Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras - View Single Post - T-Mobile? Anybody using it?

Dean · 2009-04-18, 10:43 AM

OK, it goes like this...

T-mobile has two prepaid plans. The one we care about is Pay As you Go.

The gotcha with most prepaid plans is that the minutes only last 30-90 days and are way too expensive. There is one exception with T-mobile... Spend $100 and you get 1000 minutes that are good for 365 days!!!

It gets better though... Rather than paying by credit card, you can buy prepaid refill cards that you can Use in any combination to add up to $100.

The $25 cards regularly sell for $20-22.50 on eBay or even at normal vendors on-line. you don't even need the physical card. The card has a PIN number on it that is covered by the silver "scratcher" lottery card goop. Some sellers will rub the goop off and just email you the PIN codes. Make sure they have good feedback and a history of selling these cards...

If you have MS Live and signup for cashback, the best regular deal without bidding on anything is Wallmart 0n-line
Sorry, I can't get tags to work with brackets in them:

http://search.live.com/products/T-Mo...e=cashback&p1=[CommerceService+scenario%3d%22o%22+docid%3d%229FA9 B9D92F469AA15487%22+p%3d%22df5c7f1ba4404c05b3f423c 4e307eee6%22]&wf=Commerce&FORM=ENCA

$23.75-5% cashback($1.1875) = $21.875. So if you are willing to wait for mail and cashback, that should be your max snipe bid on ebay... $21.875X4=87.5

That means your 1000 minutes are now $.0875 each, your text messages are $.0875 to send and $.04375 to receive.

Even if you pay $22.50 on eBay to get the PINS quickly, You are still at $.09 and .045...

You just can't beat that deal.

I got an even better deal which has vanished for a bit. I got a new Nokia 1208 phone with a free $25 refill card for $19.99 so I only had to buy 3 cards. that deal will probably come back in 15-30 days... (That is now my "beach" phone. never take your good phone to the beach or party where there is a pool.)

On Phones:

If you already have a GSM phone, you can likely get it unlocked and move it to T-Mobile assuming you are out of contract. I just bought a AT&T RAZR V3 on eBay for $20 bucks and AT&T was happy to give me the unlock code. I have all the cables to unlock it if they didn't. I actually flashed the T-Mobile firmware onto it and then reskinned it and such, so it looks like a T-mobile phone, well sort of.

So, if you don't buy a t-mobile phone, you will need to buy a T-Mobile SIM card for $7 on their web site or again, for less on ebay, etc.

I also have a USB SIM reader if you need to copy your contacts.

Let me know if you have any questions.

2009-04-18, 10:43 AM	#12
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	OK, it goes like this... T-mobile has two prepaid plans. The one we care about is Pay As you Go. The gotcha with most prepaid plans is that the minutes only last 30-90 days and are way too expensive. There is one exception with T-mobile... Spend $100 and you get 1000 minutes that are good for 365 days!!! It gets better though... Rather than paying by credit card, you can buy prepaid refill cards that you can Use in any combination to add up to $100. The $25 cards regularly sell for $20-22.50 on eBay or even at normal vendors on-line. you don't even need the physical card. The card has a PIN number on it that is covered by the silver "scratcher" lottery card goop. Some sellers will rub the goop off and just email you the PIN codes. Make sure they have good feedback and a history of selling these cards... If you have MS Live and signup for cashback, the best regular deal without bidding on anything is Wallmart 0n-line Sorry, I can't get tags to work with brackets in them: http://search.live.com/products/T-Mo...e=cashback&p1=[CommerceService+scenario%3d%22o%22+docid%3d%229FA9 B9D92F469AA15487%22+p%3d%22df5c7f1ba4404c05b3f423c 4e307eee6%22]&wf=Commerce&FORM=ENCA $23.75-5% cashback($1.1875) = $21.875. So if you are willing to wait for mail and cashback, that should be your max snipe bid on ebay... $21.875X4=87.5 That means your 1000 minutes are now $.0875 each, your text messages are $.0875 to send and $.04375 to receive. Even if you pay $22.50 on eBay to get the PINS quickly, You are still at $.09 and .045... You just can't beat that deal. I got an even better deal which has vanished for a bit. I got a new Nokia 1208 phone with a free $25 refill card for $19.99 so I only had to buy 3 cards. that deal will probably come back in 15-30 days... (That is now my "beach" phone. never take your good phone to the beach or party where there is a pool.) On Phones: If you already have a GSM phone, you can likely get it unlocked and move it to T-Mobile assuming you are out of contract. I just bought a AT&T RAZR V3 on eBay for $20 bucks and AT&T was happy to give me the unlock code. I have all the cables to unlock it if they didn't. I actually flashed the T-Mobile firmware onto it and then reskinned it and such, so it looks like a T-mobile phone, well sort of. So, if you don't buy a t-mobile phone, you will need to buy a T-Mobile SIM card for $7 on their web site or again, for less on ebay, etc. I also have a USB SIM reader if you need to copy your contacts. Let me know if you have any questions. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids... Last edited by Dean; 2009-04-18 at 10:52 AM.