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T-Mobile kills $18 handset upgrade fee

18 December 2008 by Staff Editor


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T-Mobile has just ended their handset upgrade fee, which adds $18 to the cost of any upgraded mobile phone. T-Mobile reportedly ended the feels on Wednesday and will be applied to all outlets whether it be purchased through the online store, retail location or over the phone.

This also applies to those who have been patiently waiting for an upgrade and are picking up the Android-powered T-Mobile G1. This is yet another testament that patience pays off, early adopters loose again. T-Mobile is offering this as a promotion for this holidays and has not set an ending date on this offer. This is “another way T-Mobile is thanking its loyal customers”.

We all know the upgrade fees raised a lot of negative publicity for T-Mobile right around the announcement of the T-Mobile G1 because new members were getting a better deal that existing customers. The advertized price with a two-year agreement was $179.99, but loyal customers were paying more like $200 for the G1. Lets just hope this promotion is so popular that T-Mobile decides to hang onto it.

[Via SlashGear]

  1. Nice to feel so appreciated. Thanks again Tmo.
  2. Now only if they would apply credit to my account.
  3. Quote:
    Originally Posted by SICLICK View Post
    Now only if they would apply credit to my account.
    No ****.. I've upgraded no less than 5 or 6 times in the past 2 years...
  4. You just have to love the reason I was quoted. "Well, people complained that the phones were too expensive so TM had to recover some of their loss."
  5. I've been with Tmo for six years and had a year left on my last contract. I paid, with tax and all fees, $350 for the phone. If that is not being appreciated I don't know what is.
  6. Because early adopters who take a leap of faith aren't "loyal customers"
  7. Who actually paid the upgrade or activation fee? Those are so easy to talk away from mobile companies.

    Although you can get the G1 for the cheapest total price of $139.99 plus 10% off your monthly bill following the steps I did and outline in *Link Removed, No Self Promotion*
    ,Michael Martin
    Google And Blog
  8. Woohoo, by not buying the G1 for $350 not only will I save $171 but now I'll save an additional $18!
  9. Quote:
    Originally Posted by SICLICK View Post
    Now only if they would apply credit to my account.
    Exactly. Yeah they added it on to make extra money off us now they want to waive the fee after how many G1's and other phones were sold.
  10. lol...

    My G1 added up to around $250... my family's contract was up... 2 years.

    My G1 was $250
    Sister's Nokia E71 was like $340 (lol..)
    Bro's SK 2008 (he's 15) was like $325 i think, or was it $225...
    My dad picked a free phone haha (he's old)
  11. but loyal customers were paying more like $200 for the G1. Lets just hope this promotion is so popular that T-Mobile decides to hang onto it.



    if the upgrade fee stayed with t-mobile, new customers had to pay a 35 dollar activation fee per new line of service, so that statement shouldn't be there imo... thats a blanket statement to cover the arses of the ignorant
  12. I just got off the phone with T-Mobile customer service, thrilled as usual. Before I say anything else, let me say that any encounter I have had with their customer service department has been unusually outstanding. I have never had a complaint that was not satisfied. I moved from South Florida to the middle of no where in the western part of New York state. At that time My T-Mobile phone was operating on a 3rd party signal. And still is, and has caused me never to incur any extra charges. I was not able to send or receive picture messages because of the specifics of the 3rd party interaction with the T-mobile network. T-mobile customer service quickly identified this problem and before I knew it I was on the phone an engineer from upper level tech support. He told me the problem was going to be resolved and made major changed to network hardware and software to resolve my problem. At that time I was a pioneer for T-mobile in the area and was one of only a handful of people that used T-mobile out here. I received a call every few days from the same engineer about their progress with the issue until the issue was resolved! That my friends is superb customer service! Hats off to T-mobile as they have done it again for me. I called customer service and explained that it was customers like you and I that pre-ordered this phone and paid over $200 to be the FIRST to have it. I told her this news about new upgrade fees being waived was unfair to the pioneers of the G1. She explained that only customers who had paid upgrade fees in the last 14 days would get the $18 credit. I continued to tell the rep that I felt T-Mobile was doing the original G1 customers a dis service. At which poinjt she interjected and told me was very excited and interested that I was a G1 user and inquired to how things were going with the G1. To which I responded great!
    Guys, things really are going great with this phone! We have every right to be upset that we don't have a video camera option and that we dont have flash. But things are getting better everyday. Everyday we wake up to new and exciting programs in the Android Market only to see foul language rude comments, and discouraged developers. We need to shape up as a community to make sure that T-mobile doiesn't scrap that market all together! When has there ever been no regulation where a company like T-Mobile has the opportunity to make so much money from a feature like the Android market? Look what those poor fools are dealing with over at apple! T-Mobile deserves a pat on the back for all this. Its a truly revolutionary use of technology and a risky move for T-Mobile.
    I conveyed this very opinion to the customer service represenative to which she replied that she was taking all the information down and forwarding it to the "higher ups". Then in the same breath gave me an $18 complimentary credit and explained it was not a credit for the upgrade charge but rather an $18 credit for having been a loyal customer to T-Mobile and that they appreciate pioneering users like us who pre-ordered the G1. I was of course delighted and thanked her. She then wished me well and a happy holiday.
    T-Mobile does care about it's customers which cannot always be said about other companies. When do you ever get something from other companies with out having to get loud and angry on the phone? Give T-Mobile a pat on they back, they deserve it and I think you will be suprised with th results you get concerning the upgrade charge issue. Treat people the way you want to be treated!
  13. What was her name? I'll ask for her when I call.
  14. seems like good timing for me. not only did I get lucky finding a unit at a TMo company store yesterday afternoon (shipment just came in) but I'll get that $18 back.
  15. This is such B.S... I have been with this company since before they were even T_mobile. And now they go and do this just like the headset adaptor they send out with new phones. For us long time Tmo customers it seems like we the short end of the stick. My 1st upgrade in many many yrs and it almost seems not worth it anymore.......
  16. newuser2008: agreed! same story here.
  17. Quote:
    Originally Posted by newuser2008 View Post
    This is such B.S... I have been with this company since before they were even T_mobile. And now they go and do this just like the headset adaptor they send out with new phones. For us long time Tmo customers it seems like we the short end of the stick. My 1st upgrade in many many yrs and it almost seems not worth it anymore.......

    Call T-Mo cust. serv. tell them that......you might be surprised with the results....be persistent....it will PAY

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