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Help TEP or not for Evo?

TEP or not to TEP?

  • TEP

    Votes: 29 70.7%

  • Not TEP

    Votes: 12 29.3%
  • Total voters
    41
I can definitely agree 100% on the merits of TEP with regards to accidents...but people haven't commented much on the fact that if you're a Sprint Premier you can get a brand new phone upgrade every year - which would run around the same price as the TEP for a year.

Any comments on this?
 
Mateo said:
Well of course not but you dont buy TEP for manufacturer defects.. Especially when it gets a manufacturer's warranty for the first year anyway. And you cant just trade in a phone because it has normal wear and tear. If it has wear and tear that has rendered it unusable then that would be damage YOU caused. The same goes for lost/stolen phones. You pay the deductable there too.
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Normal wear and tear is a grey line. It can be lumped in with manufacturer defects on the phone or users causing it. I obviously have a liberal definition of what w&t is.

And like I said... I never want to talk to or deal with HTC myself. I'd rather have Sprint handle everything. The manufacturers warranty is useless to me. Keep HTC AWAY!!!

Just having TEP grants you superior customer service from Sprint.
 
I debated this for awhile and went with best buys warranty but at 10 a month its more expensive. However there is no deductible so one replacement pays for itself. Doesn't cover loss or theft. I had a unique situation where my pre broke and I ended up waiting 30 days and got an evo replacement for the grand total of 85 bucks 14 months before eligible for upgrade. I think its bs that sprint makes you wait 22 Mo for an upgrade if you are not primary on a family plan. It almost forces you to get the additional insurance.
 
J03 said:
I debated this for awhile and went with best buys warranty but at 10 a month its more expensive. However there is no deductible so one replacement pays for itself. Doesn't cover loss or theft. I had a unique situation where my pre broke and I ended up waiting 30 days and got an evo replacement for the grand total of 85 bucks 14 months before eligible for upgrade. I think its bs that sprint makes you wait 22 Mo for an upgrade if you are not primary on a family plan. It almost forces you to get the additional insurance.
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The other lines on a family plan don't get upgrades every year per the Sprint Premier?
 
berardi1111 said:
I can definitely agree 100% on the merits of TEP with regards to accidents...but people haven't commented much on the fact that if you're a Sprint Premier you can get a brand new phone upgrade every year - which would run around the same price as the TEP for a year.

Any comments on this?
Click to expand...

after what happened to me.. I am NOT willing to risk it :D
 
berardi1111 said:
I can definitely agree 100% on the merits of TEP with regards to accidents...but people haven't commented much on the fact that if you're a Sprint Premier you can get a brand new phone upgrade every year - which would run around the same price as the TEP for a year.

Any comments on this?
Click to expand...

IMO...TEP is for accidents, but to answer your question, it is not really the same price as your yearly upgrade.

You stated that the cost of TEP would be $84 + $100 = $184. But that is only if you break your phone and make your insurance claim in the 12th month (after paying your $7 for month #12). In that case, I would wait for my Premier upgrade and activate a back up phone (buy a cheap one off of ebay if you don't have one).

If you don't use TEP for the year, then your cost is only $84, not $184, so you spent an extra $84 during the course of the year for some peace of mind (if it brings you that).

If your phone gets stolen after 6 months, the cost to replace your phone would be $142. Or if you want to save the $100 deductable, then activate your back up, cancel TEP, and wait for your upgrade.

There are many different combinations...only you can decide what is best for you.

You get the best "bang for your buck" when you have to file a claim early on in your TEP year....Like my daughter breaking her phone in the first week...$101.62 cost to replace (including prorated TEP fee...lol).
 
I started using TEP for my phones about 4 yrs ago (first started using sprint) , when my wife dropped her phone in the water. Since we had the same phones, I gave her my phone and got a POS from a friend to use. One day, she dropped the other phone in the grass while carrying groceries, came in the house and by the time she went back out to get the phone, the dog had found his new toy. Had to go on ebay to get replacement phones. From then on, have always used TEP. Have had no problems taking in phones that had issues into the sprint store and getting free replacements when they could not be repaired. Wife had one of her phones stolen a couple of years ago, called sprint, payed the replacement fee and she had another one the next day. That being said, we may only use the TEP for the first year. Does not make since to keep it for longer anymore. It was mainly for the piece of mind. I can say this, since I kept the TEP for the entire time, I used it to get new replacements as time went by. Started with an HTC PPC 6700, then HTC 6800 (Mogul) free, then HTC Touch Pro (paid $100 replacement). All using the TEP and never renewing my contract. I have been eligible for a new phone since 2008.
 
If you have TEP with Sprint and needed a replacement, would they give you a brand new phone or a refurbished one?

I believe I read that Verizon often replaces with refurbished phones.
 
Sketchr said:
If you have TEP with Sprint and needed a replacement, would they give you a brand new phone or a refurbished one?

I believe I read that Verizon often replaces with refurbished phones.
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I can't seem to get the answer to this from the online brochure. It does state the less expensive protection plan may give a replacement that is refurbished, but it doesn't have the same disclaimer on the 7 per month plan.

I don't think I'd be happy with a refurbished phone after shelling out $84 per year.

I'll likely call to confirm tomorrow. I'll pass if that's the case.
 
Mateo said:
So even though I do have TEP for my EVO and have had it on other phones in the past there is a couple of drawbacks...

1.) You cant just take it to a store and they hand you a shiny new phone. You have to send it back to them after you have received your (usually refurbished)replacement by mail within one business day(usually).

2.) Its not just an outright replacement. Not only do you pay your $7 a month for the protection, but you also pay a deductable when a claim is made. Depending on the value of your phone its usually $100.

So theres a couple of other factors to consider..
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Actually, any time I've replaced my phone was by walking into the Sprint store and more or less saying "this thing sucks now" and the tech picks it up and goes "yeah, it does" and they hand me a new one (or an upgrade if it was old) and I'm on my way.
 
So what it I drop it and the screen breaks? Do I pay $100 and get another phone? I thought I read somewhere that screen breaks weren't covered.
 
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