<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by modernbeat:
Cheap phones: The best deal I've found is to order the phone with the largest rebate available, and the plan that you intend to use, from Amazon. You can regularly purchase a package of service, a free phone and a $100 rebate from them.
The phone you get will probably not be the one you really want, but you don't care because you will purchase an unlocked GSM1900 phone (if you are T-Mobile in the US)with all the features you want from one of many online cellular phone dealers, or if you feel trusting, from an ebay seller. Do a comparison shop using a few of the online price finder/comparison sites to find the lowest prices offered by retail websites.
So now you've got the T-Mobile service you wanted, you've got the phone you wanted at the cheapest price available made $100 cheaper by the Amazon rebates and you've got a spare phone for that JUST IN CASE situation when your phone needs to be repaired or replaced after an accident.
What you don't get is the support of your local T-Mobile dealer, or a warranty on your phone. Not bad if you're careful with it. But if you're the type that needs a new antenna every week, sticking with the retail locations might be worth it. Frankly, billing error correction and retail service are the two largest sources of complaints against cell companies. Missing out on the retail experience might not be so bad.</font>
I thought the Amazon rebate was consequent on you starting an account with one of the providers they work with...?