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Sprint Smartphone ETF Will Soon Be $350
For Smartphones and Tablets Starting 9/9
Following belatedly on the heels of Verizon and AT&T, Sprint will finally be raising their $200 ETF to $350. According to SprintFeed, this change will take place September 9 and will only impact "advanced devices" such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks and notebooks. Sprint held out on this shift for a little while: Verizon doubled their ETF for such devices from $175 to $350 in November of 2009, while AT&T started charging a $325 ETF in the middle of last year. Sprint's change of course will only apply to new contracts or renewals signed after September 9.
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ozzny
Premium Member
join:2005-04-22
Bronx, NY

ozzny

Premium Member

Verizon leads the way

Verizon sets the tone, and the sheep follow. It only took for VZW to raise the ETF fees for the others to decide to do the same.
pandora
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Outland

pandora

Premium Member

Re: Verizon leads the way

I just left Sprint for it's subsidiary Virgin Mobile, Sprint waived the ETF.

I wonder what the new policy will be?

kryptonian
join:2005-09-14
Philadelphia, PA

kryptonian

Member

Re: Verizon leads the way

if I may ask, did you leave sprint and sign with Virgin Mobile in one call? is that why Sprint agreed to waive the fee? I ask because Virgins $35 a month blackberry plan is becoming very appealing to me.
pandora
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Outland

pandora

Premium Member

Re: Verizon leads the way

said by kryptonian:

if I may ask, did you leave sprint and sign with Virgin Mobile in one call? is that why Sprint agreed to waive the fee? I ask because Virgins $35 a month blackberry plan is becoming very appealing to me.

I moved 5 phones from Sprint to Virgin Mobile on the $25 per month plan. First I called Sprint retentions, they gave me a special 800 number to call for porting to pre-paid. The pre-paid port waived the ETF. So no ETF on 5 phones, and $25 per month plus tax (I think it's $26.50) with no other fees.

Unlimited internet, sms, mms and 300 minutes (no free nights or weekends though).

roymustang
Premium Member
join:2002-01-12
Cincinnati, OH

roymustang

Premium Member

iPhone?

I'm guessing it is mostly related to the iPhone; but, the overall cost of smartphones continues to go up. Is it too much to hope for a move to the European model? I would rather pay outright and pay a little less monthly. T-Mobile kind of has that option; but, I haven't had the greatest luck with their coverage locally.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

1 recommendation

xenophon

Member

Re: iPhone?

Makes sense. Apparently the carriers have to subsidize more for iPhone than Android phones. Not sure by how much but the increase from $200 to $350 may be an indication.

digiblur
Premium Member
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

digiblur

Premium Member

Re: iPhone?

said by xenophon:

Makes sense. Apparently the carriers have to subsidize more for iPhone than Android phones. Not sure by how much but the increase from $200 to $350 may be an indication.

Actually this came from the abusers. They were getting EVO's when they first came out, breaking contract, and selling them for more than the ETF. They were making money off of Sprint left and right.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25 to roymustang

Member

to roymustang
ETF's have nothing to do with recouping cost, you would be a fool to think they are.

The price being charged and the cost to produce are in no way related and again you would be a fool to think they are.

It is "subsidies" that the telecoms give out on phones that keep them artificially high priced to begin with.

And please explain how the cost is going up for any of these phones as I dont believe you have any clue in this either?

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76 to roymustang

Member

to roymustang
Unlikely in the near future,
In Europe they have that model but that is increasing becoming impossible as we move to LTE, because of all of the different frequencies LTE can run on we already know AT&T, Verizion and Lightsqaured won't be compatible with each other, atleast until they devise more efficent radios and then multiband radios, and even then I think it's still unlikely because of the sheer amount of spectrum that LTE is being deployed on.
whiteyonenh
join:2004-08-09
Keene, NH

whiteyonenh

Member

Hrmmz...

Hopefully an equal increase in subsidy on contract renewal is in order. I'd love to see the subsidized phone prices drop. Otherwise, this is just a money grab, unless they were really losing money on people that were getting subsidized phones and canceling.

Keeping my SERO Premium w/4G @ $50+tax

Evo Shift 4G, 500 anytime, 400 bonus anytime, 7pm night/weekends, unl text/data/pics, anymobile anytime

jmn1207
Premium Member
join:2000-07-19
Sterling, VA

jmn1207

Premium Member

Re: Hrmmz...

Not sure if this is a pure money grab or an attempt to dissuade people from buying devices, immediately cancelling the contract, and turning around and selling the phones online for a profit. With the rumor of the iPhone selling on Sprint, this may be a proactive move to minimize this practice, and to ensure that they won't lose money on such transactions.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Hrmmz...

said by jmn1207:

Not sure if this is a pure money grab or an attempt to dissuade people from buying devices, immediately cancelling the contract, and turning around and selling the phones online for a profit. With the rumor of the iPhone selling on Sprint, this may be a proactive move to minimize this practice, and to ensure that they won't lose money on such transactions.

Especially if the new iPhone, as rumored, will work on all U.S. carriers using a dual CDMA/GSM chipset. That would make it easier to switch providers and take the subsidized iPhone with you. Sprint wouldn't want to subsidize iPhones and then see the users jump to Verizon or AT&T.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

Re: Hrmmz...

I think it's mostly a way to stop customers leaving after buying the device, the etf + subsidized price has to be more than the price of buying the device outright, otherwise people buy the device from sprint and then take it to another carrier and their ahead actually
or simply sell the device for profit.
htin11
join:2000-08-10
Flushing, NY

htin11 to whiteyonenh

Member

to whiteyonenh
yup this is because of iphone.

i'm keeping my SERO line too.

40 dollar for 500 minutes, any mobile, First Incoming Minutes free, 6pm nights, 3 Number Anytime, 2 Add Number Anytime on a blackberry
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

no contract, no etf

best not to sign up in the first place.. be informed and less gullable.

go prepaid.. soon there will be smart phones on prepaid as well, if not already.. smart phones including android range from $30 - $350 depending upon carrier and single or multiple line offers.

»www.engadget.com/2011/08 ··· gly-150/

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: no contract, no etf

said by tmc8080:

best not to sign up in the first place.. be informed and less gullable.

go prepaid.. soon there will be smart phones on prepaid as well, if not already.

Prepaid is where the smart people are.
Where there is no "unhappy sub fee"[ETF]
no USF
or other costs of doing their business[below the line fees that postpaid subs pay]
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: no contract, no etf

just go to the IRS and get an EIN- and get a business plan if you want Sprint. It's month to month with NO ETFs.

And everyone claims that Sprint is different. This just shows that they want their cake and eat it too. Soon they'll be just like the other carriers.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Meh

Is this really that big a deal? Who still pays ETFs anyway?

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ

MovieLover76

Member

Re: Meh

I can tell you who, former AT&T customers who signed a two year contract and then couldn't deal with the awful service, like me I did 5 months ago. Prepaid isn't for everyone
The service generally is worse and the phone selection is awful.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: Meh

said by MovieLover76:

I can tell you who, former AT&T customers who signed a two year contract and then couldn't deal with the awful service, like me I did 5 months ago. Prepaid isn't for everyone
The service generally is worse and the phone selection is awful.

But most contracts allow for you to quit the service within 2 weeks of signing up. For most people, that should be plenty of time to assess whether or not the service is good enough to keep or not.

From what I've read most cell companies will cancel your service with no ETF if you move to a place where they do not offer service.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

Re: Meh

2 weeks isn't enough, as a AT&T customer the phone worked fairly well, I did notice that it was less reliable than Verizon but it wasn't bad enough to switch back and I like my phone
Then in a couple months the network degraded significantly
I technically had service, just bad service, with constant dropped calls and stalled data.

Believe me, if I could have gotten out free I would, and I know plenty of people who've had to pay an etf for various reasons, it still happens.

I'm sticking with Verizon cause they are solid pretty much everywhere
I'd rather pay more for consistently good service, hopefully no more ETFS for me, but they wouldn't have them if they didn't stick them to some customers in certain situations, they don't care if your happy they just want you too keep paying them.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Meh

sounds like you didn't read the fine print of your contract that says the carrier isn't responsible for coverage problems and issues outside of their control and coverage maps are "rough estimates" and not "legal documents" to refer to?

And as far as VZW having a solid network that is pretty much everywhere? Do you realize how much of their network is roaming? Also that will NEVER see updates?
hottboiinnc4

hottboiinnc4 to MovieLover76

Member

to MovieLover76
prepaid phones are actually improving. And you can get smart phones on those plans as well. so its a moot topic that phones lack/lousy.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

@ $350 etf

Its time for A lot more customers to start purchasing there phones out right (non sub) and demanding a rateplan discount. IMHO

Thats one of the reasons I prefer the GSM standard I can easily move my unlocked phone to another carrier, now if only they could settle on a dedicated 3g/4g/lte data band. too bad that will never happen.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: @ $350 etf

and when the company still demands a 1year contract or better yet- they won't actually accept the phone?

You do realize that some carriers (TMO is one of them) that says that if you do NOT purchase the phone DIRECTLY from TMO (agents are NOT considered as from TMO) they do NOT have to accept your phone nor provide you with support? So yah that would be great but it won't work until that clause is changed and will NEVER change.

If this country would have GSM (as much of the world) we wouldn't have this problem as phones would be universal from the start.

King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium Member
join:2004-11-17
Murfreesboro, TN

King P

Premium Member

Sprint also increasing other fees

If you are on Sprint, and are currently in the middle of a contract, you can (as of now) call in and have your service cancelled without incurring an ETF.

The agents are playing hardball and most will try to tell you that you can't cancel, but you can because this is a "material change of contract".

Here's the on going thread at slickdeals.net about this issue:
»slickdeals.net/forums/sh ··· =3212758
sandman_1
join:2011-04-23
11111

sandman_1

Member

Re: Sprint also increasing other fees

Or another way is to use excessive roaming. Just force you phone to roam all the time, use a lot of 3G roaming data, and eventually Sprint will cancel your contract for you. They say you get unlimited roaming data but if you use more roaming data than on their network over the course of a few months, they will give ya a call. Same for voice, if you use more roaming minutes than network minutes they will call ya.

JimThePCGuy
Formerly known as schja01.
MVM
join:2000-04-27
Morton Grove, IL

JimThePCGuy

MVM

Re: Sprint also increasing other fees

I don't think any current Sprint phone have a "roam only" setting.
sandman_1
join:2011-04-23
11111

sandman_1

Member

Re: Sprint also increasing other fees

Nope but a simple app purchase can change that, i.e. Roam Control.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76 to King P

Member

to King P
I think this is just retentions games, or dumb reps who don't know how to deal with the calls yet, unless Sprint was really dumb and made this the policy for all accounts, generally when providers change their etf, it's only for new purchases/upgrades going forward.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Sprint also increasing other fees

did you not read the link that is provided by Karl today? It actually states this with a screen shot from Sprint:

"This will go into effect on contracts signed after that date. It should be noted that changes for authorized dealers normally apply to corporate Sprint stores too."

So before saying/implying that the increase is for EVERYONE you should check the facts.
backness
join:2005-07-08
K2P OW2

backness to King P

Member

to King P
so the thing to do is to sign up, get the best phone they have, then escape the contract on the material change on the 9th and sell the new phone on craigslist.

Thanks!
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to King P

Member

to King P
ETF is only increasing for NEW customers. NOT customers on current contracts.

RickNY
Premium Member
join:2000-11-02
Bellport, NY

RickNY

Premium Member

Re: Sprint also increasing other fees

said by hottboiinnc4:

ETF is only increasing for NEW customers. NOT customers on current contracts.

Meaning --- until you get a new phone.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

1 recommendation

dvd536

Premium Member

Unlimited data

will be next
cableguy619
Premium Member
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA

cableguy619

Premium Member

Re: Unlimited data

said by dvd536:

will be next

I agree just a matter of time

pnjunction
Teksavvy Extreme
Premium Member
join:2008-01-24
Toronto, ON

pnjunction

Premium Member

Small potatoes

Come to Canada (outside of Quebec where they toughened up) where ETFs can be over $800!