[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negri Electronics:
Seems you may be commissioned by our competitors, as you certainly aren't a customer of ours.

We do not sell used devices unless otherwise noted by the "Open Box" label on the items title and condition rating below the description. A device can become restricted without being used, as it's attached to a customers account prior to him walking out of the store with it. Keeping the device 100% sealed the IMEI could still become restricted.

Simply because you think we are being deceitful, doesn't mean we are. You and the other two XDA bloggers are wrong.

You do not have facts to back your claims, you have your opinion and others. Discontinue them, as it only makes you look bad.

Ryan J. Negri - CEO

Negri Electronics, Inc.

---------- Post added at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:43 PM ----------

The original blog post can be found here: http://www.negrielectronics.com/blo...ed-imeis-and-why-t-mobile-says-theyre-stolen/

I would like to personally address an industry-wide issue that has impacted a very few of our loyal online customers: Carrier-Restricted Devices. I’ve decided to cover this in a Q&A format that highlights a few of the common questions we receive.

Q: What is a carrier restricted device?

A: Carrier restriction occurs when a wireless service provider (i.e. T-Mobile) blocks a device from accessing its network. The most common cause for this blockage is that the device was purchased under the carrier’s subsidy model, bundled with a long-term contract for wireless service, and the contract has been terminated, voided, or abandoned before expiration (without complying with the stated financial obligations like the early-termination fee). In other words, the device was purchased for a discount when the customer signed the 2-year contract, but then the customer chose not to pay their monthly bill on time. The carrier’s current policy responds by restricting the device from being used on its network.

Q: Is a restricted device worthless?

A: Although these devices have been restricted by the distributing carrier, it’s important to know that the device will still function properly on any other domestic network, or any international network, for which it is technologically compatible. For example, if I was in possession of a restricted T-Mobile device, I could decide to use AT&T or any AT&T MVNO (e.g. Red Pocket) and be unaffected by the T-Mobile restriction.

Q: How do these restricted devices get into your hands?

A: You may wonder how these devices slip into our network of suppliers. We purchase inventory from a variety of sources, including authorized T-Mobile and other carrier resellers. Unfortunately, some industry participants have chosen to obtain devices from individuals that are knowingly selling a device purchased on-contract. Whenever a device is purchased in this way, there is a chance of the device being restricted at some point in the future. We do our best to avoid these sources, but the complexity of trying to control our suppliers’ sources, and their sources, and on down the line, becomes increasingly difficult.

Q: How do these restricted devices get into OUR hands?

A: The next question would of course deal with the restricted devices ultimately being received by one of our customers. This is a point I cannot emphasize enough. Unless the item’s product page has been clearly marked with our international warning (“This device is intended for international use only”), we will never knowingly ship a restricted device. We are thorough in our quality assurance process. Upon receipt from our suppliers, each device is examined for physical imperfections and checked for restricted status using the device’s IMEI. The IMEI is then checked a second time before the device is shipped to a customer. But, because of the cause of these restrictions, we cannot be absolutely sure that a device will not be restricted at some point in the future. There is no way to tell by checking the IMEI whether the original purchaser bought the device on-contract in the carrier’s system. And, even if we could extract that information, we would have no way to tell whether the purchaser will decide to stop paying his or her bill. And even if we knew that, there is no way to tell whether that will happen today, tomorrow, or two years from now.

Q: Why is this happening, and why am I being told my device is stolen?

A: T-Mobile is currently the only carrier that has enacted this policy on a large scale. Their classification as stolen is clearly inaccurate. It may be true that someone out there still owes the carrier for an early-termination fee, or has an outstanding balance on their account, but, if that is the case, Negri Electronics is not associated with that person. We have a paid invoice showing that full price was paid for each device we sell. And T-Mobile has made the decision not to pursue the individual that owes them, but rather inflict the damage on some subsequent owner of the associated device. They punish the paying customer, and let the delinquent customer off the hook. The only effect this policy has caused is a loss of subscriber when someone switches to another network to use the restricted device.

Q: What do you do when someone’s device becomes restricted?

A: When the policy starting taking effect late last year, we had to decide how we were going to deal with it. Since it is still a very small portion of customers that are impacted by this situation, we do our best to consider each case on an individual basis. However, we published the following terms, an excerpt from our store policies page, as a guideline.

2.6.3 Devices discovered to hold a restricted IMEI upon or after delivery will be subject to the standard Return and Buy Back Policy with the following exceptions: (*This is not an amendment to the standard return policy, but rather an effort made in good faith to help customers that are victim to an unfortunate situation caused by their carrier, to be handled on an individual and case by case basis. Update: 12/2012)

2.6.3.1 Any customer wishing to return a device with a restricted IMEI that was purchased through Negri Electronics will be given special consideration and/or priority in processing an exchange, so long as the 25 day return policy has not expired and/or the device is in like new condition.*

2.6.3.2 Any devices with a restricted IMEI that was purchased from Negri Electronics that is being offered through the Buy-Back policy will be given special consideration and proposed a buy-back offer that ignores the current restricted status of the device.*

Lastly, I just want to say that I am sincerely sorry to those of you that have been impacted by the situation. It truly is unfortunate and we will do whatever we can to help, and prevent this from happening in the future.

Ryan J. Negri - CEO

Negri Electronics, Inc.