Sprint Changing ETFs Starting September 9th
As of right now the early termination fee for ending a contract before it’s up is a pricey $200, but starting September 9th you might not think $200 is so bad. Our world renowned Super Spies have done it again, and this time they bring us some bad news. We have some “Dealer News” that says ETFs will be changed to $350 starting September 9th. The document states that this is only for “advanced” devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, and notebooks. This will go into effect on contracts signed after that date. It should be noted that changes for authorized dealers normally apply to corporate Sprint stores too.
Thanks Diddy!
Updated and making penalty larger in preparation for SGS2 and iPhone launch?
Updated and making penalty larger in preparation for SGS2 and iPhone launch?
Yesss!now i can kill my contract nd get dat new samy g2s..
Yesss!now i can kill my contract nd get dat new samy g2s..
Yesss!now i can kill my contract nd get dat new samy g2s..
Ouch. Understandable though in light of the costs of the tablets and the high end phones. Still sucks.
If Boost Mobile had 4G I would love to go with them. Because 3G over CDMA has been a joke since day 1 compared to AT&T’s 3G data service. Is it possible to take any Sprint smartphone and use it with Boost Mobile?
I called to cancel a line last week and the rep from retentions offered to move that line to Boost instead of completely cancelling. It’s an old Motor Razr2 so I can’t say they’ll do any phone but it wouldn’t hurt to try. ETF for moving to Boost instead of cancellation was only 150 instead of 200. The move takes effect on the 7th, I’m considering putting my Evo3D on that line before then just to see if it works.
I’m sorry, this is total crap. This is all about chaining you to a plan, not the cost of a device. Cell phone makers and wireless carriers are articificially keeping prices high so they can justify contracts and ETAs. The iphone4, the most expensive phone, costs about $220 in parts. OK, add labor (well, in China where they are made they are paying workers about 5 cents an hour), and add in reasonable profit and I get it, but these things are absurd.
Where are all the free marketers screams on this? If ever there was an anticompetitive scheme, it is the ETA.
I’m sorry, this is total crap. This is all about chaining you to a plan, not the cost of a device. Cell phone makers and wireless carriers are articificially keeping prices high so they can justify contracts and ETAs. The iphone4, the most expensive phone, costs about $220 in parts. OK, add labor (well, in China where they are made they are paying workers about 5 cents an hour), and add in reasonable profit and I get it, but these things are absurd.
Where are all the free marketers screams on this? If ever there was an anticompetitive scheme, it is the ETA.
I’m sorry, this is total crap. This is all about chaining you to a plan, not the cost of a device. Cell phone makers and wireless carriers are articificially keeping prices high so they can justify contracts and ETAs. The iphone4, the most expensive phone, costs about $220 in parts. OK, add labor (well, in China where they are made they are paying workers about 5 cents an hour), and add in reasonable profit and I get it, but these things are absurd.
Where are all the free marketers screams on this? If ever there was an anticompetitive scheme, it is the ETA.
It’s not total crap.
For Sprint, the profit margin from selling phones is currently approximately -160%.
Apple charges CARRIERS roughly $600 for a 16GB iPhone 4. Carriers then subsidize the cost and sell at $199. They need to recoup the subsidy.
If I went into a store and purchased a Motorola Photon with a new line for $200, then canceled the line and paid the $200 ETF, Sprint ends up LOSING money and I score a $550 photon for $400.
Bottom line is, carriers aren’t the ones making hand over fist on the devices, Apple sure is though!
It’s not total crap.
For Sprint, the profit margin from selling phones is currently approximately -160%.
Apple charges CARRIERS roughly $600 for a 16GB iPhone 4. Carriers then subsidize the cost and sell at $199. They need to recoup the subsidy.
If I went into a store and purchased a Motorola Photon with a new line for $200, then canceled the line and paid the $200 ETF, Sprint ends up LOSING money and I score a $550 photon for $400.
Bottom line is, carriers aren’t the ones making hand over fist on the devices, Apple sure is though!
It’s not total crap.
For Sprint, the profit margin from selling phones is currently approximately -160%.
Apple charges CARRIERS roughly $600 for a 16GB iPhone 4. Carriers then subsidize the cost and sell at $199. They need to recoup the subsidy.
If I went into a store and purchased a Motorola Photon with a new line for $200, then canceled the line and paid the $200 ETF, Sprint ends up LOSING money and I score a $550 photon for $400.
Bottom line is, carriers aren’t the ones making hand over fist on the devices, Apple sure is though!
That makes sense, they are selling $550 phones for 200 with contract so $350 ETF is fair. At least it goes down over time.
Couldn’t not agree more. They give you a 500-700 dollar phone for anywhere from free to 300. ETFs are fair and 200 is too cheap, would leave them open to scammers. They do pro rate them so after 1 year it’s half the price.
It’s possible to take a sprint phone and hook it up under page plus or cricket, not boost.
It’s possible to take a sprint phone and hook it up under page plus or cricket, not boost.
The ETFs in the UK are way worse. You basically save no money cancelling compared to just leaving it run without using it. They’re a ripoff, but it’s what people signup to.
Idiot. Must be buying his phone with his Obama money.
Best of luck. since Boost is iDEN and Sprint is CDMA I would say you are without a prayer.
Ive seen more than one Evo 4G active on Boost. Data speeds would be depressing as hell but it should be possible.
Boost also has CDMA since they’ve merged with Sprint. I’ve heard that Boost has 3G over CDMA, but not 4G. If Boost ever gets 4G I would switch in a heartbeat.
This is all about revenue model. Carriers don’t make any money on the phone sales – they make it on the recurring revenue of the monthly charges. I don’t have a problem with the ETF’s – and remember that by law they must be prorated (they got their butts sued for this before). So if you are half-way through your contract, you would only pay $175 to terminate.
This is all about revenue model. Carriers don’t make any money on the phone sales – they make it on the recurring revenue of the monthly charges. I don’t have a problem with the ETF’s – and remember that by law they must be prorated (they got their butts sued for this before). So if you are half-way through your contract, you would only pay $175 to terminate.
I don’t think this has anything to do with the launch of the new phones. This charge is for terminating your contract with Sprint – not for switching phones out. Good customers (long-term) can always switch out phones before their contract term – you just have to ask.
Well then the carriers need to quit the service charge gouging and re-educate the whiny public to buy their shit up front … sort like the rest of the world works!
Why would Sprint increase the ETF? Are they not getting the iPhone and they’ll lose more subscribers? Are they having to pay Apple a higher subsidy when a subscriber chooses the iPhone on Sprint? Ergo, a subscriber would be expected to pay a higher ETF. What’s the answer?
Well I bought the Photon 4G today and plan to swap it for the SGS2. Hopefully my ETF stays the same after the return!
And you did not read what I wrote.
I said CARRIERS and CELL PHONE MAKERS are collaborating to keep prices artificially high so that they can justify contracts. Sprint is selling a $600 phone for $200 because it is to their advantage to do so. They get an eta, they get a two year contract.
The pace of technology is such that these phones are getting cheaper and cheaper to build. They have exclusive arrangements with cell phone makers because exclusive arrangements keep prices high. They roll over price new models every six months because it ensures that old models do not drag down the price per unit and because they can charge a premium on “new” phones.
It is a strategy that benefits the cell phone MAKER and the cell service provider, but not you the consumer.
Fox news called…they have more nonsense for you to swallow.
Wrong. For example, the Android OS is available for free from Google. ANY device manufacturer in the world can make an Android smartphone. That is a very competitive market. If the carriers conspired with, say, Samsung to keep the prices high, then LG or Motorola would offer one cheaper.
If Motorola were “in on the conspiracy” then Archos or HTC, or Foxconn, or ZTE, or Huawei, or Siemens, or Ericsson, or Sanyo, Pansonic, Sharp, Fujitsu or INQ, or Google, or a new entrant in the phone industry would offer one cheaper. Do you really think that many companies, across many nations, are ALL conspiring to fake the cost of a high end smartphone?
The ETF is very fair. You say Sprint conspires to raise the prices, but that flies in the face of the facts that the carriers actually ‘conspire’ to lower your price of phones, as an enticement to get you subscribed to their service. The contracts area also fair, as it ensures they can recoup their investment.
The only thing about this that isn’t fair is that GSM carriers also SIM lock the phone. This is BS. If it is the consumer’s phone, what right does the carrier have to lock it to their network AS WELL AS enforce ETF through contract.
This move is directly in line with the launch of the iPhone as an offset. We’re all going to pay to have the iPhone on the Sprint network, like it, buy it, or not.
This move is directly in line with the launch of the iPhone as an offset. We’re all going to pay to have the iPhone on the Sprint network, like it, buy it, or not.
They should structure like this(at least I would)…
$350 at the beginning
From month 6, $225
from here on to month 22, $12 off the ETF down to $33.
One issue with ETFs…they’re a joke because…You can get an Optimus V (Virgin) for $150 with no contract. The Sprint version (optimus S) has a full retail of 299.99. If I were to be dumb enough to get an Optimus, I’d pay the 299 outright and have Sprint avoid putting me on a contract. The ETF is more than the phone costs!
I thought boost was on the sprint network why wouldn’t it work? And why would you want to go to boost from sprint when it is the same crappy coverage and service?