Pre-Order Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Phone w/ Eligible Trade-In Device, Get Extra

cccheel

Mar 7, 2026 12:35 PM

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Joined Mar 2006

cccheelMar 7, 2026 12:35 PM

4.4K Comments

Quote from hunhun

:

Something changed last year. I did the trade-ins online for both the Fold7 and Fold6 deals. For the Fold7, the credit posted two months after Assurant approved it and didn't include taxes. For the Fold6, the credit appeared a couple of weeks after approval and did include taxes.

This is all correct except for the taxes. They stopped refunding taxes last year. I'm not sure how it works in store.

cccheel

Mar 7, 2026 12:36 PM

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Joined Mar 2006

cccheelMar 7, 2026 12:36 PM

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Quote from Spartan40601

:

The spectrum tradein portal is giving 3 options
1. Scan QR code - With this, we just need to take the phone and UPS will pack it for us
2. Print UPS Shipping label - We need to print the shipping label and pack it ourselves.
3. Request Return Kit - They will send the return kit and we pack and drop it off at USPS

For all the folks who did this earlier, what is the best way among these 3 options?

Last time I did a mail trade-in, I used the QR code, but when I went to the UPS store, they handled everything and it was pretty easy.

cccheel

Mar 7, 2026 12:40 PM

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Joined Mar 2006

cccheelMar 7, 2026 12:40 PM

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Quote from whatgooddeal

:

I assume they actually want the IMEI to match what you entered vs what you actually mailed in?
Let's say I entered a valid IMEI, but ended up sending in a different IMEI, but is the same model.

I was told that this doesn't matter but that what does matter is the type of phone you turn in. For example, the phone model and storage has to match but they don't care about IMEI.

I made a mistake previously way back when doing this with the s23, and it didn't matter.

YMMV on this of course.

okhello

Mar 7, 2026 12:41 PM

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Joined Sep 2013

okhelloMar 7, 2026 12:41 PM

2.1K Comments

Quote from NervousTent9962

:

It seems like that you need to have an active service when requesting carrier unlock. Can you call on 60th day of service to request unlock or do you need to pay 3rd month of service and request unlock on 61th day?

Last year I traded in for six S25 and I did unlock all of them successfully during the 3rd or 4th month. Yeah, they denied my unlocked requests several times because the system said the new phone was not ready for unlock, but I kept trying to request unlock via chat or phone and eventually they unlocked all 6 phones successfully. The requirement for unlock is the phone needs to be active in the system for at least 60 days, but all my 6 new phones were Not active in the system for 60 days. I got only 1 line and how did I do that? I swapped the SIM from my old phone to the new phone for a few hours, then I switched the SIM back to the old phone that I normally used every day and I kept track each new phone got at least 60 days from the time of activation before requesting unlock. Before I requested unlock, I switched the SIM back to the one that I requested unlock to make sure that phone is in the system at the time of unlocked request. For your question, it is best to call them about it.

Last edited by okhello March 7, 2026 at 03:03 PM.

1

cccheel

Mar 7, 2026 12:47 PM

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Joined Mar 2006

cccheelMar 7, 2026 12:47 PM

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Quote from okhello

:

I just ordered S26 Ultra again with trade-in locked Motorola G 5G 2025 successfully and hopefully everything goes smoothly.

When I try to trade in this specific phone, the system is telling me the phone is not eligible. Are you trading in the 64 GB version?

okhello

Mar 7, 2026 1:12 PM

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Joined Sep 2013

okhelloMar 7, 2026 1:12 PM

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Quote from cccheel

:

When I try to trade in this specific phone, the system is telling me the phone is not eligible. Are you trading in the 64 GB version?

Yes, it is 64gb version. Clear the cache of the app or browser and try again. I assume this is the first time you try to trade in for S26 in your account right? I selected other for carrier and Motorola for the manufacturer or whatever. I did it on my phone and I used the spectrum app to do it. Make sure delete all cache then try again.

Last edited by okhello March 7, 2026 at 05:19 AM.

Ubuntu_user

Mar 7, 2026 4:33 PM

124 Comments

Joined Dec 2009

Ubuntu_userMar 7, 2026 4:33 PM

124 Comments

I have a very small scratch on one of my s25 ultra's cameras - any chance assurant would reject or devalue my trade in because of that? Otherwise, the phone is mint.

1

okhello

Mar 7, 2026 6:33 PM

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Joined Sep 2013

okhelloMar 7, 2026 6:33 PM

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Quote from Ubuntu_user

:

I have a very small scratch on one of my s25 ultra's cameras - any chance assurant would reject or devalue my trade in because of that? Otherwise, the phone is mint.

Is it easily to see the scratch?

1

roy545

Mar 7, 2026 7:02 PM

13 Comments

Joined Nov 2018

roy545Mar 7, 2026 7:02 PM

13 Comments

I already have Spectrum Internet and I'm considering starting a Spectrum Mobile line for this deal. If I pay the phone in full upfront and trade in an eligible device, will the full $700 promotional trade-in credit be applied immediately (or refunded once the trade-in is processed), or is it still spread over 36 months?
I might keep the Spectrum Mobile line for 6–12 months and then switch carriers. If that happens, would I lose any of the $700 credit, or does paying in full mean the promo is already locked in?
Trying to understand if this works like last year's deal or if the new terms changed how the credits are applied. Thanks!

1

roy545

Mar 7, 2026 7:03 PM

13 Comments

Joined Nov 2018

roy545Mar 7, 2026 7:03 PM

13 Comments

I already have Spectrum Internet and I'm considering starting a Spectrum Mobile line for this deal. If I pay the phone in full upfront and trade in an eligible device, will the full $700 promotional trade-in credit be applied immediately (or refunded once the trade-in is processed), or is it still spread over 36 months?
I might keep the Spectrum Mobile line for 6–12 months and then switch carriers. If that happens, would I lose any of the $700 credit, or does paying in full mean the promo is already locked in?
Trying to understand if this works like last year's deal or if the new terms changed how the credits are applied. Thanks!

1

Jaysonr66

Mar 7, 2026 7:06 PM

545 Comments

Joined Nov 2006

Jaysonr66Mar 7, 2026 7:06 PM

545 Comments

Quote from roy545

:

I already have Spectrum Internet and I'm considering starting a Spectrum Mobile line for this deal. If I pay the phone in full upfront and trade in an eligible device, will the full $700 promotional trade-in credit be applied immediately (or refunded once the trade-in is processed), or is it still spread over 36 months?
I might keep the Spectrum Mobile line for 6–12 months and then switch carriers. If that happens, would I lose any of the $700 credit, or does paying in full mean the promo is already locked in?
Trying to understand if this works like last year's deal or if the new terms changed how the credits are applied. Thanks!

No one knows yet if it work exactly the same as last year because the trade in window opened last week. So spectrum hasn't even received any phones to evaluate for trade-in.
And you can only pre-order and do the trade-in online so no one knows how in store will handle it. Check back on the thread on 3/11 when the phone is released and see if there are answers to your questions

xPhrosty

Mar 7, 2026 7:17 PM

105 Comments

Joined Jul 2025

xPhrostyMar 7, 2026 7:17 PM

105 Comments

Quote from whatgooddeal

:

No. Depends on state

The person I commented was taxed on the full price, so it's relevant towards him.

xPhrosty

Mar 7, 2026 7:20 PM

105 Comments

Joined Jul 2025

xPhrostyMar 7, 2026 7:20 PM

105 Comments

Quote from whatgooddeal

:

I assume they actually want the IMEI to match what you entered vs what you actually mailed in?
Let's say I entered a valid IMEI, but ended up sending in a different IMEI, but is the same model.

Yes, you have to send in the IMEI you put in the checkout process!! If you want to send in a different device, cancel the pre-order and reprocess the order and trade-in with the correct IMEI.

okhello

Mar 7, 2026 7:56 PM

2.1K Comments

Joined Sep 2013

okhelloMar 7, 2026 7:56 PM

2.1K Comments

never mind...

Last edited by okhello March 7, 2026 at 02:16 PM.

arbitrager

Mar 7, 2026 8:16 PM

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Joined Jan 2009

arbitragerMar 7, 2026 8:16 PM

2.2K Comments

Quote from okhello

:

Last year I traded in for six S25 and I did unlock all of them during the 3rd or 4th month. Yeah, they denied my unlocked request for at least 4 times because the system said it was not ready yet, but I kept trying to request unlocked and eventually they unlocked all 6 phones successfully. The requirements for unlock is the new phone needs to be active in the system for 60 days, but all my 6 new phones were not active in the system for 60 days. I got only 1 line and how did I do that? I swapped the SIM from my old phone to the new phone for a few hours, then I switched the SIM back to the old phone that I normally use every day and I kept track each new phone got at least 60 days from the time of activation before requesting unlocked. Before I requested for unlocked, I switched the SIM back to the one that I requested for unlocked. For your question, it is best to call them about it.

Can confirm, I did this too on my 15+ spectrum samsung phones bought from them over past 3 years.

Pre-Order Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Phone w/ Eligible Trade-In Device, Get Extra

$700 Off

$1,500

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