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Bought phone on launch..

and paid 200 bucks.. think there is any way i can get att to give me a better deal since i can get it for free at walmart???

From what I read, the only way you can get it for free is if you sign up for an AT&T account that is way higher than standard.
I could be wrong though.

I thgt tht i could get a good discount on my captivate phone, but the sales rep told me at the ATT store that if anyone was eligible for an upgrade it would show automatically on their account.
He said the ATT software runs some "algorithms" based on the prev history, plans etc etc..
The walmart eligibility requires tht u should be on a plan paying $100 or more for month for the past year and no upgrade has been made on the phone over some period, Additional points if u have a lower rate plan.
Bottomline, not everyone can get the phone for free at walmart. Likewise not everyone can get the $50 off on the $199 contract plan.
My phone cost me $199 + $45 (9.25% on the original price of $499) in California. can anyone in CA confirm this?
Thanks

carporsche said:
I thgt tht i could get a good discount on my captivate phone, but the sales rep told me at the ATT store that if anyone was eligible for an upgrade it would show automatically on their account.
He said the ATT software runs some "algorithms" based on the prev history, plans etc etc..
The walmart eligibility requires tht u should be on a plan paying $100 or more for month for the past year and no upgrade has been made on the phone over some period, Additional points if u have a lower rate plan.
Bottomline, not everyone can get the phone for free at walmart. Likewise not everyone can get the $50 off on the $199 contract plan.
My phone cost me $199 + $45 (9.25% on the original price of $499) in California. can anyone in CA confirm this?
Thanks
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That's what I paid at BB in SoCal

Why would you pay tax on the full price of the phone? I was only taxed for the $200 price. I live in Arizona though, different taxing methods in CA?

That's how Apple does it too. They tax the highest price.

i was only charged tax on the actual purchase price of $199.99 in socal... but then again, this was a manager override because the stores were having issues with the actual pricing when the barcode was scanned...

captivated said:
Why would you pay tax on the full price of the phone? I was only taxed for the $200 price. I live in Arizona though, different taxing methods in CA?
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Yes i was told it varies in different states. I was told tht if i wanted to buy an iphone the cost wudve been ($199 + $55 tax) for a 16GB phone.

Lucke said:
i was only charged tax on the actual purchase price of $199.99 in socal... but then again, this was a manager override because the stores were having issues with the actual pricing when the barcode was scanned...
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The sales rep who processed my phone told me tht many times ppl aren't charged the tax while buying the phone but it reflects in the first bill and then they hav customers coming in and demanding explanations from them.
So better watch out for this in the first bill

carporsche said:
I thgt tht i could get a good discount on my captivate phone, but the sales rep told me at the ATT store that if anyone was eligible for an upgrade it would show automatically on their account.
He said the ATT software runs some "algorithms" based on the prev history, plans etc etc..
The walmart eligibility requires tht u should be on a plan paying $100 or more for month for the past year and no upgrade has been made on the phone over some period, Additional points if u have a lower rate plan.
Bottomline, not everyone can get the phone for free at walmart. Likewise not everyone can get the $50 off on the $199 contract plan.
My phone cost me $199 + $45 (9.25% on the original price of $499) in California. can anyone in CA confirm this?
Thanks
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Same here bro. I paid 143 for it after my 100 discount with an upgrade. The phone was 99.99 and taxes were the rest of the cost which are from the original 499 price.

abezapata said:
Same here bro. I paid 143 for it after my 100 discount with an upgrade. The phone was 99.99 and taxes were the rest of the cost which are from the original 499 price.
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I think you need to change ur signature now.. change status to "Obtained..."
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Captivate(d)

I just ordered it from Walmart as an upgrade on my plan.
They told me it has to be the primary phone if it's a family plan. The secondary lines aren't eligible for the free price. I had the old 550 minutes plan, which I had to change up to 700 minutes. After my discount thru work, it was $8 more than I pay now. Other than that, they told me I just have to maintain that plan for 6 months to avoid charged from them, and I'll get the phone for free.
I guess it could come back from AT&T as a "NO" when they check with them, but I checked 6 ways from Sunday with them and they said I was eligible for any upgrade.

Im in CA too, the tax is just crazy
but one way around it is to get your phone off amazon wireless, which doesnt have tax for CA (yet)
technically your supposed to report that in your taxes but no one does

carporsche said:
I think you need to change ur signature now.. change status to "Obtained..."
--------------
Captivate(d)
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Yes you are right!!

I just ordered mine for $125 + $10tax . My contract expired abt an year ago and I never renewed it. When I called them regarding moving to T-Mobile (for Vibrant) they offered me $75 off + 100 extra minutes every month(I currently have 450 min). I am damn excited to get my first Androiiiiiid

The only way, I thing, would be to go back to AT&T and use your 30 day money back (except $30 for restocking) and the buy your phone at walmart

floppy__ said:
The only way, I thing, would be to go back to AT&T and use your 30 day money back (except $30 for restocking) and the buy your phone at walmart
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exactly what i did.. the guy at the att store told me to call and complain about he 30 restocking fee and they'll credit my account.. free phone will be here thursday!

If you buy it through Amazon wireless, you pay no tax in CA.

You could try bringing in a printout of the deal but as its been pointed out there are a lot of stipulations to get the fee price and you are agreeing that if you change your account they can charge you thee full retail price of the phone.
Ps I work for att
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Want to get a phone for development, but have a question.

Hi Guys,
I've been trying to get a phone for development for around 250ish but havn't been successful. Well, it seems my chance might be comming up since T-Mobile is having a Free Smart Phone sale this weekend.
My plan is to go buy the phone, use it for 16 days and cancel my contract. If everything's done fair, it should cost $200 + 16 days of service + any taxes/activation fees.
So I have a few questions.
1) Has anyone done this before? Where there any suprises?
2) Is WP7 functional with Wifi? (i.e. marketplace, games, internet, etc).
3) Think I'll still be able to get updates or what not?
4) Anything else I should be looking for?
Thanks!

A bill from t-mobile for full price of the phone.

I don't get it, you want to develop for 16 days?

vetvito said:
A bill from t-mobile for full price of the phone.
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From experience?
orangekid said:
I don't get it, you want to develop for 16 days?
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Umm, no, T-Mobile requires you return hardware when you cancel your contract within 15 days. But they don't charge a fee.

If you keep the phone, that whole special goes out the window. Read the contract. They will charge you full price.

cohowap said:
Umm, no, T-Mobile requires you return hardware when you cancel your contract within 15 days. But they don't charge a fee.
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don't they charge an ETF when you sign a contract and cancel it after 16 days?

orangekid said:
don't they charge an ETF when you sign a contract and cancel it after 16 days?
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No, they don't charge an etf if you cancel and return everything before the 15th day.

cohowap said:
No, they don't charge an etf if you cancel and return everything before the 15th day.
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ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.

orangekid said:
ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.
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looks like the op is trying to get the phone for just the subsidized price... then kill contract, and not owe tmo money. good luck, not going to happen. they'll bill for the difference.

orangekid said:
ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.
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No... I'm trying to get a WP7 phone to develop with. But I don't have the 600 bucks to buy if "off contract".
So, if I enter a contract, get the phone discounted for FREE this weekend, then "Terminate" the contract a month later, I have to pay the $200 ETF + the month bill + taxes which would be significantly less than the 600 bucks off contract.
Once I terminate the contract, I have no obligation on returning the device, I was asking to see what the outcome would be. T-Mobile online rep blantly said, I'd be responsible for the ETF + Monthly Fee + Taxes, but god knows if they are right, I wanted to see if anyone else tried this.

cohowap said:
No... I'm trying to get a WP7 phone to develop with. But I don't have the 600 bucks to buy if "off contract".
So, if I enter a contract, get the phone discounted for FREE this weekend, then "Terminate" the contract a month later, I have to pay the $200 ETF + the month bill + taxes which would be significantly less than the 600 bucks off contract.
Once I terminate the contract, I have no obligation on returning the device, I was asking to see what the outcome would be. T-Mobile online rep blantly said, I'd be responsible for the ETF + Monthly Fee + Taxes, but god knows if they are right, I wanted to see if anyone else tried this.
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I see, let's take a look though.
$200 ETF
$80 monthly fee (cheapest monthly price you can get on WP7 with tmobile)
$35 activation fee
$35 (approx.) taxes and fees
$350 total for the phone.
not sure where you live but here you could get it for something like this:
http://houston.craigslist.org/mob/2205022524.html
or
http://houston.craigslist.org/mob/2202253067.html
of course there are people asking fro $400 but I can guarantee they will not get near that money for this phone.
If you really want to try what you're talking about then go for it, it seems like it would work, but:
1) they may have a stipulation where you cannot cancel your contract for X months due to the "free" phone or you owe the difference, I'd check the fine print on that one.
2) seems like too much work and drama.
retail for an HD7 on tmobile is $500,

This is why Verizon & att (real carriers in the usa) have $350+ ETFs.
watch for mail in rebate that will void if your contract is expired before xx days
orangekid pointed out the actual higher cost though. You might want to check ATT price for a Focus off-contract i've heard can be had for $399 but ymmv. better phone and more coverage if you ever needed to use it as a phone later.
The phone will be fully functional (on wifi) but sim locked to the carrier.

gcianc said:
This is why Verizon & att (real carriers in the usa) have $350+ ETFs.
watch for mail in rebate that will void if your contract is expired before xx days
orangekid pointed out the actual higher cost though. You might want to check ATT price for a Focus off-contract i've heard can be had for $399 but ymmv. better phone and more coverage if you ever needed to use it as a phone later.
The phone will be fully functional (on wifi) but sim locked to the carrier.
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I don't know what you mean by "real carrier" @ att, since in my city they drop more calls than tmobile ever does even though they probably have more subscribers. ATT's monthly rates (as verizon's) are insanely high too, and they have tiered data, whereas tmobile does not.
off contract they usually give you the sim unlock code, but on contract they generally don't from my experience.

Ugh 2 pages and no answer. The answer to your question is this.
1. You don't need an actual phone to develop apps. The development tool package comes with a simulator.
2. You cannot install apps you are developing on the phone without having it being flagged for development. This process costs 99$ a year and requires you send some identification data to the company that verifies your identity.
So buying a phone for 16 days is pointless. Even if you had the phone you couldn't put any apps on it without paying Microsoft 99$. Personally I would use the simulator to learn how to develop an app, develop one and then buy the phone when you're ready to release. The advantage here is obviously newer better phones in the future compared to right now.
hope that helps

very good points, I figured since OP is trying to scratch, claw, gamble, and steal his way to get the phone, he was just going to use Chevron on it instead of dropping $99 on the fee.

[Q] Early Termination Fee at&t

What would be the Early Termination Fee for a Skyrocket if canceled in the first 30 days. Per at&t policy i read it would be 0. I plan on buying a White Skyrocket and cancel the contract on the first week of purchase. But most importantly to Keep the Phone.
Will at&t allow me to keep the phone? I would like to keep the phone,unlock it and finally use it in my main country. I was thinking of buying a Galaxy Nexus but it is still expensive and the Skyrocket strategy plan B would be a cheaper solution if possible.
Feel free to comment. Thanks

less then 30 days you pay a restocking fee at most unless you damaged the phone, then not sure.
you have to return the phone or pay for it outright.
handheld google device

No, AT&T or any other US carrier for that matter will not let you keep the phone if you plan to cancel within 30 days. You will have to bring the phone back to the store to cancel if still within the 30 day period. They will issue a refund for the phone first, then will they cancel the contract.

Is there anyway i can keep the phone without paying the full off-contract price?
In 2007 i brought a couple of iPhones to my country. They were not activated in store and i could keep them. I dont remember much, but i did get to keep my iPhones and then unlocked them myself

Only way I know how is to look on craigslist and find someone selling theirs. That is what I did. I was able to get a skyrocket for $300. It is not as good as as paying $150, but I did not have to sign a contract.

mvtm said:
Is there anyway i can keep the phone without paying the full off-contract price?
In 2007 i brought a couple of iPhones to my country. They were not activated in store and i could keep them. I dont remember much, but i did get to keep my iPhones and then unlocked them myself
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So you want to cancel the 2 year contract you signed, keep the $600 phone that you only payed $150-$250 for as incentive for signing the contract, and pay no termination fee?
Good luck with that!

mvtm said:
What would be the Early Termination Fee for a Skyrocket if canceled in the first 30 days. Per at&t policy i read it would be 0. I plan on buying a White Skyrocket and cancel the contract on the first week of purchase. But most importantly to Keep the Phone.
Will at&t allow me to keep the phone? I would like to keep the phone,unlock it and finally use it in my main country. I was thinking of buying a Galaxy Nexus but it is still expensive and the Skyrocket strategy plan B would be a cheaper solution if possible.
Feel free to comment. Thanks
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per at&t policy u must give the phone back during the 30 days if u cancel or change mind trust me if this was not the case people would do this all the time and i would have about 10 new devices right now
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

AT&T will bill your account the $325 Early Termination Fee, and will only remove it once you return the device. If you don't return it. I imagine they'll continue to add late fees to the bill, or eventually send you to collections if it remains unpaid. You're better off trying to find a used one on CL or eBay. Otherwise save yourself the hassle and buy it outright.

Here in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell will buy out your current contract with competitors, maybe you can do the same with a carrier near you. It will require a contract signed with the next carrier, with termination fees probably including the cost to buy out original contract. CBell is GSM, it might work here dependent of frequencies. Thats the only way out as I see it and keeping the device.

"Sticking it to the man" threads are not looked too good upon here.

US T-Mobile: new contract and ETF to get new phone

hey guys,
so father's day is coming, and we've screen the ad that says free phones with a new contract. If the HTC one S is included, I am planning to sign up for a new contract just for the phone, and then ETF.
From what I've read in other threads, I would sign up for a classic us t-mobile plan, get the phone, wait 1-2 months for the mail-in rebate to come in while I have to pay for service during those 2 months, and pay the $200 ETF as soon as I get the mail-in rebate.
Can someone confirm if this is true?
also, I am already in a T-mobile family plan. However, i am NOT the account holder. I am just one of the lines in the family plan. Will signing up and ETF'ing a brand new contract using my name in any way affect my current family plan?
Thank you very much

c19932 said:
hey guys,
so father's day is coming, and we've screen the ad that says free phones with a new contract. If the HTC one S is included, I am planning to sign up for a new contract just for the phone, and then ETF.
From what I've read in other threads, I would sign up for a classic us t-mobile plan, get the phone, wait 1-2 months for the mail-in rebate to come in while I have to pay for service during those 2 months, and pay the $200 ETF as soon as I get the mail-in rebate.
Can someone confirm if this is true?
also, I am already in a T-mobile family plan. However, i am NOT the account holder. I am just one of the lines in the family plan. Will signing up and ETF'ing a brand new contract using my name in any way affect my current family plan?
Thank you very much
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I can't answer all your questions, but I am part of a family plan. I am the account holder. Each person in the plan has their own upgrade date. You have to qualify for the upgrade so if you're already on there and they know your name, you may not qualify if you're not up for an upgrade. But I don't know how that works if you're getting your own plan.

I don't think it be a good idea, in order to get the rebate back they want you to get the 5gb internet at 35 bucks, plus you still have to pay the rate plan. 75 to 85 plus taxes depending on the rate plan. Rebate takes up to 10 weeks to come back so multiply that amount by atleast 3 months plus 35 activation fee. 250 for the HTC one s. Your getting close to the 500 dollars mark. Sure you got 250 back but was it really free? Not to mention whatever fee your getting charge in your family plan.
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium

Outright Full Retail Purchase?

Is this possible with TMO? I seem to be running into a brick wall where I am required to sign up for a plan. I currently have the economical $30 monthly prepaid plan. Thanks!

Get and plan wait one minute and tell agent you want to cancel plan and don't know where you placed your device.

Nextstep said:
Get and plan wait one minute and tell agent you want to cancel plan and don't know where you placed your device.
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I'd like to cancel my plan, and I think I will because the service blows. But with the app lock, I can't unlock it for 40 days. I even called and told them I was going out of the country, but they sent me an email denying my unlock.
Here's my question: The original purchase of the phone came with a $50 charge for the plan. Then I just paid $57 for the first month. If I cancel now, will that original $50 I paid and the $57 get me the 2 months of service that I need in order for the unlock?
EDIT: I just called again. I didn't pay $50 for the first month, so they say. Also, I have to wait out the "buyers remorse" 14 days before they will submit the phone for unlock under the "international traveling" exception.

Also on 30 a month prepaid Walmart plan here. I was told I would need to buy in store this Friday

Hey fellas...I have the answer you seek because I just paid full price for mine also on the $30 plan
I started a new line of service, paid the $50 no credit check payment, paid for the phone full price. Otherwise you can't buy the phone outright (yet) So once I know my promotional gifts have been accepted and sent to me I'll cancel this line and get my $50 back via a prepaid card.