Sprint/Best Buy My Way Student Promotion: 12 Months of FREE Talk, Text & 1GB Data for Students
Calling all students! Did you know that Sprint and Best Buy have partnered up to offer a My Way Student promo through 1/4/2014 where all students (i.e. anyone enrolled in a U.S.-based elementary school, middle school, high school, college, university or other accredited institute!) can snag up to 12 months of FREE talk, text and 1GB data on the Unlimited, My Way plan with the purchase of a smartphone at Best Buy. That’s a whopping savings of up to $70/month off the base monthly rate charge!
Here are the requirements:
* The student must purchase a phone at Best Buy at the student-activated price (all Sprint smartphones and basic phones are eligible for this offer!).
* Activate phone at time of purchase on Unlimited, My Way Student Promotion (a fee of $36 per line applies to each activation).
* Account holder must validate student within 14 days of phone activation date (Sprint will accept the following items via fax or online for validation: valid report card from current school year, Student ID, Enrollment confirmation /tuition receipt for current school year, or required state documents if home schooled)
* Note that this promotion is available exclusively at Best Buy – it is not available at your local Sprint Store.
* At the end of the student’s 12 months of free service, the account holder can terminate the student line by calling Sprint or dialing *2 from their mobile phone before the end of 12 months.
* Click here for more information.
(Thanks, Nina!)
I’m unclear about the monthly amount we would have to pay. I read that there will be taxes but if the line is free what are you paying taxes on?
You probably just have to pay your normal state taxes, which would only be a couple of dollars a month.
The fine print says that a sprint imposed fee of 15.6%, + admin fee 1.99, + $0.40 for some other thing, + all state, local etc. fees! The usual rate is $70 per mo. so taxes+fees would be well over a couple of bucks. I guestimate something around $20 a month, blurg 🙁
What a great deal, I am going to look into it. Thank you very much Collin.
This is great but I no longer shop at Best Buy, due to poor customer service they provided (or lack of) to me.
But how much will the phone cost? It sounds like it can’t be a discounted phone.
I may go try to check this out today to see how much the smart phones would cost out of pocket (anyone know?). I wish I was not already under contract! I’m a full time student and would love to take advantage of this offer. Alternatively, I could use another line for my son!
NOTE: “Students preferring a basic phone can also get 12 months of free talk and text with blocked data for $50/month.” So, the basic phones can be purchased but your going to pay $50/mo.
That is good to know Heather. I was leaning on the basic phone, but since it is $50 I can just add a line for 9.99 to our plan.
“Students preferring a basic phone can also get 12 months of free talk and text with blocked data for a SAVINGS of $50/month.” I think you can still get it free, but without data.
Any idea the cost of a “student activated” smartphone? My best buy doesn’t open for 2 hours but I’m going to call and find out. The outright purchase price of an iPhone 5 is $699.99 so the “student activated” price for the phone has to be a lot less than that for me to jump on it.
I looked on the best buy site and they don’t talk about it at all. I’m trying to figure out how much you’d have to pay for the phone!
Hi if you click on learn more about student phones on the best buy website it will take u 2 another page then click on see eligible phones and pricing.
I don’t see the ‘eligible phones and pricing’. I just see where it says all sprint phones eligible.
Does anyone know if you have to be a current Sprint account holder for this? My husband and I have verizon but I’m wondering if I can do this for my son if he would be the only one on the account.
Do I need to be a current Sprint customer? Because I’m not.
Good way to get a ton of new customers they know that parents with children aren’t going to give them a phone and then after a year tell them oh no more cell phone service.
So I buy my son (middle school) a cheap smartphone – Maybe an iPhone 4s – Pay $36 to activate the line – Plus taxes and line fees (probably $10 a month) and he gets free talk and text and 1g data for 12 months? So in short it is the initial cost of the phone, $10 a month in fees and taxes and a $36 activation fee?
Plus the cost of the phone.
My taxes and line fees are around $15 i think and you would have to turn off the internet so he doesnt go over the data
cheap iphone:) they are still 500 for the old 4’s even…and you can’t buy one somewhere else, has to be best buy student activated price.
When it sounds to good, it usually is….they are gonna get money one way or another by buying phone or kids going over there 1 gb of data…that can be expensive!
They are counting on people keeping the phone line I’m sure. If people get this for their kids they aren’t going to turn around and deactivate it after a year is up.
I would. After the year is up, I will go back to another cheaper plan than $70/mo. Hoping they have some affordable smartphones eligible for the offer.
I’m not sure of many plans from carriers where you can get unlimited text, talk and limited data for substantially less than $70 a month unless its a prepaid line or cricket phone.
T mobile is $50 a month, $42 if your employer has a discount
The small print says they can get unlimited data for just $10 extra a month. My question is whether you can switch to another carrier after the year is up or if the phone is connected to Sprint.
I’m sure it’s a Sprint phone and you’d have to get a new phone if you go to a different carrier.
Actually if you’re buying it outright it may be an unlocked phone ( just make sure to ask.) Also make sure it has a SIM card slot if the company you plan up switch to uses SIM cards.
my 3 children and I …2 teenagers, myself and a 20 year old… share 2gb of data and never go o ver….most of the time you are using wifi
Dont forget the 11.99 they charge for insurance on phone too.
I am anxiously waiting to see how this plays out?!
I am on the chat with a Best Buy Mobile rep… and seems as though she has NO idea what I am talking about!!! Companies need to prep their employees when a new Promo is started!!!
I anticipated that happening so I just printed out the facts page on it from bestbuy.com. I plan to bring that to the store with me.
Here’s the glaring issue I see with this so please correct me if I am wrong but this would require 2 year contract- correct? If that is the case, I would be at their mercy to pay whatever price they charge for the second year and that very well could change sometime next year.
Can someone shed some insight into this? I current have Sprint and am excited that my 2 year contract currently runs out this January.
I’m wondering what the catch is to…
There is not a 2 year contract for this.
Fine print says customer can cancel before the 12 months is up.
Im pretty sure that the wording of :$70 off the base monthly charge” means you will be paying more than just your phone, activation, and taxes…there is a base monthly charge as well.
Hey. This is kinda off topic. But when I was looking at best buy. They have this trade in program. And it says I could trade in my iphone and get 100 gift card to use toward the purchase of a iphone 5. On their site it has iphone 5 16gb under sprint plan for 99 dollars. Does this mean I could get the new phone for basically free?
Good question. I have an old iPhone I could trade in too. If you find out, let me know!
no, it doesn’t mean that. you can only get the iphone 5 under the spring plan if you sign up for a normal spring plan and pay each month. you have to pay the student activated plan price that is nearly full retail, you only get a break on cost of a phone if you sign up for 2 year plan
To get the sprint phone for 99 you have to be eligible for an upgrade. So if you are it might be worth going to best buy and doing the trade in. Yes I my question was not about the student phone plan. I just saw the price of the phone online for sprint and had to ask and see if anyone knew about it.
What I’m guessing the catch is they have you purchase a phone and you use it with the free plan for a year and then since you can’t (most likely) switch to another carrier they start charging you the normal rate which is subsidizing phones. So in the end you will pay more than you should for a phone and then only be able to use it in a contract rather than in a no-contract situation. I think I’m going with Republic Wireless…
Unless you have an unlocked phone you can never switch phones between carriers anyways. You can’t take a Sprint phone and activate it on Verizon or vice versa that I know of. Phone are also not always free not the ones people want anyways.
If the phone is no longer under contract you can usually get the phone unlocked.
it specifically says you can cancel after 12 months
i would be kind of interested in this deal, if you find out more please post!
So the catch is you pay full price for the phone. Who would pay $600 for a phone just to have free service for a year? It is not even worth in imo:(
If you get $70 worth of service each month, free of charge, that would equal $840 is savings. I assume that the people who would pay $600 for the phone are those who want to save $240 on their annual bill…
I would… my daughters iphone was stolen, we didn’t have insurance, she can’t get a new one at Verizon for less than 600 either and it would extend our contract 2 years which I don’t want to do
I called the store to find out how much the phones would cost with this deal and I was told the cost would range from $550.00-$750.00.
That’s the price for a smart phone…I’m not sure about a basic phone (which is also included in the offer)
I wonder whether the “student activated phone” price is the same as this typical range.
I’m in grad school….. so can I take advantage of it
Yes the deal is you (student) purchases a line at full srp less any store discounts, buybacks. The student line is a month to month contract. But you do pay a 36.00 activation fee. Smart phones are $70/ month basic phones are $50/ month. Students must provide proof of eligibility with in 30days .
Ps…I’m a sprint cust service rep
sprint has the absolute worst service! customer service is great but my phone doesnt work at all when i go to northern california. Here in chicago suburbs i never get 4g and it is sooooo slow. I pay almost 90 bux for crap service
It says 14 days to provide proof of student status. I’m weary about it not getting received and approved in that amount of time especially with reps not even knowing what this deal is all about. Too many loose ends for me. Pass.
I just spoke with a mobile rep at the store and he said that it would be the cost of the phone .. no contract. + activation fee
If you have to pay upwards of $500-700 for a phone, then this is not really a good deal:( Would be about the same as getting the new promo price for a phone (cheap or free) and paying the monthly payment. We have Sprint, so adding a line onto the existing account is a way better deal.
I just went to best buy and the student discount is 200.00 off the normal price of a phone. iPhone would still be over $500.00, not a good deal. This just went live in the store today.
Not a good deal at all, yikes! I’m going to pass on this. 🙁
How much was the Nexus 5? $250??
It’s live at bestbuy.com https://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phones/sprint-student-deal/pcmcat317600050015.c?id=pcmcat317600050015
Also, here are the phone prices:
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 $749.99
Samsung Galaxy Note II $699.99
Samsung Galaxy S 4 $649.99
Samsung Galaxy S III $549.99
Samsung Galaxy S II $549.99
Samsung Galaxy S 4 Mini $449.99
Samsung Galaxy Victory $299.99
iPhone 5S 16GB $699.99 or $649.00 (open box)
iPhone 5S 32GB $799.99 or $749.00 (open box)
iPhone 5S 64GB $899.99 or $849.00 (open box)
iPhone 5C 16GB $599.99 or $549.00 (open box)
iPhone 5C 32GB $699.99 or $649.00 (open box)
iPhone 4S 8GB $499.99 or $450.00 (open box)
LG G2 $599.99
LG Optimus G $599.99
LG Nexus 5 $449.98
LG Viper 4G LTE $449.98
LG Rumor Reflex $329.99
LG Rumor Reflex S $279.99
HTC One $599.99
HTC EVO 4G LTE $599.99
Motorola Moto X $599.99
Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE $449.99
Kyocera Rise $299.98
Kyocera Kona $249.98
Thank you for the list. Those phone prices are ridiculous though!!! I have a Kyocera Rise that I paid $50 for at Target back in January. No where near worth $300…. oh and that price wasn’t based on signing up for a plan either. I have Virgin Mobile prepaid and only pay $35 a month.
Thanks, Monique & Michelle! For my 10 year old, I think we will stick to just simple prepaid. He doesn’t call anyone but me anyways and if adding the price of the phone + monthly tax/fees.. it’d be like paying at MINIMUM $40/mo for this deal. His prepaid is cheaper.
My bestbuy said 450 for nexus 550 for s3 and up from there. Going to pass on this not enough coverage to make a difference for me
It isn’t an amazing deal, but it’s not a bad deal. You’ll pay more upfront. But $70 month over 12 months = $840 dollars. So as long as you don’t buy a phone that’s is over 840 you seem to come out slightly ahead. Ex. the 16gb iphone 5s is 700 here, but it’s 100 on their website. After a year it’s a payment of $700 vs $940 (840+100).
Of course if you don’t cancel after the free time is up they’ll go to charging you $70 a month which is unfortunate because that’s the rather high price to subsidize the costs of the phone, which you already paid for. So after a year it could be worth just signing a contract and getting a new phone.
Tears… Mama always said if it seems too good to be true…
Absolutely, just went to best buy and is too good to be true.
It’s still a decent deal, and if you buy a $250-300 phone, that’s a significant savings on your coverage. I may get one just as a second phone.
It is not a very good deal at all. The cheapest phone is a flip phone. Best buy price of $250 but you can buy flip phones at walmart for $25 and up. Straighttalk and T mobile are $50 a month, not $70.
Even if you get the $250 phone then add the activation fee and about $15 or $20 a month for taxes etc you are still looking at about $40 or so a month for 12 months. Definitely not the savings they are talking about. I got an Iphone 5s from T mobile for $42 a month for the plan and an extra $20 a month for 24 months to pay off the phone. I could have bought the phone outright and then only paid $42 a month. This is a no contract phone deal.
Assuming you got the Samsung Galaxy Victory for $300. Then with tax and activation fees, it’s really like $350. Then assume you pay $20 a month in taxes. That breaks down to about $50 a month. So really, in my opinion, you just about break even as with other companies such as T Mobile, which cost like $50 a month. If you can pay $50 a month at T Mobile and get a free phone from them, then it comes out to be the same price. But if you have to buy your phone at T Mobile, then you’re spending more there. It comes down do which company and their service you would prefer and where you can get a better phone to suit you.
Oops. Sorry, Rachel, this wasn’t supposed to get put as a direct comment to yours! Just a general comment. 🙂
I went into best buy today, the cheapest phone at the student price was just under 300.00. Service is through Sprint
Would they honor their price match policy on the phone?
Sprint doesn’t have a very good service, just keep that in mind. My friend switched to Spring during a promotion and is not happy at all, end up installing land line she gets almost no signal inside the house.
Does anyone know if this would work?
I have an unlocked Nexus 5 I purchased from the play store that I want to use on the Sprint network and I am a student. Could I purchase another phone from Best Buy to get the discounted plan, swap phones on the discounted line over to my Nexus, and then return the other phone back to Best Buy?