[tyrahat]

No seriously.... I've had my 8700 for a week and yesterday, getting on a plane in Phx it popped out of the hoster and fell through the crack between the jetbridge and plane door and crashed onto the tarmac. The pilot was nice enough to retrieve it for me but the screen is shot. Surprisingly, the back didn't pop off and the unit *looks* alright. Still can take incomming calls but everything else is DOA.

Went to Cingular today and they said I'm SOL.

So.... now what? I paid $129 for the phone w/ a 2 yr committment and am past my 3 days to cancel (but can't return the phone anyway due to it's condition).

Cingular guessed that it would be around 200 bucks to fix the screen, or buy a new one for $299.

Any opinons? Any seedy hints on cheap a new one without a plan, etc? I was so happy to get the 129 deal and now I'll *really* be paying for it :(

[lgreenberg]

I'd try looking in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum here:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17

I know there were a few for sale.

Ebay would also be a good place to have a look at.

For $99 (difference of repairing the screen or buying a new one, I'd just buy the new one.)

How are you able to get a new one for only $299 anyway? Has full retail price dropped that low?

[tyrahat]

299 is from Cingular direct, 349 - 50 mail in rebate, as per the guy at the Cingular store today.

[Mark Rejhon]

Cingular guessed that it would be around 200 bucks to fix the screen, or buy a new one for $299.

If it comes down to it, you'll get more money buying the $299 unit and then selling your broken 8700c (make sure that the $299 unit allows you to keep the old unit), because the battery, the battery door, the functioning internal parts, fully functioning motherboard is worth something.

I'd estimate a broken 8700c is worth at least $150 on eBay, because it's valuable to other gadget scavengers who need your broken 8700 as parts to repair other broken 8700's. Just make sure you are extremely accurate about what happened to it and what is broken and what is not broken - that the unit works for making and receiving phone calls. (I've seen less valuable broken electronics go for more than that. And I've sold a broken DELL motherboard on eBay to a laptop repair technician for parts, for a whopping $250)

[oyster rsx]

wait i was told the 8700c withiout contract is 450?

[lgreenberg]

Originally Posted by oyster rsx

wait i was told the 8700c withiout contract is 450?

That's what I thought and why it confused me.

If it's only $299 I might buy another and keep it as a back up.

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

That's what I thought and why it confused me.

If it's only $299 I might buy another and keep it as a back up.

The $349 price is for new customers with a 2 yr contract. The $50 rebate is for the 2 year contract. I think he might be able to get it for 4400 as he will be replacing a current 8700 which will show on Cingular's system that the user does have a new contract. other wise it sure look like $450.

[gwar11d2]

I would also call cingular warranty support. Search in these forums for 'icepick'. I had a similar situation happen to mine...they replaced it. How much 'physical' damage is to the outside case? If it's not too banged up, and the phone part is still working... Then again a 9 metre fall off a plane might be considered abuse... but the stock holster kinda is bad at holding the device in. If they do find out it is from abuse I believe they only charge you $200 for the refurb unit....but this is usually in cases where the electronics don't work inside... i.e. water damage.

[tyrahat]

"How much 'physical' damage is to the outside case? If it's not too banged up, and the phone part is still working"

The only physical damage to the phone is a scratch on the corner where it probably made impact. I didn't even notice it until awhile later. The screen and everything else look showroom.

The 299 price came from the guy at the Cingular store. I don't know if he was giving me a special deal 'cause I'm a girl or what, but that's what he said. Obiviously he knew I was on a contract already, he's the one that sold me the phone last week.

[lgreenberg]

Originally Posted by tyrahat

The 299 price came from the guy at the Cingular store. I don't know if he was giving me a special deal 'cause I'm a girl or what, but that's what he said. Obiviously he knew I was on a contract already, he's the one that sold me the phone last week.

If that's true I'd jump on it before someone realizes the mistake. That's a nice $150 savings.

[hf1khal]

For sure, I would jump on this chance as quick as possible.

[greggebhardt]

Originally Posted by tyrahat

No seriously.... I've had my 8700 for a week and yesterday, getting on a plane in Phx it popped out of the hoster and fell through the crack between the jetbridge and plane door and crashed onto the tarmac. The pilot was nice enough to retrieve it for me but the screen is shot. Surprisingly, the back didn't pop off and the unit *looks* alright. Still can take incomming calls but everything else is DOA.

Went to Cingular today and they said I'm SOL.

So.... now what? I paid $129 for the phone w/ a 2 yr committment and am past my 3 days to cancel (but can't return the phone anyway due to it's condition).

Cingular guessed that it would be around 200 bucks to fix the screen, or buy a new one for $299.

Any opinons? Any seedy hints on cheap a new one without a plan, etc? I was so happy to get the 129 deal and now I'll *really* be paying for it :(

Sometimes sh|t happens. If you had no insurance, well I don't need to say more.

[lgreenberg]

Originally Posted by greggebhardt

Sometimes sh|t happens. If you had no insurance, well I don't need to say more.

It's Cingular. Not her fault she didn't have insurance.

[hf1khal]

Wait, as far as I know, the BB 8700c is not covered under the insurance plan by lockline. The only thing that I can think of right now is how the BB was paid for. Some credit cards provide purchase insurance and that could be a rout that can yield some results.

[Taikun]

Isn't there automatically a 1 year warranty with the BB 8700? Couldnt BB just fix it?

[lgreenberg]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Wait, as far as I know, the BB 8700c is not covered under the insurance plan by lockline. The only thing that I can think of right now is how the BB was paid for. Some credit cards provide purchase insurance and that could be a rout that can yield some results.

Right, that's why I said..........

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

It's Cingular. Not her fault she didn't have insurance.

Originally Posted by Taikun

Isn't there automatically a 1 year warranty with the BB 8700? Couldnt BB just fix it?

Not for accidental damage.

[hf1khal]

Oops, it was not meant to you, it was for the post above your post. I should have quoted the post. We are on the smae page. Now any one thinks that if the purchase was made by a credit card the BB would be covered?

[tyrahat]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Oops, it was not meant to you, it was for the post above your post. I should have quoted the post. We are on the smae page. Now any one thinks that if the purchase was made by a credit card the BB would be covered?

Yeah tried that too.... Chase said no dice because of the screen.

*sigh*

[tyrahat]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

It's Cingular. Not her fault she didn't have insurance.

And you're correct, no ins available on the 8700.

[coreyg510]

No insurance on most of Cingular's higher end phones. that includes BB's. The guy at the cingular store wont be able to "give you" the rebate. Because the rebate is only valid for new customers, 1 or 2 yr, or customers renewing their contract 1 or 2 yrs. In addition, you must have the unlimited data package. there are no ways around those stipulations and he can do nothing about it. The rebates are sent to Cingular Rebated Department. You cannot convince any of them to alter the rules, no matter how hard you try. Your best bet is to purchase one from EBAY