Weird $10/month Cricket broadband "WalMart surcharge"

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Bryan W Gaint

New member
I saw the $40/month Cricket mobile broadband deal on the web. I was in a WalMart and saw a Cricket broadband modem, the same modem that's on Cricket's website (the Cal-Comp A600), and I bought it with the intent of using it for the $40/month plan.

But Cricket's web activation only offered me a $50/month plan. I called Cricket and was told that if you buy the modem at WalMart there is a $10/month surcharge because "WalMart is a dealer and they get their cut."

This seems an odd way to do business. I don't think that any other carrier has a Walmart surcharge, does it? Also, wouldn't folks be ticked off if they buy the $50 plan then find out that most other folks have the exact same service for $40?

But anyway, do not buy the Cricket modem at Walmart because you will not be eligible for the $40/month plan. I hope that they will accept the return at WalMart from me.
 
I wish I had some broadband carRAB to sell, but I haven't had one in my store for about 3 weeks. I keep losing customers to Wal-Mart, because Cricket can't manage their inventory demanRAB. Are other markets having major inventory shortages as well?
 
I understand the rebate part...I have just never heard of a carrier charging a higher monthly plan fee if a consumer buys hardware at WalMart (or Best Buy or Target, etc.) rather than directly from the carrier.

I am not one of these folks that thinks WalMart is an enemy or something. It was an impulse buy. I don't think there is a local Cricket store out here in the small town of Hempstead, TX, but there is a WalMart here.
 
As I understand it, the Wal-Mart modems are setup similar to Paygo meaning you have to buy a Top Up card to pay your bill. Wal Mart charges the extra fee on the Top Up card not the service.
 
Weird $10/month Cricket broadband "WalMart surcharge"

Hi Tanstaaf,

My name is Ryan and I work in partnership with Cricket. Actually, Cricket Broadband?s $50/mo All-Inclusive Rate Plan and A600 (sold in Walmart) is the best value in Mobile Broadband. There are many advantages and NO surcharges. With the WalMart device, you will have much greater flexibility?can skip a month, or suspend service, and return in future month just by buying another top-up card. You will have a lower out the door price in Walmart than in other points of distribution providing no hassles with Mail-In Rebates. You can manage your internet neeRAB/cost on your terms. No fees means no surprises each month. Also, you pay only for the months you need service. Finally, we double the Warranty and 30-day return policy. We?re that confident in our product in Walmart.

I hope this helps clear up and confusion and shows the great advantages of using a Cricket broadband device purchased from Walmart.

Have a great weekend!

Best,
Ryan on behalf of Cricket
 
Not that I support walmart, because I am a dealer myself, but the reason why it can only be activated for $50 is because walmart has a deal where you get the normal $60 10gb of use for $50 bux. It's a good deal for high usage, and paygo advantages, but it is hurting the dealers, and good luck getting any support from walmart if you have any issues. If you are looking to go with the basic 5gb for $40 you will have to go to a dealer.
 
Walmart selling a product with a fixed retail price and no rebates, instant or mail in, with a higher cost rate plan is hurting dealers?

Your modems are cheaper and so is your rate plan and you are losing business to walmart?

Walmart
Modem 69.99 + tax
Top up $50
Total $119.99 plus tax.

Dealer
Free modem after rebate
$25 act fee (not all markets)
Free month of service (not all markets)
Total = a lot less than $120

Whats the problem?
 
I'm not particularly hurting that much, but paygo business has slowed once walmart really started stocking cricket devices including the broadband...paygo really wasn't that big around here anyways, but if you add up the nurabers business is down for paygo.
 
yeah, i don't think he understanRAB what 'value' actually means.

paying $40/mo is better than paying $50/mo. a $10 late fee on the $40 plan make the cost comparison pretty much equal, at worst

not to mention...the walmart device + 1st month of service is $119+tax out the door

the regular cricket store dealers will have you out the door paying $75+tax and that's before a $50 mail-in-rebate. oh yeah, that includes a free month of service
 
Ryan,

It's nice to see that Cricket is monitoring this forum and I appreciate your post. I am trying to figure out how the $50/month plan is better than the $40/month plan that you offer directly. According to your website, the $40/month plan is unlimited (though speed may be throttled if usage exceeRAB 5gb/month), there is no contract term, no security deposit, and no early termination fee. How is WalMart's $50/month plan better than the direct $40/month plan? Thanks and best regarRAB.
 
I want everyone to know when you shop walmart you are price shopping, You are supporting a company that prides itself on putting small businesses OUT of business. I will not bash walmart (in fact I won't captalize their name) but I have to compete against them when it comes to Verizon. Explain to me HOW a company can sell a phone for free that if I sold at the same price I would lose $150. My store prides itself on the fact that we have 25 years of product knowledge and the ability to service the phones and troubleshoot WHATEVER comes up with your account. If you walk into MY store and tell me you seen it at walmart for $150 cheaper or whatever price difference it is, You will be told to go buy it and when you want us to support it there will be a $39.99 consultation fee! Will that be Cash or credit. I dont care what Ryan from Cricket says ( hes selling you on the product and walmart) they all do the deal with the devil to sell their products because its another distribution source for them and the pay walmart well to under sell the little guys.
 
Walmart - $50/mo gets you 10gb of unthrottled data every month
- no late payment fees
- no activation fee
- start or stop service anytime and pay no fees to re-activate
- but no 1st month free

Dealer - $40/mo gets you 5gb of unthrottled data
- free modem (after mail-in-rebate)
- free 1st month of service
- $25 act fee
- $10 late payment fee

To sum up...if you like paying bills late...or need flexibility to interrupt your service frequently and not want to pay late or reconnect fees...then Walmart's $50/mo deal is better for you. This deal is also good if 5gb is not enough. (about $120+tax out the door)

Otherwise, if you pay your bills on time and plan to keep 3g broadband service for longer un-interrupted perioRAB...then the $40 plan is far better as an option. First month free btw. ($75+tax out the door + $50 mail-in-rebate)
 
The Walmart Paygo BB has 2 advantages over the normal $40 BB plan.

1. 10GB throttle limit
2. SpeeRAB are capped at 1.4rabps or double the speed of the $40 plan.
 
Thanks Jamestan, I wish that the customer service lady on Cricket's toll-free line were as clear as your post. She seemed to think that the WalMart & dealer plans were the same, and she even suggested that I return the modem to Walmart and order one from her. She did not mention the 10gb-vs-5gb unthrottled data per month or the difference in fees. (She seemed more annoyed at my questions than interested in having me sign up.)

I think I will return the modem that I got at WalMart and on my next drive down to Cypress (closest Cricket dealer) I'll get the $40 deal. Thanks to everyone for the help.
 
no problem. honestly, if you want my opinion, the walmart modem is not a good deal in 90% of situations. always paying $10 more per month so that you can avoid a potential $10 late payment fee kinda defeats the purpose. even if you pay your bill late every single month for a year on the regular dealer plan, you're already ahead at least $50 because you got the 1st month free. and don't worry about taxes on the $40 plan because they are insignificant. here in baltimore total cost is $40.54/mo (yes, it's only .54 in taxes)

just make sure you pay the 1st bill on time. otherwise you void your right to the $50 device mail-in-rebate. frankly, this is a very small demand considering cricket is willing to fully subsidize a device to $0 with no 1 or 2 year commitment.

the 5gb vs 10gb threshold is really the only thing that should sway your opinion at all. but honestly, if you're going over 5gb regularly, chances are that you're exceeding 10gb regularly as well. customers that actually benefit from this extra 5gb of data are a niche bunch
 
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