobile along with paying for monthly service for less than you were paying at AT&T, then from a monetary perspective you would be ahead of the game regardless of being out the $99.
Wait....mobile phone users do not travel? I take my phone more places than I take my ipad. True 200 Mb is not enough data...but then you can get UNLIMITED data on T-Mobile as well if 200MB is not enough.
I doubt it because you can trade in any working phone. So, if you give it a $60 phone, I doubt T-Mobile is going to make up the ETF it pays out by reselling the phone. If you just bought an iPhone 5S from someplace else, and wanted to go to T-Mobile, you would keep the iPhone 5S and give T-Mobile another phone.
T-Mobile likely wants people to buy a new phone from it though because most people are going to take advantage of its zero money down zero percent financing. This allows people to extent payments of the phone out over two years. Most people are going to stick with T-Mobile at least until the phones are paid off (even if you can pay them off anytime).
That is a good idea because T-Mobile is improving coverage in areas where it was weak. It acquired some spectrum from both AT&T and Verizon, and it also has Metro PC spectrum.
A recent US comparison found T-Mobile average data speeds only slightly behind AT&T, and ahead of everybody else including Verizon.
I've been on AT&T since the original iPhone, have no complaints, and don't plan to switch. However, how is it that you're paying only $62/month with taxes and fees for a grandfathered unlimited data, 450 minute/month plan? With minimum texting, that plan should be @$80/month, unless you're getting a 20% discount through work. If so, say so. Keep it accurate. Show your math.
T-Mobile's 'Un-Carrier 4.0' Initiative Offers Up to $350 Per Line to Switch C...
This conversation is really more complicated than it should be. If you look at the big picture, you are getting up to $650 from T-Mobile to switch. Period. Part of that $650 is credit and the other is a prepaid MasterCard. The trade in value plus the ETF payment combined is basically the same amount as if you sold you phone on eBay or whatever. That's if the timing is right of course. All the ETF is, is the remaining balance of your subsidized phone on the big three carriers. I agree that if you currently have the latest and greatest device, it may not be wise for you to switch at this time. Is it possible you may be paying for convenience? Yes indeed! Tons of people have no problem taking their vehicles to Jiffy Lube because it's convienient. Is that a problem? No because people have the right to spend their wages on whatever they want.
This conversation is really more complicated than it should be. If you look at the big picture, you are getting up to $650 from T-Mobile to switch. Period. Part of that $650 is credit and the other is a prepaid MasterCard. The trade in value plus the ETF payment combined is basically the same amount as if you sold you phone on eBay or whatever. That's if the timing is right of course. All the ETF is, is the remaining balance of your subsidized phone on the big three carriers. I agree that if you currently have the latest and greatest device, it may not be wise for you to switch at this time. Is it possible you may be paying for convenience? Yes indeed! Tons of people have no problem taking their vehicles to Jiffy Lube because it's convienient. Is that a problem? No because people have the right to spend their wages on whatever they want.
mine is not quite that low, $71 after taxes with ATT unlimited text, 450 mins, and unlimited data. I get a 25% discount. If I did not have the discount I would switch in a second
No. Only Gazelle. It's certainly not a ripoff (check eBay for comparables) to essentially pay @$600 for a phone that cost him @$750 4 months ago, but it's not as great a deal as for a 16GB model. Since trade-in capped at $300, attractiveness of deal decreases for 32 and 64GB models. I have a 64GB 5s and don't plan to switch. However, if comparable coverage, if plan savings are only $25/month, break even for him would be only @6 months, with savings thereafter.
Hmm interesting.....
I will admit, I think it might be beneficial for my wife's mother and grandmother to switch. Especially if my wife and I get off our respective family plans.....we'd probably go T-Mobile too....
Something to think about. Dallas/Ft. Worth looks like it gets great T-Mobile coverage. And I'd be all for additional upgrades over the course of 2 years.
The FCC put a stop to that madness ten years ago.
Here in the good o'l U. S. of A., we're actually known for having the worst cell phone deals in the known universe.
People are confusing profits.
If you got a subsidized phone you paid (most likely around $199-$299) right?
If you sell that phone to t-mobile or gazelle and make anything MORE than that - you're getting your money back.
Ripped off is subjective. If you want to sell your phone on ebay - you can - but you'll either need to buy a new phone or pay an ETF fee which is probably going to negate most of your ebay profit.
As another said - the real question of value to switch or not is based on your monthly bill.
If t-mobile's plan is less a month in total vs what you're paying on ATT, Sprint or Verizon - it very well makes a lot of sense to switch (barring other factors like coverage areas)
Additionally - you're not locked into a contract with t-mobile and can switch back at any time.
I'm not advocating this is a great plan or one that everyone should do. But I find it a challenge to consider this being "ripped off" in any way
How to "SCAM" the system
If you are looking to use T-Mobile's generous offer to make money, this is how to would do it:
1. Open an AT&T Family Line & buy new iPhone 5s for $199
2. Resale new AT&T iPhone 5s 16GB on ebay for $550
2. Buy old AT&T 8GB iPhone 4's off ebay ($100/each)
3. Sell iPhone 4 to T-Mobile ($60/each) will lose $40/phone.
4. T-Mobile will pay the entire $325 ETF for each line, so don't worry about it.
5. You will need to buy an new iPhone 5s from T-mobile for $649.
6. Cancel T-Mobile and sell you new T-mobile iPhone 5s on ebay for $550.
So your final cost would be:
-$199 + $550 - $100 + $60 = $311
-$649 - $550 = -$101
Total profit = $210/per line
You can have up to 10 lines per AT&T account, so you could make $2,100 per account.
If you are looking to use T-Mobile's generous offer to make money, this is how to would do it:
1. Open an AT&T Family Line & buy new iPhone 5s for $199
2. Resale new AT&T iPhone 5s 16GB on ebay for $550
2. Buy old AT&T 8GB iPhone 4's off ebay ($100/each)
3. Sell iPhone 4 to T-Mobile ($60/each) will lose $40/phone.
4. T-Mobile will pay the entire $325 ETF for each line, so don't worry about it.
5. You will need to buy an new iPhone 5s from T-mobile for $649.
6. Cancel T-Mobile and sell you new T-mobile iPhone 5s on ebay for $550.
So your final cost would be:
-$199 + $550 - $100 + $60 = $311
-$649 - $550 = -$101
Total profit = $210/per line
You can have up to 10 lines per AT&T account, so you could make $2,100 per account.
That's exactly what I wanted to point out. People don't realize that T-Mobile paying your ETF is in a sense buying your phone. T-Mobile is paying up to $650 for your phone. If you bought more expensive phones, then you are going to be in the minus. But those who bought 16 GB, you will come out even or close to it.
This guy is a lying sack of ****. There is absolute no way his bill is that low. I have worked at a corporate AT&T since the launch of the original iPhone.
IF YOU GET THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PLAN on EVERYTHING:
$40 = 450 min plan
$30 = unlimited data
$5 = 200 text messages
--------
$75 + taxes and fees
..which the bill would end totaling almost or above $90. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt that he worked for a company that got him a giant discount on his monthly bill (around 25%). He would still be paying upwards of $75 dollars. I had hundreds and hundreds of people showing me their bill on a daily basis and I would SEEEEE with my own two eyes how these "discounts" were applied. No bill EVER went lower than $75 after taxes and fees.
He is just talking out of his ass to prove his case.
QUOTE=mccldwll;18615986]I've been on AT&T since the original iPhone, have no complaints, and don't plan to switch. However, how is it that you're paying only $62/month with taxes and fees for a grandfathered unlimited data, 450 minute/month plan? With minimum texting, that plan should be @$80/month, unless you're getting a 20% discount through work. If so, say so. Keep it accurate. Show your math.[/QUOTE]
IF YOU GET THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PLAN on EVERYTHING:
$40 = 450 min plan
$30 = unlimited data
$5 = 200 text messages
--------
$75 + taxes and fees
..which the bill would end totaling almost or above $90. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt that he worked for a company that got him a giant discount on his monthly bill (around 25%). He would still be paying upwards of $75 dollars. I had hundreds and hundreds of people showing me their bill on a daily basis and I would SEEEEE with my own two eyes how these "discounts" were applied. No bill EVER went lower than $75 after taxes and fees.
He is just talking out of his ass to prove his case.
QUOTE=mccldwll;18615986]I've been on AT&T since the original iPhone, have no complaints, and don't plan to switch. However, how is it that you're paying only $62/month with taxes and fees for a grandfathered unlimited data, 450 minute/month plan? With minimum texting, that plan should be @$80/month, unless you're getting a 20% discount through work. If so, say so. Keep it accurate. Show your math.[/QUOTE]
I highly doubt that T-Mobile will allow you to keep opening and closing a new T-Mobile account. I think what will happen is T-Mobile will reactivate your closed account.
EDIT: I mis-read your post the first time. You weren't implying to open and close a T-Mobile account multiple times.
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Dude are you forgetting that those old school unlimited plans receive 25% off as well too if he is indeed getting his discount through Lockheed or another big AT&T corporate account...
Plus he fact that this mans taxes and govt fees may be different than where you live. $70 a month is very doable with that 25% off the data as well.
AT&T Corporate employee as well...
You definitely live in a state that has very low taxes and fees. Others would pay $15 dollars in taxes and fees. I would definitely stay with AT&T since your costs make sense.
Dude are you forgetting that those old school unlimited plans receive 25% off as well too if he is indeed getting his discount through Lockheed or another big AT&T corporate account...
Plus he fact that this mans taxes and govt fees may be different than where you live. $70 a month is very doable with that 25% off the data as well.
AT&T Corporate employee as well...[/QUOTE]
Sure @$70/month is doable IF he's getting a discount......... but not without a discount. Most consumers don't get those discounts and it distorts any discussion of the comparative costs, and misleads readers, for someone not to state that their bill is low because of that discount.