Why charge a upgrade fee?

If they have to transfer the contents of one device to another.  Sure.  I am fine with a fee for that because that is something I would personally do myself.  If someone needs an in-store tutorial on their new device.  I also think that is fair to charge a fee for.  If I walk into a store to pick up a phone that doesn't even leave the box until I get it home.  I don't think there should be a fee for that.  If it's too much to expect a person to take a minute of their time to get it, scan it, and check me out.  Put it in a vending machine inside of the store and I will use that.  

T-Mobile 'used to be' the uncarrier, claiming no fees or bundled services.  They still use 'uncarrier', and still do sell unbundled, but promote their bundled services.  Similarly, stores are basically an expense for sales.  If you don't have Internet, how can you sign up for service ?  Telesales ?  Oddly enough, I can purchase through Apple/Samsung directly and save myself … $35.  Stores are an expense, and I can understand sales attempting to recoup through these fees.  I used to purchase locally at a store, but then they wanted fees.   Ok .. I'll purchase over the phone … fees.  Ok I'll purchase online … fees.

Ok - I’ll bypass and go through Samsung/Apple.  Samsung gives better deals than T-Mobile does on exchanges as well ($325 vs $125 for the same device!)

A $35 fee for each line does add up really fast! Good on you @DavidRT for looking at all of your options before making the purchase. You mention upgrading your phones, so I just wanted to take the opportunity to clarify one thing about the Device Connection Charge. If you are financing your device and have P360, then you could be eligible for a JUMP! upgrade and the fee would not apply to that order.

I bet if they could they'd drop the brick and mortar places to save money.  We've literally had someone recently on here complained a lot them were shutting down.  It's a catch 22.  Honestly I wish carriers would just sell services, and leave device sales to OEMs.  Honestly would reduce overheads by a large margin which should lower plan costs.

The current phones I have are from ATT and I was not able to get to a local store to get them covered by insurance. I am looking at about 400 dollars with the taxes on 4 phones plus the 35 00 per phone fee. Which is ridiculous of you ask me. I understand making money, but they can do something about the fee. They charge the same fee to set up the account 

Is the fee for getting a new sim card? What if you just pull sim card out of the old phone and place it in the new phone?  Also these phone were kept from old carrier and would like to get newer phones to work with T-Mobile 5G service since the phones I have said they will work but I don't they are set for the correct ban with for T-Mobile.

They get paid by the hour.  If no one comes in they get paid.  If no one goes into the stores what's the point of them working?  What's the point of paying rent?  What's the point of paying electric.  There's a lot more involved selling a single phone?  May not seem like much but they are providing a service which you could do yourself as you pointed out yourself.  So either pay for the service or do it yourself.  

Before you say anything.  I don't work for T-Mobile and I would say the SAME thing for ALL SERVICE based jobs.

A lot of people complain about Apple device being expensive, but Samsung(I used to work here) does not have brick and mortar stores, inventory, and employees worldwide Apple does.  People don't think costs like this doesn't get factor into products and services?

Verizon does the same and pretty sure AT&T does the same.

gramps28 wrote:

Verizon does the same and pretty sure AT&T does the same.

Yes, but that still doesn't make it right.  It literally takes 15 seconds to remove a SIM from one device and put it in another.  Not 3 hours pay for one employee!  This is literally my one exception to wanting self-serve options so they don't have to employ someone to charge this ridiculous fee.