T-Mobile USA's 'Jump' program allows 2 smartphone upgrades a year for $10/month

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  • Reply 21 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


     




    So over the course of two years I'm paying $240 for the "fee", plus $600 for the "new phones", just so I can upgrade every six months to the latest and the greatest. Unbelievable as it is, some people will actually pay for this "service".


     


    Here's an alternative: Sell your phone every six months and buy a new one. If it's an iPhone, you can probably sell it for $200 less than its original price. In two years you're only out the $600 and save the $240 fee.


     


     




     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post


    No, you pay $240 to pay the subsidized $99 or $199, etc. cost of the new phone.



    No, you pay $240 for the right to pay $99 or $199 every six months. But you can sell it every six months for that difference and pocket the $240.

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  • Reply 22 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post


    Sacto Joe, you might want to re-read the article again:


     


    For example, a user might be able to trade in their current iPhone 5 for Apple's next-generation iPhone, expected to arrive later this year, and would pay the standard subsidized rate traditionally starting at $200.


     


    Where exactly did you get that someone would be paying $600 for their new phone when the article directly refutes you?



    I'm comparing an existing two year plan to this new plan. Over two years, with this plan, you'd pay $200 every six months for the new phone, and you pay an additional $240 over two years for the "right" to do this. You do do math, don't you?

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  • Reply 23 of 50
    mikejonesmikejones Posts: 323member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


     


    No, you pay $240 for the right to pay $99 or $199 every six months. But you can sell it every six months for that difference and pocket the $240.



    Most people will be getting much less than the full unsubbed cost for their phone so they won't be pocketing anything.

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  • Reply 24 of 50
    mikejonesmikejones Posts: 323member


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


    I'm comparing an existing two year plan to this new plan. Over two years, with this plan, you'd pay $200 every six months for the new phone, and you pay an additional $240 over two years for the "right" to do this. You do do math, don't you?


     




    Sure if you falsely assume that everyone on this plan are going to buy a new phone every 6 months which they aren't. Most likely people will be using it to upgrade every 12-18.

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  • Reply 25 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post


    Most people will be getting much less than the full unsubbed cost for their phone so they won't be pocketing anything.



    Only true if most people would be trying to sell an Android....

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  • Reply 26 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post




     


    Sure if you falsely assume that everyone on this plan are going to buy a new phone every 6 months which they aren't. Most likely people will be using it to upgrade every 12-18.



    "Falsely"? Where's your substantial proof that "most likely people will be using it to upgrade every 12-18"?


     


    (Crickets)


     


    Besides, what's the sense in taking advantage of this program if you won't get all of your money's worth out of it?

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  • Reply 27 of 50
    mikejonesmikejones Posts: 323member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


    Only true if most people would be trying to sell an Android....



    Nope.  You honestly think you're going to get the full unsubbed price of a 5 when reselling a 3GS or 4? Please...  And yes, many people do keep holding on to an iPhone for many many years.

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  • Reply 28 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


    Only true if most people would be trying to sell an Android....



     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post


    Nope.  You honestly think you're going to get the full unsubbed price of a 5 when reselling a 3GS or 4? Please...  And yes, many people do keep holding on to an iPhone for many many years.



    Well, that gets to the rub of the matter. This is only going to be a useful program for Android users. It's basically useless for iPhone users. And it's mostly useful to Android users because the resale values suck.

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  • Reply 29 of 50
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,057member
    Whatever. This plan is shady. $120 extra a year losing your phone. No, thanks. I paid $199 for my iPhone and after 2 years, I sold it for over $400, pocket $200 after upgraded with the new iPhone. T-mobile plan: $50/line with unlimited talk text, but 500MB data only. That's enough for streaming some songs and emails...hidden cost people. Be careful.
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  • Reply 30 of 50
    mikejonesmikejones Posts: 323member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


    "Falsely"? Where's your substantial proof that "most likely people will be using it to upgrade every 12-18"?


     


    (Crickets)


     


    Besides, what's the sense in taking advantage of this program if you won't get all of your money's worth out of it?



     


    Your correct. It's actually closer to 18-24 months. And it comes straight from Verizon, for example.


     


    http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/04/12/verizon-extends-upgrade-requirement/2079451/


     


    "In a statement on its website, Verizon said the move aligns its policy with the typical length of a phone contract, and with the way people buy new phones. "


     


    Now if you think that Verizon is lying about the typical length of time between its customers upgrading their phones please post your evidence. That you may upgrade more often does not mean that the average consumers does.


     


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sacto Joe View Post


     


    Well, that gets to the rub of the matter. This is only going to be a useful program for Android users. It's basically useless for iPhone users.



    How so? The average selling price of 3GS and 4s (of which there is a good chunk of current users) is around 1/4 to 1/2th of a current unsubbed iPhone 5. So they will not be "pocketing" anything as you claim.

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  • Reply 31 of 50
    sacto joesacto joe Posts: 895member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MikeJones View Post


     


    Your correct. It's actually closer to 18-24 months. And it comes straight from Verizon, for example.


     


    http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/04/12/verizon-extends-upgrade-requirement/2079451/


     


    "In a statement on its website, Verizon said the move aligns its policy with the typical length of a phone contract, and with the way people buy new phones. "


     


    Now if you think that Verizon is lying about the typical length of time between its customers upgrading their phones please post your evidence. That you may upgrade more often does not mean that the average consumers does.


     


    How so? The average selling price of 3GS and 4s (of which there is a good chunk of current users) is around 1/4 to 1/2th of a current unsubbed iPhone 5. So they will not be "pocketing" anything as you claim.



    Jeez, you just don't get it, do you? No more time to waste on you....

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  • Reply 32 of 50
    mikejonesmikejones Posts: 323member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by fallenjt View Post



    Whatever. This plan is shady. $120 extra a year losing your phone. No, thanks. I paid $199 for my iPhone and after 2 years, I sold it for over $400, pocket $200 after upgraded with the new iPhone. T-mobile plan: $50/line with unlimited talk text, but 500MB data only. That's enough for streaming some songs and emails...hidden cost people. Be careful.


    The 2GB of data plan is $60 and the unlimited plan is $70. Verizon's base plan plus 2 GB of Data is $100. What should anyone be careful about? Even adding on the $10 per month fee you are still paying 30 dollars less if you go with the 2GB plan than Verizon. AT&T's prices are basically the same as Verizon's.

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  • Reply 33 of 50
    mod7mod7 Posts: 2member


    You wouldn't be paying $600 outright. The iPhone, for instance, would be sold to you for $145 the day you ordered it, and the debt on your previous phone forgiven (as long as you turn it in). But you'd have to pay the eventual $650 for the phone by paying the $10 EIP. It's sort of like leasing a car.

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  • Reply 34 of 50
    mod7mod7 Posts: 2member


    You wouldn't be paying $600 outright. The iPhone, for instance, would be sold to you for $145 the day you ordered it, and the debt on your previous phone forgiven (as long as you turn it in). But you'd have to pay the eventual $650 for the phone by paying the $10 EIP. It's sort of like leasing a car.

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  • Reply 35 of 50
    gwmacgwmac Posts: 1,830member


    Both Verizon and AT&T now have a 24 month upgrade policy. That means you won't get your subsidized price of $199 (actually $235 after activation fee) for a base model iPhone every two years. Selling a 2 year old iPhone will not give you a lot of money even if it is excellent shape due to the age. If you sell your phone prior to your 24 month upgrade date you will get a far better price but will then need to pay full price which can be around $650 or more  plus the $35 activation fee again. No matter how you do the math T-Mobile is offering a far better deal with a lot less effort. I also think people like not having to deal with the hassle of Ebay or Craigslist.


     


    My friend sold a phone on Ebay and shipped it signature required by UPS. The buyer left a more on the door for UPS to just drop it off. The driver actually did that and left the package without a signature. The buyer then claimed it was never received and filed a claim for a refund. He followed up with Sprint and they verified that the buyer had activated the phone. Since Ebay will always take the side of a buyer in a case like this there was little he could do. He even contacted the police and they did nothing. 


     


    I am not with T-Mobile currently but I like their new plans and their LTE seems to be rolling out quickly. They are definitely worth considering since they have plans that reward people that want unlimited and want to get a discount if they keep their phone longer than a few years and also incentives for frequent updaters. Over 2 years you will not only save a lot of money over AT&T or Verizon but also could upgrade every year. 

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  • Reply 36 of 50
    hmmhmm Posts: 3,405member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by fallenjt View Post



    Whatever. This plan is shady. $120 extra a year losing your phone. No, thanks. I paid $199 for my iPhone and after 2 years, I sold it for over $400, pocket $200 after upgraded with the new iPhone. T-mobile plan: $50/line with unlimited talk text, but 500MB data only. That's enough for streaming some songs and emails...hidden cost people. Be careful.


    Then don't sign up for it. Trade-in programs never pay the full retail value of the item. They might be selling these off in bulk at wholesale rates themselves.

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  • Reply 37 of 50
    rhyderhyde Posts: 294member
    "Or having to live with a cracked screen...."
    Doesn't jibe with
    "The program requires that customers trade in an eligible T-Mobile phone in good working condition..."
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  • Reply 38 of 50
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,057member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hmm View Post


    Then don't sign up for it. Trade-in programs never pay the full retail value of the item. They might be selling these off in bulk at wholesale rates themselves.



    I would never do that. Why would anyone bring in a $500 iPhone 4s for an iPhone 5 plus $120/year? Plans are not even better than ATT  Go Plan or 2-year contract. I just wanted to point it out to everyone to be aware of hidden costs and final outcomes. Bottom line, evaluate all options and compare them to your current one before considering to switch. This may not for me but it doesn't meant it's not for others. Good luck everyone.

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  • Reply 39 of 50
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member
    People saying it's a bad deal are correct, if they are trading in an iPhone.

    Trading in an Android deal? Maybe a different story. What's the market for used Android devices?
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  • Reply 40 of 50
    solomansoloman Posts: 228member
    pendergast wrote: »
    People saying it's a bad deal are correct, if they are trading in an iPhone.

    One can always try say a SGS 4 for a few months and then switch back to a iPhone.

    Trading in an Android deal? Maybe a different story. What's the market for used Android devices?
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