Why can't I buy a cell phone without extended my contract?

Question

T-Mobile tells me I'm not eligible for an upgrade but I want a new phone.

Answer 1

You *can* get a new phone without extending your contract, but you'll have to pay full price for it. (Usually, when you buy a new cell phone at the time you're setting up or renewing a contract, you're getting the phone at a steep discount from it's "full" price.)

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

You can get a new phone, but you will have to buy it at the inflated retail price. It's best to wait until your contract expires, otherwise you will be paying MSRP, instead of the cheaper price. If your local dealer is telling you that you are unable to switch phones, you should call the T-Mobile 800 number and talk to someone there.

Answer 4

You can get a new phone without signing a new contract. There is a great website called, LostMyPhone that caters to those of us who want new phones, without getting hosed, or as advertised, have lost our phone. They have very reasonable pricing and are easy to contact. They also just updated their site with some really awesome phones. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I use T-Mobile too, you just have to pay more for the phone, tell them you want to just buy the phone straight up. I think it's usually 50 to 100 dollars more.

Answer 6

Go to Ebay and buy an unlocked phone and just put your sim card in the new and it will work. If you don't do that you'll just have to wait until you are eligible for an upgrade.

Answer 7

If you are not interested in keeping the phone number, don't entend the plan once it expires. Then sign up for a new plan which will get you new phones. If you want to keep the same phone number, you can move on to different service provider and get new phones while keeping the same number.

Answer 8

It sounds like some kind of sales gimmick to keep you loyal to T-Mobile.

Answer 9

Change carriers.

Or at least THREATEN to.

I think you'll find them a bit more RECEPTIVE.

Answer 10

Tell them to screw themselves and go to Alltel