T-Mobile to charge fee when you upgrade phones

Contract fun: if you want to buy a cellphone from T-Mobile and you’re already a customer, you now have to pay it an $18 fee first. Most other carriers already do likewise: basically, you have to call and beg and they’ll waive it, or buy unlocked handsets elsewhere [Consumerist]

1. [zikman]

   man, I always thought t-mobile was the cool one out of all big wireless carriers. they were all european and stuff… that’s why I went with them.

   now they’re just like the rest.

2. [Crashproof]

   I don’t think this is news. I seem to recall an $18 upgrade fee back in November when I bought my G1.

3. [celia]

   My unholy need for a new cool phone every so often will clearly get me past the whole indignation over the fee.

   On the plus side, they did just give me an unlimited loyalty plan, which makes me pretty happy.

4. [Rob Beschizza]

   Yes, they cancelled this last fall, with a press release glorifying in how it meant they were listening to customers. Now they’re bringing it back.

5. [koichan]

   Can someone explain to me how this is a good idea?

   Charging someone extra to upgrade makes it more expensive for your existing customers to stay with you than move to your competitors… I just don’t understand the business logic.

   I used to be a Orange UK customer for a long time until they also pulled that trick on me about 6 years ago, i haven’t used them since
   (ironically for this article, i’m happy on T-Mobile UK)

6. [zuzu]

   I thought you’re already “paying” by extending your contract in the process. Now they expect $18 for the privilege of your renewed business?

   (Can existing TMO customers renew to get the BlackBerry Curve 8900 yet? or is it still only for new subscribers?)

7. [Anonymous]

   let your contract expire and then go get a new, better free or really cheap phone with a new contract. I checked with T-Mobile about doing this and it’s fine. And we save $36 right off the bat (me and my wife).