> If 80% of their activations are choosing the value plans, are these people simply not noticing there's another option in the website menu? I can't imagine why you'd sign a contract for no benefit.
That's the case on a lot of carriers, not just T-Mobile. Off-contract plans are usually cheaper than on-contract plans. Verizon, AT&T, etc. just don't advertise their off-contract plans, so you have to ask for them explicitly.\
In T-Mobile's case, they're actually pushing the disadvantages of an on-contract plan (lock-in) with some of the advantages of an off-contract plan (cheaper bill, though I suspect still not as cheap).
Just got back from a Verizon store and wished I'd had this information. They told me that I had to pay the same price whether I had a prepaid phone or not.
I tried unsuccessfully to argue the logic with them that if they didn't need to subsidize the prepaid phone why couldn't they pass the savings through to me?
I was told by the manager that's the plan take it or leave it, so I left.
That's the case on a lot of carriers, not just T-Mobile. Off-contract plans are usually cheaper than on-contract plans. Verizon, AT&T, etc. just don't advertise their off-contract plans, so you have to ask for them explicitly.\
In T-Mobile's case, they're actually pushing the disadvantages of an on-contract plan (lock-in) with some of the advantages of an off-contract plan (cheaper bill, though I suspect still not as cheap).