Database Info

Confused About Buying No Contract Phone?

ive bought many unlocked phones in the past but this is the first time ill be buying a phone carrier locked no commitment price, what does it mean when they say activation is free with a new plan, i need to activate the phone before i can use it?
AT&T Captivate

no one can asnwer this question guys?

I have a Vibrant with TMO that is "no commitment." I paid full retail price. I don't have a contract, but i do have a plan (read: bill) i have to pay each month.
the two year contract gives a discounted price on the phone, but they jack up the price on the monthly bill. In the long run, it's cheaper (for me and the vibrant) to pay full price for the phone because of the reduced monthly bill....that i can stop anytime without fear of ETF.
Edit: do you have a plan, now? if so, you're going to pay an activation fee. if no plan, no fee. either way, a new plan or activation fee is needed.

what the heck is the activation fee, does the phone not work out of box? and yes i have a plan
cant just pop the sim in?

i'd imagine not. try it. how much is the act. fee?

rsx19 said:
what the heck is the activation fee, does the phone not work out of box? and yes i have a plan
cant just pop the sim in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what is this thing, i tried the live chat on ATT and they dont help for anything, they told me to call att instead

I think the activation is just for a new sim card. If you already have one, you're good to go, as long as the phone is unlocked or works on that network.

Farmer Ted said:
I think the activation is just for a new sim card. If you already have one, you're good to go, as long as the phone is unlocked or works on that network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah thank you so much, yeah i called reps and chatted with them and the most i got out of them was, "it turns on but you cant use it"

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From experience?
orangekid said:
I don't get it, you want to develop for 16 days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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] Buying full price

What's the best way to buy the S6 at full price for Verizon? Doing it via vzw.com makes me log in and pick a line to upgrade. Since I have unlimited data and will pay full price, is this safe to do assuming I pick the full price option?
Would waiting for amazon to sell it or buying at a VZW store be a better option?

I'm having the same issue. Maybe adding a line and then paying the ETF to cancel the new line? Moving the S6 to the unlimited line.

Moved to Q&A.

sslayer1 said:
What's the best way to buy the S6 at full price for Verizon? Doing it via vzw.com makes me log in and pick a line to upgrade. Since I have unlimited data and will pay full price, is this safe to do assuming I pick the full price option?
Would waiting for amazon to sell it or buying at a VZW store be a better option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
KenIzz said:
I'm having the same issue. Maybe adding a line and then paying the ETF to cancel the new line? Moving the S6 to the unlimited line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I chose to upgrade my line, then on the next screen you have the choice of paying full price or use Verizon Edge.
I double-checked to make sure that my unlimited data plan was still there a few screens later, and it was (Unlimited web and mobile data) or something like that, with Samsung Galaxy S6 showing as my phone.
Order was placed successfully.
Hope this helps!

Thanks for the info. I'll try it.

I had the same issue. I used the chat button on the Verizon site and they provided this link:
https://preorder.verizonwireless.com/iconic/
I chose existing customer, logged in, and it allowed me to "just buy the device".

junksecret said:
I had the same issue. I used the chat button on the Verizon site and they provided this link:
<iconic link removed in quote>
I chose existing customer, logged in, and it allowed me to "just buy the device".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For anyone else interested, I used the above method and it was smooth sailing.

I've always bought mine at Verizon corporate stores. Never had a problem.

geoff5093 said:
I've always bought mine at Verizon corporate stores. Never had a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it that way in the past but the last time they lied to me about not having the phone in stock. They had it right up to the point they found out I wanted to pay full price and then all of a sudden they were out of stock. About 30 minutes later I called and they were back in stock. BB got my business that day. I'm told that selling a phone out right hurts their numbers.

KenIzz said:
I did it that way in the past but the last time they lied to me about not having the phone in stock. They had it right up to the point they found out I wanted to pay full price and then all of a sudden they were out of stock. About 30 minutes later I called and they were back in stock. BB got my business that day. I'm told that selling a phone out right hurts their numbers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the exact thing happen to me. They were able to sell phones left and right on contract, but because I wanted to pay full price for mine they couldn't help me.

pablomoca said:
I had the exact thing happen to me. They were able to sell phones left and right on contract, but because I wanted to pay full price for mine they couldn't help me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was at a Verizon corporate store too?
Sent from my "bigger is smaller" LG G3

Mine happened at a corporate store. I'll be going to a different store this time.

My store let's me pay full price but you have to be a verizon customer

geoff5093 said:
This was at a Verizon corporate store too?
Sent from my "bigger is smaller" LG G3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. I avoid the Authorized Dealers.

Pre-ordered mine from Bestbuy and picked it up today. They matched Verizon's full retail price and got a free wireless charger.

I had no problems today. Got in and out....painless.

alnova1 said:
Pre-ordered mine from Bestbuy and picked it up today. They matched Verizon's full retail price and got a free wireless charger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried too get them to match Verizon's price do I had to forgo the wireless charger. They told me that Verizon's price was lower than their cost.

animal7296 said:
I tried too get them to match Verizon's price do I had to forgo the wireless charger. They told me that Verizon's price was lower than their cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats stinks. They did it for me.

Why Buy at Full Price
What am I missing here? Why would anyone want to buy a phone at full price at a Verizon Store, when you can buy it on their Edge Program, have 24 months to pay for it at no interest, no down payment, can trade up at no penalty after only 75% of the phone is paid for, and you get a line charge discount that is about equal to the monthly charge for the phone, which essentially makes the phone free? (I realize that you can ask for the line charge discount anyway as long as you don't sign another 24 month contract.)

Robin M said:
What am I missing here? Why would anyone want to buy a phone at full price at a Verizon Store, when you can buy it on their Edge Program, have 24 months to pay for it at no interest, no down payment, can trade up at no penalty after only 75% of the phone is paid for, and you get a line charge discount that is about equal to the monthly charge for the phone, which essentially makes the phone free? (I realize that you can ask for the line charge discount anyway as long as you don't sign another 24 month contract.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am "grandfathered" with unlimited data from Verizon. They no longer offer unlimited data at any price and if I use an "upgrade", get a subsidized device or otherwise change plans, I would lose my unlimited data.

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

T-Mobile USA Galaxy S7 BOGO

Has everyone heard about the BOGO?
What's the best way to take advantage of the situation and end up with 2 phones and one line?

I did this on the 11th. But you have to add a line to get the free phone.
My steps:
1. Add a line
2. Purchase both phones. They will be on their payment plan. You will have to pay all the taxes and a possible down payment (depending on your account/credit) on BOTH PHONES UPFRONT!!
3. Sign up for rebate immediately. You have to use the new line's number to do the rebate.
4. Wait until you have your rebate IN HAND. (At most 8 weeks). This means you'll have to pay for about 2 months of the line and payments on the phone (~$30/per phone/month).
5. Use rebate card (which will be full amount of the phone's price) to pay off the 2nd phone and cancel the extra line. Some people say they are shady about canceling lines right away, but 3 different T-Mobile reps on 611 told me to do it this way. You'll still have the first 2 month's worth of EIP payments left on the gift card.
Hope this helps! It also works on the EDGE but it has a mandatory down payment of ~$50. Good luck. I'm having a blast with the phone so far. Just hoping for root.

I got the bogo.
I had 2 lines. I upgraded one line added another line for the bogo. So 3 lines in total. But the store I went to said there's no rebate, theyll just deduct the eip payment from the bogo but I just keep paying for the other one till it's paid off.
What I'm thinking about doing now is just pay off the phone and they'll just release the bogo phone to me right? And then cancel the lines?

Trickery!
js0uth said:
I got the bogo.
I had 2 lines. I upgraded one line added another line for the bogo. So 3 lines in total. But the store I went to said there's no rebate, theyll just deduct the eip payment from the bogo but I just keep paying for the other one till it's paid off.
What I'm thinking about doing now is just pay off the phone and they'll just release the bogo phone to me right? And then cancel the lines?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's tricky.
The phone is not really free, it just gets paid for externally.
They're not giving you the rebate so you won't cancel the line.
If there's no line then no one's paying the EIP and the phone is never paid for.
You should ask for a rebate.

Win
aghoshhajra said:
I did this on the 11th. But you have to add a line to get the free phone.
My steps:
1. Add a line
2. Purchase both phones. They will be on their payment plan. You will have to pay all the taxes and a possible down payment (depending on your account/credit) on BOTH PHONES UPFRONT!!
3. Sign up for rebate immediately. You have to use the new line's number to do the rebate.
4. Wait until you have your rebate IN HAND. (At most 8 weeks). This means you'll have to pay for about 2 months of the line and payments on the phone (~$30/per phone/month).
5. Use rebate card (which will be full amount of the phone's price) to pay off the 2nd phone and cancel the extra line. Some people say they are shady about canceling lines right away, but 3 different T-Mobile reps on 611 told me to do it this way. You'll still have the first 2 month's worth of EIP payments left on the gift card.
Hope this helps! It also works on the EDGE but it has a mandatory down payment of ~$50. Good luck. I'm having a blast with the phone so far. Just hoping for root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, thanks bro.
I'm gonna try this today.

aghoshhajra said:
I did this on the 11th. But you have to add a line to get the free phone.
My steps:
1. Add a line
2. Purchase both phones. They will be on their payment plan. You will have to pay all the taxes and a possible down payment (depending on your account/credit) on BOTH PHONES UPFRONT!!
3. Sign up for rebate immediately. You have to use the new line's number to do the rebate.
4. Wait until you have your rebate IN HAND. (At most 8 weeks). This means you'll have to pay for about 2 months of the line and payments on the phone (~$30/per phone/month).
5. Use rebate card (which will be full amount of the phone's price) to pay off the 2nd phone and cancel the extra line. Some people say they are shady about canceling lines right away, but 3 different T-Mobile reps on 611 told me to do it this way. You'll still have the first 2 month's worth of EIP payments left on the gift card.
Hope this helps! It also works on the EDGE but it has a mandatory down payment of ~$50. Good luck. I'm having a blast with the phone so far. Just hoping for root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure about that? I used the main number on my account and it showed I was eligible. It's under review now.

I ordered my 4 line plan on March 2nd. And I was told I have to get a new line. So here's what I did and will do.
I got a new line and got the BOGO deal on GS7.
After I get the MasterCard rebate card, pay the phone off.
Transfer the number I'm using to the new line and cancel the old line.
I told this to sales and they said it was totally OK. And told me to make sure not to cancel the BOGO line (sim) or I will be charged full price of the phone.

Synyster06Gates said:
Are you sure about that? I used the main number on my account and it showed I was eligible. It's under review now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TBH, I'm not 100% sure if you have to use the new line for the rebate. But it's what all 3 reps told me. I also played it safe cuz, IMO, it's still very much worth paying $10/month for 2 months for a new phone.

Gootah said:
That's tricky.
The phone is not really free, it just gets paid for externally.
They're not giving you the rebate so you won't cancel the line.
If there's no line then no one's paying the EIP and the phone is never paid for.
You should ask for a rebate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna pay it off today and report back.
insang-droid said:
I ordered my 4 line plan on March 2nd. And I was told I have to get a new line. So here's what I did and will do.
I got a new line and got the BOGO deal on GS7.
After I get the MasterCard rebate card, pay the phone off.
Transfer the number I'm using to the new line and cancel the old line.
I told this to sales and they said it was totally OK. And told me to make sure not to cancel the BOGO line (sim) or I will be charged full price of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I forgot to mention that as well, I was told to keep the new line with the bogo if I wanted to cancel any lines and keep the phone. Totally fine with a new number. lol.

I am an att customer and interested in only buying the device.. no intention of moving to tmobile.. Is it okay to close both lines? or should I have to maintain at least one line.. if so for how many years?

yubeie said:
I am an att customer and interested in only buying the device.. no intention of moving to tmobile.. Is it okay to close both lines? or should I have to maintain at least one line.. if so for how many years?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only one device is free.
You'll have to pay full price for the phone that's not free as soon as you cancel the line.

Gootah said:
Only one device is free.
You'll have to pay full price for the phone that's not free as soon as you cancel the line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh yeah absolutely.. I get that.. my only concern was if I cancel both lines.. would they ask me to pay for both phones and etf.. as long as I pay for one device and cancel out all my lines.. I am fine with it.

yubeie said:
oh yeah absolutely.. I get that.. my only concern was if I cancel both lines.. would they ask me to pay for both phones and etf.. as long as I pay for one device and cancel out all my lines.. I am fine with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no ETF because there is no contract.
1. You'll have to pay for one phone
2. Get your rebate on the "free" phone
3. PAY OFF THE FREE PHONE WITH THE REBATE
4. Cancel both lines

That's what I told as well. 2 months to process the rebate. But I would record the conversation with customer service before canceling the BOGO line.

aghoshhajra said:
I did this on the 11th. But you have to add a line to get the free phone.
My steps:
1. Add a line
2. Purchase both phones. They will be on their payment plan. You will have to pay all the taxes and a possible down payment (depending on your account/credit) on BOTH PHONES UPFRONT!!
3. Sign up for rebate immediately. You have to use the new line's number to do the rebate.
4. Wait until you have your rebate IN HAND. (At most 8 weeks). This means you'll have to pay for about 2 months of the line and payments on the phone (~$30/per phone/month).
5. Use rebate card (which will be full amount of the phone's price) to pay off the 2nd phone and cancel the extra line. Some people say they are shady about canceling lines right away, but 3 different T-Mobile reps on 611 told me to do it this way. You'll still have the first 2 month's worth of EIP payments left on the gift card.
Hope this helps! It also works on the EDGE but it has a mandatory down payment of ~$50. Good luck. I'm having a blast with the phone so far. Just hoping for root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I tried to do this online and they'r asking me to choose a family plan, did you do it in store or over the phone?
Also what plan did you get on the dummy line? Did you just say "Let me get the cheapest possible plan..."?

Gootah said:
Hey I tried to do this online and they'r asking me to choose a family plan, did you do it in store or over the phone?
Also what plan did you get on the dummy line? Did you just say "Let me get the cheapest possible plan..."?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it in store to avoid shipping/waiting (I'm impatient). I already had an account with 4 lines for $100. So I added the "dummy" line for $10/month. So for me it's only going to come out to ~$20 w/taxes because I also get a 20% corporate discount.
Edit: forgot to mention they did charge me a $20 sim card fee for the dummy line. They tried to charge me another $20 for my existing line but I talked them out of it. (I'm Indian and don't ever pay mode than I have to! LOL)

aghoshhajra said:
I did it in store to avoid shipping/waiting (I'm impatient). I already had an account with 4 lines for $100. So I added the "dummy" line for $10/month. So for me it's only going to come out to ~$20 w/taxes because I also get a 20% corporate discount.
Edit: forgot to mention they did charge me a $20 sim card fee for the dummy line. They tried to charge me another $20 for my existing line but I talked them out of it. (I'm Indian and don't ever pay mode than I have to! LOL)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dope, I went into the store and everything is fine.
Just waiting on m'rebate and m'gear VR kits!
I'm going to unlock the second device and sell it to my brother for the service charges (activation fee and monthly payments)

aghoshhajra said:
I did it in store to avoid shipping/waiting (I'm impatient). I already had an account with 4 lines for $100. So I added the "dummy" line for $10/month. So for me it's only going to come out to ~$20 w/taxes because I also get a 20% corporate discount.
Edit: forgot to mention they did charge me a $20 sim card fee for the dummy line. They tried to charge me another $20 for my existing line but I talked them out of it. (I'm Indian and don't ever pay mode than I have to! LOL)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim card fee? I ordered over the phone and it came with a new sim card in the box. No extra charge. I put my old sim card into the new phone and used the new sim card to activate free data for life on an older tablet