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Exact Total Price Handset Purchase Scenarios for Metro PCS

horsecharles

Android Expert
Dec 14, 2010
1,235
317
NYC
In spite of Label, I am NOT sure these days, so trying to collect exact info for everyone's benefit.

Expect to pay IN STORE $99 + tax + $15 upgrade fee + $15 activation fee irrespective of whether you provide previous handset's sim.

Save that $30 by purchasing AND activating ONLINE.

Re TAX(doesn't apply here for Zmax... yet... LoL):
when some promo discounts price, you pay full tax based on original amount.

Feel free to correct / add as necessary.
 
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Damn they tax y'all out the ass there in NY & CA lol. It's only 6% here in FL.
Oh, I wish I was in Dixie.
When i went to school down there, it was half of that... and without the extra some municipalities have been adding. We can thank Yankee snowbirds for this.
So then I ran away from home... all the way to NYC... where we also have THREE income taxes - fed, state, AND city!

My European friends tell me I should've kept going to their side - income taxes a bit higher still but zero sales taxes, zero gambling taxes, free university & health... long paid leave, very hard to get fired.
First dibs on cellphones... Ehh...




Darn cotton pickin' mess anywhere you go.

Rotflmao
 
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In MA. I paid $99 for the phone, $5 or so for tax, & $30 for 1 GB plan. No activation or upgrade fee. I walked out the door spending $135.05 total. * I am a new customer if that means anything.

Also, regarding the free case and the mystery behind no one being able to get any confirmation or info - I called Metro and they didn't have a clue either... but they did give me a $5 credit for not having an answer. I wasn't even complaining but hey I'll take it :)
 
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It looks as though if you buy a phone with a new plan, they don't charge any additional fees. But what is this "upgrade" fee for anyone else? Do they charge this if they transfer the SIM over for you (and the so-called "activation" of it, even though it's a GSM phone)? How about if you just buy the phone and walk out, without any porting or even mentioning you are a current customer? Can I just buy the phone and bounce, never taking the phone out of the box? Will they still charge additional fees?

This is what I don't get about MetroPCS. I used to be a customer of Metro back in the CDMA days and I am not familiar to how they do it now. I read somewhere that even though they are now part of T-mo on a GSM network, you simply can't just swap SIM cards and call it a day. You have to notify Metro and have them log the new phone in. Do they charge for this? Is this the upgrade fee?
 
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It looks as though if you buy a phone with a new plan, they don't charge any additional fees. But what is this "upgrade" fee for anyone else? Do they charge this if they transfer the SIM over for you (and the so-called "activation" of it, even though it's a GSM phone)? How about if you just buy the phone and walk out, without any porting or even mentioning you are a current customer? Can I just buy the phone and bounce, never taking the phone out of the box? Will they still charge additional fees?

This is what I don't get about MetroPCS. I used to be a customer of Metro back in the CDMA days and I am not familiar to how they do it now. I read somewhere that even though they are now part of T-mo on a GSM network, you simply can't just swap SIM cards and call it a day. You have to notify Metro and have them log the new phone in. Do they charge for this? Is this the upgrade fee?

The "upgrade fee" is an activation fee that they waive for new customers or people who are getting a new line of service. I believe the only way to avoid the "upgrade fee" if you already have service with metro and are not getting an additional line of service is to buy the phone online and then activate it by calling the MetroPCS 800 number after you get your new phone in the mail. If you buy the phone online though, you have to pay the full price up front then wait for a mail in rebate rather than getting an instant rebate or discount.
 
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I was trying to avoid the rebate thing, but it looks like that is the most valuable path. I just think those rebates are a pain. Oh well. Thanks, anyway.

I hear there is a rumor T-mo will start charging a $10 fee for their in-store purchases as well. Not cool, T-mo. Not cool.

You just have to decide whether it's worth paying $65 more up front and wait 4-8 weeks to get that rebate and save $15. To me it's not worth it and I can't afford to pay the whole $180 up front.
 
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If I buy online and unlock for use on another carrier can I still apply for the rebate, or does the phone need active service on Metro for the rebate? As a T-mobile customer it's kind of lame of them not to also off this phone as a prepaid or postpaid tmobile device.
If you were able to buy it from the MetroPCS site without having a MetroPCS phone number you would have to pay the full price of $179 plus tax. The rebate is for MetroPCS customers only
 
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There's a metro in Suffolk County NY. Centereach is the town ibelueve. The Spanish girl working there is very helpful and although she knows and is taught how to hustle the accessories , she's not ripping anyone off directly... . The owner, a little Hindu women is a pure con artists and will put things like screen protectors and cases on the bill you don't ask for... it's a trip.
Dám muslims. Can't let no more into this continent. Ever. E V E R ! Trump #1 lol
Just laughing at life but Trump is #1
 
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If you were able to buy it from the MetroPCS site without having a MetroPCS phone number you would have to pay the full price of $179 plus tax. The rebate is for MetroPCS customers only

The site says there's a $20 instant rebate, so it's $159.99 plus tax, I went through every step up to the "review" order screen. They didn't stop me with my tmobile number as my contact number. Still a bit unsure on unlock options for the phone and not sure I want to make this sort of expenditure right now, but looks like it should work just fine. I'm assuming the rebate does require a metro number as it shows "metro number" on the list of items to fill in.
 
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