Comments on: WTF: Google Charging Nexus One ETF In ADDITION To Carrier ETF

By: Nexus One ETF Lowered To $150 | Android Phone Fans

Nexus One ETF Lowered To $150 | Android Phone Fans — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:48:32 +0000

[...] not only a whopping $350 but also was imposed in ADDITION to T-Mobile’s ETF – and then we threw a hissy fit? Well the FCC promptly started an investigation and it looks like Google is either admitting they [...]

By: FCC Sends Carriers, And Google, ETF Inquisition | Android Phone Fans

FCC Sends Carriers, And Google, ETF Inquisition | Android Phone Fans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:23:01 +0000

[...] When the Nexus One launched, we were surprised to see that in addition to T-Mobile’s ETF, Google was imposing an ETF of their own. The ETF fees have caught the FTC’s eye before, but this time around they’re including [...]

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:49:33 +0000

At first, I too was like “WTF” (even though I’ve seen this when I bought a phone from wirefly). But, then I realized that if they *only* charged you the difference in price for the hardware, that would mean that there is no penalty for breaking the contract.

In other words, if you bought a $500 phone for $200 with a 2 year contract, and you then then cancelled the contract after 3 months and paid the $300, it would be the same as buying the phone without a contract. You paid $500 and now have a $500 phone that you can sell on E-bay…but what about the broken contract? The carrier ETF is the *penalty* for being an evil contract breaker…not to recover the cost of the phone.

By: _reduxd_

_reduxd_ — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:17:27 +0000

What really chuffs me is that there is no family plan available. Per T-mobile this is a condition that google insisted on. So, even though we are overdue for an upgrade on one of our lines (5 years since the last new phone for that line) we don’t qualify for the discounted phone. It took 30 minutes of asking the same question over and over again to get the answer that yes, we could buy the phone at full-price and get data support for an additional monthly.

I even offered to cancel the current contract that is a month from being up, sever the lines and buy two phones on 2 individual plans. The 20 something days until I can walk from the contract are too important to t-mob, and they let me know I’d have to pay the etf. Sorry, when those 20 days are up I am not giving them another cent.

By: Guido

Guido — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:47:31 +0000

70% of the people above me are retards.

What the hell did you think; getting a 530$ phone for 360$ ?

Ofcourse its more expensive than buying the phone without a contract, there is not paperwork inbetween !

Example in Holland.

HTC HD2 for 30$ a month, 2 years. Phone itself 150$ = 850$
If I cancel the contract within 14 days; I have to return the phone and receive the 150$back.

If I cancel the phone after 2 months, I have to pay for the remaining 22 months & administrative fees. Count in the Phone itself for 150$.

I’m still shocked as to how everyone is going ‘wtf’ all over the place about something really, really dumb. What company would do that anyway? If that was possible I would abuse phonecompany’s all over the place just to get the newest phones with a 150-200$ discount.

And and about the flaming of the N1; this is probably 95% software related and thats what new things tend to have; baby-illnesses we call them. I dont remember the iPhone getting flamed all over the place because of the lack of an App Market or the lack of a qwerty keyboard.

It’s like all the schooldropouts are putting up websites to write dumb things on.

By: Taylor

Taylor — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:22:21 +0000

The truth is, until the Government opens up the cell phone market like they did with your home phones, things like this are going to happen. There is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to buy a cell phone anywhere and then choose whichever cell phone carrier you want to use it with. Not sure how many people remember when you were only allowed to buy a home phone for your phone company only. This is the same thing their pulling with cell phones. Needs to stop

By: takeshi

takeshi — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:42:43 +0000

@Android fan (Google not so much): No one said “identical” policy. The word was SIMILAR. The return period may vary and there may or may not be a restocking fee. The point is that that you will pay an equipment recovery fee/ETF/whatever you want to call it on top of the carrier’s ETF. It’s nothing new.

By: Nexus One Slows And Woes | Android Phone Fans

Nexus One Slows And Woes | Android Phone Fans — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:34:08 +0000

[...] the phone isn’t for you? You’ll pay a steep price for that – NOT a comforting factor when you aren’t able to “test” the phone out in [...]

By: skillian

skillian — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:39:28 +0000

@ Se7en

You said: “The “old news” was T-Mobiles ETF. The “new news” is Google’s ETF”

Make up your mind.

By: Mensahwatts

Mensahwatts — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:27:41 +0000

@Erick…what a good point…hopefully the eyes of many others will wake up to this

By: Android fan (Google not so much)

Android fan (Google not so much) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:25:50 +0000

TattierPub said “Wirefly and Amazon both have similar policies, in fact Google’s is less restrictive in that they allow the return of the phone.”

Not true. I have purchased from Wirefly before. Wirefly has a 30-day no-questions-asked money back guarantee and no restocking fees. They even include a prepaid return shipping label in the box.

Google has a 14-day policy and a $45 restocking fee. I’ve been so spooked by all the complaints that I decided to return my Nexus One. I couldn’t do it online. Had to call HTC and answer 15 minutes worth of questions over the phone, including stating 3 separate times that I agree to pay a $45 restocking fee, then they promised to send a shipping label via email but 24 hours later I still don’t have it.

Google store = Not ready for prime time. I can’t believe Verizon is about to let its brand be attached to this terrible customer experience.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:05:44 +0000

Bend over, morons. You thought that Google was some kind of saint. Do no evil, my ass. Anybody that uses their hardware or services is just f’ing dumb.

By: TattierPub

TattierPub — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:00:18 +0000

Does anyone read any longer? If you return the phone to Google within 14 days of purchase you’re not responsible for the price difference. The equipment recovery fee only applies to those people who cancel their service between days 15 and 120.

Wirefly and Amazon both have similar policies, in fact Google’s is less restrictive in that they allow the return of the phone. With the other 2 you’re SOL.

It’s being reported around the web that Google doesn’t get a dime from T-Mobile until the 120 day time period has been exhausted, the real bad guy here is T-Mobile as their not out the cost of the subsidy until the 120 days has expired.

By: jonatech

jonatech — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:02:53 +0000

WOW! Maybe Google thought their brand image was enough to overcome this. This is like a fumble with 2 minutes left and Apple got the ball back. If this doesn’t change and the phone is not perfect Google’s hype will be very short lived…

By: Se7en

Se7en — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:53:11 +0000

skillian,
where do they say you pay both Google and T-Mobile ETFs?

I don’t see what the deal is here-Phandroid was the first to report on this detail, why is that so difficult for people to accept?