Will you buy your Evo 3D subsidized or outright?

[akayareal]

I was originally going to buy my Evo straight up last yr until they moved my upgrade up 90 days. This yr I have no choice unless I can find someone to use upgrade and give them my current Evo (still in real good condition).

As it stands, I have to buy straight up but have no problem doing so seeing how my 20/24 will be up in Feb and contract in July.

 

[partridge]

I don't have the cash to buy a phone outright, but I've been looking at the sums involved in putting the cost on a card and paying it off over 12 months or 18; does it work out cheaper if you then just get a non contract SIM deal.

So far it's very close as there are some good deals out there, for very new phones it's probably cheaper to just get a monthly contract. But if you wait a few months the outright cost of phones comes down quite a bit.

What worries me about the Evo 3D is that the 3D capture is quite low quality (2 megapixels) which is fine for viewing on the screen I suppose, but won't look so good transferred onto a 3D tv. But if this phone attracts a lot of interest you can bet a follow up with an 8mp camera will follow early in 2012.

I hate the technology improvement cycle!! You never know quite when to buy anything these days

 

[EarlyMon]

What worries me about the Evo 3D is that the 3D capture is quite low quality (2 megapixels) which is fine for viewing on the screen I suppose, but won't look so good transferred onto a 3D tv.

1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600

A full 1080p frame of video is 2 MP.

1080i/720p are both approximately 1 MP.

The 2 MP vid capture is dead-on for full HD (and I don't think you can get to 2 MP per field in any 3DHDTV source material, but I could be mistaken).

Quality will be determined by the other camera metrics - color stability, shutter speed, sensor quality, frame rate (oh - frame rate!!!) -- but the last worry is the MP limit, that part's ok.

Buy with confidence if MP is the only thing holding you back.

 

[Cashprizes]

Now if you only have 2 phones and you get an early full upgrade on one of them, then you win.

What if I only have 1 phone and my contract expires in June? Saving $300 is smart money right?

Who has eight phones anyways, and why? Ice has been speaking through the entire post about how going contract is for newbs, but I am guessing his situation is unique, if not completely fabricated. If I were Sprint and had this guy paying for service on 8 phones I guess we would cater to his needs off contract. That situation doesn't pertain to 99% of the people who are on this forum.

 

[EarlyMon]

I'll attest that when RiverOfIce speaks, she doesn't lie - and is obviously in a unique situation.

I find her advice intriguing. I'm not sure what to make of it when translating to my case, but I do find it intriguing.

 

[novox77]

Ice has been speaking through the entire post about how going contract is for newbs, but I am guessing his situation is unique, if not completely fabricated. If I were Sprint and had this guy paying for service on 8 phones I guess we would cater to his needs off contract. That situation doesn't pertain to 99% of the people who are on this forum.

I'll attest that when RiverOfIce speaks, she doesn't lie - and is obviously in a unique situation.

I find her advice intriguing. I'm not sure what to make of it when translating to my case, but I do find it intriguing.

And apparently the other lesson here is not to infer gender from just a name and avatar....

 

[yourfriendmat]

And apparently the other lesson here is not to infer gender from just a name and avatar....

I tend to default to thinking everyone is male when I'm on a forum talking about geeky stuff Since there is no way to know unless they update their profile, and it would seem even more rude to call someone "it," I guess I'll just rely on being corrected. It should say something on the left side under the avatar

 

[EarlyMon]

Please - before we force members to identify a gender, I'm going to enforce identifying planet of origin. Srsly, you should see what I see sometimes.

OK - we're moving on from my slip-up, or I'm cleaning the thread.

 

[toad6386]

I'm going the subsidized route. I've been with Sprint about 6 years now, and have little-no problems with service. I jumped from Cingular after they bought AT&T wireless (yes that long ago) b/c of constant dropped/missed calls. I was in the middle of contract and double-dogged-dare them to try to get an ETF. Of course there was a class action suit against them at the time, which helped, but still... Bottom line is I'll pay for the service that I get, or find another service. ETF's don't bother me, I won't pay them, because if I leave, it's because THEY changed the & I won't pay for something I don't get. Period. My 1/2 cents worth.

 

[Sketchr]

Please - before we force members to identify a gender, I'm going to enforce identifying planet of origin. Srsly, you should see what I see sometimes.

OK - we're moving on from my slip-up, or I'm cleaning the thread.

I don't want to see what you see. See enough on the board I mod on, lol.

 

[Sketchr]

I do have to say, in the economic climate we are in right now, this is a bit of a welcome surprise to me. I realize that Sprint is number three in the nationwide retailer scheme of things, but they are still a big company. To re-set the discount to a fully subsidized phone for pretty much anyone that asks is nice to see.

I know it will lock folks into a contract, but seeing as how the same people are most likely already in a contract and only extends that roughly a year still makes me place Sprint above Verizon and AT+T.

I have to say Sprint's CS is far superior to Verizons - I have both. At this point Sprint knows it needs to compete and they make every effort to ensure a happy customer. That's my experience. I do wish their 4G service was faster, but hope that improves in the no so distant future...

 

[RiverOfIce]

I am a girl.

I do have a unique case I work for a company that builds, tests, and develops products for 3g/4g markets around the world, which means I get the new toys and get to try to break them.

I do not lie, I do get things wrong and I do stretch the facts to simplify the message, but I don't lie.

For example, if you read my post on lte/wimax build out, I well repetitively say, "not the way it really works, but need to simplify."

Do I get special treatment, yes I do. Why, because I have several friends on the inside that are will to do things for me.

What do they tell me? "If you are off contract we can do more things for you."

So you can take want I say at face value, but I will not lie to you and if I have to simplify the facts, I will tell you that is what I am doing.

Can I get things out and out wrong, yes I can, I always do. I am human, I really do try not to screw things up, but it does happen.

As for the contract question, if you can get a full upgrade on the majority of your phones, then do so. If it is just cheaper to do the upgrade then do it. Every case is different.

If you have to wait 2 years to get full upgrades on anything, it is not really worth it. Just pay full price, wait a few months and ask really nicely to get free hotspot or the 10 dollar fee removed. If you can not afford full price, then do the upgrade, everyone is going to be different.

 

[novox77]

For example, if you read my post on lte/wimax build out, I well repetitively say, "not the way it really works, but need to simplify."

I've read a lot of your posts in the Sprint section of the forums. Lots of good info, particularly around LTE and Wimax technologies.

 

[BenChase7]

Alright, I know several posts back there were some people saying they got one last annual upgrade by emailing Sprint. I emailed them last night and requested the upgrade, Sprint called me this morning, and they gave it to me! However, I would not expect it on every occasion. The rep told me that they know of "the talk" on the internet that people are emailing and requesting upgrades and that they will not be able to accommodate everyone, and its a case by case basis. So if you dont get it, dont be surprised. He said they made the exception for me because of the length of time that I have been with Sprint is a "lifetime in the cellular industry." In my case, I will qualify for annual upgrades by the end of this year anyway, due to 10 years of Sprint service. So anyways, this was my experience, and I couldnt be happier with Sprints customer service right about now. Thank You Sprint!!

EDIT: just checked my upgrade status, and im eligible NOW, I got the EVO in mid June, 2010. It gets even better!

 

[novox77]

If you have been with Sprint for 10+ years (as I have), you would already be eligible for the annual upgrade... What exactly did they give you that you weren't already eligible for?

-edit-
nvm, i get it. they just wrote back to confirm that you were already eligible. but for those without 10 yrs, not everyone who asks may be accommodated.

 

[BenChase7]

If you have been with Sprint for 10+ years (as I have), you would already be eligible for the annual upgrade... What exactly did they give you that you weren't already eligible for?

As i said, my ten year anniversary is not until late this year. so they moved it up quite a bit.

 

[yourfriendmat]

I am a girl.

I do have a unique case I work for a company that builds, tests, and develops products for 3g/4g markets around the world, which means I get the new toys and get to try to break them.

I do not lie, I do get things wrong and I do stretch the facts to simplify the message, but I don't lie.

For example, if you read my post on lte/wimax build out, I well repetitively say, "not the way it really works, but need to simplify."

Do I get special treatment, yes I do. Why, because I have several friends on the inside that are will to do things for me.

What do they tell me? "If you are off contract we can do more things for you."

So you can take want I say at face value, but I will not lie to you and if I have to simplify the facts, I will tell you that is what I am doing.

Can I get things out and out wrong, yes I can, I always do. I am human, I really do try not to screw things up, but it does happen.

As for the contract question, if you can get a full upgrade on the majority of your phones, then do so. If it is just cheaper to do the upgrade then do it. Every case is different.

If you have to wait 2 years to get full upgrades on anything, it is not really worth it. Just pay full price, wait a few months and ask really nicely to get free hotspot or the 10 dollar fee removed. If you can not afford full price, then do the upgrade, everyone is going to be different.

Thanks for the clarity (sincerely). Your situation definitely makes a lot of sense now. FWIW, my future lies in material science, and I will hopefully be making some of those components you are trying to destroy ;-)

-------

Anyway, I'm kind of glad I bought my Evo outright (but still on contract from my old Touch Pro) so that I can get the Evo3D for the discount. I guess that's another reason I stay on contract. It's pretty unlikely that I'll switch to a new carrier, and I would have to buy the intermediate phones full price either way, so it kinda makes sense for me to get the discount when I can. This may change if I start using a family plan.

 

[Oddball]

LOL, no they treat me differently.

I have 8 phones on two accounts, unlimited family. I pay about 308 dollars a month total including tax and 2 hotspots, all of them are htc evo's.

Let me see here.

Tell me how I am treated as you are?

Same here, 5 handsets an aircard and a ton of international calls each month = about $275-350. Plus June 4th I get to upgrade, 1 year anniversary, and my last carrier was VZW which I was with for 22 years. I'm pleased with Sprint in many ways so I have no incentive to switch and yes, they do treat me differently as well. I'm simply not going to change. It's too big of a hassle and I use this handset all over the US.

Oddly though, I might not actually upgrade yet. I'm still pleased with this thing, some quirks in apps causing occasional performance issues. I rooted the phone so I have a hotspot app which works very well so really I can't see the reason to switch just yet. My handset is pristine because it had a screen and case cover from the time it came out of the box so trade in is no issue for me.

My problem is I might want to go for the EVO View 4G tablet because 7 inches should be a reasonable size tablet for me and I am familiar with the HTC brand and its idiosyncratic behavior. But it's nothing I can't manage easily enough.

Granted, i'd like to see a switch to LTE as the current WiMax has some serious limitations but I generally need the highest speeds only when I am sitting still anyway. Sprint's 3G seems to work just fine for what I need.

 

[lordofthereef]

Alright, I know several posts back there were some people saying they got one last annual upgrade by emailing Sprint. I emailed them last night and requested the upgrade, Sprint called me this morning, and they gave it to me! However, I would not expect it on every occasion. The rep told me that they know of "the talk" on the internet that people are emailing and requesting upgrades and that they will not be able to accommodate everyone, and its a case by case basis.

It seems to me if you signed a contract stating that you are on a 12 month upgrade plan they are required to honor that plan until you sign the next contract (during your next upgrade).

 

[novox77]

apparently that 12-month upgrade eligibility wasn't in any contracts. at least that's what I've read in the Sprint section of the forums.

 

[Vanquished]

When we changed plans last year when the EVO came out we signed up for a family plan that allowed six phones, (not sure how exactly, from what I understand the family plan only allows five) and one of the things that made this plan better than the others was the 12 month upgrade thing. I don't know exactly what plan it was we signed up for, I'll have to find out.

EDIT: Everything Data Share 3000 is the plan we're using and it's a Sprint Premier Gold account. What seems to have changed (or was possibley misunderstood) is this:

"Exclusive to Sprint Premier Gold customers: Score automatic eligibility for an upgrade on one line per qualifying plan every 12 months. All other lines eligible every 22 months with Sprint's New For You™ program."

When we changed plans it was believed to have said that each line had the one year upgrade. Our current upgrades go along with this as well because three of the six are currently available, two more within the next 3 months, then the last one is about six months out, and all of us have upgraded our phones within the last year (3 with EVOs).

 

[lafester]

Last year at some point sprint opened up the Premium Status to anyone on a $69.99 plan or above. The main perk of this status is yearly upgrades. They did this to entice legacy plan holders over to the new everything plans and of course to get people to switch over from other carriers. When the evo came out everyone who switched plans or carriers did so with the understanding that this year they would be able to upgrade again. Sprint changed the rules two months ago and now everyone who should be getting an upgrade has to go beg sprint to get it back.

While this did not effect me it was a pretty lame thing for sprint to do. A lot of people left good plans with the promise of much better service and perks. They were also hit with the $10 4g fee that was not announced until right before the phone released.

edit -- @ vanquished: I think the yearly only applied to the primary account holder even before the change.

 

[Android 17]

It's also considered a perk, and as such, not tied to any contracts and subject to change or elimination at Sprint's discretion.

Pretty lame, but at least they're letting most early EVO owners who ask for it keep their upgrade this one time.

 

[lordofthereef]

one of the things that made this plan better than the others was the 12 month upgrade thing. I don't know exactly what plan it was we signed up for, I'll have to find out.

I'll be honest, it is pretty much the only thing that made this plan better for me. I am still kicking myself for getting rid of the ATT account. I had two "grandfathered" unlimited internet lines with them. They also added a $20/mo unlimited texting and voice calls to any mobile for the family plan. At this point it wouldn't be worth it for me to migrate back since I would be stuck with the 2GB data cap - some months I am under that, some months I am over. At only $5 less than the unlimited plan was, it feels like a rip-off.

Don't get me wrong, Sprint's offering still isn't bad, but for the minimal savings, at this point paying my ETF just put me in the hole. Not a huge deal, but as the saying goes "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

 

[heliosxx]

What're the odds I'll be able to buy it off contract and get it unlocked and use MetroPCS? The price difference in plans should pay it back within a year.