Why does T-Mobile require HUGE deposit for the X ?

[Tig Bitties]

I'm not even in the market for the iPhone X, I just picked up the LG V30 last month on my 'JoD' ( Jump on Demand ) program with T-Mobile, that I've been on for several years now.

The V30 was $0 down payment, zero. As is the Note 8 right now too. But I did inquire just for the heck of it on the iPhone X, my Wife was maybe possibly thinking of getting it, and even on the JoD program the iPhone X from T-Mobile is like $360 down payment. It's $279 + the taxes on the phone, and some surcharge.

I just found that strange, because the Note 8 on JoD is zero money down, and is a similarly priced phone as the X. So I did quick bit of researching, and with ATT, Sprint, Verizon, and Xfinity, the iPhone X is $0 down with those carriers.

Oh well, I'm not switching carriers for one phone, I'm happy with T-Mobile overall, I will get her the Note 8, she had the Note 5 and liked it a lot, she actually used the S-Pen a fair amount. She's currently on the LG G6.

 

[Earth45]

Perhaps, you may wish to call a T-Mobile and ask them why they’re requiring such a larger down payment.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Perhaps, you may wish to call a T-Mobile and ask them why they’re requiring such a larger down payment.

I did, they said with the iPhone X, all customers, new or old, great credit or bad credit, there's a $279 deposit required on the 64GB model, and $429 deposit on the 25GB + taxes and fees.

I said I've been with T-Mobile for 5 years, great credit, never once missed a payment and zero billing issues. She said sorry sir, for the iPhone X no matter what, there's a deposit required on this phone for every customer. I said I can go to Verizon, or ATT, or Xfinity, and they require zero down on the new iPhone X. She said, I was not aware of that, and would like me to stay with T-Mobile, but that there is nothing anyone can do, the X requires a deposit. And for 2 iPhone X's, it would be $737.86 deposit required for my Wife and I.

 

[mrgeekguymd]

I used to work for T-Mobile. Idea behind it was to keep the payments manageable (under $30/mo). Also, a lot of fraud happened, where customers who didn't care for their credit would open a bunch of lines, get a bunch of iPhone's for free, then sell them for a large profit.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Makes sense the down payment to keep the monthly payment low, I understand that totally.

But being on the 'JoD' program, my deal with T-Mobile is 3 free upgrades per year. Zero down required. I can walk in tonight and walk out with a Note 8 with $0 down. I did just that last month with my V30. But if I need to start putting deposits down, what's the point of even having the "Jump on Demand" program ?

Oh well...

 

[mrgeekguymd]

Makes sense the down payment to keep the monthly payment low, I understand that totally.

But being on the 'JoD' program, my deal with T-Mobile is 3 free upgrades per year. Zero down required. I can walk in tonight and walk out with a Note 8 with $0 down. I did just that last month with my V30. But if I need to start putting deposits down, what's the point of even having the "Jump on Demand" program ?

Oh well...

Ability to upgrade once a month (changed from 3x/yr), and not having to put any taxes down up front. iPhone X is an exception because too many idiots ruined it for the rest of us.

Oh, and technically JUMP is $12 extra ON TOP of the payment, while JOD is included in the phone's price. Granted, you get added insurance, but if you knew who T-Mobile uses for their Apple refurbishment process, you'd run for the hills.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Good points, thanks for the replies.

I just find it odd, that the other 3 big carries are cool with ZERO down for the iPhone X, and TMobile isn't just a little higher with asking for $99 didn't or even the old school $199 classic down payment all carriers used to do. But to be at $360+ seems pretty crazy.

For two phones would be $700+ just for a deposit. Damn that's almost the price of 2 brand new Essential phones, paid in full, well $800 for the two ($399ea) LOL

 

[vbctv]

I did, they said with the iPhone X, all customers, new or old, great credit or bad credit, there's a $279 deposit required on the 64GB model, and $429 deposit on the 25GB + taxes and fees.

I said I've been with T-Mobile for 5 years, great credit, never once missed a payment and zero billing issues. She said sorry sir, for the iPhone X no matter what, there's a deposit required on this phone for every customer. I said I can go to Verizon, or ATT, or Xfinity, and they require zero down on the new iPhone X. She said, I was not aware of that, and would like me to stay with T-Mobile, but that there is nothing anyone can do, the X requires a deposit. And for 2 iPhone X's, it would be $737.86 deposit required for my Wife and I.

That's not true, They have a new tier for JOD and you have to be a customer for over 3 years to qualify for $0 down on phones over $900. They started it right before the iPhone X launch.
https://www.tmonews.com/2017/10/t-mobile-jump-on-demand-down-payment-900-phones/

 

[eyoungren]

I used to work for T-Mobile. Idea behind it was to keep the payments manageable (under $30/mo). Also, a lot of fraud happened, where customers who didn't care for their credit would open a bunch of lines, get a bunch of iPhone's for free, then sell them for a large profit.

This pretty much…

@Tig Bitties, may want to look here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7i9y1d/tmobile_credit_check_bs/?sort=confidence

and here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7j0zj6/is_it_possible_to_avoid_the_down_payment_for/

The relevant quote:

T-Mobile doesn't finance over $720 per device unless you are well qualified at the time of the credit check and have 3 year tenure. It has nothing to do with your actual credit score, it is just a way T-Mobile has minimized risk with higher priced devices.

 

[mrgeekguymd]

This pretty much…

@Tig Bitties, may want to look here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7i9y1d/tmobile_credit_check_bs/?sort=confidence

and here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7j0zj6/is_it_possible_to_avoid_the_down_payment_for/

The relevant quote:

I did not know that, but that’s really cool! It also makes sense from a fraud standpoint.

 

[Tig Bitties]

This pretty much…

@Tig Bitties, may want to look here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7i9y1d/tmobile_credit_check_bs/?sort=confidence

and here: https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7j0zj6/is_it_possible_to_avoid_the_down_payment_for/

The relevant quote:

I have been with T-Mobile over 2 years and less than 3 years. Never missed a payment EVER. And my credit score is 749. And they still telling me across the board all iPhone X deals require a deposit, no matter who you are, and how long you've been with T-Mobile, they said the #1 top credit score means nothing on the iPhone X, it requires a deposit from 100% of all T-Mobile subscribers for every order all the time.

So someone there is BS'ing me it seems.

The Note 8 is an expensive phone, and they said I can get that right now today with $0 down. They saying only the X requires the big deposit.

T-Mobile told me I can get any brand new phone they sell right now for zero down, EXCEPT the iPhone X. They said the Note 8, LG V30, iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, Galaxy S8+ all for no down payment. Only the iPhone X requires the $369 deposit.

 

[hansolo79]

I have been with T-Mobile over 2 years and less than 3 years. Never missed a payment EVER. And my credit score is 749. And they still telling me across the board all iPhone X deals require a deposit, no matter who you are, and how long you've been with T-Mobile, they said the #1 top credit score means nothing on the iPhone X, it requires a deposit from 100% of all T-Mobile subscribers for every order all the time.

So someone there is BS'ing me it seems.

The Note 8 is an expensive phone, and they said I can get that right now today with $0 down. They saying only the X requires the big deposit.

I was told the same thing. I actually waited until I hit my 3 year mark and called back. To my surprise, no down payment on the X.

 

[Tig Bitties]

My chat response with T-Mobile on the JoD iPhone X price;

T-Mobile rep;

Regarding with the Note 8 and S8+ having the zero down David to be honest with you, all of our customers even though they have great credit score they would still be needing to pay the down payment of the iPhone X because honestly speaking the iPhone X is currently the best phone out of the market right now, very popular, so the price of this is currently different to other phones. As much as I would love to provide you this zero down payment for this iPhone X I apologize but the system really requires this down payment to process the JOD.

So T-Mobile will allow me to have a brand new Galaxy Note 8 for zero down. But the iPhone X, being very close in overall off contract price cannot be had for no deposit, and why is that again ? It doesn't make sense.

Oh well, this is pushing me to get the Pixel 2 XL directly from the Google Play Store, I will happily pay full price, and go on ATTGo SIM prepaid plan.