Palm Pre for $99 on Contract at Wirefly.com 37
by CTL Advance Fri, 11 Sep 2009 4:54 pm EDT
Want a Palm Pre but dont want to shell out 250 big ones? Wirefly.com has the Pre for $99 with a new 2 year agreement, that's after $700 instant savings from their default price of $799 (which is, you know, crazy high). Already existing customers can get the phone for $499, $50 less then Sprint's regular price.
Either way, the thing to focus on is that Wirefly, who has previously undercut the official MSRP, is following suit again after the Pre's official price drop to $150. Of course, you'll have to consider whether buying your phone over the interwebs from a 3rd party is worth the savings to you.
UPDATE: Make sure to read the Terms of Purchase before you get locked into this.
37 Comments
I've actually bought a phone from them and had a very pleasant buying experience. I would def. Recommend them. Especially for that price.
says the guy who owns the website.
are you serious? how can you tell?
I have no clue but that response seems pretty sketch.
Says the guy who trolls user forums spreading pointless negativity.
Would Sprint price match?
I would MUCH rather get it from a direct Sprint Store but... the $99 is REALLY tempting...
Can I still get the TEP? and if I have problems with the phone, bring it into a Sprint store and get it serviced by them?
Quoted from Wirefly.com Sales Chat:
Welcome to Wirefly Sales Chat. One of our Agents will be with you momentarily. If you are contacting us about an order, please log into www.WhereIsMyOrder.com for a Customer Service Representative.
You have been connected to Celina .
Celina : Hi Stephen. Thank you for contacting our chat support group. How may I help you?
Stephen: Hello :) I have a few questions
Celina : Sure, I'd be happy to assist you with that.
Stephen: I am interested in the new Palm Pre plan that you have for 99.99 with 2yr contract.
Celina : Ok.
Stephen: first question, if I buy the phone through you and have a problem with the phone, my service, or my bill... will i be helped by sprint and can i take it to a local sprint location or must i have to go through wirefly?
Celina : To any local Stores.
Stephen: local sprint stores? or wirefly?
Celina : Local Sprint Stores.
Oh wow, that's awesome! Thank you!
I don't really know why I didn't just do that myself... but uhh... haha thanks! That really helps make this sound a LOT more legit.
I will SERIOUSLY consider this... as long as it stays up until the end of the month...
Again, thanks intrikit!
My question is... Why does it say black? Does that mean a new color is going to be available soon? I remember there were a couple different skus popping up in sprints inventory screen...
You're reading far into the color. Most inventory systems have a primary color field that someone fills in. Here it just happens to be black.
No conspiracy theories.
More than likely it is because the site is generic for lots of different phones and products. Therefore, it has that as an option for other phones but because this one is only one color they still put in black to fill that attribute of the product.
I did this once through another website when I first bought the Treo 2yrs ago (geez, seems like aeons ago).
The big catch was I had to stay on the Sprint contract for at least some period (11months?) or I paid a penalty to the seller in addition to any possible Sprint penalties.
So cancellation = $175 + $200 (possibly $250)
Just read the fine print, its a great deal if you plan on sticking with Sprint, especially now that Sprint has Any Mobile Any Time.
Agreed--scrutinize the fine print at least 3 times. Wirefly's parent company inPhonic (now Simplexity) has had a messy history... some awards, yes--and lots of rebates with *extra* hoops to jump through (like "send a copy of your third month's bill")...
Some of it's here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirefly
Wirefly.com has a $300 cancellation charge additional to the $200 Sprint cancellation charge if you cancel within the first 6 months.
Did you find this on the fine print on wirefly website?
Roger, and I confirmed it with the live chat sales representative. Here is the link to the "fine print" http://www.wirefly.com/about/purchaseterms/?referringdomain=wirefly&refcode1=&refcode2=&agent=&eid=&zipcode=33777
Thanks I added this to the main article.
You all can have the phone for 99.99 if you want...ill keep my phone from a reputable company for 149.99 thank you very much.
I am going to buy it, mainly because it's the only site where I can get both phones with a family plan for 99.99 for each phone. And 200$ for 2 Pre's even with the 62$ (31 each) activation is just to good to pass up. I will report in with my experience.
Steven : Hi Mike. Thank you for contacting our chat support group. How may I help you?
Mike: I had a few questions about the palm pre and sprint
Mike: I already have a plan with them.....
Steven : Sure, I'd be happy to assist you with that Mike.
Mike: how would that work and how much would it be?
Steven : Okay Mike.
Steven : Are you eligible for an upgrade with sprint?
Mike: yes, the $150
Steven : Do you have an individual plan or a family plan?
Mike: individual Everything Data 450
Steven : All right Mike.
Mike: it looks like it would be $139
Steven : May I have your billing Zip Code please?
Mike: XXXXX
Steven : Thank you for the information.
Steven : Please allow me 2 minutes while I check the information for you.
Steven : Thank you for your patience Mike.
Steven : We have a special time sensitive offer for your area ......, you can get the Palm Pre for $139.99 after instant discount with a 2 Yrs contract extension.
Steven : * XXXXX
Mike: and how long is this offer for please?
Steven : This is a time sensitive offer Mike.
Mike: right, for how long please?
Steven : We cannot commit you on the time for this promotion.
Mike: ok.......
Steven : Is there anything else I can help you with?
Mike: and what if something happens to it, would I go to a Sprint store or through Wirefly?
Steven : You can contact wirefly.
Mike: and if I purchased it through you, would I have to contact Sprint at all?
Mike: but can I go to a Sprint store?
Steven : You will have a trial period for this service and the phone.
Steven : You cannot go to a sprint store.
Mike: is that Sprints 30 day trial period or yours?
Mike: I see, so if something happened to the phone, I would have to go through Wirefly, not Sprint, correct?
Steven : Yes, that's correct.
Mike: is that Sprints 30 day trial period or yours?
Steven : We maintain a standard 30 day return and exchange policy and with this you need to inform us in the first 14 days from the date of activation regarding a cancellation or exchange and you then have the next 16 days to send the phone back to us.
Mike: and if it is yours, how long is that trial period please?
Steven : Every shipment includes a postage-paid return label. To return your phone, simply call for a Return Authorization number, write it on the return label, and ship it back to us at no cost to you.
Mike: so I would have 14 days for a return or exchange and then a total of 30 days to return it?
Mike: or another 16 days.........
Steven : Yes.
Steven : Another 16 days to send it back.
Mike: does that include physical damage?
Mike: like if the screen cracked or something?
Steven : If your shipment was damaged in transit, contact the Customer Service Center and we will gladly send you a replacement. Any product(s) returned must follow our Exchange and Return policy.
Steven : Is there anything else I can help you with?
Mike: ok, so if I purchase this through you, would I have to contact Sprint for anything?
Mike: to activate the phone or something with my plan?
Steven : Yes, we will send all your information to sprint for an approval.
Mike: I'm not sure I understand, yes I would have to contact Sprint?
Steven : You don't need to contact Sprint.
Steven : You can place an order with us and we will take care of everything else.
Mike: so I would just have to activate the phone when I got it in the mail?
Steven : No. It will be a pre activated phone.
Steven : You can simply switch on the phone and start using it.
Mike: ok, thank you very much Steven
Ewwww, going to call them and try to find a definitive answer on their site. I don't like this.
UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the support at wirefly.com and the Sprint customer support and both said that for the first 30days and problems, returns, exchanges, etc... must go through wirefly.com and after the first 30 days anything else can be serviced, fixed, changed, etc... with Sprint and any local Sprint store.
I just placed an order for the Palm Pre for $99.99 on the 450 anytime min plan with AnyMobile, Anytime and unlimited gps, sprint tv, data, and messaging. My experience is going well so far but I have read all the comments under this post and it seems like there are a lot of stipulations in the "fine print" but one thing I noticed is that if you used a credit card or debt card (which I used) you can just cancel your card and get another card which I planned on doing anyways because I just ordered my new debt card due to not wanting a leisure card with Chase anymore. This seems to actually solve the problem of WireFly being able to access my card info and charge me for using this equipment on other lines, swapping out the equipment, or reducing your plan. I am happy I read this info and now I will definitely be getting another debt card via mail thus changing the card number in WireFly's system.
Hahaha, nice try WireFly, but there is ALWAYS a loophole for fine print...
I hope this helped others who have already purchased through WireFly and those who are debating it.
FYI, I bought a phone through inPhonic (the parent company) several years ago. I didn't have any problems with cancellation, but there was messiness with the rebate. I was able to get it worked out, but you should definitely read the fine print and make careful notes on how you redeem your rebates.
Also, be aware that they had a very hefty charge, $250 I think, if you were late paying your bill during the first 6 months after your purchase. I just set a monthly reminder on the calendar (it's a smartphone, so duh), but you should also watch out for a provision like that if you go through them.
In short, the savings are nice as long as you're the type of person who is careful with contracts. If you regularly have occasion to regale your friends with tales of how various merchants have "totally cheated you with hidden clauses" just because you forgot to pay your bill/send in the form/etc., this might not be the deal for you.
@Brerlapn
I agree with you, but I would still tell people to just use a debt card or a credit card they don't mind cancelling if they want to take advantage with this deal. Just cancel it before they charge you. Simple as that...
Newegg has the Pre for $129
http://www.cellstores.com/mobile/sprint.aspx?referringdomain=newegg&refc...
yeah i've had several customer's tell me horror stories of dealing with Wirefly. but i'm sure for every horror story there are happy customers who saved $10 (139.99 for an upgrade?? "great" deal...) to $50. just as long as you educate yourself and are willing to deal with a crapstorm of phone calls and customer service hell in the event that something goes wrong, then go for it.
whenever someone brings up these online companies' discounts or instant rebates in our store i price match via free accessories. so for my customers it's a win win situation going with us; they can pimp their Pre, deal with a reputable Sprint shop, have someone who actually knows what their doing help set up and go over the features of their phone, and not have to rely on an online, only God knows where they are company to service your phone during the most crucial period of ownership; the first 30 days.
if anything, just try and use this info as a little leverage at your local Sprint store to score some accessory lovin'. :)
It looks like under Wirefly's Terms of Purchase, you won't qualify for the $99 deal if you "transfer/port an existing phone number from another account if this is a new line of service."
Anyone know if this means a current Sprint number or another service provider number (say Verizon)? Or it doesn't matter - you just can't take your current number?
You can get the Pre through sprint.com for $99.99 (after credits). Just use the code SAVE50 upon checkout. (*Offer requires new activation and a two-year subscriber agreement. Service credit is available online only. Credit will appear within 1-3 invoices.)
I got this code after I entered my work e-mail to see if I qualified for the corporate discount. Sprint does not offer a discount through my work so they sent me an offer for a $50 service credit. Sprint said to forward the e-mail to friends and family so this isn't a code just for me.
I went through the Sprint.com checkout. Sure enough, the page shows the $300 instant savings, plus credits you will get later: $50 invoice credit and $100 rebate. So you essentially get the phone for $99.99 if you stay with Sprint for a few months to get the rebates.
Hope this helps someone.
P.S. - Plus, you can get $25 through the referral program. I almost forgot. If you know someone with a Sprint account, that person will get $50, and you will get $25 through the referral program.
From the Sprint site: Tell friends or family about saving with our family plan, our latest award-winning phones, or how much you love being on the most dependable 3G Network and you could earn up to $600. Refer your friends to Sprint starting 7/12/09 and we'll reward you $50, and your friends $25 in Sprint Referral Rewards by Visa
I trust newegg... but... $129 isn't a substantial enough deal. If they offered it for $99, I would have considered it. I think I'll just try to take a print out to my local Sprint kiosk and see what they can offer. I hope they try to price match or at least offer a competitive enough deal for me.
We'll see what I can pull.
Thanks for all the info guys!
I got my secound PRE from this ebay seller for free on new contract... he didn't even make me pay for $1.
http://shop.ebay.com/phoneswithnewsprintlines/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_fro...
just fyi
I just checked the ebay page and read seller reviews, and it seems too good to be true. Does anyone have any verification on the seller phoneswithnewsprintlines? I would be super grateful!
I don't trust it...
no valid reason. Just don't trust it... : /
he can't do this deal on new lines of service on an existing account??? /boggle
wow crazy deal though, wonder if he fills out the rebates to himself ??? LOL no way a fly by night ebay seller could score instant rebate status with Sprint like Best Buy or Radioshack.
For what it's worth @Mr.Hi-Definition, Wirefly has not been part of Inphonic since 2007. Inphonic had a reputation for difficult rebates, but Wirefly now has no rebates on anything.
Wirefly is the Internet's largest authorized Sprint dealer. If you order from them, it's the same as visiting a local Sprint dealer. They only sell authorized devices they get from Sprint. They do an eligibility check with Sprint, and if Sprint approves the order, Wirefly ships the phone to you via FedEx and handles the activation for you. You never have to go to a Sprint store, but if you want to have Sprint handle things like transferring your address book, of course you can take your phone to the Sprint store after you get it. You are a Sprint customer.
If you want to return your phone, Wirefly honors Sprint's 30-day guarantee. You would have to return the phone to Wirefly using the pre-paid return shipping label included in the package, and separately call Sprint to cancel the contract.
Just ordered one from Wirefly, but they seem to be on back order at the moment.
Order page currently states: We apologize for the inconvenience, but the phone you ordered is extremely popular. We receive large shipments of additional phones every day and typically fulfill out-of-stock orders within 3-5 business days. It is not necessary to contact us. As soon as your phone is in stock, we will complete your order and ship it right away. Please continue to check this site daily for updated shipping information.
Edit: E-mailed them about the status, order "was escalated" and shipped out earlier today 09/14 with fedex. Assuming it was really escalated to get it shipped quickly they must be keeping some sort of reserve stock for those that ask when their phone will be shipped.
Has anyone mentioned that the phone cannot have more than 30 minutes of usage on it in order to qualify for a refund during the 14 day window with Wirefly?
Also, if you have a business and a Federal Tax ID (FEIN), you can get the Pre directly from Sprint for 149+tax out the door: no rebate to mail in and no activation fee.