Sprint $36 Activation/Upgrade Fee and the Moto Pure Edition

[diesteldorf]

I currently have around $380 left on an Easy Pay agreement, and was playing around on Sprint's website to see how easy it was to buy a phone at full retail, since I was not eligible for an upgrade.

I selected the device and, as i was pretending to check out, noticed that Sprint added the $36 upgrade fee to my order and advised it would appear on my first bill.

I was surprised because I was electing to pay full retail price, but I suppose Sprint could view it as an "Upgrade" since it was a new phone.

Upon further research, it looks like Sprint can also charge the $36 fee for entering into a new Easy Pay agreement as well.

I recently purchased the Moto X Pure Edition for around $550 after tax.

I am planning to re-use my existing nano sim from my Nexus 6.

I know I may not be able to just swap the sim, but I am sure I can get Sprint to activate it.

Question: Does anyone know if Sprint reserves the right to charge a $36 activation or upgrade fee to activate a new phone that was not purchased from them?

I hope not, but I am still a little surprised that Sprint would add a $36 fee if you attempt to purchase a phone at full retail from their website.

 

[cerob]

You will not be charged an activation fee if you activate a device that was NOT purchased from Sprint.

If you buy a device from elsewhere (eBay, Craigslist, Google Play Store, Or the manufacturer directly), there is no activation fee charged.

 

[sed51329]

He is correct. Sprint charges activation fees only for phones purchased through their sales channels. Walk in devices do not trigger the activation fee.

Source- I work there.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[diesteldorf]

Thanks for the answers. I chatted with Sprint before my thread had any replies and was advised the same thing.

Should've waited for you guys.

I like Sprint and am a current customer. I also have a line with Verizon.

I could list positives and negatives with each carrier, but, as of now, Verizon does not charge any upgrade fees on devices purchased at full retail or financed through them. Maybe, that will change.

Sprint does, and, as long as their policy is clearly spelled out, that's fine with me.

In the big scheme of things, an extra $36 will still mean the Sprint customer is probably paying less than the Verizon or AT&T customer. However, with the release of the Moto Pure and upcoming Nexus devices, it probably isn't a stretch that we could see more phones priced at $400-$500 full retail.

An extra $36 tacked on to a phone I am already buying full retail really makes me look outside of Sprint and more toward Google, Best Buy, and the OEM directly, especially when Sprint's prices aren't any better than the OEM.

To be fair though, when the Nexus 6 was extremely hard to get, Sprint (and also TMO earlier) was able to ship me one overnight the next day. Moto and Google were at least 4 weeks out.

I could only see myself paying Sprint an extra $36 for the privilege of buying through them IF it meant I would get the phone substantially sooner.

 

[541rrhse]

He is correct. Sprint charges activation fees only for phones purchased through their sales channels. Walk in devices do not trigger the activation fee.

Source- I work there.

Posted via the Android Central App

I've been told by corporate stores locally that fee is waived with credit union membership.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[sed51329]

You are correct!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[diesteldorf]

What credit union do you need to join?

 

[sed51329]

Any. But you can only have one type of discount. So a work discount will supersede this one.

Download the LMCU Rewards application from Google play, and you can add your discount right from your smartphone.

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