[jddphd]

Yes.

At the end of last week I had...

• bought the phone on Amazon
• cancelled my Cingular service
• been assured by the rep I'd bear no further charges from Cingular
• been assured by Amazon that I'd bear no further charges over and above what I paid for the phone despite cancelling,
• gone to gsmps to purchase the unlock (still waiting, but that's ok since Adam's website said it was a M-F business)

During this weekend the situation on my end did not fundamentally change, although I did load up the Voda, O2, Orange themes and I synced to my calendar,contacts list. I also took several screenshots of the relevant policies on the Amazon website just for my own sake.

However, also during the weekend, several people have informed me (having arrived at their conclusions through the compelling logical reasoning process I like to call "deductive baseless guessing") that despite what I've done I'm still screwed and I'm gonna get charged. People, say what you want. If I'm screwed I'm screwed, but I bought the ticket and now I'm taking the ride and I refuse to panic about it or be drawn into an argument over it with people who have no insight into the situation other than their own fact-less beliefs when I have painstakingly read the disclaimers and Ts & Cs, spoken to authorized representatives of both companies and think I'm in the clear.

I expect I will receive my unlock code today. I'm hoping I receive my Screen Patronus as well since I'd like to stick the thing in my pocket tomorrow and begin using it.

[Liv]

wow, that was awesome that you were able to get this done this way.

So in the end, not counting the accessories, how much did you end up paying for the 8700?

[DuckWingDuck]

I think it was $150 (product), $30 (shipping), $45 from Adam.

The variance for you, Liv, would be the shipping (or maybe not).

[Liv]

Wow, see that is on heckuva good price for an 8700c, if I had the cojones I would give it a shot myself through Amazon, but knowing my luck I would do it wrong and be paying 3 times as much as I should for it. Ha.

[DuckWingDuck]

LOL. I'm probably going that route in March when hopefully, we find out about the 8700g for TMO. But ya, as I said on another thread, that is going to be cheaper than the 8700g subsidized or not.

[Liv]

So if I were to go this route, how much do I have to pay upfront?

Will I have to pay Cingular anything when I first sign up through amazon?

Or am I only paying the lowest price for the 8700c plus shipping and such?

[jathompson]

Just a quick note on a similar experience...

Half a year ago I ordered a RAZR with tmo service through Amazon. Since the price on Amazon was $150 before rebates, I figured I could just cancel my tmobile contract and keep the phone for $150 OTD. Two months after receiving the phone and cancelling the contract, I was charged an additional $175 on my credit card by Amazon despite nothing in the Terms and Conditions that indicated this would happen.

For the last 4 months I have been in contact with Amazon and trying to get the charges reversed. I'm not sure what would happen if I had disputed the charge with my CC company or used a one-time CC to begin with, but this issue is still unresolved.

[DuckWingDuck]

Originally Posted by Liv

So if I were to go this route, how much do I have to pay upfront?

Will I have to pay Cingular anything when I first sign up through amazon?

Or am I only paying the lowest price for the 8700c plus shipping and such?

I believe the only thing you pay up front is the item price ($150) plus shipping (depending on the speed you choose).

[jddphd]

Just an update...

I'm waiting to receive my unlock code. I made my purchase from his website which is hosted by Yahoo! on Friday late afternoon. I provided my IMEI during checkout (there's a box where you fill this in). It's a little more than 24 hours now if you consider business days (not weekends).

[KonTiki]

I am not an expert in law, but I have a funny feeling that even though you might seem to get away with this in the beginning, that as time goes by and the accountability begins to gel, someone is going to be looking for the balance of their money. The simple law of economics says that if the device is selling for $300 all over, that you just cannot get it for $150 and get away with it. Amazon has arrangements with Cingular over thae sale of these items. When at the end of the quarter they see that they supplied 100,000 units to Amazon, but only got 10,000 new accounts out of the deal, that Cingular is going to be slightly ticked off. The first thing that they will do is say to Amazon hey listen buddy we agreed to supply these units and give them to you for this price because we were subsidizing them based on your ability to bring them to us as new clients. Now being that you did not deliver we want our subsidy balance back. Ok now you are Amazon, what do you think you will do, lets see what my options are: 1) be the nice guy and give Cingular the ton of money they are looking for and we take the loss, or 2) lets go after all these guys that are making us loose this ton of money.

I give you three chioces to come up with the right answer, but the first two wont count. Remember when we were taught two rules of thumb, if it sounds to good to be ture it will be, and second, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks as a duck, refer to rule number 1.

I know we are all after a slice for free, but this is an event whose final chapter has not been written and if I were to go this route I would say be prepared to sooner or later pay the piper. I am just stating my opinion, and not riding anyone from trying or trying to stir you from doing so, in either case I have nothing to gain by it, just stating what to me seems obvious. Mind you I am not being blinded by the lure of that sexy looking thang.

[jddphd]

I don't disagree with you. Maybe that will happen. Maybe it won't. I'd agree on general principle that if something sounds too good to be true it generally is. No free lunch and all that. We shall see.

[ASP]

Originally Posted by KonTiki

I am not an expert in law, but I have a funny feeling that even though you might seem to get away with this in the beginning, that as time goes by and the accountability begins to gel, someone is going to be looking for the balance of their money. The simple law of economics says that if the device is selling for $300 all over, that you just cannot get it for $150 and get away with it. Amazon has arrangements with Cingular over thae sale of these items. When at the end of the quarter they see that they supplied 100,000 units to Amazon, but only got 10,000 new accounts out of the deal, that Cingular is going to be slightly ticked off. The first thing that they will do is say to Amazon hey listen buddy we agreed to supply these units and give them to you for this price because we were subsidizing them based on your ability to bring them to us as new clients. Now being that you did not deliver we want our subsidy balance back. Ok now you are Amazon, what do you think you will do, lets see what my options are: 1) be the nice guy and give Cingular the ton of money they are looking for and we take the loss, or 2) lets go after all these guys that are making us loose this ton of money.

I give you three chioces to come up with the right answer, but the first two wont count. Remember when we were taught two rules of thumb, if it sounds to good to be ture it will be, and second, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks as a duck, refer to rule number 1.

I know we are all after a slice for free, but this is an event whose final chapter has not been written and if I were to go this route I would say be prepared to sooner or later pay the piper. I am just stating my opinion, and not riding anyone from trying or trying to stir you from doing so, in either case I have nothing to gain by it, just stating what to me seems obvious. Mind you I am not being blinded by the lure of that sexy looking thang.

Well said KonTiki.

[dinga]

So, hurry up before it’s too late

[jddphd]

I thought about KonTiki's point a little more last night.

Was I blinded?

Maybe.

I confessed straight away to the sin of Coveting Thy Neighbors Gadget. BUT... my purpose here was NOT to blind or dupe anyone else. As I have said all along I am simply documenting my experience in pursuit of an objective. My actions were based on a series of what I believe were informed conclusions and at no time have I acted irresponsibly in the sense of trying to goad people into drinking my Kool-Aid. If anything I believe I have overly caveated the fact that this is my experiment, that I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions and that I cannot guarantee it will work for anyone else.

Having said this, there is nothing that settles matters more than a little concrete proof.

I have it IN WRITING from Amazon...

Originally Posted by The helpful dudes at Amazon

Greetings from Amazon.com.

The charge for this order was completed the day we shipped it to
you. Your credit card will not be charged any additional amount,
simply because you chose to cancel your service and give the phone
to someone else. (ed. I told them I was thinking about giving it to my brother.)

Once your order has been charged and shipped, the item is yours, and
you are free to do whatever you wish with it. As my colleague
previously mentioned, you will no longer be eligible for the rebates
associated with the phone, but there will be no additional charges
applied to your order.

Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com.

If I am blinded by the allure of this lovely device, then I believe I have finally seen the light!

HALLELUJAH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

CAN I GET A WITNESS FROM THE CONGREGATION!

NEVERTHELESS... THE CAVEAT REMAINS: JUST BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED FOR ME DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE! YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!

[jddphd]

Incidentally, I received a PM from Adam last night. Apparently he's been pretty busy, which is certainly good to see (I'm always happy when well-regarded entrepreneurs are doing well). Hopefully I'll have my unlock code later today.

We're now in the 24-48 hour range (speaking in business days, based on Monday to Friday operations) which is still acceptable given the expectations he sets on his site. In my book "generally within 24 hours" means sometimes it's not within 24 hours, but I'd expect it within 48 !

[FightingDevil]

SWEET!! Mine is due to arrive this morning...I'm going to run home at lunchtime to put it on the charger. Should be charged in enough time to cancel Cingular after dinner and send Adam the info he needs! Then I'm off to my local T-Mo store to sign up!!

[KonTiki]

Originally Posted by jddphd

I thought about KonTiki's point a little more last night.

Was I blinded?

Maybe.

I confessed straight away to the sin of Coveting Thy Neighbors Gadget. BUT... my purpose here was NOT to blind or dupe anyone else. As I have said all along I am simply documenting my experience in pursuit of an objective. My actions were based on a series of what I believe were informed conclusions and at no time have I acted irresponsibly in the sense of trying to goad people into drinking my Kool-Aid. If anything I believe I have overly caveated the fact that this is my experiment, that I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions and that I cannot guarantee it will work for anyone else.

Having said this, there is nothing that settles matters more than a little concrete proof.

I have it IN WRITING from Amazon...



If I am blinded by the allure of this lovely device, then I believe I have finally seen the light!

HALLELUJAH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

CAN I GET A WITNESS FROM THE CONGREGATION!

NEVERTHELESS... THE CAVEAT REMAINS: JUST BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED FOR ME DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE! YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!

I hope you do not misunderstand, I did not want to infer you or anyone else was trying to blind side, just pointing out to me what is the obvious. Things seem to have a way to slip through the cracks most of the time, but when the time comes for accountability I am reminded of the movie Paint Your Wagon with all the gold that slipped through the cracks, someone is going to come behind you sweeping, and when they do and sift through the debris they will always find the gold.

[jddphd]

No doubt there. I'm ready to take my medicine too if it hits the fan. Good movie reference.

MEANWHILE...

I must have missed Adam's email or it got lost in Yahoo spam filters but he showed me proof of the email sent Friday evening (just an hour after I made my purchase) containing my unlock code. (Recommendation - whitelist his address by adding it to your address book)

I popped my Cingular inactive SIM card into my Berry (making sure that I had turned off the wireless beforehand as I do NOT want to even show up as a blip on their radar), followed Adam's very clear instructions, and it said:

CODE ACCEPTED

And now kids, I am, to use a phrase, SH*TTING IN TALL COTTON!

I'm now off to swap SIMs. My next post will hopefully be from the 8700C, bought from Amazon, unlocked by GSMPhoneSource, and jacked in to the T-Mobile network.

Come here Catherine Zeta... Mike can't love you like I could...

[niteqwill]

Nice... looks like I'm buying myself a new BB.....

[wavebourn]

Speaking of rebate, "Your rebate has been entered and is scheduled for final processing." -- 3 weeks after... How long to wait?