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How can Wirefly offer such great deals? Is it a scam? What’s the catch?
May 14th, 2010
Wirefly has the phone I want for a much better price than anywhere else, what’s the catch? Is Wirefly a scam? How can Wirefly offer so many phones for free? Can I trust Wirefly? Is Wirefly a reputable and safe site to buy cell phones from?
We’re happy that you are doing your homework and taking the time to ask yourself these questions before you buy. You’ve been taught that if something sounds too good to be true, chances are it usually is. Well, in our case, offering unbeatable deals on cell phones is our business — and it’s how we make money. We’re not here to scam you. We’re here to help you … and, yes, make money, while doing so.
Our business is simple. The major carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint) pay Wirefly a commission to help them acquire new customers, or renew existing customer’s contracts, without taking up the time of in-store store employees.
Wirefly passes much of that commission back to customers in the form of huge discounts on cell phones. The phones that Wirefly sells are the exact same phones you’d purchase at a carrier store or local retailer. They are brand new with full U.S. warranty. In fact, the phones come directly from the carriers. We aren’t allowed to sell anything else. Wirefly is the internet’s #1 authorized agent for cell phones from AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Alltel.
THE CATCH? It’s really simple, actually. You simply need to maintain the carrier contract you agree to for 181 days after your order. The long version of that is:
When you sign up for wireless carrier service through Wirefly, we discount your phone purchase price by an Equipment Discount amount ranging from $200 to $300. By ordering through Wirefly, you agree to repay this discount if, during the 181 days after your new equipment is activated, if you:
* Fail to pay your balance due to your carrier each month
* Disconnect this line of service
* Transfer this equipment to another line of service
* Change your carrier service rate plan to a lower monthly service rate plan
* Deactivate the email/data feature if one was required at the point of purchase
* Transfer/port an existing phone number from another account if this is a new line of service
* Replace an existing account with this account if this is a new line of service
* Return or exchange your phone and it is not in its original, new condition with no more than 30 minutes of usage
If you break any of these contract provisions, except as a result of a documented service quality issue related to the carrier service, you authorize us to charge your credit card in repayment of the Equipment Discount.
We have an outstanding customer service record that we are proud of. We have helped millions of people set up or upgrade their cell phone service, and save money in the process. We offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, with free shipping both ways on returns. Unfortunately, the world of cell phone contracts can be confusing, and confusion can lead to complaints – even accusations that we are running some kind of a scam – particularly when the deals seem too good to be true.
Any confusion is usually related to one of the following:
Credit approval. After we take your order for a new account, we must get approval from the carrier before your phone can be activated and shipped. If you have insufficient credit history, the carrier may reject the order, or ask us to collect additional information. We try to make this clear, but when the carrier rejects the order, the blame sometimes falls on us.
Deposits. Sometimes, based on a credit check, the carrier will approve the order only if we collect a deposit from the customer. Of course, we would rather not have to ask for a deposit. When we do, sometimes we are accused of “bait and switch” tactics.
Upgrade eligibility. We offer upgrades that let current customers get a discount on a new phone when they renew their contracts, provided that they are eligible for an upgrade at the time of order. Sometimes, although the customer is able to place the order on our site, the carrier will report that the customer is not yet eligible for an upgrade. In this case, we will cancel your order and attempt to notify you that you were not yet upgrade-eligible. Of course, you will not be billed for the purchase.
Rebates. Cell phone rebates can be confusing and most people don’t like them. That’s why Wirefly has not offered rebates on any products since 2007. We don’t even offer rebates from the carriers. All of our prices are simple and straightforward. The price you see is the price you pay with no need to wait for a rebate.
The equipment discount. The cell phone that we offer free or at a significant discount may have cost Wirefly several hundred dollars or more. Since we are only able to offer you such great equipment discounts because of our commission-based business model, when you order from Wirefly you agree to be charged the phone’s full cost if the carrier reports to us that you broke your cell phone contract, or if you return a phone and it’s been damaged in some way. This protects both Wirefly and the carriers from fraud, and allows us to continue to offer the great deals we are known for.
Shop Now for Phones from AT&T Wirelesss, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.
August 24, 2010
I want to be sure that, if I buy your phone and upgrade with T-mobile I only have to stay with my plan for 181 days. I just pay my monthly contract fee
August 3, 2010
when is the deposit returned
July 16, 2010
What happens if you wish to upgrade to a new phone (keeping my same plan) with my present carrier through Wirefly, Wirefly will sell me the same phone for half the price that my carrier is offering it to me for. Turns out I am not yet eligible for a full upgrade diuscount from my carrier. Will Wirefly have to come back to me for some sort of price increase after my carrier informs them of my lack of full discount eligibility? I am just baffled on that aspect of the transaction. I am holding off on my purchase until I get a little clearer understanding of this issue? Thanks for any help on this!
August 30, 2010
After placing your order, Wirefly will check with your provider as to what you are eligible for and get back to you immediately by email if things don’t jive. They will cancel the order and not send it to you. This happened to me in the last couple of days. I rectified the glitch and reinstated my order with Wirefly.
July 7, 2010
Hi, I was looking to get a DROID on here but it shows the monthly pay is 9.99 but at Verizon it’s 29.99. IS it the same here as it is on Verizon?
June 13, 2010
How do I go about submitting the coupon code to get the incentives from Facebook?
Thank you….. J. Katz
May 13, 2010
If I purchase a phone through Wirefly will it still be covered under Verizon’s Asurion and the warranty plan I pay extra for?
April 24, 2010
hey I really need a cell phone i am looking for a LG NEON but it is to much $$$$$$$$$ so i was thanking u have one cheaper the other one was $$$$$120.00 dollers. and i need a plan that doesn’t cost like a 100 dollers a month or somthing.
May 19, 2010
walmart sells them for 78.00 and you can use any carrier that has the little obolong chip in the back, i.e ATT, Verizon, and the such.
April 24, 2010
i am ordering now droid …
July 10, 2010
How much did you pay for your phone and data plan and is it cheaper than verizon?
April 19, 2010
I have a contract with 4 phones with ATT. Would I be able to to start up a new contract under a family members name and still keep the same number? Is it necessary to have a PTT option on some phones if we dont use it if so can we disable it? Thanks Ric
March 31, 2010
Rebates. Cell phone rebates can be confusing and most people don’t like them. That’s why Wirefly has not offered rebates on any products since 2007. We don’t even offer rebates from the carriers. All of our prices are simple and straightforward. The price you see is the price you pay with no need to wait for a rebate.
But Dorothy Cooer on March 3, 2010 is saying that she needs to submit a rebate form. so you are doing rebates againg or you are not? I am considering doing business with wirefly but reading a lot of bad blogs about you guys and on your website seeing conflicting issues.
March 16, 2010
I recently ordered on March 12 – upgraded 2 of my 4 lines (to LG Arena) which renewed my family plan of 700 mins – since I already had unlimited text in place – my plan was not changed. I also got their protection service – great deal at $50 per phone for the whole year- no deductible and you can make a claim 3x. – free shipping. Later that weekend – my daughter who lives in another state wanted a Samsung Mythic – I called them again – I had to pay about $50 for her phone and got the protection plan – (That phone at her local Walmart would have cost her about $200 with the renewal and they had to order it.
Become their fan on facebook and you have some coupon codes to either get 2GB mem card or bluetooth headset. – If you get the headset – buy the Kingston 2GB card is only at the moment $11.88.
My friday order phones arrived monday – already set to run – all I had to do was put the battery in and turn it on – AT & T already had the info on these phones.
It was free shipping and no tax.
So I am very happy with my purchases and will do it again when the time comes or look at buying my accessories there too!
March 16, 2010
We currently have a Cellular One plan, but pay our monthly charge to AT&T (they took over cell-one in our area). We need to switch to an AT&T plan. We currently have a 2 line plan & would like to switch to a 4 line. We looked at your plans yesterday on-line and it shows that we would get all 4 phone at no charge along with no activation fees. We were going for the 700 minute family plan with the family messaging: 69.99 + 30.00 + 9.99 + 9.99.
Is this correct? And would we still be billed through At&T?
Thank you
March 19, 2010
Jeanne,
The contract and plan would be through AT&T, and they are ones who will bill you every month. You can get free activation at this time with AT&T, and you can have a 700 min plan with 4 lines. Depending on the phones you select will depend on the cost of the order, but the plan + messaging and 2 add on lines is correct.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Kim
March 9, 2010
i have used wirefly for about 4 years and have always came out on top. wirefly will check if you are eligible for an upgrade before they send your phone. the only qwerk is make sure that you contact your carrier to maintain your plan
March 3, 2010
I need to submit a form for my rebate…where do I go on line to do this?
February 21, 2010
if i bought this phone from you then you offered me a $50.00 rebate1!
February 4, 2010
i am ready to upgrade my phone but want to keep my plan. is it possible for me to do this and stay in my plan because i do not wish to renew
January 12, 2010
I am ready to upgrade my phone but want to maintain my current family plan terms with T-mobile…. are you able to sell me the upgrade (currently 23 months into the plan and original purchase of a Blackberry 8100 Pearl) to the Blackberry 9700 Bold without causing any change to my current contract terms other than the contract extention of 2 years? No change in my family plan rate or data plan rate? Also, if I buy from Wirefly is there any shipping or tax? and is there a new “Activation” fee? Thanks for a prompt reply
January 17, 2010
I am also ready to upgrade my phone but want to keep my family plan. is it possible for me to do this and stay in my family plan because i dont wish to have an individual account
July 11, 2010
I want to know why wirefly do not offer the rebate as other company are offering, yes as I have see on wirefly that they are offering the phones for free.