Upgrade Strategy

[jabruno101]

I have an 8830 WE that is very much on the fritz. It has been resetting randomly and yesterday the screen went blank and did not respond to any button being pressed. It will be 2 years old in October. This morning it seems to be working fine. I am very much looking forward to upgrading to the Tour, the site says I am eligible for an upgrade on 8/1. I can live with an unreliable BB for a week or two, but for nearly a month? Not going to be easy to say the least and I certainly do not want to pay nearly $500 for a curve or another WE when the tour is less than 10 days from being released. I am thinking on calling CS, maybe retentions and politley asking for my upgrade to be pushed forward. If there is anyone out there with any advice on the best practices to gain this, I would be most appreciative in hearing it.

Thanks!

[Chief7]

Here is my advice.... MAKE THE CALL! CS is very helpful and when you are this close it seems likely they will accommodate you. The only down side will be those low lifes who are whining about a phone "on the fritz" that isn't just to get a Tour early. But, you never know - honestly and being courteous can get you a long way. good luck!

[boomhower1820]

Retentions is going to be your best bet to get your date moved up. Do you have insurance on it? Normal CS is likely to say sorry about your luck if you don't and if you do, then they are going to tell you to call Asurion.

[Californium89]

Call retentions if ur only a month a way they will do it no prob if not the first time then keep callin u will get somebody that will hook up

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[saintj]

Call CS first that way if they dont help you when you call retentions then it will look better.

[aceofspades923]

why can´t you just renew a contract for 2 more years and pay the $200 or whatever. i thought upgrade discounts at the end of your two years just subtracted an additional $50 or so?

[jabruno101]

I think I need to be approved for the upgrade priceing if my 22 months is not up, otherwise I'll have to pay full retail price for the phone which is likely to be around $600. I will likely be able to move the upgrade date up a few weeks, sign a new contract for 2 years, and get new customer pricing

I went on a chat with Sprint over the weekend and was told to take it to a Sprint store and they may be able to move the upgrade forward. Not sure how empowered store agents are in these matters, any one with any idea?

Funny, the more and more I want the Tour to be released yesterday, the more and more my 8830 is acting up. now it resets whenever it is set down on a table in anything other than a cradled and supremely gentile manner. What a pain - 6 more days (hopefully).

[mystic205]

If you are a premier member you get the $150 discount after a year, but i thought even regular customers get $75 after one year dont they?..
Given its so late in your contract i doubt that you would have much problem... just wait until you see the tour ins tock in your local store..
Since the courts determined that etf is prorated on a monthly basis from 24-0 months you can always drop off and return.. they know this, you know this, so they will of course help out.

[jabruno101]

I am not a premier member, though I thought I qualified. I have had a $39.99 voice plan plus the $30 BIS for over 4 years but i am told that I need to have a $69.99 plan before the BIS. I am switching to the Everything Data plan for $69.99 which includes 450 minutes (which i seldom use) and includes the BIS.

Enough procrastinating, I am calling them now.

[jabruno101]

After a half hour on phone I was given the $75 that I have already earned plus an additional $150 off of my account with the (retail value) purchase of a new phone. Kind of strange that they wouldn't just allow me to get new customer pricing, which I would have been happy with, depending on the retail value of the Tour I may end up it less expensive than a standard upgrade. They are supposed to be sending me email confirmation of this all today. I am thinking there will be a catch somewhere.

[Andrax]

The catch will be that you won't qualify for the $100 MIR the way they have it setup now.

Just a guess.

[estroh]

I am out of contract, and I was just offered $70 for each of 2 lines to renew contracts and the rep said that it would not affect my MIR discount to get the Blackberry Tour.

Should I believe her?

[xlipstickandbruisesx]

I could be mistake but I belive you're not eligible for any of the other discounts (IR and MIR) unless you're eligible for the full $150 2 year price. That would mean $75 would be subtracted from the retail price and then an additional $150 would be subtracted from that price giving you your total which would be roughly $350 + tax. I'd personally call back and talk to the cancelations department because if you're upgrade is a month away its a waste. You could also purchase a used curve or something to hold you over till your contract is up and then re-sell it for the same price when you can get your full upgrade

Originally Posted by jabruno101

After a half hour on phone I was given the $75 that I have already earned plus an additional $150 off of my account with the (retail value) purchase of a new phone. Kind of strange that they wouldn't just allow me to get new customer pricing, which I would have been happy with, depending on the retail value of the Tour I may end up it less expensive than a standard upgrade. They are supposed to be sending me email confirmation of this all today. I am thinking there will be a catch somewhere.

[jabruno101]

Just called to confirm everything. The CS rep I spoke with was very intelligent...to a point. He confirmed the 150 off is in fact on the plan and it will NOT affect the rebate as it is an account credit that will be applied when the phone is purchased. I asked that he make a notation on the account to that this was discussed. Then he said that I had a $50 off next bill if I were to renew a 2 year contract now which would not affect upgrade pricing. That seemed strange to me as I have never heard of anything like that before. He said they put it on there for people who they are unsure they will renew. I will have to take that before I upgrade and get into a new contract. Anyone hear of that?

Now is where he went off the tracks: at the end he asked if I wanted to order that new Blackberry 9630 now. I laughingly said "SURE" waited like 2 minutes on hold for him to come back and say that "We do not have it available yet for order. It will be available in stores on June 12th." I again laughed and told him that I would bet money that telesales and sprint.com would get it first and he said new phones are usually introduced to the stores first. Everything I have read points to a June 12 date online and via phone and stores July 20th (at best).