Existing Metro By T-Mobile Customers: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G w/ 30-Days Service Expired

I went ahead and did the BYOD plan for $30 and was able to purchase the tablet immediately. I debated between that vs getting a new "free" phone first and then sign up for this tablet, but didn't really need a new phone and I'm not sure how long this deal will last if it takes 2-3 business days to get the phone. You'll need to get access to the SMS code sent to the new number before you can register your Metro account online. Total cost for the tablet was $3 (google voice # unlock) + $30 (BYOD plan) + $20 (tablet) = $53. Edit: YMMV, some people reported they had to call in to have an agent bump up their plan to $45 or $60 to place the order. The $30 plan worked for me.

Steps I took.
1. Signed up for a google voice number using a junk email.
2. Set up a voicemail PIN and then paid $3 to unlock the number. Follow these instructions: https://slickdeals.net/f/17325810-metro-by-t-mobile-port-in-new-number-offers-select-smartphone-30-days-service-from-40-free-shipping?p=169554114#post169554114
3. Signed up for the $30 plan using an eSIM. https://slickdeals.net/f/17143504-esim-bring-your-number-online-25-metro-by-t-mobile-single-line-phone-plan-unlimited-5g-data
4. After paying for $30 plan, I wasn't able to add the tablet initially. It showed an error saying call in (I didn't). I logged into the account with another browser and then was able to buy the tablet for $20. I'm not able to buy more than 1, the second attempt it errors with "Sorry, you are not eligible to add a new line".

Update: Metro won't allow you to add a second tablet to your shopping cart if the first one is already on order but not activated yet. You'll see a message on the tablet product page saying "Sorry, you are not eligible to add a new line." and the "Add to Cart" button is greyed out. You can activate the first order once you get the shipping notification email (even before you get it). This will allow you to add another tablet to your shopping cart. Use this link and enter your order # to activate the first tablet after it ships. https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/r...s/activate This doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to successfully place the order (see update 2 below), but will allow you to add it to the shopping cart and attempt the order.

Update 2: I see a lot of people reporting that after they add the tablet to the shopping cart and try to place the order, they get message to call into customer service and are unable to complete the order. I saw this post mention the likely causes: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=170193645&postcount=24

Suggestions based on what worked for me.
1. Try incognito mode or private browsing mode on your browser.
2. Disable any browser ad blockers or whole network blockers such as pi-hole. Also try using a VPN such as Windscribe to bypass your network ad blockers.
3. Use a virtual credit card number from Capital One or Citi cards so Metro sees a new credit card. Another benefit is you can close it out after your purchase to avoid any additional charges (even though it's unlikely).
4. If the above doesn't work, trying shipping to a different address like a relative or friend. Use the name of person at that address (since you don't live there). You will get some verification questions about that person, so you will need to know some info about that person such as the height listed on their driver's license, past address history, colleges attended, vehicle ownership history. You'll have to answer 3 questions from one of those categories (maybe a few I missed).

I can confirm this tablet works with the $10 T-Mobile tablet line even though hasn't officially been unlocked.

If you insert the SIM, it will "brand" the tablet with a Metro splash screen as well as install a bunch of unwanted crapps. You can get rid of the crapware with a factory reset, but not the splash screen.

The original instructions for bypassing the SIM requirement was to hold the tablet in landscape mode, then tap the four corners in sequence of upper left, upper right, lower right, lower left. Repeat. Repeat again. (Twelve taps total.) Then press the volume down button for a moment till the message appears.

Someone later remarked the taps were unnecessary and only the volume down button press was needed. I tried that on two tablets and it worked for both.

So we all paid $50 extra for nothing!!☹️