http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/ Engadget Comments for Google's Nexus One 'equipment recovery fee' slashed to $150, still a pain http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
Lol @ your "Google Android" specs:

*ARM9 processor, 208MHz system clock
*High-Res TFT display, 240 X 320 dots resolution with
2.8 inch Touch Screen

Sell your garbage somewhere else, it isn't going to fly here. ]]>Feb 9th 2010 12:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
Just wish they allowed more consumers to buy the device. Don't know if it's a T-Mobile thing or Google but they could have sold way more.]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
put it in tmo stores so people can grope it !]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
I'm not sure I follow you. The Nexus One is quite literally one of the easiest mobile phones to buy. Google.com/phone. Straight up.

@POZ - I was a little worried about spending so much cash on a phone I had never handled either, but I'm sooo happy I made the jump. I think if you watch all the videos made about the Nexus One (they've all been posted on Engadget), and couple that with the opinions of owners, you'll feel more comfortable knowing the device is truly top-notch. Trust me, you won't regret purchasing it.]]>Feb 8th 2010 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
Wow, Google has it pretty easy. All they have to do to have their ridiculous fees accepted is to introduce them at ridiculous(x), then subsequently slash.]]>Feb 8th 2010 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
well lets look at the math here

Nexus One with no contract: $530
Nexus One with contract: $170
Nexus One with contract and cancellation fee: $370

now $370 + $150 recovery = $520

So if they didn't have that fee, they would be out a lot of money. And it bring in people to scam the system. ]]>Feb 8th 2010 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 7:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 9:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://bit.ly/nexus-one-rebate-details

Indeed it always sound good to hear G, improving the capabilities of the nexus phone.
]]>Feb 9th 2010 4:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/actually, corylulu included the ETF:
"Nexus One with contract and cancellation fee: $370"

That's $150 plus tmo's $200 ETF. The math seems right to me and makes a great point. People would definitely scam the system without that recovery fee.]]>Feb 9th 2010 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
sorry, $170 plus the $200 ETF, not $150.]]>Feb 9th 2010 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
I'm going to speculate that it's because if the T Mobile ETF is only $200, then if you just pay for one month and cancel the contract, you'd have the phone for less than if you bought it unlocked, in which case they're losing money. Although of course they're most likely actually still making money, but not as much as they want/need to cover the costs of R&D and still make a profit or whatever..]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/09/nexus-one-hardware-costs-174-15-us-multitouch-still-priceless/
So why would both Google and T-Mobile require money back when either one is plenty when you figure in that the consumer already covered the cost of the phone.]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
I thought production, shipping , testing and all that other crap is why they charged after the 14 days?]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
You are pointing out the "cost". But really, @nothing's point was valid as the comparison should be made to the "price" -- one shouldn't be able to pay less by intentionally signing up with a subsidized phone and immediately cancelling.]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/But the phone itself COSTS $529, not $174. There are other things that go into offering a phone to the public than just hardware.

Either way, his point was valid that this is pretty fair. Why should people get off with paying less for the subsidized and canceling, whereas those who bought it unsubsidized still have to pay full price? All the ETFs between the two companies are doing is recovering the full cost of the phone.]]>Feb 8th 2010 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
So I guess actually building the phone, testing to make sure it worked properly, and doesn't break when you press it to your ear was all free, huh? Not to mention the fact that the advertising for the phone and developing a whole new way of selling phones was just pro bono.

Hardware cost tells you little to nothing. Either way, they are a business. They ARE in this to make money. If the phone is too expensive for you, don't buy it. Simple economics.]]>Feb 8th 2010 7:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
if that's your argument, you should be upset with the unlocked retail price.

if you knew what the markup in furniture is, you'd never buy a folding chair again.]]>Feb 8th 2010 7:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 9th 2010 1:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
And Canada, please. :)]]>Feb 9th 2010 2:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
With the old pricing you were paying much MUCH more than the unlocked price of the N1, now it matches up exactly. Take these two examples:

User 1 purchases an unlocked Nexus One for $529, and is under no contract.

User 2 purchases a subsidized Nexus One for $179, then cancels T-Mobile service after one month leaving him with no contract. User pays $200 to T-Mobile and $150 to Google, totaling $350. Add in the upfront price of the subsidized N1 ($179) and you come to a grand total of $529, the exact price of the unlocked model.

This model makes sense and is perfectly fair IMO.]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 9th 2010 1:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 9th 2010 1:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
One of them is lying, or the ETFs are there to lock in customers and stifle choice after all.]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
Exactly. How the hell is T-Mobile getting away with an ETF when you don't even buy the phone from them?
If T-Mobile is paying Google the sub. fees, how in the hell is Google getting away with their ETF?

Unless there is a time limit? I'm sure T-Mobile is like a 2 year contract but does Google have a time limit on it?]]>Feb 8th 2010 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
No other words can be used to describe it. $150 for what exactly? For restocking your product if someone returns it? That's like a 25% restocking fee!

I can semi understand T-Mobile's ETF (even if it is excessive), since they are the ones that have to deal with changing our your number and the billing information and all that other paperwork since it is their network after all, but even then that can't be more than a few minutes worth of work on their part. ]]>Feb 8th 2010 5:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
In his world, even high-end phones are worth no more than $179 and people who pay $350 more just for some nebulous "unlocking" are chumps who should be mocked roundly.]]>Feb 8th 2010 9:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 9th 2010 12:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 5:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 6:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/Feb 8th 2010 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
We in Canada have $400ETF + $100 Data ETF...so $500+13% tax to cancel a contract.
And that's for all phones. What the $100 Data ETF is for? It's for terminating data plan, which you need to sign up for 3 years in order to get subsidy on phone.

And our contracts here are 36 months instead of usual 24, lol.]]>Feb 8th 2010 8:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/googles-nexus-one-equipment-recovery-fee-slashed-to-150-sti/
I am on a Family plan, and meet T-Mobiles requirements for a phone upgrade on my line. For example, I could upgrade to a MyTouch 3G for only ~$179. IF T-Mobile sold the Nexus One, I could do something similar, but since Google only allows specific Single Plans to upgrade, myself and many other T-Mobile users are being locked out of this.

T-Mobile has been more than willing to help their customers "cheat" the system in many reports I've read, and from experience they've showed a general interest in helping my family and I save money where we can. For example, T-Mobile is perfectly okay with temporarily transfering a single line on our Family Plan over to a Single Plan, let us buy the phone (for the discounted $279), and then switch back over with NO CHARGE. But this "Equipment Recovory Fee" is a way for Google (and NOT T-Mobile!) to force those on said other plans to "pay the full price".

My point here, and why I'm so frustrated with Google, is that T-Mobile is more than willing to let us upgrade the phone on one of the lines of our Family Plan for a much cheaper fee, and Google is making sure that T-Mobile has no such control over discounts like this. Thus, a lot of long time T-Mobile members (who, honestly, have been nothing but pleased with T-Mobile's helpful and generous customer service) are peeved at Google for, essentially, cheating us out of benefits T-Mobile is trying to give it's loyal customers.

The good news is: With this lowered fee a T-Mobile Family Plan member can now temporarily switch a line over to a Single Plan, buy the phone for $279, switch it back over, eat the $150 "Equipment BS Fee", and get the phone for $429. It's still not what T-Mobile would give us if they had control, but it IS cheaper. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and Family Plan members will soon be extended the full discount. Either way, I'm very displeased with Google's approach to all of this.]]>Feb 8th 2010 8:26PM