Buy insurance for your epic..no more instore warranty repairs/replacements

[boomerbubba]

Thank you for that. Sounds like the plan actually became worthwhile. I'm glad I got it added to my phone during my 30 window.

I wonder if Sprint is opening up that window for those who did not enroll in the TEP plan within 30 days, now that the rules are changing.

 

[d94]

Thank you for that. Sounds like the plan actually became worthwhile. I'm glad I got it added to my phone during my 30 window.

I noticed it lists prices for things if you don't have tep. But are those the actual repair fees or do you pay those plus the cost of parts & labor? Doesn't seem very clear.

Those are the actual repair fees, there are no additional costs. basically instead of paying $119/99 like before if you didnt have insurance now its $35

I wonder if Sprint is opening up that window for those who did not enroll in the TEP plan within 30 days, now that the rules are changing.

After you pay the $35 deductible to get your device repaired/replaced you can add insurance.

 

[milominderbinde]

$7 per month is a bargain. Remember that the price we pay to buy them is not the full retail.

I keep the insurance on each phone until it is eligible for an upgrade and sometimes longer if I am still wanting to keep the phone. Only the primary phone is eligible for an upgrade in 12 months.

The last thing you want is to buy insurance from an insurance carrier. That is a claim on your record that can affect your home or renters insurance rates and even get you canceled.

 

[Palm-a-PREciation]

Honestly, we've NEVER bought insurance on our phones, and have been better off for it......the phones have always had a 1 year manufacturer's warranty, that we could have repaired at the store anyway (which Sprint has taken that away from what I understand....if I'm reading it correctly to have warranty work done in the store if you don't have the insurance, it will cost $35)

So then, we took the risk of not losing the phone, or dropping it, etc....but we figured out with 2 phones on the account at $7 each a month, the math worked out to $14 x 24 months = $336, and then if we had to use it once, it's another $100, therefore costing us $436 for the insurance for 2 years.

We have had Palm Pre's for a year now (so at this point the insurance would've cost us $14 x 12 = $168 plus an additional $100 if we needed to use it once......you can find Palm Pre's for $50 - $100 on Craigslist now, our phones are still doing fine, so we are already ahead by not having the insurance.....

So due to depreciation, we always took the risk, and figured we would use an old phone or find a replacement on Craigslist to get us through if we needed it.....

But now with Sprints new warranty policy, it may make more sense to get the insurance (especially since I'm looking at getting a Sprint Epic, which at this point I haven't even seen on Craigslist, best I found was a Evo for $400)....so with a better phone, I will consider it more strongly.....

but with the way of the changes, it feels to me that it's a way for Sprint to make up more money from people like me (honestly, I don't blame them, they have the cheapest plans around, but I don't see this as a bonus from Sprint)

 

[Balzak]

This is the first time Ive bought insurance. I had the Pre and was lucky but I felt like I was walking on egg shells. The way I figure it its only one pack of smokes a month and Im trying to quit anyway

 

[Palm-a-PREciation]

Quick question, can you drop the insurance at any time....I could see paying for insurance for the first year or so, but then when the phones depreciate, and if you can find them for under $100 or so on Craigslist, then drop the insurance since you could replace it cheaper on Craigslist then the insurance . (don't know if that will happen with Evos and Epics, but also didn't think it would happen with Palm Pre's and HTC Hero's a year ago either, just the nature of technology, in a year, it's all outdated, which depreciates the value)

 

[Mikey47]

Honestly, we've NEVER bought insurance on our phones, and have been better off for it......the phones have always had a 1 year manufacturer's warranty, that we could have repaired at the store anyway (which Sprint has taken that away from what I understand....if I'm reading it correctly to have warranty work done in the store if you don't have the insurance, it will cost $35)

So then, we took the risk of not losing the phone, or dropping it, etc....but we figured out with 2 phones on the account at $7 each a month, the math worked out to $14 x 24 months = $336, and then if we had to use it once, it's another $100, therefore costing us $436 for the insurance for 2 years.

We have had Palm Pre's for a year now (so at this point the insurance would've cost us $14 x 12 = $168 plus an additional $100 if we needed to use it once......you can find Palm Pre's for $50 - $100 on Craigslist now, our phones are still doing fine, so we are already ahead by not having the insurance.....

So due to depreciation, we always took the risk, and figured we would use an old phone or find a replacement on Craigslist to get us through if we needed it.....

But now with Sprints new warranty policy, it may make more sense to get the insurance (especially since I'm looking at getting a Sprint Epic, which at this point I haven't even seen on Craigslist, best I found was a Evo for $400)....so with a better phone, I will consider it more strongly.....

but with the way of the changes, it feels to me that it's a way for Sprint to make up more money from people like me (honestly, I don't blame them, they have the cheapest plans around, but I don't see this as a bonus from Sprint)

Wow, get your calculator out and see just how much you can save without car insurance too -- that is a big ripoff as well.

Honestly, no insurance is worth it -- until you need it. Especially with smart phones like these with fragile screens, moving parts etc. they are much more likely to have issues than feature phones.

I have a buddy who's had the worst luck with phones. Had his replaced three times this year (all problems were his fault - dropping, sitting on, and dove into a pool with it in his pocket) without TEP he would have been out over a thousand dollars.

 

[boomerbubba]

Quick question, can you drop the insurance at any time....I could see paying for insurance for the first year or so, but then when the phones depreciate, and if you can find them for under $100 or so on Craigslist, then drop the insurance since you could replace it cheaper on Craigslist then the insurance . (don't know if that will happen with Evos and Epics, but also didn't think it would happen with Palm Pre's and HTC Hero's a year ago either, just the nature of technology, in a year, it's all outdated, which depreciates the value)

I believe you can drop the insurance at any time.

However, it might make some sense to keep it in place because it is both and insurance policy and a warranty plan. Once the plan is in place, it provides warranty protection from Asurion, the underwriter, for any Sprint-branded device attached to your Sprint phone line. That might even be a phone you purchased on Craigslist or eBay, so long as it is not DOA and can connect to the network when you enable it.

Hence, if in the future I want to experiment with another phone, such as an Evo or a WhizBang2011 introduced next year, I can shop for a used one in the secondary market and have Sprint enable it. Then the plan gives me basic warranty coverage. (I would typically get no warranty if I buy a used phone on the street.) But this only works if I have the TEP in place already.

(Caveat: I believe that is the way Asurion's coverage works with Sprint. That is the way T-Mobile's Asurion plan was structured. I confirmed it with Asurion at the time I had it. The transfer was even easier with phones that used SIM cards.)

 

[Palm-a-PREciation]

Wow, get your calculator out and see just how much you can save without car insurance too -- that is a big ripoff as well.

Honestly, no insurance is worth it -- until you need it. Especially with smart phones like these with fragile screens, moving parts etc. they are much more likely to have issues than feature phones.

I have a buddy who's had the worst luck with phones. Had his replaced three times this year (all problems were his fault - dropping, sitting on, and dove into a pool with it in his pocket) without TEP he would have been out over a thousand dollars.

If I had a car that could be replaced cheaper than the insurance cost me, I would only have liability insurance on it (with cell phones, it's a different scenario, since with a car, you need to carry it for liability reasons, but a cell phone you're not going to hurt another cell phone with your phone...LOL!)...so as far as insuring the car, if it's going to cost me $1000 to insure a car that I could replace for $500, then no, I wouldn't have coverage on my car, I'd only have liability insurance......

we are very careful with our phones, we've NEVER had any problems with losing them, dropping them, etc......but I am tempted to get the insurance due to the fact that this is a more expensive phone, and Sprint has it set up now that our way of taking the risk, knowing that we had a one year manufacturer's warranty doesn't work as well.

 

[tndank]

If you don't fear losing your phone, then don't add the insurance part. Just get the $3 service and repair added on. It covers everything except having the $100 asurion option.

Or, do both and drop the insurance whenever you feel comfortable with 'street' prices.

 

[Skunkape60]

After reading the OP first post in this thread on Friday. I immediately ran down to the sprint store and bought the insurance on my Daughters phone (already had it on the epic.) I knew we were just a day from hitting the 30 day mark.

It's a really good thing I did. My daughter went to a football game that night and lost her phone (Samsung Instinct s30) in the bleachers. While I originally bought the insurance because the change in sprints repair policies, it has already paid for itself on the 1st day because of loss..

 

[d94]

Quick question, can you drop the insurance at any time....I could see paying for insurance for the first year or so, but then when the phones depreciate, and if you can find them for under $100 or so on Craigslist, then drop the insurance since you could replace it cheaper on Craigslist then the insurance . (don't know if that will happen with Evos and Epics, but also didn't think it would happen with Palm Pre's and HTC Hero's a year ago either, just the nature of technology, in a year, it's all outdated, which depreciates the value)

You can drop it whenever you want, its not part of your contact.

 

[|-KGB-|CaptHowdy]

You can drop it whenever you want, its not part of your contact.

but you cant put it back on whenever you want

 

[ragnarokx]

but you cant put it back on whenever you want

This is true - I think Sprint gives you something like 30 days to add TEP to your plan after you get your phone. After that you're on your own.

 

[Since9600]

I have never got insurance for any phone as I have multiple lines and thus can get multiple upgrades thanks to Premier every year lol. So I switch every year and sometimes twice in a year.. I love Sprint.. Also I have never damaged a phone.. My over year old Tour still is brand new with not a scratch.. Always holstered...

 

[Skunkape60]

@#^%$ I called the TEP to claim my daughters phone lost.... The phone is 25 days old and they would NOT cover it. You can NOT make any claims for the 1st 30 days. Now they flagged my daughters phone as a denied claim and I will not be able to replace it with there insurance. Even if I wait the 5 days to meet eligibility requirements and report it again. it is too late for me as the phone has been flagged in there system as lost. I had to pay FULL price for a new phone no rebate and no new service discount.

Make sure you wait a full 30 day before making a claim using TEP or you will be screwed.

 

[frankos72]

we are very careful with our phones, we've NEVER had any problems with losing them, dropping them, etc......but I am tempted to get the insurance due to the fact that this is a more expensive phone, and Sprint has it set up now that our way of taking the risk, knowing that we had a one year manufacturer's warranty doesn't work as well.

Uh Oh, better get it. Making a statement like "we are very careful with our phones, we've NEVER had any problems with losing them" is just setting yourself up for an accident next week. You know isn't that the way stuff always works.... Soon as you start bragging about anything/anyone, it/they will let you down.


Anyway, my opinion, I have had TEP since my Treo 650. It was always a great deal. I had 3 replacements/repairs on my 650 and the 3rd one was a free upgrade to the 700. They didn't have 650 instock. I got a replacement once on my Cento also when the . button went out. Everytime it was a walk in and get it swapped out situation. So I was a bit bummed when they changed it last year around the time the Pre came out. I stuck with it though cause I figured it had paid for itself and so I kinda owed them anyway for that free upgrade to the 700.

Eventually I got the problem on my Pre where the speaker didn't work that was caused by the faulty headphone jack. I took it in and they replaced it with a refurb free. Then I was checking my refurb in the car and it had a blow speaker so I went back in and they gave me a new one. They even let me keep one of the extra batteries too. The day before I got the epic, my speakerphone speaker in my Pre blew. I took it in and told them I was wanting the epic tomorrow(launch day). In the meantime they replaced my speaker for me while I waited.

So needless to say I'm a big fan of the Sprint TEP. I never did think of dropping it once I was upgrade eligible. I guess cause soon as I'm eligible and there's a phone I'd rather have, I'm not waiting for mine to break before I upgrade.

Also, preexisting, your original statement said something about having good luck with your two pre. You did a lot of math too. I think your math makes great sense, but only if your phone doesn't break. When the Pres where new or now while your Epic is new, if you drop it and break it a week after you get it, it sure will suck going back to your Pre for a year until your eligible again. I say, Get the insurance.

 

[BrianFX]

Not sure how many people are aware, but as of tomorrow sprint is changing its service and repair program thus stopping in-store warranty work, your phone will only get repaired/replaced at a service center if you have TEP

The PDF you attached contradicts your statement above. Repair/replacement is available in-store without TEP for a $35 fee.

I'm not sure what their policy was before (no one responded to my previous post asking for clarification), but I'm pretty sure they only handled TEP-protected phones in-store (this was how TEP was always marketed to me as). Hence, other than the new $35 option (a benefit for us non-TEP users), I'm not sure what else had changed.

 

[Palm-a-PREciation]

Uh Oh, better get it. Making a statement like "we are very careful with our phones, we've NEVER had any problems with losing them" is just setting yourself up for an accident next week. You know isn't that the way stuff always works.... Soon as you start bragging about anything/anyone, it/they will let you down.

LOL....that's true, I better watch out for that darn Murphy with his law and everything!!!

I do think I will get the insurance on my Epic (I have to wait a few more weeks before I can get one).....simply because the Epic is more phone than any other phone we've ever had in the past....I know when we got our Palm Pre's, I believe we paid $149 for those, so more equivalent to a Transform in that regard in today's updated technology pricing (because sure, the Palm Pre's are now $49, but that's because they are already a year old, for $149, you can get a Transform)....so the Epic is a lot bigger investment to take the risk with....so yeah, I'll get the insurance.

 

[Palm-a-PREciation]

The PDF you attached contradicts your statement above. Repair/replacement is available in-store without TEP for a $35 fee.

I'm not sure what their policy was before (no one responded to my previous post asking for clarification), but I'm pretty sure they only handled TEP-protected phones in-store (this was how TEP was always marketed to me as). Hence, other than the new $35 option (a benefit for us non-TEP users), I'm not sure what else had changed.

My understanding was that the phones have always had a one year manufacturer's warranty, which Sprint could take care of in store for you.....at no cost, ....but that Sprint has changed their policy on that. I had thought they said they weren't going to do any warranty work at all a few weeks ago, and you'd have to send it to the manufacturer, but now I see that they will for the $35 charge (if you don't have TEP, otherwise no charge)

So the way I see it, is what used to be free for a year, will now cost $35 each time a warranty type work is done. So I don't see it as a benefit for us non-TEP users at all, I see that it's more of a way to get us non TEP users to actually buy their insurance (I honestly don't blame them, they have the lowest prices of all carriers, I'd rather they have this as a way to earn extra revenue than to increase their plans....)

I have a difficult time actually buying the insurance, my husband listens to a lot of Clark Howard (financial talk radio expert)...and from what I understand from what my husband has said about it is, all the "extended warranty" stuff is a HUGE money maker for the company selling the warranty, that typically a consumer doesn't get their investment back out of it......so we've always skipped all the exended warranties (on any purchases, not just cell phones).....the couple times we've suckered into it, we just proved Clark Howard right!!

But with the $35 warranty work fee anyway, I'm thinking financially, it does make sense to go with the insurance now (the insurance on one phone would be $84/year, and that would make any warranty claim free (as opposed to $35 a time), and have the peace of mind of if something happened to the phone, it'd only cost $100 to get a replacement)