If you love smartphones, you probably think that working at T-Mobile would be a dream job. You'd be turning your love of technology into a paycheck. But the recent controversy over T-Mobile reps and subscribers being forced to use the laggy T-Life app to upgrade phones, add lines, manage accounts and more is a sign that the Un-carrier plans to transition to a digital Mobile Network Operator (MNO), which will allow the company to layoff reps, sell retail locations, cut overhead, and increase profits.
Yes. It still might be cool until T-Mobile goes digital.
0%
No. It's obvious that for MEs, the end is near.
100%
Reddit subscriber TheFlyingGuy25 is a current T-Mobile ME but he sure sounds like he is at the end of his rope. "I used to love this job. I felt like I used to actually be able to help people and solve problems and hit metrics. Now? No way, I’ve been doing awful these last 3 months, and I’ve had to have multiple discussions with management. Frankly I think Mobile Experts are being forced to use unethical sales practices such as bundling prices when things are presented, taking people’s phones from them to do T-Life transactions, and canceling orders if the order doesn’t have accessories or insurance."
Recommended For You
Key Performance Indicators that a T-Mobile Mobile Expert at an unknown corporate store needed to meet for November. | Image credit-Reddit
We've criticized both T-Mobile and the firms that own their TPR (T-Mobile Premium Retailer) stores for the behaviors mentioned by the ME. While we did run across some situations where unethical, and frankly illegal actions allegedly took place at a T-Mobile Corporate store, it seems the vast majority happened at the TPR stores. You should be able to tell if you've stumbled into such a store by looking for signs near the entrance that will say "Authorized Retailer," "Independent Retailer," or "This store is operated by [Company Name]."
This T-Mobile rep should be given a gold star for ultimately resisting the pressure from upstairs
Instead of feeling that he has to leave his job, this ME should be applauded for not giving in to the pressure. He typed, "The fact a sale could be a BAD thing blows my mind and always has. If I sell 1 phone upgrade to someone and they don’t get the insurance, it hurts me. No accessories? Hurts me. I come across these customers every now and then that ask, do you get credit for this?' I don’t have the heart to tell them, Yeah I do get credit but because you didn’t get a case, or a screen protector, or the insurance I asked you to get 3 or 4 times, your sale is actually hurting me and now I don’t even want to help you but here I am doing my best. I just have to say yes I do and move on."
Imagine having to say, "I've never in all my sales career ever had a job where a sale is actually a bad thing… I get customers I try to back away from and try to talk them out of buying a phone with me because it would hurt me...The fact a sale could be a BAD thing blows my mind and always has. If I sell 1 phone upgrade to someone and they don’t get the insurance. It hurts me. No accessories? Hurts me."
"I come across these customers every now and then that ask do you get credit for this," this ME says. I don’t have the heart to tell them, yeah I do get credit but because you didn’t get a case, or a screen protector, or the insurance I asked you to get 3 or 4 times. Your sale is actually hurting me and now I don’t even want to help you but here I am doing my best. I just have to say yes I do and move on."
Holiday special: Iconic Phones is now 10% off!
Our new coffee table book, Iconic Phones, is a stunning visual tribute to the legends in the world of phones, featuring exclusive high-resolution photography, stories, quotes and fun trivia. Save 10% by using this code at checkout: XMAS10. Offer lasts until 1 January 2026.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
![Some T-Mobile users might be paying more starting in March [UPDATED]](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/176781-wide-two_350/Some-T-Mobile-users-might-be-paying-more-starting-in-March-UPDATED.webp)
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: