Problems Upgrading my Phone Tmobile HELP!!

[carrco]

Here is my problem:
I have a Nokia 8290. It's a decent phone, but just recently the LCD has been blanking out for hours at a time and has become virtually useless. I have tried to get a replacement sent, but Voicestream (Tmobile) will not send me a new phone because it is over the one year warranty. Now, they tell me another option is to upgrade using the new handset upgrade department. Sounds great, but when I tell them I want the v60 for TMobile, they tell me that it will cost 250.00 with my 100.00 discount. What the hell? It's not 350.00 retail, it's being sold for 250.00 retail on the stupid Tmobile website. Also, not only am I getting the overpriced discount of 250.00, but I also have to sign another contract for a year. I want to keep my same phone number because I have been with Powertel 2 years ago, and I don't want my number changed just now. I don't mind getting into another yearly contract as long as I get the phone for less than $100. What am I supposed to do? Am I forced to cancel my account and sign another contract for a year to get the phone for like $50.00? They don't seem to understand my situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-Conley

[Hobbes]

It sounds to me like it's not them that's misunderstanding the situation, but rather you. Generally speaking, there are 2 different prices for cell phones:

1) Retail.
2) Discounted cost with contract.

I'd have to check the t-mobile website to be sure, but I doubt they're selling the v60 there for $250 retail as you state. I think they're telling you the retail on the phone is $350 and you get it for $250 if you sign another contract. Cancelling your current contract and signing up again isn't going to get you a v60 for $50.

You're learning now what I learned the hard way several years ago. The good deal you get on a phone when you sign a contract is great, but if you ever want to replace that phone, without signing another contract, be ready to pay full retail with no discounts.

[cryogenic]

I just checked the T-mobile website, and it appears that they're selling the V60 for $299.99 with a 1 year contract... same as the T68 and the v70.. What on earth are they thinking? Most other carriers around here are between $99 and $150 with a contract. The closest city T-mobile services is Chattanooga, which is about an hour south of me, though.

The V60 is not selling for $250 retail. The retail price is $350-100 discount for renewing your contract=$250. Your not going to be getting the GSM version of the V60 for less then $100 unless if you were to go to a independent dealer. But then you'd have to have service cancelled for 3 months before you could activate a new account.

Or you could always buy the phone off of Ebay (buyer beware).

Or you could cancel your service and go with another provider, but then when you want to have the V60 replaced you'll go through the same thing with that carrier all over again.

[Matt]

You have to click the "see details" to get the special offer. The phone lists at 299, but there's a 100 rebate so it's $199 to new customers, not the $50 you are hoping for.

Either way, I doubt you can get it for $100 or less. Perhaps you can ask for a retention specialist or threaten to cancel, but the $100 discount is the maximum standard discount.

The v70 is $199 after reabate, the t68m is $249.

[AndyTN]

I've had the same experience with the "handset upgrade" dept of T-mobile. I've been wanting a T68i forever, so I keep calling the upgrade dept. to ask when/if they're going to carry it. Same reply, "don't have it, don't know if we'll get it." So finally I ask about some Motorola phones, just to see what kind of discount they're giving to current customers for upgrading their phone (been with them for over a year). I mean, we ARE getting a discount, right? That's why we'd upgrade through their department rather than buy the phone on-line somewhere. Haha...who was I kidding. All the prices she gave me on the Motorola models were the exact same prices that T-mobile lists on their website for new customers. I'll probably call back again to confirm this finding; as I've found, sometimes one person can tell you one thing, and then the next person will tell you the complete opposite. I would do the same in your case. Call a few times, make sure you're speaking to different people. Once they all start telling you the same thing, THEN you believe them. :-) Good luck.

Andy

Originally posted by: carrco Here is my problem: I have a Nokia 8290. It's a decent phone, but just recently the LCD has been blanking out for hours at a time and has become virtually useless. I have tried to get a replacement sent, but Voicestream (Tmobile) will not send me a new phone because it is over the one year warranty. Now, they tell me another option is to upgrade using the new handset upgrade department. Sounds great, but when I tell them I want the v60 for TMobile, they tell me that it will cost 250.00 with my 100.00 discount. What the hell? It's not 350.00 retail, it's being sold for 250.00 retail on the stupid Tmobile website. Also, not only am I getting the overpriced discount of 250.00, but I also have to sign another contract for a year. I want to keep my same phone number because I have been with Powertel 2 years ago, and I don't want my number changed just now. I don't mind getting into another yearly contract as long as I get the phone for less than $100. What am I supposed to do? Am I forced to cancel my account and sign another contract for a year to get the phone for like $50.00? They don't seem to understand my situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated. -Conley

[Matt]

Andy - if you're getting a price through handset upgrade that is the same as a new customer, that's pretty good. Considering the cost of the phone when subsidized to a new customer can be over $100, I think that's OK. Most people complain when the upgrade price is higher than the new customer price.....

As far as the t68i, in my opinion, T-M won't be carrying it. TM just released (or is about to release) the SE T300. OF course, you have to wait to get it through upgrade, but some customers, both new and current, are getting it at the retail stores this week. Some TM stores will sell you a phone for the upgrade price even though it's not in the upgrade department yet.