T-Mobile's Business Strategy... Your thoughts...

[Capitan Totti]

I have been out of contract with T-Mobile for two years now since I am on the EM+ plan I got way back, and I thought that was an awesome "contract"... however, I am really disliking the new contracts and the way T-Mobile is going about them, not to mention their 180 on CS which used to be spectacular, and now... it is appallingly bad.

You used to be able to call, and within minutes you spoke to a courteous rep who helped you out in every way possible. Now... I really have no idea how to get to a rep... I kept pressing 0, no luck... and the stories I am hearing aren't reassuring. Sad.

But the main point (IMO) is the new contracts T-Mo offers.
With AT&T (and sure, all their issues), you do pay more... but you also, get far more. For one thing, you get unlimited calling to ALL cellphones, and this applies to everyone on the plan. On T-Mobile, only two people can have unlimited, and the extra two lines either pay $25 each for unlimited or, $5 for 500 minutes. That's ridiculous.

Many say that with T-Mobile, you (can) save around or over $800 dollars.
However, here is the catch IMO.

SAME SCENARIOS. Four lines, unlimited calling, unlimited text, two 2GB data plans, and one 200mb data plan.

Four people on AT&T for unlimited voice and text pay $120, and on T-Mo $150. The main difference comes with data. If you add the same kind of data to both plans, AT&T will come out to be an extra $65+$120= $185, on T-Mobile it will be $25+$150= $175. This when both plans have the SAME voice, text and data plan. BUT! Take the Samsung Galaxy S II. On T-Mobile, you need to pay the first rate right away which are the taxes+ $229= $248 (in NV), and 20 rates of $10 each after, which added to the plan, equal $185. On AT&T, there is a one time fee of $199.99+ taxes= $217 (in NV), which is divided for 24 months (the length of the contract), comes out to $9 bucks a month which added to the $185= $194.

BUT...

1) With AT&T, you can upgrade every year now. This means that my resale value on my $199.99 paid Samsung Galaxy S II on AT&T (which works with the 3G/4G bands in Europe too if unlocked) can be sold for a very good price which would literally make up, and exceed, the upgrade price I paid originally.

2) I am able to use another family member upgrade for me, or anyone else. This means that if my dad and/or mom, who really don't care about new devices every year, are say happy with their $49.99 (+2 = $99.98 + taxes) BB 9810, I can use their upgrades and sell both phones for full retail price once out (like the iPhone 5 maybe?), and not only make up, but also EXCEED the supposedly "saved" money that I would't have paid if I stayed with T-Mobile. (T-Mobile does not offer any decent smartphone around $49.99, more like $79.99 AND you have to pay full retail in the end)

3) With T-Mobile, I have to pay the full price tag of phones, with a HUGE first down payment which means that if I wanna get two Samsung Galaxy S II (which will have the 3G/4G bands only working with T-Mobile USA) it would come out to pretty much $500+ in one day! And that the resale value, because I am buying it in full... will NEVER be beneficial to me. And, true, T-Mobile offers cheaper voice, text, and data plans (and way less services)... but when you do the math (at least in my case) the difference is around $10-$30 a month less than AT&T, but the resale value, option to upgrade after only one year, and unlimited voice for all towards any cellphone... isn't there (as explained above), and yeah... You get what you pay for basically.

Conclusion, I am very sad to see T-Mobile go down like this. I switched from Cingular to T-Mobile because of their awesome plans, and now I see that it is actually better to switch back to AT&T... Sorry for the long post, you thoughts.

[always3rd]

I too have noticed the decline in customer service. And not just from your bottom CSRs but up to the "office of the president". I have done my homework in comparing to other plans and there isnt but maybe a few dollars difference to what I am paying now. I realize a few dollars over 24 months becomes a bit more than just a "few dollars" but the pricing on the actual devices is really what makes it pretty much all equal. Either pay more upfront for a device and save on the plan, or pay less on the device and little more on the plan. Guess the underlying point here.....all of em have us by the short and curlys

[canuckinnh]

T-mobile's business strategy is to wait and see whether the AT&T takeover is going to happen.

It has created a great deal of uncertainty for T-mobiles employees and the people that are subscribers.

This uncertainty is causing a loss in subscribers and obvious problems for customer service.

[Capitan Totti]

The other day I went to the T-Mo store I usually go to and checked on what they might offer... I looked around, and I was this close to extend my contract with them. Good thing they did not have the Exhibit which was the only decent "cheap" smartphone they had for my parents. You know what they tried to make me get? The Wildfire S... Really?

So I said thank you, but no... and walked out... Pheeew, that was close!

At the AT&T store, for one flat fee of $49.99 + taxes I can get a 9810...

T-Mobile just isn't worth it anymore... IMO.