Will i be able to trade in my phone for the Evo?

[smithz1123]

I have a Sprint HTC Hero. I got it 3 months ago. I also have a data family plan or something like that (sorry for my lack of knowledge, i'm only 16). Will I be able to trade in my Hero for the Evo? Or will sprint only give me some money towards buying the evo? And if they give me some money, will i have to buy the Evo at full retail price as if i was buying it without a contract? If so that would suck because full retail price will be like 800 bucks!

Thanks!

 

[mobil3gen]

Unfortunately, to get the EVO since you are still under contract with your Hero - you'll have to buy the phone outright, unless there is an upgrade available on your account, then you can get the phone at a discount - or - steal one of your family members upgrades.

 

[SprintTerp]

Yes, unfortunately, you would not be eligible to receive the discount on the EVO, at least when it launches. If you're on a family plan, there's a chance that one of the other lines may be eligible for the discount, so try to get someone else in your family to let you use their upgrade and take your hero.

As far as giving you credit for your phone, Sprint has started a Buyback program that should be in all stores by that time, but you probably won't be happy with what they give you. You'd be better off selling it on your own. Also, this credit only applies on upgrades or activations, so you wouldn't be able to sell it back to Sprint anyway.

Finally yes, it seems as though unless you use another person's upgrade on your account, you'll be looking at paying full price for the EVO.

 

[dbpaddler]

why would you expect any different? you signed a one year contract. just be happy it's not two years like other carriers. And you can always sell your hero and use the money to offset the outright purchase of the Evo if you choose to go that route. Though if you wait, in 9 months you might have the choice of more than just the Evo.

 

[smithz1123]

Thanks guys!

 

[treefq]

Call Retention department when the EVO comes out. They can do things the stores can't. If you complain enough and make noises of canceling the whole account for hitting up another carrier, they probably will work with you if you resign a contract. Sprint wants to keep you because in the long run you will end up paying more under contract then if you had outright bought the phone.

 

[neodorian]

The other option is to sell your phone on eBay or craigslist. If you take care of your Hero you can probably get a couple of hundred bucks from someone who is in the middle of a contract and needs a decent replacement phone without spending $500-600. I traded my old Touch Pro for a 32GB iPod Touch. Chances are I will sell my Pre and maybe the iTouch to fund my 1 year upgrade to the Evo.

 

[sessman]

so after 1 year everyone gets an upgrade? i thought you had to wait 2 years to receive an upgrade?

 

[dylan88]

depends on the contract

 

[dbpaddler]

If you're on a Sprint Everything plan you are a premier member and get full upgrades on a yearly basis. It's a Sprint perk over the other carriers. It never hurts to try retentions and see if you can upgrade early with various nice threats of leaving after your year is up and what not, but you'll only be 6 months into your contract. Think you'd stand a better shot if you'd be over 9 moths in. It bever hurts to try.

 

[Caloy]

Since the launch is still a couple of months away, you can start saving for it and when it comes out you can buy it outright.

 

[neodorian]

If you're on a Sprint Everything plan you are a premier member and get full upgrades on a yearly basis. It's a Sprint perk over the other carriers. It never hurts to try retentions and see if you can upgrade early with various nice threats of leaving after your year is up and what not, but you'll only be 6 months into your contract. Think you'd stand a better shot if you'd be over 9 moths in. It bever hurts to try.

I was under the impression that is isn't the same as a full 2-year upgrade but rather a $150 discount in exchange for extending your contract another year. Please let me know if I'm mistaken as it would be great to get a full discount after one year but I always saw it as $150 off on my Sprint account page.

edit: Just read it and it does say new customer pricing on primary line...pretty nice. I wonder why there is a random $150 discount sitting on my secondary line then.

 

[dbpaddler]

It is if you are on a Premier plan. Their regular plans are eligible for a full upgrade at 22 months. On the Everything plans you're eligible every year. It's the perk of dropping that much coin/month. The funny thing is you're still signing a new 2yr service agreement every time you upgrade at 1yr. Doesn't necessarily make sense, but that's what it is.

 

[mi_canuck]

no

 

[dbpaddler]

now that might have been funny if that would've been post 2 in the thread, but not so much two days later at post 14.

 

[neodorian]

It is if you are on a Premier plan. Their regular plans are eligible for a full upgrade at 22 months. On the Everything plans you're eligible every year. It's the perk of dropping that much coin/month. The funny thing is you're still signing a new 2yr service agreement every time you upgrade at 1yr. Doesn't necessarily make sense, but that's what it is.

The funny thing is I'm not dropping much "coin" every month I'm spending a ton less than I would pay for the same plan on ATT or VZW. I split a $130 family plan with my girlfriend for more minutes than I could ever possibly use and unlimited everything else. I have a 14% discount for working where I do but that is kinda negated by the voluntary insurance I pay for. Either way it's still a deal I think. Only thing I would like to see are: cheaper plans for less minutes and prorated plans if you buy your phone off contract. I use like 20 minutes a month and I'm sure she does too but we are paying for 1500. Likewise, I get the purpose of the subsidies but if you bring your own phone, the plans should be less since you are not paying off a subsidy. TMobile does this and it's a great idea but I don't know if the other carriers want to risk having that many people out of contract.

 

[mi_canuck]

lol

 

[dbpaddler]

Don't see that happening in our lifetime. with that logic you should be able to pay less and not get Nav or nascar and so on... But that's the point of the everything plans and if you want a premier phone (on or off contract) you're paying for an everything plan. And you do have the option for cheaper, just not with the flagship type phones. Still a lot better than what you get on the other carriers. Hell, people with SERO and other older data plans with BB's, PalmOS and winMob phones are making a killing compared to other carriers, not just a little bit better with the Everything plans. So while not trying to defend their plans, they do give you quite a few options to save money.

Likewise, I get the purpose of the subsidies but if you bring your own phone, the plans should be less since you are not paying off a subsidy. TMobile does this and it's a great idea but I don't know if the other carriers want to risk having that many people out of contract.

 

[TheBiles]

Get a job, kid!

 

[neodorian]

Don't see that happening in our lifetime. with that logic you should be able to pay less and not get Nav or nascar and so on... But that's the point of the everything plans and if you want a premier phone (on or off contract) you're paying for an everything plan. And you do have the option for cheaper, just not with the flagship type phones. Still a lot better than what you get on the other carriers. Hell, people with SERO and other older data plans with BB's, PalmOS and winMob phones are making a killing compared to other carriers, not just a little bit better with the Everything plans. So while not trying to defend their plans, they do give you quite a few options to save money.

Well, T-Mobile already does this so it is definitely in our lifetime

The idea (which is not a new one) is that you can either get $400 toward your new phone and pay an extra $15-20 per month to recoup that or you can bring your own phone that you paid $600 for instead of $200 and save that $15-20 per month. That would be the *honest* way to do it and still give people options.

No, it probably won't catch on with any of the US-based carriers but it's been discussed for a while. Likewise, the ETF which is assumed to be the repayment of the subsidy should also drop every month that you pay money toward your "debt".