Full FeedSprint says Pre is worth $542.01; hidden in contest rules
Who doesn’t want to win a Palm Pre? Sprint’s throwing in a year of everything service and a Touchstone to drum up some buzz but what they didn’t count on is sneaky bloggers ripping through legal documents that must lay out the actual retail value of what they are giving away. Silly Sprint.
In the contest rules, I’ve dug up with my, ahem, superior math skills and boiled it down to this: Sprint says the Palm Pre smartphone hardware is worth $542.01. That would be the non-contract, unsubsidized price of the phone. There are a couple of assumptions packed in there like the Touchstone, also included in the contest and is expected to cost $69.99, and Sprint is giving away the $99 monthly tariff for the Everything service. But the contest reveals something else.
Sprint has announced the contest winner will be drawn “on or about” May 26th. So, is that on or about the launch day? We’ve seen purported training dates, in-stock accessory dates from Best Buy, and Sprint employees canned for blabbing about the details. Is this contest Sprint’s way of bringing us closer to the actual launch day or is it just a red herring?
The contest runs from just yesterday (May 13) to Monday (May 18), an odd pick if you ask me. There will be two grand-prize winners winning a Pre, the Sprint Everything plan for one year and a Touchstone. The contest rules place the estimated retail value at $1800.
Sprint has announced two everything plans for the Pre, $60 and $99; I’ll choose the $99 plan that Sprint is giving away. That equals $1188 over one year. That leaves $612 left for Pre hardware and the Touchstone. We’ve been told the Touchstone will sell for $69.99, leaving a $542.01 for the Pre.
This unfortunately doesn’t tell us how much the Pre will be for customers signing a two-year contract but gives an indication on their pricing. It will be competitive.
Contest page: [Sprint]
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I think your calculations leave taxes and surcharges out - this would lead to a smaller price for the actual Pre. I’m betting it will be 499 to 529.
on May 14, 2009 at 09:22 AM - LINKFair point COCO. Let’s say I meant out-the-door price?
on May 14, 2009 at 09:29 AM - LINKOn Sprint’s website the Palm Treo Pro and HTC Touch Diamond are both listed with a retail price of $550 and are offered with $250 instant savings and $100 mail-in rebate. Assuming the Palm Pre will get a similar discount when it’s released we’re looking at about $190 with a 2 year contract! :-D
on May 14, 2009 at 03:06 PM - LINK