Bridging the gap from Helio (done 5/25) to Evo 4g

[Streetman]

Yep, I stuck with my Helio Ocean this long. Now, Helio will shut off their signal on May 25th. Unless the release date for the Evo is May 22nd or 23rd (doubtful, IMHO), I'm in need of a temp plan on Sprint, or Virgin Mobile for a month...

Or?

Just wondering if there are options that I haven't considered. Also, Sprint, if you're watching, and want a spokesman, I'll wear an HTC Evo shirt every day for the length of my contract if I get an Evo before March 25th.

 

[vindico pallens]

I'm in the same boat as you Streetman. Can't wait to get rid of my Ocean. Depending on the release date of the EVO I was thinking about just getting a free phone from sprint then if its within the 30 days return it for the EVO. Not sure if that would work but I don't see why not. Otherwise I might just get a pay as you go kind of plan then switch to the EVO.

 

[tokuzumi]

Hopefully, we will find out details tonight on release date and prices (crosses fingers) at the Prince of Persia screening, hosted by Sprint, tonight. This is just rumored, and not guaranteed (the release details, not the movie screening). Either way, if the June 6th release date is true for the Evo, we should know all details prior to May 25th.

If you go with one of the Everything plans initially, you can get a Pixi for free, and then trade it in a few weeks later, for the big, bad Evo. You may have to pay a restocking fee, however, so keep that in mind.

 

[lembowski]

Just get a prepaid phone from some carrier at the cheapest rate. Make sure you'll be fine porting numbers......I'm prety sure you can.

 

[Streetman]

Well, it looks as if June 4th is the date.

Dear Sprint,

Please leave your Helio switch in the "on" position until June 4th, or give me an EVO on May 25th. I've been a faithful Sprint PCS/Helio geek since the first "candy bar" slide up digital phone for Sprint PCS. Please, please, please make this easy, as changing phones and carriers causes me anxiety.

Faithfully,

Streetman


p.s. NASCAR still sucks. Please switch to F1, Rally, Indycar, figure 8 races from the backwoods of America....anything but hillbillies going in circles.

 

[Streetman]

Oh, btw, I can get a Sprint phone from my brother (old, used Pre). He might have another, if you want it, vindico. I'm just wondering how plans will work when I switch. And can I go month to month to start on Sprint, then still get the $199 Evo?

 

[Streetman]

Grrr...

Pre order from Best Buy looks to be on, in store...maybe...sorta.

I've got from May 25th to June 4th to cover. What to do? Sprint needs to reward me, seriously, for being on their network since Sprint PCS first came about. And I'm old enough to remember Sprint being only a long distance company, spun off from GTE, after the break up into "Baby Bells."

10 days I need Sprint. Gimee 10 days, and I'll give you 730 (2 years).

Hey, I'm kinda gettin screwed if they take me up on this, eh?

 

[mocomber]

Hey Street,

I'm in somewhat the same situation because I have to give up my current phone before I get the EVO. I was at Best Buy yesterday, and it is their policy (in fact it was the cell specialist's idea) that within 30 days you can return/switch phones for no restocking fee. So you can go and get a Sprint $200 phone or which ever one you want, then get the EVO switch on the 4th for free.

 

[TrebleStauter]

I will have to look into the 30 day return. I am also Helio Ocean cursed with the May 25th date. Thanks for the tip. I will report back when I find something out.

I am sure this will be helpful to a lot of us. It is the first result in Google search "HTC evo helio".

 

[vindico pallens]

I think I might give that number a call they keep texting me and see what they have to say? Anyone call it yet? Is it Sprint or Virgin Mobile or 3rd party?

 

[TrebleStauter]

I have spoken with them. It is Virgin and Sprint. They can sign you up for either, I believe.

Let us know what you find out. I could not get them to talk about the EVO before, maybe they will now.

 

[TrebleStauter]

Also, I would love to know if the $50 device credit they are offering is extended to the pre-order of the evo. ???

 

[vindico pallens]

So I just got called that number they sent me and whoever answered was really nice but she said....... I could just sign up with Sprint and get whatever phone I wanted then when the EVO is out go to a coporate store and return it since it would be within the 30 days policy and I could still keep my phone number. However the $50 credit wouldn't apply to the EVO but the restocking fee should be credited to my account since that doesn't apply to Virgin Mobile customers. I might have to pay an activation fee though. She said to make sure whoever sets up the account to put it in notes on the account incase the coporate store doesn't credit me and to call that number back and they can credit it. Also she hasn't heard anything as of yet for preorders through Sprint. Hope that helps anyone that has questions. As for me, I'm probably going to get a Hero and just return it after the 4th. I might wait until its closer to the 25th just incase I show up at the Sprint store and they are sold out and on backorder or something. Figured it couldn't hurt to give myself some extra time.

 

[ricky123]

All,

I'm in the same situation as I count the last days of service with my Helio Ocean. I don't know why Sprint can't extend the service till the EVO comes out because, I mean really, who the hell wants to buy an outdated Hero?

I guess we're just forced to pick up the Hero for 2 weeks then trade it in for the EVO, but in the process lose the $50 discount and activation waiver. Whatever, it just seems really stupid and something that can create a lot of hassle.

Whatever. Hopefully this phone lives up to the hype and doesn't get smashed by the Iphone HD.

 

[Streetman]

Best Buy told me the same thing-buy a random Sprint Phone, and return it before the 30 days, get your Evo. I pre ordered the Evo and paid my $50. The account stuff is all separate from the pre order.

Sooo...I'm waiting to get a little closer to MAy 25th, just in case the June 4th date gets pushed out (passed 30 days). Or, who knows, maybe they'll tell us that they're going to leave the signal on for another 10 days, so we can switch without this buy-return game, which is not good for either party.

Start Tweeting about it, and see if we can get someone at Sprint to leave the Helio switch on for just a tad longer.

 

[Streetman]

One other thing, Sprint or HTC, I'm serious about being a spokesperson for this phone. I'm so sick of the obnoxious iPhone people "oh, we have more apps!" Like I need more than 50,000?

And as far as At&T coming out with a 4g network in time for the iPhone 4g? Not happening. In fact, they should quit calling it the 4g, as that's misleading.

 

[TrebleStauter]

Best Buy told me the same thing-buy a random Sprint Phone, and return it before the 30 days, get your Evo. I pre ordered the Evo and paid my $50. The account stuff is all separate from the pre order.

Sooo...I'm waiting to get a little closer to MAy 25th, just in case the June 4th date gets pushed out (passed 30 days). Or, who knows, maybe they'll tell us that they're going to leave the signal on for another 10 days, so we can switch without this buy-return game, which is not good for either party.

Start Tweeting about it, and see if we can get someone at Sprint to leave the Helio switch on for just a tad longer.

That is funny. The Best Buy I went to tried to claim that I had to be a Sprint customer to pre order the EVO. I knew it was BS, so I went to the Sprint store down the street. He gave me the same information about being able to exchange the phone on the 4th. I called the VM # and their rep confirmed that as long as it is within the 30 days, all will be fine.

 

[Streetman]

This is looking like the "cleanest" route. I even suggested that I could use my brother's phone, and they said it wouldn't work that way; I needed one of their phones. Alrighty, if you insist on my having a new phone for 10 days...

Now, how long will Helio take to port my number? I think I need to go in around the 20th or so. They say it could be 3 days...so I'll give them 5.

 

[TrebleStauter]

This is looking like the "cleanest" route. I even suggested that I could use my brother's phone, and they said it wouldn't work that way; I needed one of their phones. Alrighty, if you insist on my having a new phone for 10 days...

Now, how long will Helio take to port my number? I think I need to go in around the 20th or so. They say it could be 3 days...so I'll give them 5.

When you say "Go in", you just mean call, right? Because the Sprint store employee said we can't actually use the in store services. We have to call the number that they are berating us with and order a phone through them, then activate it through the phone support as well. He even said that once the EVO comes out, I might need to contact Sprint again by phone to arrange the exchange. However, he stressed that Sprint is fighting to keep/get any contract at this point, so if I came into the store they would do their best to fulfill the exchange there.

He said it is a huge change in how Sprint is addressing online/phone/in store customers as one group rather than forcing you to deal with each one individually.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

[vindico pallens]

As this point Treble I don't know whats going on. It seems like we are getting different answers from everyone. I'm waiting on an email from my EVP rep to see what she can do. Might get an extra discount on the phone but not sure yet. Going through that number and then finding a coporate store to return to and hoping they have an EVO for me worries me. I might just say screw the $50 credit and waived activation fee and pre-order the phone and go through BB or EVP if its cheaper. Getting tired of this and just want to have something set in motion already.

 

[TrebleStauter]

As this point Treble I don't know whats going on. It seems like we are getting different answers from everyone. I'm waiting on an email from my EVP rep to see what she can do. Might get an extra discount on the phone but not sure yet. Going through that number and then finding a coporate store to return to and hoping they have an EVO for me worries me. I might just say screw the $50 credit and waived activation fee and pre-order the phone and go through BB or EVP if its cheaper. Getting tired of this and just want to have something set in motion already.

I am in that boat friend. When I was at the Sprint store yesterday, I told the rep, "I am not trying to get a deal. I am not trying to scam anything. I will sign your two year contract. I will pay the $199 plus rebate for the phone. I just need something to use while you cut off my service between the 25th and the 4th." He said that it will work one way or another. Just sign up, get a free Pixi or whatever, then call on the 4th to exchange it for an EVO or go to a store and take your chances.

I do not care if I have the phone day 1. That doesn't matter to me. I want the phone. If someone can shake my hand and say, "I will make that happen" then you have my money!

So simple. Yet, not.

 

[ricky123]

So what's the plan guys?

Is the general consensus screw ordering through the phone to avoid having to exchange by mail? Ordering over the phone, activating, then exchanging via mail just seems like a huge pain.

I'm going to call again to see why we can't order over the phone then exchange in a corporate store.

 

[TrebleStauter]

Let us know what you find out Ricky.

 

[TrebleStauter]

Hopeful for additional info. <Bump>

 

[vindico pallens]

Well I talked to BB and Sprint (non coporate store) and basically told me the same thing. If I preordered through BB I couldn't sign up for service and then return the phone if I was doing a presale since presales were for new customers/upgrades. If I went through Sprint I couldn't exchange whatever phone I got for the EVO since they will probably be sold out and couldn't ship a phone to the store just for an exchange. I went ahead and preordered through BB anyways just so I could get the phone. Didn't know if that sounded right to anyone? Wondering if I should call BB and talk to a manager? The way it is now my phone would be turned off on 5/25 and I would loose my number. Not that big of a deal but I don't want to go through the hassle of getting ahold of everyone and giving my new number. Any ideas?

Plus I wouldn't have a phone for 2 weeks