Sprint and early upgrade rules?

[JAJameson2010]

My contract is up in Feb (although the guy on the phone last night said I was eligible for an upgrade in DEC)

I was told that I would probably be eligible for an early upgrade but I had to go in stores to get it done. It would cost me $50, but I would HAVE to buy a phone through a sprint store. I couldn't use wirefly, amazon, best buy, etc

I want the Note 2, but do I really have to to go buy in stores? I can't call Sprint over the phone and just buy out the contract? Maybe I just got a confused rep?

 

[Citizen Coyote]

You could try calling and see what someone else tells you, but given that Sprint is the one that controls when you can get the upgrade (and since it looks like you signed your current contract before October of 2011, you're on the 22 month cycle until you upgrade) it's likely you'll have to wait until December if you want to go through anyone other than a Sprint store.

 

[JAJameson2010]

ah so it is 22 months instead of 24... Good to know! I thought the guy on the phone was very lost and confused, since the website shows my upgrade for Feb.

I'll try calling again today and see if someone will let me just buy out the end of my contract over the phone if I'm sure duper nice. Maybe the Sprint store prices won't be that much more expensive and I can just play by the rules...

 

[NYCHitman1]

My contract is up in Feb (although the guy on the phone last night said I was eligible for an upgrade in DEC)

I was told that I would probably be eligible for an early upgrade but I had to go in stores to get it done. It would cost me $50, but I would HAVE to buy a phone through a sprint store. I couldn't use wirefly, amazon, best buy, etc

I want the Note 2, but do I really have to to go buy in stores? I can't call Sprint over the phone and just buy out the contract? Maybe I just got a confused rep?

That's nonsense. A Sprint store rep couldn't even do anything for you. What would happen is that you would essentially be paying a reduced ETF based on your length of contract remaining. They say it takes 48-72 hours to process, afterward you could go ahead and upgrade to a new device. There should be no limitations to where you can/cannot purchase a device.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that this is all done over telephone.

 

[JAJameson2010]

Oh reeeeeaaally....

Maybe I'll call back today and complain that the store couldn't help me. I thought it seemed a bit fishy that the store was the only place that I could get help, yet the guy was still able to tell me I was eligible and that the cost would be $50. I hate that you cannot believe anything any customer service person tells you anymore

Thanks for your help!

 

[Citizen Coyote]

ah so it is 22 months instead of 24... Good to know! I thought the guy on the phone was very lost and confused, since the website shows my upgrade for Feb.

Just FYI, when you sign a new contract the upgrade period will drop to 20 months. 22 is only for those who signed a contract prior to October 2011 (and who do not have a final Premier upgrade in hand).

 

[JAJameson2010]

Sweet! This will work out better fr me since I can;t seem to keep the same phone for longer than 6-8 months without needing to buy a new one...

 

[JAJameson2010]

So I called back and followed the automated prompts to a place to cancel my Sprint service Told the lady that I was advised yesterday that I had to go into the store for an early upgrade and pay $50, but when I went to the store they were unable to help me.

She apologized and put me on hold for about 10 minutes while she researched. I don;t think she really knew about the buyout thing either. But she found the right answer, is billing $50 cancellation fee to my next bill and I'm free to get the Note 2 wherever I can find it the cheapest!

So excited!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[NYCHitman1]

So I called back and followed the automated prompts to a place to cancel my Sprint service Told the lady that I was advised yesterday that I had to go into the store for an early upgrade and pay $50, but when I went to the store they were unable to help me.

She apologized and put me on hold for about 10 minutes while she researched. I don;t think she really knew about the buyout thing either. But she found the right answer, is billing $50 cancellation fee to my next bill and I'm free to get the Note 2 wherever I can find it the cheapest!

So excited!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for everyone's help!

No problem, bro. I hate it when the Sprint CSR's aren't properly informed about services that they offer. It's actually kind of pathetic, but that's neither here nor there.

Good luck on your GNote 2 hunt!

 

[ScandaLeX]

So I called back and followed the automated prompts to a place to cancel my Sprint service Told the lady that I was advised yesterday that I had to go into the store for an early upgrade and pay $50, but when I went to the store they were unable to help me.

She apologized and put me on hold for about 10 minutes while she researched. I don;t think she really knew about the buyout thing either. But she found the right answer, is billing $50 cancellation fee to my next bill and I'm free to get the Note 2 wherever I can find it the cheapest!

So excited!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for everyone's help!

I'm confused. You mentioned cancel twice. Once when you called on the phone and again in the quoted post.
Are you canceling your contract or being charged $50 to upgrade.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I'm confused. You mentioned cancel twice. Once when you called on the phone and again in the quoted post.
Are you canceling your contract or being charged $50 to upgrade.

You cancel your contract, which would make him eligible for an upgrade. It's Sprint's "buy out program"

 

[seacow1500]

But if I remember right you just lost YOUR number...When you get your new phone they are going to give it a new phone number.