Black Friday T-Mobile Store Disappointment
:confused:
Just had an encounter with a sales associate that gave me reason for pause.
My contract was up with T-Mobile two weeks ago and after browsing about for online deals and other carriers I figured I'd stay with TMo and replace my Curve 8320 with the 8900. I go into the store Tuesday, Curve is $150, Bold is $200. I can't justify the additional $50 for TMo's suspect 3G, so I'm going to stick with the Curve. Last minute I think, well, Black Friday is in a few days - why not hold off and see if any deals come my way.
Sure enough, the Bold is now available this weekend for $150, a $50 discount. I go to a store and lo and BehOLD the price is now $230 - $50 discount for a price pretax of $180. Really T-Mobile? Jack up the price then offer a discount? I mean, I know it's done elsewhere and often, but really?
I went to another store - same one I was in on Tuesday. Price was $230.
"Can I answer any questions for you sir?"
"Actually, I'm kind of confused. I came in to purchase the Bold, but you raised the price thirty dollars to drop it fifty. Not you personally, but..."
"We didn't raise the price."
"I was here on Tuesday and it was two-hundred. And the Black Friday deal was fifty dollars off."
"The only Black Friday deal we have is 'buy one get one half off.' Are you looking for new service or are you an existing customer?"
"I'm a current customer."
"Then I can't give you the two year contract price."
"My contract is up. If I sign a new contract I would get the contract price."
"Those prices are only for new customers."
"It would be a new contract. My contract is up."
"But you aren't a new customer. It's only for new customers."
"I'm reasonably sure that you get the new contract price when you sign a new contract."
"Nope. The phone would be $200 for you since you're an existing customer. Plus eighteen dollars to upgrade."
"That was the price on Tuesday, before whatever deals you were running today."
"We aren't running any deals today."
I don't know where he got the $200 from - the only prices listed were $230 with 2 year contract or $449 without. He was not especially rude as he was misguided.
Putting aside the fact that I'm sure I get the contract price by signing a new contract and that I can order the Bold from the T-Mobile website for $150, I'm disgusted by the principle of raising prices to offer a discount. I realize the cost would be less than or equal to the cost on Tuesday (and that originally I wasn't even interested in the Bold - though the price for the Curve had also miraculously risen to $180), but the entire ordeal seemed slightly shady at best or corporate slight of hand at worst.
Either way, gives me pause to take another look at AT&T and Verizon.