Miss yesterday's $99 Vibrant deal? How about a penny?

By on Aug 19, 2010 at 10:50 AM
General August 19, 2010

Yesterday, T-Mobile had a one-day sale on the Samsung Vibrant; pricing the unit at $100-off the usual $199 for 2-year contract signers. Today, AmazonWireless has the device for one shiny penny. The terms of the deal look like this:

When you purchase your device with service from AmazonWireless.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you.  This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days.  If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, AmazonWireless.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.

So, if you were on the fence about $199, and still on the fence about $99, how do you feel about $0.01?

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61 Comments

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  • tomm

    They are pricing this thing like its a MOTO RAZR!

    • Gaius

      It’s because T-Mobile isn’t the most popular carrier and they’re trying to get new subscribers who can’t afford AT&T and an iPhone to commit to a contract. Also, I’d say that manufacturers are aware that Android 3.0 will be a game changer for Android handsets so they are going to move the 2.X handsets as fast as they can before October comes around and people think they missed out.

      • Weezy

        Anyone who doesn’t see the Galaxy line and their special UI is just blind with Apple hate. Take away android, an iOS knockoff, and this phone is a complete iphone knockoff still.

      • tomm

        Rite, cuz Apple invented touch screens, icons, cellphones, the internet. They invent everything from the ground up and never borrow others ideas.

      • skyy_flyer

        Come on now tomm, everyone knows Al Gore invented the internet.

      • tomm

        I stand corrected :)

      • Matt

        Don’t forget about video calling!!!

        Apple invented that too..it was sooo AWESOME seeing the first video Steve Jobs did at the iphone 4 showing!!

        WOW!! never saw anything so cool!! Too bad all those damn reporters and geeks were using all the wifi bandwidth so it looked like shit but hey what do you expect for this NEW LATEST and GREATEST invention..

      • George Curious
  • andriodblah

    I thought 2.0 was the game changer??? then it wad 2.1, no I meant 2.2, no it’s 3.0 lucky charms.

    HILARIOUS!!!!!

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

    • B

      iPhone changed everything… iPhone 3G re-changed it… iPhone 3GS re-re-changed it a little bit.. etc etc.

      It’s biz–tech biz at that. Get over it.

      • Roach

        iPhone 4 changed how you hold it.

      • MicroNix

        We told you the iPhone 4 changes everything … including how you hold it. It was subliminal, but it was there.

    • Gaius

      Nah, I’m an iPhone user, I despise Android. However, from the looks of what I’m hearing about the UI changes, I think people will finally embrace Android as a viable iPhone competitor.

      • serpentor

        More Android handsets being activated than iPhones – still not a viable competitor.

        I laugh at you.

      • Topher86

        Well yea…seeing how you have 10+ Android handsets to 2 different iPhone models..

      • George Curious

        I never understood that argument. It’s the platform that’s relevant.

        I have no idea how you guys can use that dumbed down iPhone.

      • Weezy

        Just because it works easily doesn’t mean its dumbed down. Not everyone wants to deal with lag and force closes.

      • George Curious

        Apparently iPhone users don’t want to be bothered by persistent notifications, widgets and real multi-tasking either.

      • Gaius

        If the iPhone were available on every carrier like Android is, it would beat Android. Easily. Everybody knows this, except Fandroids.

      • Jay

        Even if that happened you would still only be able to choose the iPhone 4 that is only offered at a certain price.

        Android is not only available on multiple carriers, but you have the option of selecting from dozens of models all with different prices.

      • Mike

        Finally? If it were a viable competitor, I would’ve purchased one. I didn’t…I bought a Droid X.

  • Paul

    wait, you don’t have to sign a two-year contract?

  • Peinto

    or how about paying $250.01 for a new, no-contract Samsung Vibrant?

    • Gaius

      Peinto, that 250.01 is in ADDITION to the contract you have with T-Mobile as well, dude.

      • Peinto

        Gaius, I meant tongue-in-cheek that it seems possible (somehow) according to Amazon’s terms to not activate the phone on T-mobile with a contract, then AmazonWireless charges the customer $250. It’s definitely gaming the system, and I’m not sure what they would do.

    • serpentor

      That’s not quite how it works… Amazon’s gonna charge you $250, and then Tmo will charge you what ever their ETF is.

      • Peinto

        Again, Amazon’s terms say “If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device… AmazonWireless.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.” so it seems there might be some way to not activate the service, and get charged $250 per device. I’m not sure how easy that is to do though.

      • Topher86

        Well, technically, why wouldn’t you want to activate it? Because you’ve extending your contract for another 2 years in Tmo’s understanding, regardless what Amazon thinks. So the only way to come out on top would be to get it for a penny, sell the phone for $600, get charged $250+tax, and walk away w/ $300 [depending on how much they throw on as tax]. But you’d still have your old phone and not be able to get a deal on a new phone, because you’ve already extended your contract according to Tmo.

      • Peinto

        I thought maybe it’d be possible to not activate on the promise of the 2-year contract and then sign up for T-mobile’s no-contract rate which is cheaper.

      • Nieman Marcus

        If you are already a TMO customer just switch the sims and there u have it, a Vibrant for $250

      • Topher86

        Thing is when you click submit on Amazon, Tmo is notified and you’re on a 2 year contract. You’ll get a new sim, yes, but if you look up your account, it’ll show that you renewed or started a new contract. Point is, why pay $250 for a phone you could have had for a penny, or, if you’re starting brand new service, why screw up your credit?

  • genomecop

    Makes no cents.

  • http://www.austinpickett.com Austin Pickett

    @Peinto eh? It says if you breach the conditions they’ll charge you.

    • Peinto

      Yup. My point exactly. AmazonWireless will charge $250. If the account isn’t activated immediately, then maybe, maybe, there’s a way not to activate with T-mobile on the phone. I’m sure they figured out how to prevent that though.

  • eddie b

    I thougt the iphone 4 was gonna be the game changer…..looks like the evo 4g beat it to the punch huh….without having antenna issues

    • tomm

      Except wi-fi issues, I hope they get fixed :/

    • Topher86

      Really? The Evo 4G was a game changer? What did it change? Besides being 4G capable…which was inevitable..

      • Weezy

        It made all the Sprint customers on food stamps feel like millionaires. So yes that changed the game.

      • George Curious

        So you’re boasting that you pay more? LOL

  • Topher86

    Is this because they’re having trouble selling the Vibrant?

    *sarcasms*

  • helebek

    So if you buy this and do and early cancellation, the comes to you at 250.01 + tax? That is a good deal!

  • http://www.hagrin.com z6

    I’m not too surprised this thing isn’t selling that well.

    The touchwhiz interface is a poor immitation of iOS. The overall hardware design is as well… although it looks more like the 3G/S than the 4G (i.e. dated in that respect).

    And while I don’t necessarily think immitation is a bad thing, it just lacked some features (including FFC and flash) that make it difficult to justify buying a Vibrant over the iPhone for the same price.

    • webby

      You don’t know what you’re talking about. Install LauncherPro (free home replacement app) on the phone the moment you get it, and TouchWiz crap is bye bye.

      Android is superior to iphoney in every way. For example, it can actually make phone calls!

      Go back to your corner and worship Stevie, your Gawd.

  • JN

    Actually, the penny deal only applies to NEW Individual Account setup. If you extend an existing individual account or a line on a family plan, the phone is $149.

  • RobGom

    A PENNY? What do they think we’re made of MONEY? I smell some price gouging going on!

  • JM

    It seems like the screen is this phone’s only impressive feature…once the novelty of it being so bright wears off is it really any more of a smartphone than the Evo, HD2, iPhone 4, etc?

    For me it is a few steps behind…plus, I don’t want colors to “pop” if that’s not the way they look in reality. Colors on the Nexus One “pop” and they’re not particularly accurate. Same with other AMOLED screens.

    • HabibAKAJohn/Peter/Tom@SprintPOS

      Who cares what it is for you, a “few steps behind”. Get a grip. None of those phones have the raw power of the Galaxy S series. The Evo & ESPECIALLY the HD2 are steps below the Galaxy S series and it’s not just because of the Snapdragon processor.

      If you’re used to washed out colors be on your marry little LCD way and leave us the SAMOLED displays.

      • George Curious

        It has an awesome screen with a speedy processor and GPU. How exactly is that a few steps behind? If you don’t like the interface, use a launcher.

        No one is saying this is a revolutionary phone. But this phone is very competitive with the EVO, Incredible, Droids and iPhone. If you don’t think so, you’re not keeping up with stats and reviews.

    • 4GFan82

      That’s the stupidest comment ever. “I don’t want colors to ‘pop’ out”? Who says that? S-AMOLED displays are the future of vibrant, colorful touchscreen displays? What do you want? Oh… black LCD with a literal light illuminating the “screen” from a phone built in 1998?

  • Wilson FoNasty-FoShow

    reasons why the price for the vibrant keeps dropping: its not a good version of the galaxy S. This is the only reason.

    Also, android 3.0 will be able to run on machines w 1gig and a 1ghz SoC. So the Vibrant, and many other current phones, will be able to run it.

    • HabibAKAJohn/Peter/Tom@SprintPOS

      Amazon Wireless has their own subsidies fool. The price on CostcoWireless was $99 before it even launched.

      This version is closest to the one that sold internationally which sold over 1 million. Go read up on it before you run off at the mouth.

  • patrick

    The competition is over. Android os has outsold ios. So put that argument to rest. Apple fanboys rejoice, you now have exclusivity back. Lol. And a great big walled garden with bumpers

    • George Curious

      In 2008 I too thought the iPhone was cool and cutting-edge. But it just isn’t anymore. You iPhone people need to stop hanging out in threads that have nothing to do with the iPhone. It’s kinda sad actually.

      More on point: Where is Verizons Fascinate, and will they feel pressure to discount now that the Vibrant can be found cheaply or will the price more in line with the Epic?

    • Gaius

      If iOS were suddenly put on every carrier that Android is on, it would beat Android in sales. Exclusivity is the only thing that is letting Android get activated more.

    • George Curious

      The iPhone is available internationally on a variety of carriers and even unlocked. In the US it’s already on the second largest carrier. Plus Apple includes in their sales figures anything that runs iOS like iPods and iPads.

      You really think getting on Verizon is going to put Apple over the top? Android has the momentum. Apple has to come out with something big to get it back.

  • Jack H

    Cheap network which you can barely use more than 20 miles from any major roadway. Major phone GPS glitches unresolved. Monthly service costs up there with the better networks. Not interested, not even free.

    • TheEnemy

      The GPS issues were fixed with the last patch. Mine now locks within 20-30 seconds.

  • eddie b

    I would rather have avibrant than a boring iphone..the hummingbird 1ghz processor has beaten the snapdragon in cpu power and gpu also..

    the vibrant even has a gyroscope six axis sensor like the iphone..only thing iphone 4 has over vibrant is front facing camera.. Not like you can use the video chat without wifi. And if you could, good luck having enough signal to support it.

    face it iphone fanboys, your precious iphone has been beaten by atleast 5 other handsets, guess what, they are all android

  • eddie b

    I meant to say that the humingird is better than the snapdragon and probably better than the a4.

    .because the apple fan boys seem to think it’s underpowered for some reason. (jelousy)

  • TheEnemy

    The Vibrant sold in Canada on Bell has the front facing camera. I wonder why they removed it from the US version. Was this a carrier request?

  • http://theiloop.com Zaib Ali

    I wish i could afford that…one penny is too expensive

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