Are independants better to purchase from that T-mobile stores?
I have purchased phones from both T-mobile and independant cellular stores (that sometimes sell phones for multiple providers). I have found that doing an equipment upgrade only (no contract extension) that T-mobile charges you anywhere from $30.00 to $80.00 (as I was told last week) additional cost for any phone you purchase. I called T-mobile today and they looked up my account to find that I had recently done a contract extension 4 months ago and was told that to purchase a certain phone it would cost $30.00 above retail(punishment fee??). An independant told me that I could walk into his store and purchase the SAME phone for flat retail of $199.00 (the SRP) with no contract extension. What is the deal with this and is T-mobile really ju...
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Hey dude 🙂 First off, you probably know that any good business is in the businesss of making money. That said, I am an independant dealer that deals exclusively T-Mobile and I know that when we sell a handset and SRP. we don't make a dime off of it, it is considered lost inventory and just plain ol customer service. Now I have never heard of them charging more than SRP but if they do it is because it costs money to have a person ship that phone and it costs money to ship it period. So if they do charge you that extra $30, it is to cover their cost of getting it to you and to get a couple bucks themselves. That is just a theory of mine. take it how you will, but I haven't personally heard of T-Mobile intentionally "screwing" a customer, th...
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No I appreciate the reply. 🙂
One addendum to my original post:
I just called a T-mobile store (incognito) and said that I would like to purchase a phone for my girlfriend who is on T-mobile(true, I convinced her to switch from Sprint). The lady told me that the phone would be and additional $50.00 on top of $199.99. OR...She actually suggested this: "What if you gave her the cash and said 'Now just renew your contract and the phone is paid for'". Cash on Valentines Day...It'll make her heart melt. (P.S.-flowers and dinner are also on the agenda) So I politely told her that retailer X down the street just told me I could purchase the phone for the suggested retail price of $199.00. She said "Well yeah but they don't have access to he...
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One addendum to my original post:
I just called a T-mobile store (incognito) and said that I would like to purchase a phone for my girlfriend who is on T-mobile(true, I convinced her to switch from Sprint). The lady told me that the phone would be and additional $50.00 on top of $199.99. OR...She actually suggested this: "What if you gave her the cash and said 'Now just renew your contract and the phone is paid for'". Cash on Valentines Day...It'll make her heart melt. (P.S.-flowers and dinner are also on the agenda) So I politely told her that retailer X down the street just told me I could purchase the phone for the suggested retail price of $199.00. She said "Well yeah but they don't have access to he...
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I'm sorry you're not getting the best service, if you were a customer of mine, I would just sell it out at SRP which at my store is $195.00
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Bigern_McCracken said:
I'm sorry you're not getting the best service, if you were a customer of mine, I would just sell it out at SRP which at my store is $195.00
I appreciate that. 😉
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😳 Huh??
I don't know where you are getting your information from but I certainly apologize for all of the confusion and/or mis-information. I am a CSRII for T-Mobile and I'll tell you everything you want to know about how the upgrade program works both corporate and indirect.
First we'll cover direct/Corporate. Once every 11 months on a qualifying pricing plan ($39.99 single line of $69.99 family-time) and 11 months since your last discounted handset, we will give you the "same as new pricing". Full discount, all rebates, the whole nine yards. (You don't even technically have to complete your first contract before you can get that discount unlike many other carriers, which sometimes even will not give you that at upgrade time). This...
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I don't know where you are getting your information from but I certainly apologize for all of the confusion and/or mis-information. I am a CSRII for T-Mobile and I'll tell you everything you want to know about how the upgrade program works both corporate and indirect.
First we'll cover direct/Corporate. Once every 11 months on a qualifying pricing plan ($39.99 single line of $69.99 family-time) and 11 months since your last discounted handset, we will give you the "same as new pricing". Full discount, all rebates, the whole nine yards. (You don't even technically have to complete your first contract before you can get that discount unlike many other carriers, which sometimes even will not give you that at upgrade time). This...
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I am an owner of an indirect dealership. Our phones are on avarage 100.00 less with activation than T-mobile corp.
Example:
Motorola V600 at my stores is 209.99 + you get the 100 mail in rebate making it 109.99 after rebate...
At a cor. T-mobile store it's 299.99 + 100 mail in = 199.99 after rebate
My indirect stores are 90.00 cheaper...
Nuff Said =)
Example:
Motorola V600 at my stores is 209.99 + you get the 100 mail in rebate making it 109.99 after rebate...
At a cor. T-mobile store it's 299.99 + 100 mail in = 199.99 after rebate
My indirect stores are 90.00 cheaper...
Nuff Said =)
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Very True-
But I'd much rather pay the $90.00 more to avoid the crappy service from these called dealers. They refuse to help anyone after they sign them up and give a bad reputation to T-Mobile. I will never return to one of them again.
Hopefully they pull the plug on them.
But I'd much rather pay the $90.00 more to avoid the crappy service from these called dealers. They refuse to help anyone after they sign them up and give a bad reputation to T-Mobile. I will never return to one of them again.
Hopefully they pull the plug on them.
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First off...what prevents you from getting a phone cheaper from say ME, and when you have a problem then go to a corp store. The corp store still has to help you becuase they are tmobile....
Secondly:
I don't know where you go, but ALL of the directs around here are the ****y ones...they all have ****ty attitudes, and don't want to help YOU, becuase they are to concerned with making their quota..... These indirects you speak of are mis-managed to say it at best. Like I said I own a chain of indirects and ALL of my employees are required to have their cell phone listed on their business cards and tmobile's 1800 number on their voice mail if they don't answer. My employees are required to tell the customers that if any problems arise the...
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Secondly:
I don't know where you go, but ALL of the directs around here are the ****y ones...they all have ****ty attitudes, and don't want to help YOU, becuase they are to concerned with making their quota..... These indirects you speak of are mis-managed to say it at best. Like I said I own a chain of indirects and ALL of my employees are required to have their cell phone listed on their business cards and tmobile's 1800 number on their voice mail if they don't answer. My employees are required to tell the customers that if any problems arise the...
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justinwilliams said:
First off...what prevents you from getting a phone cheaper from say ME, and when you have a problem then go to a corp store. The corp store still has to help you becuase they are tmobile....
Yes you did sum it up very well in this quote! You just send us to them anyway so you can prepare do it to the next guy-thanks for admitting that you do that. You should also "HAVE" to help US because it's the right thing to do!
Still not convinced for the $90.00. I wasted too much time (finally getting my problem fixed by T-Mobile, not the dealer)!
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Jeese you aren't very smart are you?
Why not get the phone from an indirect dealer for 90 bucks cheaper...then if you have a billing problem or some other problem goto the direct store.... It's not like the direct T-mo store won't help you becuase you got your phone from an indirect dealer.... They have to help you they are T-mobile and you bought a T-mobile product from an indirect rep. The only time you would have to deal with the same indirect is if you had a problem with your phone in the 1st 14 days.... then they indirect HAS toreplace it themselves in that time period. That's the only case where you would have to dela with them after the fact. And hell if they refuse to help you during the first 14 days just tell them you will can...
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Why not get the phone from an indirect dealer for 90 bucks cheaper...then if you have a billing problem or some other problem goto the direct store.... It's not like the direct T-mo store won't help you becuase you got your phone from an indirect dealer.... They have to help you they are T-mobile and you bought a T-mobile product from an indirect rep. The only time you would have to deal with the same indirect is if you had a problem with your phone in the 1st 14 days.... then they indirect HAS toreplace it themselves in that time period. That's the only case where you would have to dela with them after the fact. And hell if they refuse to help you during the first 14 days just tell them you will can...
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i am a rep... and i dont know how mant times i have had someone call in from about an indirect dealer selling them grossly outdated phones... also selling them used phones as "new" phones.... one cut paid $90 for a USED nokia 3390 2 months ago. some are absolutely terrible and will doa nything they can jsut to get a sale
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I do agree with you that ther are dealers who do that.... BUT the used phones you are talking about are 3390's , 3595's....etc... We are talking about a phone being 90 bucks cheaper at an indirect dealer store... so this wouldn't be a free phone. It would be something of a higher end, and there are literally no dealers selling used higher end phones because it cost them to much to get them over a 3390. So back to the real argument that why not get the phone 90 bucks cheaper? If you want to pay 90 bucks more for THE SMAE phone go ahead be my guest!
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A bit about me before I post. I have been working for T-Mobile for almost two years now. I was on the floor for 4 months, moved up to senior rep, then mentor, then into training as a Co-Facilitator, then finally in my position as Facilitator. I said this so that there is no confusion about what I may know.
I think that indirect dealers do get a bad rap, but there is a reason for this. Where as you (justinwilliams) most likely do not fit into this category, a lot of other INDIRECT dealers do.
Some of the differences that I have found between Direct and Indirect dealers:
With a direct dealer you only have to sign the T-Mobile contract. You will only have to agree to the T-Mobile terms and conditions. They are bound to T-Mobile’s po...
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I think that indirect dealers do get a bad rap, but there is a reason for this. Where as you (justinwilliams) most likely do not fit into this category, a lot of other INDIRECT dealers do.
Some of the differences that I have found between Direct and Indirect dealers:
With a direct dealer you only have to sign the T-Mobile contract. You will only have to agree to the T-Mobile terms and conditions. They are bound to T-Mobile’s po...
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Well put... and maybe "justin" is a different style. But even in his post it's all about price. Let me ask you this...Why would anyone want to buy something from someone who doesn't or can't back it up because they know T-Mobile will. It's plain laziness! I guess it seems to me that (my experience) these dealers sell phones and then they are through with you. Any it was their fault, they never changed my plan after I upgraded my phone!
Then YOU look like an idiot when YOU have to get service from the T-Mobile store. That's not fair- and its not fair to T-Mobile's employees who actually seem give a crap and like "justin" says- "have" to help you! Why don't these dealers "have to help us" too? Save some steps and headaches and do bu...
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Then YOU look like an idiot when YOU have to get service from the T-Mobile store. That's not fair- and its not fair to T-Mobile's employees who actually seem give a crap and like "justin" says- "have" to help you! Why don't these dealers "have to help us" too? Save some steps and headaches and do bu...
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justinwilliams said:...
First off...what prevents you from getting a phone cheaper from say ME, and when you have a problem then go to a corp store. The corp store still has to help you becuase they are tmobile....
Secondly:
I don't know where you go, but ALL of the directs around here are the ****y ones...they all have ****ty attitudes, and don't want to help YOU, becuase they are to concerned with making their quota..... These indirects you speak of are mis-managed to say it at best. Like I said I own a chain of indirects and ALL of my employees are required to have their cell phone listed on their business cards and tmobile's 1800 number on their voice mail if they don't answer. My employees are required to tell the
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we do make sure they know how everything works. We give every customer a sheet of paper explainging overages, whenever minutes, mobile 2 mobile minutes, voice mail, etc...everything from A to Z. Then there is a little check box next to each one. We then give the customer the sheet and have the check evrything they understand if they don't understand it then they leave it blank and we go over it again. I just didn't want to get into all of this and off the subject this far. So don't tell me I need to make sure they know what they are getting....lol... if they leave my streo and still don't understand then it's their own fault for checking the box. =)
Then they always can call or come back with any more questions.... we encourage it.
Then they always can call or come back with any more questions.... we encourage it.
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once again i JUST got a call from someone that started service 1 week ago and was sold a V66 for $75 from an indirect dealer... and once again it is a USED phone.. the memory is already full and the guy just bought it!
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jmoney215 said:
once again i JUST got a call from someone that started service 1 week ago and was sold a V66 for $75 from an indirect dealer... and once again it is a USED phone.. the memory is already full and the guy just bought it!
My feelings on this one are mixed. Yes, it really makes me upset on one side that some indirect dealers sell used phones claiming (just as one example) since a customer is smartaccess that's all the qualify for, or any other similar reason...thats hogwash!
OR selling a 3390, or V66 giving the customer an impression it is a "newer" phone, though more of a basic model, etc...
Our customers depend on impressions and the knowledge of our reps, and have got to be able to t...
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My feelings on this one are mixed.Sorry, folks...thats not being a very smart shopper.
And if you're an indirect agent that isn't showing a lot of integrity.
And if you're an indirect agent that isn't showing a lot of integrity.
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rtx said:
My feelings on this one are mixed.Sorry, folks...thats not being a very smart shopper.
And if you're an indirect agent that isn't showing a lot of integrity.
No, I'm actually a CSR. However, honestly, if you walk into a car dealership and get a stiffy over some huge piece of crap that has a nice paint job, again it's YOUR decision to buy it. Of course the dealer wants to sell it to you and will probably throw out every slimy tactic in the book. I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying it is a choice you have to say "yes" or "I'm going to look around a little more".
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Considering that there are freakin' LAUNDROMATS that sell phones and activate service, it's not as though any indirect dealer has a gun to any customer's head, nor is there anything close to a monopoly for that dealer. If a customer doesn't bother to shop around, not even to the minimal extent of seeing what TMobile has for offer directly from the web site, then I am not going to shed a tear if they end up with an old phone being passed off as a new model. I really hate it when they get used phones, though, because they aren't warranted for exchange and the company ends up eating the cost of a replacement new phone in addition to paying commission to the slimy dealer who did it, but as for getting a 3390 as a "new model," hey--it's all abo...
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I think all of us direct dealers know that a majority of the indirect dealers would be more dedicated and focused on the customer not the activation, if compensation plans where different. Alot of third party dealers only make comission(tough business).It's easy for direct dealers to dog out indirect when rsr's and rsa's can rack in descent money without selling much. An hourly pay rate goes along way in instilling good customer service skills. 🙄
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I first went to a secondary dealer and had to pay for my phone, I went to a direct dealer and didnt have to pay for equipment or deposit. It's always best to go direct, they actually care about customer service.
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I don't think we should make a generalization, nor a stereotype of indirect vs. direct. Everyone has their own experiences which can definately determine to which type of sales location they'd be inclined to return to, however that's not to say ALL indirect dealers are bad. They are their own business, and not goverend by the service providers for whom services are being sold. With these places, not all of them are going to do the same thing. It's just like shopping around different retailers for the same cd player. BestBuy has one price, CircutCity has another, Electronics Express has another...but you're buying the same brand/cd player. It depends on what the market is, what the device is, and what their method of compensation is for selli...
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Buying from indirect dealers versus corporate is like buying from the car dealership versus Pancho's Cadillac shack. If you want a limited equipment selection to choose from, a sales presentation from an under-trained employee and absolutely no help from your T-Mobile rep after you're signed up. Then there ya go.
But if you want grade A knowledge on all products, great customer service, an extensive lineup of phones to choose from including all data devices, a referral program, pay bills in store, no after market accessories, any help with anything and a rep that follows up and makes sure your service is working for you. Then you want to make your way to a corporate.
owned store/kiosk.
I worked both sides and I know there's a pretty ...
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But if you want grade A knowledge on all products, great customer service, an extensive lineup of phones to choose from including all data devices, a referral program, pay bills in store, no after market accessories, any help with anything and a rep that follows up and makes sure your service is working for you. Then you want to make your way to a corporate.
owned store/kiosk.
I worked both sides and I know there's a pretty ...
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