Getting Captivate from wirefly.com

[hirotop]

Hi guys,
I am thinking about getting a new captivate from wirefly.com.

But it seems that many people exchange their captivate from ATT because of GPS or Shutting off problems.

Do you think it is possible to exchange my device from ATT even though I bought it from wirefly.com?

 

[qwertyaas]

No. If you buy from Wirefly, you deal with them. That is why I prefer to buy from AT&T, even with the higher price. You go through the store for the first 30 days, than AT&T CS for the rest of the year (which are surprisingly good with regards to warranty service).

 

[Quakerwildcat]

If there are issues in the first 30 days, you can still exchange it, but you have to send it back to the retailer where you bought it, which is Wirefly. I have purchased from Wirefly several times, and done and exchange once. It was quite easy. They include a prepaid shipping label in the box. But you do have to send it back and not take it to the store. They are an authorized AT&T dealer and the warranty is the same warranty, so you can go to the AT&T store for any warranty issues. The only difference is if you want to return it in the first 30 days.

 

[qwertyaas]

If there are issues in the first 30 days, you can still exchange it, but you have to send it back to the retailer where you bought it, which is Wirefly. I have purchased from Wirefly several times, and done and exchange once. It was quite easy. They include a prepaid shipping label in the box. But you do have to send it back and not take it to the store. They are an authorized AT&T dealer and the warranty is the same warranty, so you can go to the AT&T store for any warranty issues. The only difference is if you want to return it in the first 30 days.

That's odd, according to AT&T and Wirefly, after the days, AT&T does not cover the warranty.

 

[Wirefly1]

That's odd, according to AT&T and Wirefly, after the days, AT&T does not cover the warranty.

Hello qwertyaas,

QuakerWildCat is correct. At Wirefly, we are committed to your total satisfaction. So we created the Wirefly Satisfaction Guarantee, to help take the stress out of choosing the right cell phone. Order any cell phone, PDA/Smartphone, or wireless PC card with a wireless service plan and if you don't like it within the first 30 days, we'll swap it for another model OR refund 100% of your purchase price. As an authorized AT&T dealer the warranty is the same. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns.

 

[xd01]

Hi Wirefly1,
Can I start an individual plan on Wirefly, and upgrade it to a family plan directly from AT&T without $200/$300 penalty after I activate it? Since my friend and I want to have a family plan, but he wants an iPhone which is not available on Wirefly.

Another question is : can I apply employee discount immediately after I activate the phone without the penalty?

Thank you!

 

[coreyb]

just call at&t and tell them you're going to buy from wirefly unless they can match their price - worked for me!

 

[qwertyaas]

Hello qwertyaas,

QuakerWildCat is correct. At Wirefly, we are committed to your total satisfaction. So we created the Wirefly Satisfaction Guarantee, to help take the stress out of choosing the right cell phone. Order any cell phone, PDA/Smartphone, or wireless PC card with a wireless service plan and if you don't like it within the first 30 days, we'll swap it for another model OR refund 100% of your purchase price. As an authorized AT&T dealer the warranty is the same. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns.

Really? I just called into Wirefly to possibly renew through them but again they stated that AT&T will not cover the warranty but it must be done straight through the Manufacturer (Samsung). AT&T told me the same thing as well. They said AT&T will only cover the warranty if purchased from ATT.com or an AT&T Store - not from any other [authorized] retailers (Wirefly, Letstalk, Bestbuy...)

 

[PaverMaster]

I got my captivate from another online retailer. I took it to the ATT store to have my Iphone contacts transferred. They, ATT, found the captivate to be defective. They told me they could not exchange it, but after 30 days I could bring it back to the ATT store and exchange it for a refurbished one. I passed on that offer. I sent it back to the online retailer, and I am waiting on the new captivate to arrive.

It is a little aggravating having to send the phone back, and having to wait for the new one. If I bought it at the ATT store I could have just swapped it for a good one, but I paid a lot less than the ATT/website price. So that makes it bearable.

Peace,

PaverMaster

 

[qwertyaas]

Yeah, that is why I was thinking it's probably more worth it for me to spend the extra $75-100 to buy it from AT&T directly and not have to worry about warranty 'complications'. That and usually they give you a new phone, not refurb from what I remember (my friend is on his 3rd new BB Bold from the warranty).

 

[nb_mitch]

I bought a Blackberry from Wirefly a few years ago, could never get it to work correctly, took it to a At&t store to have them look at it and eventually had At&t replace it, never even thought to call Wirefly.

YMMV

 

[qwertyaas]

It seems like it definitely is a YMMV. There are people that weren't able to and people that were. If I was sure I can get a warranty directly through AT&T, I probably wouldn't hesitate to go for Wirefly.

But that extra piece of mind and being able to go to the store 1 mile away from me in case I need to exchange or switch phones is probably worth the extra bit of money for me

 

[Jake_Mongoose]

FWIW, I ordered a set of phones from Wirefly (tried out the Vibrant from T-Mobile, poor reception where I work, had to return them). I returned the phones last Thursday, they received them yesterday afternoon, and this AM I was emailed that my credit card had been refunded the full amount, no restocking fess, no BS miscellaneous charges. The phones were shipped Fed-Ex, they paid for return shipping, they issued a prompt refund. I don't know what much more you can ask for.

I know there are probably people who got screwed by Wirefly or Let's Talk or whomever, but my experience with Wirefly at least was very pleasant. Again, FWIW.

 

[ewingr]

Yeah, that is why I was thinking it's probably more worth it for me to spend the extra $75-100 to buy it from AT&T directly and not have to worry about warranty 'complications'. That and usually they give you a new phone, not refurb from what I remember (my friend is on his 3rd new BB Bold from the warranty).

During the 30 days they will give you a new one. After that it will definitely be a refurb (Unless there is not an inventory of refurbs. Given all the returns, I doubt that will be the case).

 

[qwertyaas]

During the 30 days they will give you a new one. After that it will definitely be a refurb (Unless there is not an inventory of refurbs. Given all the returns, I doubt that will be the case).

I'm not suggesting they have poor support for the first 30 days. I hear they have great support with returns and exchanged. My concern is the 1-year warranty after the first 30 days. Wirefly states you must deal directly with the manufacturer (Samsung).

After having to deal with manufacturers for RMA with other products, I much prefer AT&T's quick and simple warranty replacement (any issue within the year, they ship you the phone and then you ship yours back with a prepaid label). I have heard that some people had success using AT&T warranty after buying through Wirefly however.

 

[ewingr]

To be sure of no misunderstanding, my statement quoted above was related to AT&T.

I do have to agree that working with AT&T was very good. On my Tilt, I had to replace it 3 times. They would send a refurb to me quickly (I don't recall if it was overnight, or 2 day delivery). And I had 10 days to get mine in the system back to them.

Would be interesting to know how well that does work with Wirefly. Dealing direct with Samsung does not sound like something I'd want to do, although, for all I know, it may be an excellent experience too (if having to return a phone could be considered an excellent experience. )

 

[qwertyaas]

Oh I see, I thought you were referring to Wifefly.

I have never dealt with manufacturers for phone RMA, but with regard to computer related products (video cards and such), turn around time could take much longer. Some items are more heavily scrutinized in order to see if there was any break in warranty in order to deny replacement. Then again, video cards and phones are two completely seperate things - but when a phone costs $500 out of contract, I would rather be safe than sorry.

But I am curious how AT&T does handle their one year warranty (when not purchased through them). As I hear some people that bought their phone outside of AT&T were able to go through AT&T for replacement.

 

[bassic]

Hello qwertyaas,

QuakerWildCat is correct. At Wirefly, we are committed to your total satisfaction. So we created the Wirefly Satisfaction Guarantee, to help take the stress out of choosing the right cell phone. Order any cell phone, PDA/Smartphone, or wireless PC card with a wireless service plan and if you don't like it within the first 30 days, we'll swap it for another model OR refund 100% of your purchase price. As an authorized AT&T dealer the warranty is the same. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or concerns.

Unless something changed, isn't Wirefly's Satisfaction Guarantee more of a 14 day guarantee rather than 30 days? According to the details of the guarantee (on the wirefly website) you have to decide within 14 days if you want to return it (and you must ship it back within 30 days). I interpret that to me that on day 15 if I decide that I don't like my phone, I'm out of luck and can't return it without paying a $300 fee ($200 for non-smartphones).

 

[chandu1987]

I bought my phone from wirefly. It has been 2 months and when I contacted AT & T people about a problem with my phone they have sent me a replacement device. So normal 1 year warranty is covered in AT & T even if u buy in wirefly. I have done like that previously with another phone also and not only me few of my friends also bought in wirefly & they dint face any problem in warranty with AT & T.

 

[wkornf]

I bought my captivate from lets talk. Aside from there customer support obviously not being native English speakers the service was perfect.

My first captivate was randomly restarting in the first week so they mailed me a new one over nite and i shipped the old one back with free shipping in the new ones box.

The second captivate starting restarting outside the 30 day total satisfaction period so i called At&t. they talked me through a few things to check and once they were satisfied my problem was legit they told me about a At&t service center located about 15 minutes from my house. All you do is walk in hand them your phone and they hand you a new one (or refurb, but looks new). Whole process took 30 minutes including the drive. I was shocked at how good the service was.

So moral of the story, captivates break often, but at&t will cover the one year warranty even if you bought it from letstalk.

Sure am happy now that i know when it breaks again its just a short drive to get another!

Wayne