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Sprint question

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Sep 30, 2009
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Ok, so I know this should be in the Sprint forum, but I can see not many people frequent it.

If I were to buy a Hero from eBay, and go to Sprint with it and port my number from ATT, would I still be able to get the Evo at launch at a subsidized price?

I would think so since I am starting a new account and not getting a subsidized phone.

Only thinking of doing this because I will be selling my iPhone 3GS to get money for my Evo, and the sooner I sell it, the more I'll sell it for.

I figure if I pick up a Hero now for like $50, that will get me through until the Evo drops.

HALP!
 
Well I just spoke to a woman who barely spoke engrish, and basically, she said if I don't buy the phone from a retailer, that I would be able to get the Evo at the lowest price possible when it comes out.

Still going to head into a store and get this sorted out for sure, because it didn't really sound all too convincing to me.

Not convincing enough to risk getting screwed on the Evo.
 
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Well I just spoke to a woman who barely spoke engrish, and basically, she said if I don't buy the phone from a retailer, that I would be able to get the Evo at the lowest price possible when it comes out.

Still going to head into a store and get this sorted out for sure, because it didn't really sound all too convincing to me.

Not convincing enough to risk getting screwed on the Evo.

Definitely a good idea. Let us know how it goes, I am sure there are lots of people with your situation (All the smart people ditching their iPhone's :p).
 
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Definitely a good idea. Let us know how it goes, I am sure there are lots of people with your situation (All the smart people ditching their iPhone's :p).

Yeah, she definitely was not convincing since I kept saying EBAY EBAY EBAY and she kept saying "3rd party retailer"

I had to say person eventually to get her to stop saying retailer.

:D
 
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i thinki would just wait for the evo that way your safe....

Well like I said, I'm trying to sell my 3GS soon so I can get more for it, and if I sell it now, and get nothing else, I will be phoneless. That isn't going to be acceptable.

I'm going to go to a Sprint store and get it sorted out, and if they tell me I'll be able to get the Evo for the subsidized price, I'm going to ask them to note it in my account.
 
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It would be my thinking that you would still get the Evo at the discounted price as long as it wasn't used to start the new plan (which it's obviously not). I buy and switch out phones all the time on my plan (phones bought on eBay) and my upgrade status still says I'm eligible for upgrade 6/1. I would think that your method above would work...

My only concern would be the wording will say "$---.-- with new 2-yr agreement or upgrade." If they note it in your account, great - you should be fine. If they don't, you could end up with a complicated process of telling them you already have an account, you just want the phone, blah blah blah.
 
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Here's what I did- I've already paid a visit to a local Sprint store and opened up a temporary account. All it is, is a credit check and initial start in the system. I didn't have to pick any plan, activate a phone, or anything else right now. This will make it easier for me to become an official subscriber when the EVO drops. At which point, I'll have my number ported, T-Mo account closed, and decide which plan I want to run with. And at the store I'm working with, they put me on the list for the EVO. Which means I'll get a phone call and have one reserved for me when they get them in. Now that's customer service!
 
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Just went to a store, once an ESN is put on my account, its 22 months before I get an upgrade price.

So looks like I'll be sticking this one out til launch.

Also, guy told me August as what he thinks regarding launch. He said they normally get a demo a month before and they would be getting it soon if it was launching in June.

Which to me, is bullshit, because I got a Pre at launch and they didn't have a demo or a dummy before launch what so ever.

I'm still looking at June, and more anxious than ever.
 
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Just went to a store, once an ESN is put on my account, its 22 months before I get an upgrade price.

So looks like I'll be sticking this one out til launch.

Also, guy told me August as what he thinks regarding launch. He said they normally get a demo a month before and they would be getting it soon if it was launching in June.

Which to me, is bullshit, because I got a Pre at launch and they didn't have a demo or a dummy before launch what so ever.

I'm still looking at June, and more anxious than ever.

No, this is not true. Don't know what the sales rep was telling you, but where I work, you can start up an account and put on your own equipment (borrow a phone or buy one online) and maintain your upgrade eligibility. Go back to the store and tell them this:

"I would like to ACTIVATE a new account and line of service today with this device here (hand them device). I will come back in two months and UPGRADE to the EVO."

As you suspected in the very first post, Sprint will let you get a discount on a phone every two years, no matter what. If you don't take it the day you activate, then it's there when you want it. Likewise, if you don't upgrade as soon as your two years are up, let's say you wait four years - you don't get twice the discount.

I don't see how it could be any different at your local store, be it a third party or a corporate store. Just go through the activation process with your phone and then ask the sales rep to go back in to your account and confirm that you are eligible to upgrade TODAY. If not, ask them to contact Sales Support to reset your upgrade eligibility because you did not purchase a discount phone. If they give you a problem, PM me your account info and I'll get it done.

One thing to add...

If you do this, the only difference between doing it this way and waiting, is that you will be UPGRADING when the EVO comes out as opposed to ACTIVATING. Sprint's prices on phones are always the same regardless of the transaction type. However, if you were thinking about purchasing the EVO from a retailer like Best Buy or Radio Shack, they often have phones selling for cheaper if it's an activation or new line of service. Usually their sticker price is for an activation and the upgrade price is a bit higher.

Honestly, if you're purchasing this phone as soon as it releases, I'll bet it's going to be the same price across the board, regardless of retailer or transaction type.
 
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Yeah, I might just throw my SIM in a ATT dumbphone if I need to, but I still want to check this out further.

That's exactly my plan. Ditching the 3GS while it still has higher value (and ditching the data plan while I'm at it), then just use the SIM in my old SLVR until the EVO comes out. This also has the slightly added benefit (for me, not everyone) of reducing the amount I will have to pay to break my contract with AT&T, as they cut off $5 every month you stay with them.

I don't think 2 months is too long to wait, and it will be that much better going from a dumbphone to a superphone. Just need to make damn sure I pre-order or whatever it takes to get one when it's released before they sell out. I don't want to end up being stuck with a candybar version of the RAZR
 
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Basically what you would be doing is bringing your own phone and opening a line on Sprint. Since you do not need a subsidy, there is no incentive to sign a new contract so you are just starting a month-to-month plan. When the Evo comes out, they will still offer you the new-contract subsidy if you sign a new 2-year agreement. Make sure this is all verified and understood. I recommend speaking to someone at the store or maybe even Best Buy Mobile just to avoid any douchey reps sneaking you onto a contract to get a commission.
 
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No, this is not true. Don't know what the sales rep was telling you, but where I work, you can start up an account and put on your own equipment (borrow a phone or buy one online) and maintain your upgrade eligibility. Go back to the store and tell them this:

"I would like to ACTIVATE a new account and line of service today with this device here (hand them device). I will come back in two months and UPGRADE to the EVO."

As you suspected in the very first post, Sprint will let you get a discount on a phone every two years, no matter what. If you don't take it the day you activate, then it's there when you want it. Likewise, if you don't upgrade as soon as your two years are up, let's say you wait four years - you don't get twice the discount.

I don't see how it could be any different at your local store, be it a third party or a corporate store. Just go through the activation process with your phone and then ask the sales rep to go back in to your account and confirm that you are eligible to upgrade TODAY. If not, ask them to contact Sales Support to reset your upgrade eligibility because you did not purchase a discount phone. If they give you a problem, PM me your account info and I'll get it done.

I can confirm this. I recently (February) activated a brand-new line of service with an old Palm Pre, and I ported from VZW. I just paid the second month's bill, and I am still eligible for a "$150 discount," which is just Sprint's online way of saying "upgrade pricing."

I'm planning on using that upgrade pricing on the EVO.

Hope this helps!
 
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