Canceling an order with Sprint and buying a phone outright from Apple?

[Tzipi]

So I was on a prepaid plan with Virgin Mobile. Wasn't thrilled there and was even less thrilled with how they handled what was supposed to be their release of iPhone 7. I'm moving states as well and did not like the idea that buying from them, after paying for the phone outright, still meant it'd be locked until I stayed another full year.

Anyway, I wandered into a Sprint store kind of by mistake (VM listed the location as selling their phones and it wasn't the case). I got talked into switching but was not thrilled that I couldn't just buy the phone outright. I want to keep monthly bills as low as possible because my financial situation won't be as strong after my move. I put a stupid amount of money down on a leased Rose Gold 128gb to bring my monthly lease payment down to $4. I really wanted the 256 because I basically use my phone as my computer (don't even have a working computer at the moment so can't go clear off photos on it and I'm a big camera user). But they just couldn't get my monthly lease payments where I was happy.

Anyway, they insisted they were getting new phones in so quickly and I was told Wednesday at the latest. Well, called in today and it hasn't shipped. New estimate is a week and a half. Now, I know we are all impatient but I'm not thrilled with the lease thing to begin with, am worried I'm going to constantly regret going with the 128gb, plus I'm about to loose service with VM and why waste money paying for another month I won't use all of. Plus i have the most miserably awful two year old Kyocera piece of garbage I paid all of $20 for. Needless to say this phone is making me crazy. The keyboard crashed twice already while I typed this. And oh the cord is starting to short but why go blow money on a new Android cord when I'm supposed to be getting this iPhone....

So here's what I'm wondering. Wouldn't it just make sense to head to an Apple store and buy the phone I want outright as I originally wanted? I'm not even sure I want to be with Sprint so I'd have my pick of whatever provider I wanted, even if I went with sprint, no lease to worry about, I could get my 256gb, all would be well. Nearest store is an hour away, looks like id have to drive a bit further for a 256gb but Apple is saying it will be in tomorrow.

Do I have anything to lose by doing this? I'm a new customer with Sprint and dont even have a phone number with them yet (so can't even log into an account or anything). I haven't paid a phone bill though I put $450 down on that lease. I know they have a whole policy that you can change your mind in the first two weeks. If I cancel before the phone even ships, would I be okay?

This makes more sense to me and would've been my preferred way of doing things in the beginning had I lived closer to an Apple store. The phome I am saddle with now is barely even functional which is making me all the more desperate for a new one. I guess I'm just wondering if this plan makes sense? Has anyone else canceled an order? I'm dure I've seen posts on one of the forums to this effect. I'd feel much safer knowing there was no lease to worry about and the phone was paid in full and mine so say when I move I'm just not happy with my cell service, much easier to switch and no being slapped with the lease buyout.

Is there anything I need to worry about if I do this? Heck, would I be able to cancel my lease but still stick with Sprint if I wanted? Not sure yet if I do, want to look over my best priced options. I guess I'm wondering if it would be crazy to do this.

 

[1981d]

I'm not sure about how Sprint would handle the refund of your deposit on the lease, but if you never take possession of the leased phone I would think they would have to give you a refund.

As to buying the new phone from the Apple Store, go online and buy it through apple's website, and select "in store pick-up" for your local Apple Store as the delivery option. That way Apple sets it aside with your name on it, no risk of someone beating you to the punch during your hour long trip over there.

As for Sprint, I would personally use Verizon or ATT, or one of their MNVO's, if at all possible. Straight Talk is also a good option that you can use any carrier's phone on, IIRC.

 

[Tzipi]

As to buying the new phone from the Apple Store, go online and buy it through apple's website, and select "in store pick-up" for your local Apple Store as the delivery option. That way Apple sets it aside with your name on it, no risk of someone beating you to the punch during your hour long trip over there.

Can I do that if I don't have an account with any of the phone providers though? I only clicked through to check stock so I'm not sure if it even asks that but I know I had to click on one of the four providers so unsure if that's possible.

And thanks for the carrier advice. I actually have seen some independent testing in the city I'm moving to where Straight Talk performed surprisingly well. Don't know much about them but will look into them. The carrier decision is definitely the hardest part. Ive been with Verizon and AT&T in the past, with other iPhones in fact. I know everyone hates Sprint and I did too but I had a much better experience on their network in my two years with Virgin than quite a few years ago so they've improved considerably, seem to have the best coverage around the Great Lakes and I'm ultimately moving from MI to Chicago so for the area they're not awful but yeah. Definitely like the ability to swap carriers if things don't work out though. Stayed with a friend a few months back over on the east coast and she had a 6s on AT&T but couldn't get service inside her apartment (ironically my VM phone could) so you never really know. Haven't settled on an apartment yet but it'd be just my luck to pick one in a weird dead zone.