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DanielB

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Posts posted by DanielB

    Best option for those who like to upgrade phones yearly?

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Would you mind explaining that in a little more detail.  I've always stayed away from the EasyPay options and stuck with 2 year agreements.  My wife's S5 is getting a little long in the tooth already (I know, a little nuts) and I received an offer to upgrade using EasyPay for a limited time.  It sounds like you are creating a new line with EasyPay, closing out the old account and then just continuing to do that.  Once you finish payments on the EasyPay you are no longer "tied" to that account / number?  Is that correct?  You are in turn paying full price for the phone (MSRP), but you are able to sell your old phone for a decent profit if it is ~1 year old.  Also, do you all know anything about this promotion?  Not trying to thread jack, it is related to getting a new phone every year...

     

    Congratulations! For a limited time, you're eligible to upgrade your phone when you sign up for Easy Pay monthly installments or our Sprint Lease option with no service agreement. Or, upgrade with a new 2-year service agreement on 05/01/2016.

     

    Hi! Sure thing! I'd be happy to.

     

    I am indeed creating a new line with EasyPay on the same account as my existing line (which is also on EasyPay). Once the new line is created and I have both devices, I simply go into a Sprint store or use the online Sprint chat to swap the numbers between the two phones (so that my number is on the new device instead of the old one). Then, I terminate the phone number (line) that was moved to the old phone (but setup with the new phone). At this point, the full remainder of EasyPay payments are due on the old phone. So, for example, if I've had an HTC One M9 (which retails for $648 with 24 EasyPay payments of $27/month) and only made one monthly payment, when I cancel the line the remaining $621 balance immediately comes due. I pay this amount and sell the device on eBay or Swappa to try to retain as much of that as I can. 

     

    Now, in terms of a decent profit - we all know the M9 is not a top seller. So I am going to lose a couple of hundred $$$ (at least) on this one! Ditto for most Samsung (nay, all Android) devices. Apple devices retain their values very well, I've found.

     

    Not sure about that promotion as I was not offered anything like that (on account of my lines already being EasyPay). I would recommend taking it, particularly if you are looking at replacing the S5 anyway. Sounds like they might let you keep the existing phone, so you could turn around and sell it for at least $200. Plus, with EasyPay, you can always pay off your devices early and upgrade whenever you want - you definitely cannot do this on a contract!

     

    Hope this info helps answer your questions. If not, let me know and I'd be glad to explain further.

    • Like 1

    HTC One M9 User Thread

    in HTC

    Posted

    will be loading up custom rom with the new firmware/base hopefully tonight so I can run around and see if the few reports I've seen of this fixing the LTE issues are true.

    Any improvements seen?

    Network Vision/LTE - Richmond & Southern Virginia Markets

    in Markets

    Posted

    Still last place in data speeds though. I wonder if that's because Sprint just can't get enough fiber to its cell towers. Even band 41 doesn't seem to be particularly fast. 

     

    Could be. Richmond market also has a lot of Sprint users. I think the Baltimore/Richmond/Hampton Roads band is one area Sprint is really going to target with small cells for densification. I know a couple of folks handling RFPs for the big project right now - next 24 months for us looks very promising. :)

    • Like 1

    Marcelo Claure, Town Hall Meetings, New Family Share Pack Plan, Unlimited Individual Plan, Discussion Thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    In that deal with tmo

     

    - 3 phone swaps per year no charge

    - international partnerships

    - 7gb of teathered data

    - free rhapsody music

    - iPhone is only $15 more per month not $20

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

     

    Fair enough on the phone swaps, international data. But for the average user who is not replacing their phone so often, doesn't care about international roaming, and doesn't use tethered data...Sprint is still $15/month or $180/year cheaper. They're playing to two different segments, really. The value really comes down to what the customer is looking for - those you might classify as "power users" are definitely going to be happier with T-Mobile's plan and pricing, coverage aside. The average user is going to look at dollars and cents and conclude that Sprint is the better value.

     

    Few other points:

    • Sprint now offers free international roaming in a format that matches T-Mobile. Granted, countries covered haven't caught up yet, but I suspect they will come close over the next 6 months as more agreements are reached.
    • I also suspect Sprint will throw in hotspot data before too long - they almost have to in order to remain competitive.
    • Free Rhapsody music is absolutely meh. Sure, it's a nice value add. But we all know that no one is choosing a cell provider based on free streaming music. :) I have never met a single person who uses Rhapsody - even when it's free. Google Play Music, Spotify, and iHeartRadio are really the only streaming music services anyone I've ever come across uses. Not saying Rhapsody isn't good, just speaking truth. :)
    • Like 3

    Best option for those who like to upgrade phones yearly?

    in General Topics

    Posted

    In my case, I buy my phones on EasyPay. When I'm ready for a new one, I start a new line of service with a new, throwaway number, then swap the numbers between my new phone and old phone. Then, I cancel the line on my old phone, sell the phone on eBay, and pay off EasyPay on my next bill. This system has always worked pretty well in my case. Note that you do stand to lose some money from time to time, particularly if you're selling an Android phone - they just don't retain their value as well as Apple's products.

    • Like 2

    Marcelo Claure, Town Hall Meetings, New Family Share Pack Plan, Unlimited Individual Plan, Discussion Thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    The plan isn't very competitive with the one that currently matters. T-Mobile, who is working overtime to take the number three spot. For either sprint or tmo it's a marathon to catch up to number 2 slot.

     

    Now this current old yet "new?" Plan is amazing comprehend to AT&T or Verizon. But that's like saying a Toyota is less expensive than a bmw - no kidding.

     

    The new Amped plans that tmo talked about I suspect will be well received better by the media.

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

     

    Alright, you keep saying the same thing over and over and it's not true to my knowledge. Sprint's plan is $80/month for EVERYTHING (includes the phone lease). T-Mobile charges $80/month just for the service - the phone is another $20+ on top of that. Tell me how this isn't competitive with T-Mobile?

     

    Am I wrong?

    • Like 2

    HTC One M9 User Thread

    in HTC

    Posted

    So I attempted to use my M9 again (I have two lines, other one is an iPhone 6 Plus), but still atrocious. I can be sitting in the exact same spot with both phones running them side by side and the One M9's performance is simply abysmal. Constantly drops data. Such a shame. :( So I am excited for this update and I hope it really helps! :D

    Marcelo Claure, Town Hall Meetings, New Family Share Pack Plan, Unlimited Individual Plan, Discussion Thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    http://www.rootmetrics.com/us/rsr/baltimore-md/2015/1H

     

     

    Baltimore 1H 2015 root metrics report out...oddly enough, call performance actually has a lower score than the last test. Overall, no significant change for Sprint in Baltimore yet. Although I can say, I think 800LTE optimization is going on, I"ve seen areas with significantly improved LTE coverage lately (less switching to 3G).

     

    I, too, am surprised they don't rank higher. I think the whole Baltimore/Richmond/Hampton Roads space is going to show a tremendous amount of improvement in the 2H2015 report. Again, this is all based on my own anecdotal use, but the network is really, really on point for me now. I will be curious to see the Richmond 1H report.

    • Like 1

    HTC One M9 User Thread

    in HTC

    Posted

    If anyone is looking for a Gunmetal Gray HTC One M9 on Sprint, please let me know. I have one that is in pristine condition that I would like to get rid of. Service (and EasyPay) is currently active. I have already paid one month of the EasyPay. Includes a Zagg InvisibleShield glass screen protector (with all original info so you can apply for the warranty). I am not asking for any money - if you would like the phone, it's yours! You just have to work with me through the process to transfer service and the EasyPay agreement into your name. I'll even through in $25 or $50 worth of Google Play credit for anyone who wants this phone!

    Marcelo Claure, Town Hall Meetings, New Family Share Pack Plan, Unlimited Individual Plan, Discussion Thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    We're already paying too much. Are they bringing on enough customers at the current price point? It doesn't appear so. So how are they going to bring on more at a higher price point? This might be shrewd sales-talk to prod the fence sitters. If it is then very well played by Claure.

     

    I suppose there is always the chance prices could increase, but also consider the overall trend across the entire wireless environment is for costs to go down.

     

     

    I get your point. I think Sprint is going to add a surprising number of both phone and data-only subscribers for Q2, which is perhaps how Claure can justify his comments. Remember, he sees the numbers every day - we don't. I don't have a prediction as far as numbers are concerned, but I think you will see major Sprint growth at the expense of AT&T and T-Mobile, in particular. I predict T-Mobile's growth rate will show a rapid decline and AT&T will go subscriber negative.

    Network Vision/LTE - Richmond & Southern Virginia Markets

    in Markets

    Posted

    I was in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore this weekend and I have never experienced such horrid service from Sprint. Even with 1 or 2 bars, I had blocked calls about 90% of the time. When calls connected, the audio quality was so poor it wasn't worth staying on the phone. I couldn't receive or send texts and data wasn't even present. Had to pray that I would roam on Verizon (?) to even get any voice or data service. Such a disappointment, especially since Sprint has upgraded the area towers.

     

    That really blows. Do you know which tower you were connected to? Have you ever been there before, and if so how did service compare?

    Marcelo Claure, Town Hall Meetings, New Family Share Pack Plan, Unlimited Individual Plan, Discussion Thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Sprint's 5th market where they are best network overall (tied at least.)

    http://www.rootmetrics.com/us/rsr/austin-tx/2015/1H

     

    Sprint's went up almost 11 points total in the last year in Austin, TX. While AT&T has been declining.

     

    This is fantastic! I am still crossing my fingers for the Richmond, VA report. Anecdotally, I know things have improved tremendously in the past 6 months; it will be nice to back that up with actual numbers here in a few weeks!

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