Is Sprint really cheaper with EVO in plans?

[rushmore]

I just spoke to a rep and was told that for four people, the price was:

$140 for first two lines (includes $10 EVO premium)
$40 for two other lines.

Wth tax, this is almost $200 and not counting any insurance you might want to add. The reps stated if you buy the EVO and more than one line, you must get the 1500 minute plan. My family of four rarely breaches 600 minutes of our 700 minute plan (my family are mainly text maniacs).

Since I would be forced into a 1500 minute plan and pay the $10 premium, the Sprint plan would be about $40 more than VZW. If you use the minutes, it would be fine, but not only are you forced into $10 more, you also are forced into the 1500 minute plan- even if you do not need it.

Is this what others are being told?

added:

I was going to get the EVO to test it out, but may just wait for all the testers here to report back, through the next few weeks.

 

[Putty]

I was paying $145(after tax, 24% off) a month for two iPhones on a 900 min share. I was told I could get the 1500 share with my 27% off, monthly, for less than $100 a month. I am hoping for a $40+ dollar a month savings.....so YES!

 

[BigRick10]

For any line after the 1st and 2nd is 19.99+ 10 data fee. So its 29.99 not $40 if im not mistaking

 

[Rigmaster]

Ask the question the way you really want to, can I get 4 Evos on a family share plan for less than $XX. That makes them give you yes or no.

 

[rushmore]

Ask the question the way you really want to, can I get 4 Evos on a family share plan for less than $XX. That makes them give you yes or no.

Not four EVO's- one and three standard phones with keyboards was quoted $180 before taxes. Sprint may not be increasing data plans directly for premium devices, but they are forcing people into premium plans. Same $ result- Assuming what I was told by the Sprint store in Lexington. Added: Called to confirm.

Price for four EVO's would be $210 per month, before taxes. One and three standard devices is $180. Not better deal unless you need that many minutes.

 

[Rigmaster]

Not four EVO's- one and three standard phones with keyboards was quoted $180 before taxes. Sprint may not be increasing data plans directly for premium devices, but they are forcing people into premium plans. Same $ result- Assuming what I was told by the Sprint store in Lexington. Added: Called to confirm.

Price for four EVO's would be $210 per month, before taxes. One and three standard devices is $180. Not better deal unless you need that many minutes.

ED Family w/1 Evo should be $140 for lines 1-2 + $40 total for lines 3-4 with grand total being $180 before discount.

 

[SteveJobCutLine4myLiver]

sprint rep that seemed very competent told me that a family 1500 data + 1 extra line, 1 evo 2 free phones would cost me $220 per month. but i live in ny

edit: total monthly bill including tax and fees.

 

[clambert1273]

129.99 - everything family plan 1500 min shared.. add $10.00 evo line (mine)

139.99


Lines 3-5 are 20/each so for 2 more 179.99.

My bill with 3 lines WAS 157/mo before I discovered my 23% discount Now it will be cheaper even with the Evo - so I am happy... we barely use 300 minutes per month.. but I pay for it for the unlimited texting and when I tried to price other plans.. it just didn't work period.... and was always 150 for 2 phones instead of 3 .. I will take what I have

 

[BigRick10]

I have 4 lines on a 1500min plan as well. I will be adding 2 EVO's (gift for my sister for graduation )

129.99+20 (2 EVO data fees) = 149.99+20 (for 2 extra lines)= 169.99
So 169.99-27% corp discount= 125ish-20 (promo credit)= 105ish!

 

[Rigmaster]

sprint rep that seemed very competent told me that a family 1500 data + 1 extra line, 1 evo 2 free phones would cost me $220 per month. but i live in ny

edit: total monthly bill including tax and fees.

Very competent but very wrong. You can get all 4 on that plan with Evos for $209.99. not including t/f.

T/F is killing you in NY though. You're getting somewhere near $40+ of them each month. Ouch!

 

[RoadkillStewie]

lets say VA carried the Evo. If I've got the stuff right according to their site...

VZ, 100 for Talk n Text then 30$ per smart phone for data and 9.99 per 'phone' line? though I think a fam plan get you 2 lines.

100
4 smart data = 120
+ 2 lines = 20.00

240 for 700 minutes... if you don't text you can knock 30 off.

1 smart, 3 dumb...
100, 30 data, 20 for 2 additional lines... 150 for 700 minutes.
Bump it up to 1400 minutes and we're at 170

if any of those dumb phones need limited data, an additional 10 per.


On the sprint plan, the only 'minutes' your using are those involving land lines, your +10 evo fee gets you true unlimited data. with what your playing you'd probably qualify for the premier which means you get a 150$ upgrade discount every 12 months for the primary line/phone.

 

[rushmore]

Seems Sprint is forcing EVO owners into the premium plans along with the $10, even if you do not need the minutes or megs. True, Sprint is cheaper, plan for plan, but if you only need a 700 minute family plan and they force you to get the 1500 minutes when you do not need it, just because you get the EVO- they are not the cheaper option in this regard. Everything is relative. If you need that many minutes- different related story. Still, Sprint charges $10 more than VZW and $15 more than Tmo for extra lines (if you do not need data for those lines, this factors in too).

One EVO and three standard phones for $180 and plus tax is steep if you only need half the minutes. How is this not a form of indirect data fee increases for EVO owners- on top of the $10? I understand the $10 (seems fair), but forcing to higher minutes when you do not need it is not fair at all.

added:

Just checking my minutes from Tmo (8 concurrent months) and VZW (May), we averaged 604 minutes for a family of four. Texting is a different story (my kids are text demons), but unlimited texting in 700 minute plans for both carriers and no force increase of plan minutes for premium devices. Sprint is apparently cheaper, but not always actually cheaper- unless you need the high minutes.

As far as carriers, I have no blind loyalties. Tmo is cheapest, but weakest coverage and VZW has the best coverage, but most expensive (plan for plan, but not always, as pointed above).

Sprint is the average of the two. I do not count At&t, since they support the socialistic rube named Steve Jobs

 

[Rigmaster]

Seems Sprint is forcing EVO owners into the premium plans along with the $10, even if you do not need the minutes or megs. True, Sprint is cheaper, plan for plan, but if you only need a 700 minute family plan and they force you to get the 1500 minute when you do not need it, just because you get the EVO- the are not the cheaper option in this regard. Everything is relative. If you need that many minutes- different related story.

One EVO and three standard for $180 and plus tax is steep if you only need half the minutes. How is this not a form of indirect data fee increases for EVO owners- on top of the $10? I understand the $10 (seems fair), but forcing to higher minutes when you do not need it is not fair at all.

added:

Just checking my minutes from Tmo (8 concurrent months) and VZW (May), we averaged 604 minutes for a family of four. Texting is a different story (my kids are text demons), but unlimited texting in 700 minute plans for both carriers and no force increase of plan minutes.

You're scaring me. This is the exact reasoning that led to tiered pricing or per KB/MB/GB pricing that's appearing on the other carriers. With bundled/group pricing, those on the low and mid level don't see quite the same benefit as those at the high/peak end, but they do benefit from getting services that the package offers.

If this were all about just cost and minutes, there'd be piecemeal plans that would inevitably be higher in price because the market segmentation would be so thinly sliced that there'd be no reason for any item to be cheaper.

It reminds me of how I hate to dine at Luger's or Ruth's Chris steakhouse because everything is a separate charge. I'd rather go to another good steak place where I get sides, bread, and salad for one fair price.

 

[clambert1273]

I never really understand the debates on pricing.. they are what they are and no one has to choose any phone or any plan they don't want to.. I chose my plan and now I am choosing my phone

I am happy with my decisions and don't regret either of them. I have had all carriers except Verizon and that is just because I refuse to pay that much more for something that doesn't matter to me.

Honestly - if it isn't for you then it isn't you have to do what is right for you and you alone

 

[Rigmaster]

I never really understand the debates on pricing.. they are what they are and no one has to choose any phone or any plan they don't want to.. I chose my plan and now I am choosing my phone Agreed - never try to convince, only to point out other perspectives. Debate yields growth and understanding when it's not made or taken personally.

I am happy with my decisions and don't regret either of them. I have had all carriers except Verizon and that is just because I refuse to pay that much more for something that doesn't matter to me. Like my choices, but I've only had ATT because I've always been able to get a decent enough discount not to move. Did more traveling, especially internationally, than I expect to now so ATT makes no more sense to me.

Honestly - if it isn't for you then it isn't you have to do what is right for you and you alone Agree again. Just pointing out that we're going to hear convoluted explanations about tiered/per Byte and feature plans because other carriers are going to say "it's what our customers want." It's not exactly what people want. They want to be able to pay more for the things they want and less for the things they don't often use. But no one wants to pay true ala carte pricing. These by piece plans aren't going to be good for anyone other than people who benefit from minimal use. I hate that ATT currently charges me separately for texting from data. They're both data. ATT charges though because they know people send tons of texts and can't really get around it. B/c the small size of MMS and SMS, text would be a blip on the ATT data plan. So really the $15-20 charge for unlimited text isn't doing me a favor. It's gouging me at a micro-level. That's all I'm pointing out. I prefer large-package bundled gouging over per item penny gouging.[/QUOTE]

We agree in philosophy but not in how it's explained.

 

[clambert1273]

Oh I agree.. I didn't like the nickel and dime of AT&T when I had them... I prefer my big lump sum plan lol I don't want to have to think about what I need to add I am THAT lazy lol

 

[laredo7mm]

...and no force increase of plan minutes for premium devices...

And this is the flaw in your logic.

I am a Sprint customer with the Everything Data Family Plan. I have a Blackberry Curve and a Samsung Moment. Those are not premium devices, but I have a 1500 minute plan.

I use 200 minutes a month combined...it is what it is.

 

[BigRick10]

Oh I agree.. I didn't like the nickel and dime of AT&T when I had them... I prefer my big lump sum plan lol I don't want to have to think about what I need to add I am THAT lazy lol

Att is notorious for nickle and dime'n. Shoot so is Verizon.

 

[rushmore]

I never really understand the debates on pricing.. they are what they are and no one has to choose any phone or any plan they don't want to.. I chose my plan and now I am choosing my phone

I am happy with my decisions and don't regret either of them. I have had all carriers except Verizon and that is just because I refuse to pay that much more for something that doesn't matter to me.

Honestly - if it isn't for you then it isn't you have to do what is right for you and you alone

Agreed- if you use the minutes If not, being forced into a higher minute plan and $20 per line is no different than just charging up in the first place.

Phone carriers do not love us- they got their mind on our money and our money on our mind. Word.

 

[clambert1273]

i mean honestly... are we buying the plans for the minutes? I am not (for one) .. I buy it so I can text and do what I need to do with pics and stuff..web etc.. if I happen to use minutes then so be it... it is now my husband and I so realistically it is 750 min each.. on a busy month I may use 500.. and that is because I call landlines with my job..

Now you never know what can happen.. when my dad had a heartattack.. I used a TON of minutes... I was with Cingular back then.. thank god I had stacked up roll over minutes or I would have been SOL!

I will keep my 1500 lol I do wish they would drop it down a notch to like 800 or so.. but pretty soon minutes won't even factor into our plans

 

[laredo7mm]

...being forced into a higher minute plan...

Who is forcing you to switch carriers? Sprint does not offer a 700 minute shared plan with data. You are comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Rigmaster]

And this is the flaw in your logic.

I am a Sprint customer with the Everything Data Family Plan. I have a Blackberry Curve and a Samsung Moment. Those are not premium devices, but I have a 1500 minute plan.

I use 200 minutes a month combined...it is what it is.

How much would you use if all calls were included though? The ATT plans don't feature call exclusions the way Sprint does.

 

[rushmore]

And this is the flaw in your logic.

I am a Sprint customer with the Everything Data Family Plan. I have a Blackberry Curve and a Samsung Moment. Those are not premium devices, but I have a 1500 minute plan.

I use 200 minutes a month combined...it is what it is.

Actually, it supports my view even more, since your case appears more drastic (in minutes) than mine. Are you forced to get the 1500 minute plan? If so, and you only use 200 minutes, how in the heck is Sprint cheaper?

Sprint, like any company has to make their money. They apparently choose to force people into minute plans they do not need. The function being to account for data expenses, without calling it data expenses. Surely Sprint knows most people do not use 1500 minutes

This 1500 minute forced plan seems more a problem than the $10 charge. $20 per line is also an issue. Not sure how Sprint is any better or cheaper than anyone else- unless you will use the heck out of them there minutes

Nobody is forcing me, but they would be forcing me- if I chose Sprint. Their plans and what they force you to purchase is no different than just charging outright.

All things considered, they are no better than VZW- again unless you will actually use the higher minutes and the data for all lines.

 

[asaberan]

I just did a quick comparison for my wife and I:

Sprint
Everything Data-1500 Shared Anytime Minute $129.99
TEP $14 (for both)
Includes Data and BIS
Evo BS upcharge $10
Total $153.99

Verizon
Nationwide Talk & Text Family 1400 $119.99
Total Equipment Coverage $15.98 ($7.99 x 2)
Unlimited Data $59.98 ($29.99 x 2)
Total $195.95

AT&T
Nation 1400 with Family Talk $89.99
Data Plan $60 ($30 x 2)
Messaging unlimited for families $30
Insurance $10 ($5 x 2)
Total $189.99

Now we both need data due to having work related email, so that may not be the case for you, but for me, having to pay for data on both phones is a deal breaker with other carriers.

 

[evotitans]

The biggest problem with Sprint's plans are the fact that with Unlimited mobile to mobile it made the larger minute plans pretty useless.

I mean, it was an ingenious move by Sprint...and no one has really tried matching that yet.

But, aside from grandparents and maybe older parents...who else would you call on landlines?