Spark trade up - anyone used it before?

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middleearth

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Topic # 223194 18-Sep-2017 14:32

Hi everyone.

I have just spent an unpleasant hour on online chat with Spark this morning. Thought I would probably get the answer in here.

I am wanting to upgrade my iPhone 7 plus to the new iPhone X next month. Has anyone been through the process last year? Is it possible to get the new phone on/around launch day?

Spark says I will have to wait as I need to take my existing phone in once they have stock in store for the inspection side of things. If all good I walk out with the new phone. This I get, but my question to Spark was - Can I pre-order for pick up in store on release date? Apparently that is a very confusing question. I might be missing something not sure.

Also I am on a Open term share $79.99 plan (not one with the unlimited data - don't want the new ones as you cannot tether on the unlimited plans) - I just want to be able to change the new phone to connect to my current plan - seems not.

So in a nut shell I would like to pre-order the iPhone X for pick up in store on my current plan.

What are my chances?

Thanks everyone.

Dial111

105 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1868094 18-Sep-2017 15:21

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You will probably have to wait till preorders open before knowing if you could do this. I don't even think Spark would have the preorder terms outlined for the iPhone X just yet and even then they may give priority to new customers signing up and existing customers re-signing for the first batch over trade up customers.

Being only announced last week I would think it would be more to do with the T&C's not set yet as to why you couldn't get an answer.

jeeg

268 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 1868177 18-Sep-2017 18:38

Same situation here, Spark only tells me to preorder in stores and I won't be able to do anything online. I have 2x iPhone 7 Plus on 2x $59 Open plans ready to upgrade to iPhone X when it is out.

BarTender

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Reply # 1868617 19-Sep-2017 14:28

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The issue is always with Apple as they are insanely protective around the prices, launch dates and stock levels so I can guarantee that Spark or Vodafone or 2D will be constrained on what they can do before they are permitted to announce anything.

Historically you can only buy iDevices in store on launch date as there will be very limited stock. Otherwise order online and buy from Apple directly.

catuar

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1876109 2-Oct-2017 14:12

Spark won't even confirm or deny for me which iPhones are valid to upgrade to the iphone X :(
Guy in store didn't know. Their online chat people refuse to tell me they don't know, but won't give me a straight answer, so I suspect nobody has told them or they aren't allowed to tell.

Technically, if they were getting nasty, they could claim that the 8 and 8 plus are the next phones in the series from the 7 and 7 plus, forcing us to pay full price if we wanted an X.
I'm hoping not though. They'd get a lot of push back.

Did they give you any information on this?

middleearth

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Reply # 1876112 2-Oct-2017 14:15

I didn't get a trade up email or even see the possibility for the 8 or 8 plus. Suspect only the X will be trade up. Fingers crossed anyway......

corksta

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Reply # 1876125 2-Oct-2017 14:34

catuar:

Spark won't even confirm or deny for me which iPhones are valid to upgrade to the iphone X :(
Guy in store didn't know. Their online chat people refuse to tell me they don't know, but won't give me a straight answer, so I suspect nobody has told them or they aren't allowed to tell.

Technically, if they were getting nasty, they could claim that the 8 and 8 plus are the next phones in the series from the 7 and 7 plus, forcing us to pay full price if we wanted an X.
I'm hoping not though. They'd get a lot of push back.

Did they give you any information on this?

It's on their website that the 8 and 8 Plus are eligible when trading up from a 7. I saw on Facebook at the time that the X will also be included (can't find it now of course...)

Scroll to the bottom and click on 'DEVICES ELIGIBLE TO TRADE UP TO THE LATEST'

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/deals/tradeup.html

catuar

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1876128 2-Oct-2017 14:37

Thanks for your reply :)

Yes, I saw the details about the iPhone 8 trade-up, but good to hear that they mentioned the X trade-up on facebook as well!

gehenna

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Reply # 1876131 2-Oct-2017 14:38

Did not know about trade up. That is a very good arrangement!

middleearth

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Reply # 1876134 2-Oct-2017 14:44

I didn't see the trade-up when the 8 and 8 plus were on pre-order - only after release. I probably missed it - set on the X though (hopefully).

Dial111

105 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1876182 2-Oct-2017 15:30

I remember 2D asked if I wanted to sign up for the trade up a few years ago, I decided against it at the time because it really didn't compute to a good deal, I can't remember the exact math to it but you pay X amount extra a month on top of your plan to do this whilst paying for your device interest free.

Say the phone you signed up for is $1400, in a year you would have paid half of that off leaving you with a balance of $700.
You trade in your phone for the next gen model and pay the trade up fee of $149 and walk out with new phone and a new interest free plan.

So basically your phone is worth $700 less $149 ($551) to spark which imo for an iPhone which hold their value quite well is a dud deal all for the sake of having a shiny new device every year when you could sell the iPhone privately for say $1000 pay the remainder of you contract off and walk back in with $300 in your pocket and sign up for that new iphone at no extra cost and come out better off.

May be somewhat beneficial if you were trading up an Android device which don't hold value well but for an iPhone, to me this seems like a raw deal.

Disclaimer: my math is sh!t so I've probably worked it out wrong, but this is how I made sense of it.

corksta

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Reply # 1876242 2-Oct-2017 16:50

Dial111: I remember 2D asked if I wanted to sign up for the trade up a few years ago, I decided against it at the time because it really didn't compute to a good deal, I can't remember the exact math to it but you pay X amount extra a month on top of your plan to do this whilst paying for your device interest free.

Say the phone you signed up for is $1400, in a year you would have paid half of that off leaving you with a balance of $700.
You trade in your phone for the next gen model and pay the trade up fee of $149 and walk out with new phone and a new interest free plan.

So basically your phone is worth $700 less $149 ($551) to spark which imo for an iPhone which hold their value quite well is a dud deal all for the sake of having a shiny new device every year when you could sell the iPhone privately for say $1000 pay the remainder of you contract off and walk back in with $300 in your pocket and sign up for that new iphone at no extra cost and come out better off.

May be somewhat beneficial if you were trading up an Android device which don't hold value well but for an iPhone, to me this seems like a raw deal.

Disclaimer: my math is sh!t so I've probably worked it out wrong, but this is how I made sense of it.

If you choose to pay the phone off monthly over 24 months then after 12 months of payments you can choose to upgrade to the newer model for $149, there’s no monthly fee associated with it like there is/was with 2degrees and Vodafone.

Dial111

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Master Geek
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Reply # 1876306 2-Oct-2017 19:14

@corksta 2D had a monthly fee which basically was the upfront $149 I think.

Not really a great deal either way, you can walk away with money in hand as opposed to paying money if done correctly as above.

jeeg

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Reply # 1876822 3-Oct-2017 19:29

I do it simply because I don't want to deal with selling old phones privately. Too much hassle for my time.