T-mobile order and pricing; Missing in Action
I called T-mobile a week ago on Monday to get a new camera phone. I pressed 611 via my current Samsung x495 and asked the lady on the other end about the deals they had on camera phones. Within a minute I was told that I qualified for a phone for only $9.99, and it sold in stores for $199. I’ve had several Samsung phones before. Each one had its ups and downs, but overall I’ve been satisfied with Samsung phones.
So when I was told that i could get a Samsung t509 for $9.99 instead of $199 for direct purchase of the phone or even the $49.99 price for new customers,
I was already planning out how to move all the numbers from my current phone to the new one. Well, after a few minutes on the phone, I was told that I should expect my phone 3 days later, on a Thursday. I paid $29.95 for the expedited shipping and looked forward to Thursday. I was told that my own phone number was the tracking number on the USPS.com website, and that I should be able to track the shipment within 12 hours.
Thursday came and went away faster than my appetite for breakfast that day. I called on Friday and asked about the phone. The lady on the phone went through the order and told me that for some reason, the order was placed but the system never completed the order, and didn’t charge me for it either. She apologized and told me that she would place the order again. I wouldn’t be charged anything for the shipping. I would receive the order by Tuesday, I was told.
That’s fine, I thought. I asked the lady if I could track the shipment via USPS using my phone number. She became silent for a few seconds and told me that they ship via UPS only, not the USPS, and that she had a different tracking number. I became quiet for a few seconds thinking about this, and then asked her why the other lady had told me to use my phone number as a tracking number on the USPS website. She apologized and told me that she didn’t know why the other lady said that, and told me that she would let the supervisor know about this. She told me to call back by Tuesday evening if I don’t receive the phone by then.
Well, Saturday comes and I receive a text message on my phone. It’s from T-mobile, and it says “Thank you for your recent order. Your order for a phone upgrade has been placed. You’ll be billed $113 in the next billing cycle.” Hmmm, $113. Huh? I call 611 and am told that since the first order was never placed, the pricing had changed since then and I couldn’t qualify anymore for the $9.99 pricing. I asked the guy on the phone if the first price quote of $9.99 was a mistake and instead of calling me the first time to tell me that I was quoted too low of a price, the first order was simply cancelled. The guy apologized and explained that such was not the case. The price had simply changed since then. He could do nothing to bring the price any lower than $99.
So I’m waiting for the phone: it’s supposed to come tomorrow. Should I keep it, or should I return it and find something better? That’s the new question, because of the $90 price different. I’m going to try out a few pictures and see if it’s worth keeping. If anyone knows a better phone for t-mobile, please let me know.
I have 20 days to return the phone if I don’t like it. I’ll have to abuse it a lot from tomorrow to see if it can survive the days that I go through everyday. “Get More“, yes, like Catherine Zeta Jones says: I’m going to be getting more on my bill than what I was told. Thank you, Mrs. Douglas.
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( September 25th, 2006 at 10:57 pm )
I think it depends on how much you like the phone if you should keep it or not. But you know, it also seems to me that you might want to just stick it to them the best way you can and say heck no you aren’t getting any more of my money.
Sadly, we the little guys are paying out the wazoo for cell service and features that only equal crap.
( September 26th, 2006 at 4:38 pm )
I got the phone today and just finished charging it. I have to start using it now and have to see if I can transfer the pics to a pc somehow. Yes, probably going to stick it to them.
Yes, money is dripping into the bank accounts of the filthy! whaaa? lol
( September 27th, 2006 at 12:03 am )
if i’m you i’ll return it. because i’ll feel cheated. after all the promise on 9.99 suddenly they charge 113. and it’s their all because of their fault that you couldn’t get the price you wanted. so why bother giving them a business if they cant give you what you wanted?
you know, i never believe in low price products in the first place. always it cost a lot of hassle to get it.
( November 13th, 2006 at 4:39 am )
It’s called bait and switch and it is against the law. I am on my third T509. The first one, the speaker broke. Got a second one for free. The second one stopped working while on vacation in Aruba. Thanks for costing me $60 to rend a phone t-Mobil. Third one cycles off and on. They have to send me one more before the lemon law kicks in.
Worst decision I made was this stupid phone. Good luck with yours, tho.
( December 6th, 2006 at 1:48 pm )
Jerine — > Yes, it was very weird. I still have it, as by the time I got it and used it, I was feeling bad and was constantly in and out of hospitals and stuff. Return date is gone. If I find a better phone or a different one, I’ll put this on ebay or somewhere.
You’re right about the “bother” and “giving them a business”; everyone should realize that. This was a hassle, indeed.
Nancy — > You’re right. How is the phone working now? Wow, is the thing that delicate? Do you have an insurance plan or something with T-mobile to get replacements or you simply call and they replace it?
Wow, I have to be careful with this phone now. Thanks for sharing that info! Hope to see you on the site again.
( January 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pm )
[...] days, leaving you with 16 days to decide if you want to return the item or not. Last year I got a Samsung t509 by calling T-mobile. After a major unresolved issue, the phone came less than a week before the [...]