Everything Data Share vs Family Share Plan

[ncwitz]

Hello,

I am currently on the Everything Data Share 1500 plan with 4 lines at $172.47/month (before taxes/fees) with employee and monthly discount. Looking at upgrading to new phones. I've been told that I can continue with the current plan and purchase new subsidized phones for the standard 2-year commitment... or I could switch to the new Family Share Pack Plans. I am currently out of contract.

If I understand the new plans correctly I come up with the following price estimates:

Assumptions:
8GB Plan
Samsung Galaxy S5, $149.99 2-year contract or $650 retail for EasyPay

Current Plan
Monthly Plan Cost $172.47
Plan 24 Month Total $4,139.28
Equipment 24 Month Total $599.96
24 Month Total Cost $4,739.24

Family Share Pack - 2 year contract subsidized phone
Monthly Plan Cost $212.50
Plan 24 Month Total $5,100.00
Equipment 24 Month Total $600
24 Month Total Cost $5,699.96

Family Share Pack - EasyPay Option
Monthly Plan Cost $152.50
Plan 24 Month Total $3,660.00
Equipment 24 Month Total $2,600.00
24 Month Total Cost $6,260.00

So... there appears to be no reason to switch to a Family Share Plan. The switch would cost me about $1,000-$1,500 more over the 2 year period and I lose unlimited data. Granted.. I don't really use the data thus the assumption of the 8 GB plan.

Am I missing something or is the rationale sound?

Also, comparing Sprint vs. the Verizon/AT&T plans shows similar cost savings for my current Sprint plan. While I've had my difficulties with Sprint network speeds, in general, it's been satisfactory and I have a hard time overlooking the cost savings. Thanks again for any comments/suggestions.

 

[Dngrsone]

Off you have a Costco membership, you can get better phones at a much better price and be able to add them to your Sprint plan with an extended contract.

For example, I bought Galaxy S4s for a penny a piece (plus tax) and got my contract bumped out another 24 months with Sprint, but it's the same contract, not the Framily thing.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

 

[cjones]

Yeah, my family is struggling with this same issue.

The problem is: do I stick with a more expensive Unlimited Data Plan (data we don't use. Normally we don't go over 5GB a month) and get subsidized phones or switch to the $80 12GB plan and save a bunch each month but have to go to Easy Pay.

I really want the Nexus 6 but don't have the $250 I would need to get that subsidized phone, so the Easy Pay seems like a good idea until the rest of my family wants to up grade their phones. UGH!

If Amazon would discount the N6, I would sign that 2 yr contract in a heartbeat.

 

[Mikey47]

There is no beating that 1500 minute family plan, that's what we have.

If you are looking for a GS5, best buy has them for $1 right now. Just upgraded my daughters line and added a 5th line for my son with one too. The best buy insurance is now better than Sprint's! Walked out of the store with 2 GS5s for a total of about $24.

The price at best buy goes through Saturday.

 

[djw39]

I looked at this a while back and switched my family over to the family share pack. We got 20 GB shared which at the time was by far the best deal, I think this has changed a bit since then. But the logic is still, if you are wanting to upgrade to new phones, this is not the time to make the switch from Everything Data to the family share pack plan. For my family it made sense because my dad and wife both have iPhones and adamantly do NOT want to upgrade, and I am running the LG Optimus G which I got for $150 used a year and a half ago, and will probably eventually upgrade to G2 for about the same price. So none of us are interested in buying an expensive new phone, and overall we save $35-40 a month on the combined bill. The savings on that rack up pretty quickly.

Sometimes Sprint offers good deals on Easy Pay--I think you can get the HK edition of the M8 for $300 or something. But I will still probably stick with used phones and I continue to recommend that route if you are cost conscious. If on the other hand you and the other people on your plan want a new phone every two years, stick with Everything Data for sure.

 

[j_grouchy]

I believe the Family Share plans are only better in certain instances:
A - you are not on Easy Pay or using a subsidized phone
B - your data usage is below, I believe, 10 GB/month (wifi being the important factor for anyone wanting to save data)

Otherwise, the monthly fees for phones will put you higher than what you pay for Everything Data. My wife and I currently have the Everything Data 1500 plan and when I considered changing the plan I discovered the bill would work out to roughly the same or slightly higher.

 

[My_Broken_Wings]

I have the My way plan. Unlimited everything. I pay $172-$174 give or take. For two lines. Only downfall as opposed to a framily plan. The bill is one, and not seperate. So I have to rely on my GF to pay her share. Or else, I'm stuck paying for her bill. Because it's still on contract. (Don't worry guys, we've been together 14yrs, no worries ).

They told me, that the My Way plan, no longer exist. Amd if I switch for any reason. I cannot get it back. Like the framily plan. The more you add. The less the new line cost. But unlike framily it doesn't spread acrossed all lines on that plan. They don't offer Framily anymore either.

Now its the $100 add up to 10 people share 20gbs. Of data. Here's the catch. The more people you add. The more data is being used.

Here's why I cannot even think of getting that plan. I have unlimited for a reason. I alone (not including my gf) average 28gbs of data a month. BY MYSELF. so when people say they barely go over 5gb. You are not getting what you pay for.

I pay alot for just two lines. But it's much less than any other carrier. When I was with Verizon 3yrs ago. It was just me. $108 a month. 950 whenever min. 500 text. And only 2gb of data. Which I constantly went over. But mostly because the service was so crappy in my area, that it would use twice to triple the data to load one page. Constantly refreshing itself. It was horrible.

Granted Sprint is not 'The Best'. With the right plan. You get what you pay for. For the most part.

I thought I'd add a line. Since I was offered a year free if I did. Apparently a data hotspot/stick doesnt work with my plan. I was looking to get unlimited or close for a tablet my son is getting on Christmas. But they offered 1gb data, for an added $15 on my bill. Or $30 for 3gb. Really? It's just data, nothing else. I declined of course. Plus however much the data thing itself cost to own.

In the end. Read the fine print. I have unlimited everything. As long as I keep the plan, that'll never change. But you having 4 lines for the same price I'm paying. But limited data? It all comes down to what you need most really. I don't have internet at home. So that's where unlimited comes in handy.

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[My_Broken_Wings]

You can get the HK m8 from Sprint online till the 1st of Jan FREE if you add a line. But only for new customers. I won the HTC one E8 from this years holiday giveaway. But most likely my Girlfriend will end up with it. (I want an S5 or LG G3 (its a penny on Amazon right now, $54 total two year contract. But you get hit with a $36 activation/ upgrade fee.) I think it's stupid that even on my plan. They try to force me off of it because I want my two year upgrade.

I bought my GS3 brand new for a penny off amazon ($53 with tax) when it was still $199 across all carriers on contract. My gf got hers for only $42 8 months later when I added her on at a sprint store. Her catch was she had to purchase $50 in accessories. But it was added to the following months bills. I dont know how good the htc one E8 is yet. It's still untouched and un-Activated in the box. But I'll tell you one thing. I got it before it was even released. So not many reviews or accesories for it. I will never pay anywhere close to $40 for a freakin case either. I already pay sprint enough. Found a cute one on Amazon for only $5 total. Trust me. If your interested in a new phone. Check amazon. Guaranteed you'll spend much, much less on an upgrade than at best buy or sprint.

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[My_Broken_Wings]

There is no beating that 1500 minute family plan, that's what we have.

If you are looking for a GS5, best buy has them for $1 right now. Just upgraded my daughters line and added a 5th line for my son with one too. The best buy insurance is now better than Sprint's! Walked out of the store with 2 GS5s for a total of about $24.

The price at best buy goes through Saturday.

I tried that with my lines. And it's a dollar + taxes. So its about $68 for one S5. And then a $36 upgrade/activation charge. How the hell did you get 2 for $24? Amazon has them for a penny. And still it's like $58, Plus upgrade/activation fee. You are very lucky indeed. They either pulled a bunch of strings. Or gave you a really heavy handed discount. I've been in target, walmart, best buys, sprint. And I never saw them that low. Even at a sale for a penny or a dollar (which they still are today). I would believe the insurance would be $24 for both though. I personally wanted the S5 so bad. But now that the lg g3 is on sale too. I'd take that over the S5. But sadly I'm very broke at the moment. Wish I could get even one S5 for $24 .

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[djw39]

I tried that with my lines. And it's a dollar + taxes. So its about $68 for one S5. And then a $36 upgrade/activation charge.

THIS is why I buy used!