Budget Buster: Christmas Gift Vent

[kayrosek]

So there really is not much I can do about this now but I do need somewhere to vent about it. We get our cell phones through my FIL's employee account at Sprint and what DD12 wants most for Christmas is an upgrade to an Android phone. DH and I agreed this would be her big gift. DD14 is getting a camcorder and accessories and DS11 is getting an e-reader but I got great deals on those things and was really hoping for a good deal on the phone especially since the phone will end up costing us a little more each month. For the past couple months FIL has been telling us to wait to have him order the phone as the employees usually get some special offers the first week of Dec. He was right. They did. Nowhere near the public offers but I understand that. The upgrade for the specific phone she wanted went from $150 with a $50 mail in rebate to $99.99 with a $50 dollar mail in rebate. I was thrilled and asked him to order it and a different Android phone for DH immediately. He said he would on Dec. 3rd. So fast forward to today I call to check that he has ordered them and to find out if they have arrived (we agreed he send them to his house so DD doesn't get suspicious) and I am told he plans to do it today. The only problem is the employee sale is now over and I am stuck paying the original price which is $50 more than I had planned on. Ugh! I am so frustrated. FIL asked me if I wanted to scrap the idea and find something else for DD12 but honestly everything else she wants would cost more than this and the phone is her top item. Plus this phone has a practical use as she can use it to video chat with her bio dad and his family. So I'm buying the phone. I just hate the price!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Can you get it from Best Buy or Sam's or somewhere? We're with Sprint and the last time we did an upgrade we went to BB because the price was so much better than getting it direct from Sprint. We had to extend our contract out another 2 years, but we would've had to do that if we bought it at the Sprint store as well.

ETA: Oops, it's late and I must've been reading too fast. I see at the end you said you went ahead and bought it. I understand being upset--vent away!

 

[QVCshopper]

That stinks, but I understand. And in these circumstances, I play the "lets see how long it takes me to make up the money game." I work more (paid hourly) or cut back for a couple weeks. If it makes you feel better, my MIL recently ended up costing me extra money because she had to buy matching earrings when my DD got her ears pierced at Sweet & Sassy (a kids' boutique). Long story, but I was also annoyed. And still wondering why a 62 year old woman needs earrings from a tween store in the first place...

 

[kayrosek]

Can you get it from Best Buy or Sam's or somewhere? We're with Sprint and the last time we did an upgrade we went to BB because the price was so much better than getting it direct from Sprint. We had to extend our contract out another 2 years, but we would've had to do that if we bought it at the Sprint store as well.

ETA: Oops, it's late and I must've been reading too fast. I see at the end you said you went ahead and bought it. I understand being upset--vent away!

Unfortunately even if I hadn't bought the phone I wouldn't have been able to go somewhere else to purchase. I can't increase my contract without the employee doing it and in my experience no other store can even see my contract.

 

[ccgirl]

So there really is not much I can do about this now but I do need somewhere to vent about it. We get our cell phones through my FIL's employee account at Sprint and what DD12 wants most for Christmas is an upgrade to an Android phone. DH and I agreed this would be her big gift. DD14 is getting a camcorder and accessories and DS11 is getting an e-reader but I got great deals on those things and was really hoping for a good deal on the phone especially since the phone will end up costing us a little more each month. For the past couple months FIL has been telling us to wait to have him order the phone as the employees usually get some special offers the first week of Dec. He was right. They did. Nowhere near the public offers but I understand that. The upgrade for the specific phone she wanted went from $150 with a $50 mail in rebate to $99.99 with a $50 dollar mail in rebate. I was thrilled and asked him to order it and a different Android phone for DH immediately. He said he would on Dec. 3rd. So fast forward to today I call to check that he has ordered them and to find out if they have arrived (we agreed he send them to his house so DD doesn't get suspicious) and I am told he plans to do it today. The only problem is the employee sale is now over and I am stuck paying the original price which is $50 more than I had planned on. Ugh! I am so frustrated. FIL asked me if I wanted to scrap the idea and find something else for DD12 but honestly everything else she wants would cost more than this and the phone is her top item. Plus this phone has a practical use as she can use it to video chat with her bio dad and his family. So I'm buying the phone. I just hate the price!

I know the extra price stinks but I would imagine the price is still in line with the camcorcer/accessories and ereader. Plus, I would try to focus on all the money you have saved being able to use the employee discount plan.

 

[HM]

$100 sounds pretty good actually, but I understand the frustration. Sorry your FIL didn't follow through.

We thought we were going to have to replace my DD's phone recently. The only one she wanted to replace it was $300! Luckily we were able to get her current one (which is no longer available) repaired.

 

[Marionnette]

So there really is not much I can do about this now but I do need somewhere to vent about it. We get our cell phones through my FIL's employee account at Sprint and what DD12 wants most for Christmas is an upgrade to an Android phone. DH and I agreed this would be her big gift. DD14 is getting a camcorder and accessories and DS11 is getting an e-reader but I got great deals on those things and was really hoping for a good deal on the phone especially since the phone will end up costing us a little more each month. For the past couple months FIL has been telling us to wait to have him order the phone as the employees usually get some special offers the first week of Dec. He was right. They did. Nowhere near the public offers but I understand that. The upgrade for the specific phone she wanted went from $150 with a $50 mail in rebate to $99.99 with a $50 dollar mail in rebate. I was thrilled and asked him to order it and a different Android phone for DH immediately. He said he would on Dec. 3rd. So fast forward to today I call to check that he has ordered them and to find out if they have arrived (we agreed he send them to his house so DD doesn't get suspicious) and I am told he plans to do it today. The only problem is the employee sale is now over and I am stuck paying the original price which is $50 more than I had planned on. Ugh! I am so frustrated. FIL asked me if I wanted to scrap the idea and find something else for DD12 but honestly everything else she wants would cost more than this and the phone is her top item. Plus this phone has a practical use as she can use it to video chat with her bio dad and his family. So I'm buying the phone. I just hate the price!

I can understand being upset with someone who promises to do something for you and then doesn't follow thru. But you need to focus on the fact that you are getting a discount every month by using your FIL's employee plan (which can be pretty substantial). He doesn't have to do this for you. In the long run, this didn't cost you anything more than it would have cost you prior to the employee sale. And the phone that your daughter wants will be under the tree just like you had planned.

 

[mickeyinthehouse]

Will you be trading in your daughter's old phone after xmas? Don't forget that Sprint will take your old phones and credit your account for the buy back amount depending on the model of phone you have. They will buy back as many phones as you can find...however, many phones aren't worth much but there are some that can be worth a substantial amount and they will just credit that amount to your account. May help recover some of that extra cost...

 

[kayrosek]

I know the extra price stinks but I would imagine the price is still in line with the camcorcer/accessories and ereader. Plus, I would try to focus on all the money you have saved being able to use the employee discount plan.

$100 sounds pretty good actually, but I understand the frustration. Sorry your FIL didn't follow through.

We thought we were going to have to replace my DD's phone recently. The only one she wanted to replace it was $300! Luckily we were able to get her current one (which is no longer available) repaired.

I can understand being upset with someone who promises to do something for you and then doesn't follow thru. But you need to focus on the fact that you are getting a discount every month by using your FIL's employee plan (which can be pretty substantial). He doesn't have to do this for you. In the long run, this didn't cost you anything more than it would have cost you prior to the employee sale. And the phone that your daughter wants will be under the tree just like you had planned.

You are all right and believe me I do appreciate being on the employee plan. I often tell the girls that they should be very thankful that Papa has this job as we couldn't have all these cell phones without it. My FIL is great and I know I am blessed to have the in-laws I do. I'm not mad at him, just frustrated with the situation. I know $100 is really a good price for what she's getting it's just that I was planning for less. Honestly is if it was any other time I probably wouldn't have even flinched but my son has been having some health problems the last few weeks and the unexpected expenses have made us a little tight so truthfully the $50 was just sort of the last straw in extra expenses that have me stressed out.

 

[ccgirl]

You are all right and believe me I do appreciate being on the employee plan. I often tell the girls that they should be very thankful that Papa has this job as we couldn't have all these cell phones without it. My FIL is great and I know I am blessed to have the in-laws I do. I'm not mad at him, just frustrated with the situation. I know $100 is really a good price for what she's getting it's just that I was planning for less. Honestly is if it was any other time I probably wouldn't have even flinched but my son has been having some health problems the last few weeks and the unexpected expenses have made us a little tight so truthfully the $50 was just sort of the last straw in extra expenses that have me stressed out.

I hope your son feels better.

 

[kayrosek]

I hope your son feels better.

Thank you. We have an appointment with a specialist right after Christmas so hopefully we can get some answers and start trying to work it out.