Help TEP or not for Evo?

[berardi1111]

As a rule, I've always had TEP, but now I am rethinking.

TEP costs 84 per year + 100 deductible

I am Sprint Premier, so every year I could get an upgrade for $200 or less usually. This would be the same price as the TEP. I have backup Sprint phones that if for some reason my phone broke, I could revert to until I was eligible for upgrade.

I guess my main question is - the screen separation and other potential issues with the build, would these all be covered by warranty, and if so would not having TEP hamper me in anyway in getting them resolved? (aka me having to ship it back to China or something)

I'm about to buy an Evo and have been thinking about this but need help clarifying... Thanks!

 

[htcevolee]

I buy insurance for the "just in case" factor and knowing I can bring it in anytime and get a replacement. If your buying a ferrari wouldnt you get insurance? hehe =P

 

[clambert1273]

after what happened to me on Sunday... I am getting TEP this week..

Came out of the grocery store and some ahole on a bike took my purse! My phone and everything was in it... of course being prior military.. I kicked off my flip flops and took off after his.. I had a gallon of milk in my hand and almost hurled it at his head

He eventually dropped it - don't think he expected me to chase him .. ya but after that .. I want insurance lol

 

[laredo7mm]

Lets say you buy the EVO without TEP, as you walk out of the Sprint store, you stumble, drop the EVO, and the screen breaks....

Well, at least you are at the Sprint store so you can get your back up activated....

 

[berardi1111]

after what happened to me on Sunday... I am getting TEP this week..

Came out of the grocery store and some ahole on a bike took my purse! My phone and everything was in it... of course being prior military.. I kicked off my flip flops and took off after his.. I had a gallon of milk in my hand and almost hurled it at his head

He eventually dropped it - don't think he expected me to chase him .. ya but after that .. I want insurance lol

"When Evo Owners Strike Back"

Sorry to hear that, but good work stopping him! Did you press charges? He must have felt like a moron getting caught

 

[berardi1111]

Lets say you buy the EVO without TEP, as you walk out of the Sprint store, you stumble, drop the EVO, and the screen breaks....

Well, at least you are at the Sprint store so you can get your back up activated....

Good point... I guess it depends on how accident prone you are.

Personally I've never broken a phone by dropping or inflicting any other damage myself. I have had phones go bad though (mechanical problems and such with the innards). Usually it has been after a year, so if something went wrong after a year it would be $200 upgrade for hot new phone vs $184 spent for refurbed replacement of old phone. I guess it's a question of how likely I feel I am to drop the thing

 

[clambert1273]

"When Evo Owners Strike Back"

Sorry to hear that, but good work stopping him! Did you press charges? He must have felt like a moron getting caught

he rode off... I never even got to see his face... just his back.. I know he had a white shirt, blue hat and on a bike

I was totally going to nail him with a gallon of milk LOL

 

[darweth]

It's a no-brainer not only for the insurance but also for premium repair/replacement coverage for manufacturers defects, which the EVO obviously may have a lot of.

 

[laredo7mm]

Good point... I guess it depends on how accident prone you are.

Personally I've never broken a phone by dropping or inflicting any other damage myself. I have had phones go bad though (mechanical problems and such with the innards). Usually it has been after a year, so if something went wrong after a year it would be $200 upgrade for hot new phone vs $184 spent for refurbed replacement of old phone. I guess it's a question of how likely I feel I am to drop the thing

Exactly, I agree. I have TEP on my 12 year old daughter's phone. So far, she has managed to break a Palm Pre and a Samsung Moment in the past few months. She had the moment for about a week before dropping it and shattering the screen...lol

I usually get TEP on my new phones, and if after a few months, nothing is wrong with the phone, I cancel it. I know the phones come with a "mechanical warranty," but I get the TEP just to avoid any potential hassle.

So for my phone, some TEP and for my kid's phone always TEP....

 

[berardi1111]

he rode off... I never even got to see his face... just his back.. I know he had a white shirt, blue hat and on a bike

I was totally going to nail him with a gallon of milk LOL

LOL that's pretty pathetic he couldn't get away while on a bike... or a compliment to your speed!

You shoulda nailed him hahaha

 

[clambert1273]

Exactly, I agree. I have TEP on my 12 year old daughter's phone. So far, she has managed to break a Palm Pre and a Samsung Moment in the past few months. She had the moment for about a week before dropping it and shattering the screen...lol

I usually get TEP on my new phones, and if after a few months, nothing is wrong with the phone, I cancel it. I know the phones come with a "mechanical warranty," but I get the TEP just to avoid any potential hassle.

So for my phone, some TEP and for my kid's phone always TEP....

hahaha my 16yo girl doesn't have a phone anymore... she dropped 2 into the pool / jacuzzi (why she was using it there is beyond me!) and then make over $400 in calls to Canada - then told me "I didn't know it was international" .. really cuz that whole border thing doesn't apply!

good luck with the 12yo

 

[berardi1111]

It's a no-brainer not only for the insurance but also for premium repair/replacement coverage for manufacturers defects, which the EVO obviously may have a lot of.

Exactly, I agree. I have TEP on my 12 year old daughter's phone. So far, she has managed to break a Palm Pre and a Samsung Moment in the past few months. She had the moment for about a week before dropping it and shattering the screen...lol

I usually get TEP on my new phones, and if after a few months, nothing is wrong with the phone, I cancel it. I know the phones come with a "mechanical warranty," but I get the TEP just to avoid any potential hassle.

So for my phone, some TEP and for my kid's phone always TEP....

Hmmm this is true, I guess my thing is I'm not worried about damaging / dropping it myself, but like you guys I don't want any hassle with getting a replacement. I wonder if they would do the exchange in house no questions asked even if you don't have TEP. That might be a good idea to take the middle ground of having TEP for a few months and then taking it off if you feel safe.

 

[Sprockethead]

You can get accidental protection for $4/month. Or you can get defect protection for $4/month. Or you can get both for $7/month. I have the accident protection for $4/month. I figure that if there is a defect, I'm going to send it back within a year anyway under the manufacturer's warranty. But if I lose it or break it, I'm only out $100 (deductible) +$48 (total I will have paid over a year). Which still sucks, but I'm willing to pay that if I actually lose the phone.

 

[laredo7mm]

hahaha my 16yo girl doesn't have a phone anymore... she dropped 2 into the pool / jacuzzi (why she was using it there is beyond me!) and then make over $400 in calls to Canada - then told me "I didn't know it was international" .. really cuz that whole border thing doesn't apply!

good luck with the 12yo

lol...I told her the next time it happens, we are going to just re-activate her old Samsung Rumor...she babies her phone now...

 

[sicariis]

I went with just ERP for $4 a month as the phone is under warranty for a year anyways making the other half of TEP (ESRP) redundant. And im still covered for Loss, Theft, or Accidental Damage.

 

[laredo7mm]

You can get accidental protection for $4/month. Or you can get defect protection for $4/month. Or you can get both for $7/month. I have the accident protection for $4/month. I figure that if there is a defect, I'm going to send it back within a year anyway under the manufacturer's warranty. But if I lose it or break it, I'm only out $100 (deductible) +$48 (total I will have paid over a year). Which still sucks, but I'm willing to pay that if I actually lose the phone.

I thought there was only the $7 option now...

 

[Rigmaster]

Evo is a first-gen, high-end electronic device. TEP makes total sense for situations like this. That said, it's not something to keep for more than 6-12 months.

 

[darweth]

I went with just ERP for $4 a month as the phone is under warranty for a year anyways making the other half of TEP (ESRP) redundant. And im still covered for Loss, Theft, or Accidental Damage.

The reason I want ESRP is that I want NO HASSLES for manufacturer defects or issues that are no fault of my own. I hope to never have to deal with HTC directly. That would be a disaster!

I am going to assume Sprint will try an in-house solution in most cases even without ESRP but I need 100% certainty I can rely solely on Sprint.

 

[Mateo]

So even though I do have TEP for my EVO and have had it on other phones in the past there is a couple of drawbacks...

1.) You cant just take it to a store and they hand you a shiny new phone. You have to send it back to them after you have received your (usually refurbished)replacement by mail within one business day(usually).

2.) Its not just an outright replacement. Not only do you pay your $7 a month for the protection, but you also pay a deductable when a claim is made. Depending on the value of your phone its usually $100.

So theres a couple of other factors to consider..

 

[darweth]

So even though I do have TEP for my EVO and have had it on other phones in the past there is a couple of drawbacks...

1.) You cant just take it to a store and they hand you a shiny new phone. You have to send it back to them after you have received your (usually refurbished)replacement by mail within one business day(usually).

2.) Its not just an outright replacement. Not only do you pay your $7 a month for the protection, but you also pay a deductable when a claim is made. Depending on the value of your phone its usually $100.

So theres a couple of other factors to consider..

That deductible is only for damage YOU caused. There is no deductible for manufacturer defects or normal wear and tear.

And there is no issue with #1. As long as you get to hold onto your phone until the replacement arrives.

 

[R1_Rydah]

I choose not to go with the TEP this time around because I went with Sam's Club Insurance... its $100 for two yrs no deductible... covers everything except lost or stolen...I never lose phones so I'm willing to chance it...

 

[some.devil]

Yes I went with TEP. I'm a have a severe case of chronic device separation.

 

[Mateo]

That deductible is only for damage YOU caused. There is no deductible for manufacturer defects or normal wear and tear.

And there is no issue with #1. As long as you get to hold onto your phone until the replacement arrives.

Well of course not but you dont buy TEP for manufacturer defects.. Especially when it gets a manufacturer's warranty for the first year anyway. And you cant just trade in a phone because it has normal wear and tear. If it has wear and tear that has rendered it unusable then that would be damage YOU caused. The same goes for lost/stolen phones. You pay the deductable there too.

 

[Xadeus]

TEP is a no brainer. You would be very rich or stupid not to take it. Plus, in my experience Sprint provides better customer service with device problems if you have it. I like the battery swap, lost or stolen protection, and accidental damage protection. The EVO is also a bit awkward to hold for me personally because i have smaller hands, so i KNOW i will eventually drop it. Its only a matter of time.

 

[Dracostian]

As a rule, I've always had TEP, but now I am rethinking.

TEP costs 84 per year + 100 deductible

I am Sprint Premier, so every year I could get an upgrade for $200 or less usually. This would be the same price as the TEP. I have backup Sprint phones that if for some reason my phone broke, I could revert to until I was eligible for upgrade.

I guess my main question is - the screen separation and other potential issues with the build, would these all be covered by warranty, and if so would not having TEP hamper me in anyway in getting them resolved? (aka me having to ship it back to China or something)

I'm about to buy an Evo and have been thinking about this but need help clarifying... Thanks!

FWIW, the deductible is not entirely accurate there. You don't pay a deductible unless you personally caused the damage (and even then, sometimes not, if the damage is likely originated due to a manufacturer defect). I have returned five phones that had TEP and I've never paid a single deductible.

It's well worth the money unless you are destroying your phone or dropping it in water.

Also FWIW, I destroyed a phone on my own (a Blackberry) due to a manufacturing defect it had that I was trying to fix, and I wasn't forced to pay a deductible on it either.