[deesugar]

At one point I purchased an S3 and had an Epic Touch 4G. Before I made the purchase I was told I would get charged an extra $10 or $15 more a month (can't remember exact amount) because the S3 was a 4G phone.

I had to take a deep breath and count to ten before I explained that my Epic Touch 4G is a 4G phone too, it's part of it's name for Pete's sake! The CSR at Radio Shack obviously couldn't defend this additional monthly charge and I was never given a satisfactory explanation except "It's LTE" which I don't know why that would cost me more except Sprint's CEO is an ***** and made a costly mistake going with WiMAX and is trying to make me pay for it.

Anyone know what's up with this or a way around it?

[Paul627g]

The 4g part has nothing to do with it.

The extra charge $10 a month is for the heavy usage that is associated with the S2 and S3 and other devices. Initally it was taken by many as an excuse for the 4g or Wimax in case of the S II (E4GT) but it isn't the case. Its merely an excuse for Sprint to gain $10 per month so they don't have to drop the unlimited package or change the package costs for higher bandwidth phones.

FWIW, there is no way around paying the charge. Its standard now on just about all smartphones under Sprint's banner and its one of the ways they help keep the unlimited data in place.

[deesugar]

The 4g part has nothing to do with it.

The extra charge $10 a month is for the heavy usage that is associated with the S2 and S3 and other devices.

I'm already on an S2 as the title of my post says. I already had to pay more when I upgraded from my Palm WebOS phone to the S2. Why do I have to pay more again when going from a S2 to an S3?

Does a S3 have more heavy usage then an S2???

[Paul627g]

No there should be no further extra charge. If you already have the " Premium data charge " as its known on your monthly bill statement than your good to go.. Anything further contact Sprint directly.

[Almeuit]

I'm already on an S2 as the title of my post says. I already had to pay more when I upgraded from my Palm WebOS phone to the S2. Why do I have to pay more again when going from a S2 to an S3?

Does a S3 have more heavy usage then an S2???

The rep obvoously is just reading a script and going on as if you were a new customer saying you will have to pay a $10 a month fee to have a smartphone. So.. I wouldn't worry too much honestly. It's normal for these reps to just go by a script.

If you already had a s2 you are already paying the extra fee for a smartphone. You will not have to pay more or an additional fee for going to a S3. Just wait for your bill and I am sure it will be the same and you won't have to worry... If there somehow is another charge just call Sprint and I guarantee they will make it right.

Simply put you pay your plan plus the $10 premium data charge.. And that's it.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

[Mikey47]

The CSR at Radio Shack obviously couldn't defend this additional monthly charge and I was never given a satisfactory explanation except "It's LTE" which I don't know why that would cost me more except Sprint's CEO is an ***** and made a costly mistake going with WiMAX and is trying to make me pay for it.

So, you're going to let some pimple faced kid at Radio Shack who probably couldn't tell you the difference between AM and FM radio color your impression of Sprint?

[gameaddict8]

So, you're going to let some pimple faced kid at Radio Shack who probably couldn't tell you the difference between AM and FM radio color your impression of Sprint?

Just buy at a corporate store. Price match it

Sent from my EVO LTE using Android Central Forums

[yankeesusa]

At one point I purchased an S3 and had an Epic Touch 4G. Before I made the purchase I was told I would get charged an extra $10 or $15 more a month (can't remember exact amount) because the S3 was a 4G phone.

I had to take a deep breath and count to ten before I explained that my Epic Touch 4G is a 4G phone too, it's part of it's name for Pete's sake! The CSR at Radio Shack obviously couldn't defend this additional monthly charge and I was never given a satisfactory explanation except "It's LTE" which I don't know why that would cost me more except Sprint's CEO is an ***** and made a costly mistake going with WiMAX and is trying to make me pay for it.

Anyone know what's up with this or a way around it?

My question first is, what plan are you on? L

Sent from the Beast that is Galaxy Note 2

[buffdaddy72]

Just buy at a corporate store. Price match it

Sent from my EVO LTE using Android Central Forums

Corporate stores don't price match. Unless they've changed their policy recently.

[gameaddict8]

Corporate stores don't price match. Unless they've changed their policy recently.

Only for new activations? It's been a while.

Sent from my EVO LTE using Android Central Forums

[Mikey47]

Just buy at a corporate store. Price match it

Sent from my EVO LTE using Android Central Forums

Corporate stores don't price match. Unless they've changed their policy recently.

Still, go to a corporate store or call for answers to questions like this. Do NOT rely on Radio Shack employees. That is why people get so ticked off - Sprint is being held to answers that these people give (not that their reps are all that much better).

[SERO wireless]

Sprint used to be the low standards network - they didn't charge much but you got the, "I can't believe this is a legitimate business" level of service too. When the new CEO (Dan Hesse) came on board his priorities were to turn Sprint into a legitimate carrier (hire cs reps who speak english, sell phones NOT made by Sparkomatic) and to slowly herd customers into paying more for the service. Some plans got tagged twice - a $10/mo. "smartphone" fee and a $10/mo., "premium data" fee for customers who used (or owned a phone capable of using) Sprint's LTE network. Customers weren't forced to change their plans, but when they got a new phone they were advised of the additional charges that would apply.

CS reps didn't do a real good job of explaining this to customers and would often get confused about which fee they were adding to customer accounts. OP's original $10/mo. charge was for the Epic Touch 4G being a smartphone. Since that was a WiMax phone the $10/mo., "premium data" fee did not apply. The Radio Shack employee was just reading the screen on his Sprint signup application - if you want to upgrade from a non-LTE phone to an LTE phone at Sprint.com it will tell you that you need to upgrade your plan to use the phone also.

[The Hustleman]

The 4g part has nothing to do with it.

The extra charge $10 a month is for the heavy usage that is associated with the S2 and S3 and other devices. Initally it was taken by many as an excuse for the 4g or Wimax in case of the S II (E4GT) but it isn't the case. Its merely an excuse for Sprint to gain $10 per month so they don't have to drop the unlimited package or change the package costs for higher bandwidth phones.

FWIW, there is no way around paying the charge. Its standard now on just about all smartphones under Sprint's banner and its one of the ways they help keep the unlimited data in place.

Not anymore it doesn't.

When they first introduced the 10$ fee it was along with the launch of the HTC EVO 4g back in June, 2010. Prior to the EVO being released subscribers were promised that 4G wouldn't come with any additional charge. Then the fee came about. People who didn't even have 4G were being charged the fee.

Then the next phone to be hit with that fee was the Epic 4G. It applied to every 4G phone to be released and none of the non 4G phones until enough customers called sprint on their bull$#@t. Then they changed up and decided that it was for any smartphone which is where we are now.

It was a lot of outrage when the fee came out, people were asking sprint "why do I have a 10 dollar charge on my bill?" and reps would say "it's for unlimited data" and of course we replied (in a rather common dialog at the time) "but unlimited data is already included in the plan, what's the difference?" sales rep actually said "well the regular plan is for an all you can eat buffet, the premium data charge is for 'shrimp and crab'"

Google it, a rep actually said that.


sent from the best smart phone (not phablet) on the worst network- the Galaxy S3 unfortunately on T-Mobile

[Almeuit]

Either way... You got a smartphone you pay $10 more simple as that.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.