Amazon Wireless questions

[wynand32]

I'm thinking of buying a couple of Sprint Epic Touch 4G devices on new family lines via the Amazon penny pincher deal this weekend. However, a few of their policies are a bit confusing, and calling Amazon doesn't seem to clear anything up. I'm hoping that someone here might have some experience in working with them and might be able to shed some light.

1. They say in the FAQs that you can't buy a phone using an upgrade on one line and switch it to another line without an upgrade. Not sure why they care because they still get credit for the contract extension, but whatever. What's confusing is if this applies to NEW lines; in that section, it says nothing about this.

2. Then, there's this in their policies:

AmazonWireless Instant Discount Policy
When you purchase your device with service from AmazonWireless.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you. This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days. If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, AmazonWireless.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.

This policy does not apply to prepaid phones, phones sold without service and Sprint devices.

Strangely enough, it would seem that there is NO such policy for Sprint, period.

Anybody know anything? Has anyone ever bought a phone via Amazon Wireless on a new line and swapped it with a phone on another line?

 

[pazzo02]

Amazon's policy is basically transferred from whichever carrier you're using. If you wouldn't be eligible for a discount directly from the carrier doing what you propose, you wouldn't be eligible through Amazon.

You should have no problem upgrading an eligible line, and then just swapping sim cards.

 

[wynand32]

Amazon's policy is basically transferred from whichever carrier you're using. If you wouldn't be eligible for a discount directly from the carrier doing what you propose, you wouldn't be eligible through Amazon.

You should have no problem upgrading an eligible line, and then just swapping sim cards.

I hear you, and although I won't be swapping SIM cards (this is Sprint), I'd be doing the equivalent: just swapping phones from one line to another. Sprint allows that no problem--once you commit to a new line or contract extension, they don't seem to care what you do with the phones.

However, the Amazon policy _for upgrades_ states that, even though the carrier allows swapped phones, Amazon doesn't. But again, that's for upgrades. New lines doesn't contain that verbiage. And again the overall discounted phone policy says that Sprint devices are excluded.

So thanks, but it's all still very confusing. Do note that I'm specifically NOT trying to get away with anything. I'm fully prepared to honor my commitment to keep the lines. It's just that my 11-year-old son doesn't really need to be using a $600 phone (I'd rather he start out with the Palm Pre I have left over), and the Epic Touch shouldn't sit there wasted in the meantime.

 

[androidmaster1]

wyn, you can upgrade your line or which ever is allowed the new phone. give it a week or so, then call "sprint" directly, and have them just swap esn's. amazon is an authorized dealer for sprint. service comes from sprint. and the phones are for sprint. amazon just doesn't want to lose the money for the phone they are dishing out or they don't want to lose the commission for the lose of the sale, due to service disconnection.