SprintPCS plan change

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Todd Allcock) wrote:

> I propose the next cell company that wants to try
> something new does something like "auto-plan change". If you go over
> your minutes you move into the next plan for that cycle. Obviously
> these plans, like F&F's, would be priced higher than regular plans,
> since overage revenue is at risk, but customers already understand
> pricing tiers, and many, IMHO, would jump at the chance to sign up
> with a "pay no overage minutes ever!" plan.
>
> KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) is a cliche for a reason! ;-)

Just like BlockBuster Video is profittable from the money from Late
Fees; Cellular Carriers make a large chunk of their money from
"overages".

---

› See More: SprintPCS plan change

In article <[email protected]>,=20
[email protected] says...
>=20
> But at the moment the SprintPCS F&F plan is $35/300 minutes base rate;=20
> and no other base rates are available.
>=20
>=20

Because of what it's meant to address, there's no need for another=20
one.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

It does not help us, because as of yet I do not see that FF can
have AAP. Even if it did and AAP was the same price, it would only save
us $5 per month.


Eric wrote:

> (O/Siris) wrote:
> <<From your side, you're right. Unfortunately, his prediction (so to
> speak) is already coming true. Free&Clear isn't going away, but
> Fair&Flexible will be the primary consumer/individual offering
> henceforth.
> Dammit. >>
>
> Why? Do they not know that having brochures that say to the regular
> customer that a 700 minute plan now costs $75 will be a major turnoff
> when T-Mobile's price for 600 minutes is only $39... or Verizon's 800
> minutes is $59.99?
> I was at three different places yesterday and all three had the F&F in
> plain sight, but no F&C fixed rate plans. I think that the F&F offering
> does help out lower end users, but it shouldn't be Sprint's main focus
> for the single consumer. I stand by my statement that by not having
> *both* brochures readily available, Sprint will look expensive,
> overpriced, and will lose out on many potential customers.
>
> Eric
>

Sorry, I posted too soon. After I sent, I checked the web site
again and yes AAP is available, so it would save us $5 per month, but if
it entails entering a new Advantage Agreement on each phone, that might
not be worth it.


Jerome Zelinske wrote:

> It does not help us, because as of yet I do not see that FF can
> have AAP. Even if it did and AAP was the same price, it would only save
> us $5 per month.
>
>
> Eric wrote:
>
>> (O/Siris) wrote:
>> <<From your side, you're right. Unfortunately, his prediction (so to
>> speak) is already coming true. Free&Clear isn't going away, but
>> Fair&Flexible will be the primary consumer/individual offering
>> henceforth. Dammit. >>
>>
>> Why? Do they not know that having brochures that say to the regular
>> customer that a 700 minute plan now costs $75 will be a major turnoff
>> when T-Mobile's price for 600 minutes is only $39... or Verizon's 800
>> minutes is $59.99? I was at three different places yesterday and all
>> three had the F&F in
>> plain sight, but no F&C fixed rate plans. I think that the F&F offering
>> does help out lower end users, but it shouldn't be Sprint's main focus
>> for the single consumer. I stand by my statement that by not having
>> *both* brochures readily available, Sprint will look expensive,
>> overpriced, and will lose out on many potential customers.
>>
>> Eric
>>

Robert M <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

> Just like BlockBuster Video is profittable from the money from Late
> Fees; Cellular Carriers make a large chunk of their money from
> "overages".

A common misconception. The primary purpose of exhorbitant overage
fees is not to "make a large chunk" from them, but to use them as a
fear tactic to get customers to bump up to higher priced plans rat
er than risk paying the overages- in effect to spend $10-20 more every
month rather than ever pay a one-time $40 overage.

If additional minutes were the cash cow you seem to think they are,
plans like Cingular's rollover and Sprint's F&F would be shooting
themselves in the foot!

Any carrier is far happier with the "guaranteed" money they can bank
on (the monthly fee) than the "potential" money from overage minutes.

Similarly, the purpose of the Blockbuster late fee is to keep "hot"
new releases in stock. The fear of late fees encourage customers to
keep the invertory turning, meaning fewer customers have to be told
"Lethal Weapon IX" isn't in right now."

Certainly I'm not saying companies aren't happy to take "extra" money,
but their business plans would be a pretty shaky house of cards if
they're relying on customer penalties to keep them in business!

Is F&F perfect? Hardly. Is it for everyone? Nope. Do I think it'll
be fine-tuned? Absolutely. Cingular had far fewer rollover plans at
first- they were testing the waters and getting employees comfortable
with the concept before pushing it fully (IIRC, it was first only
available on certain local plans.)

To O/Sirius: As far as Sprint pushing it as the primary consumer plan,
I wouldn't panic- I suspect that focus is temporary in order to get
employees and dealers comfortable with it, otherwise they'd just push
F&C out of laziness rather than learn how to sell F&F's benefits. If
Sprint follows Cingular's lead, you'll see more F&F plans soon.

In article <[email protected]>,=20
[email protected] says...
>=20
> Sorry, I posted too soon. After I sent, I checked the web site=20
> again and yes AAP is available, so it would save us $5 per month, but if=
=20
> it entails entering a new Advantage Agreement on each phone, that might=
=20
> not be worth it.
>=20

It does. F&F requires renewing for two years.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Todd Allcock) wrote:

> Robert M <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
>
> > Just like BlockBuster Video is profittable from the money from Late
> > Fees; Cellular Carriers make a large chunk of their money from
> > "overages".
>
> A common misconception. The primary purpose of exhorbitant overage
> fees is not to "make a large chunk" from them, but to use them as a
> fear tactic to get customers to bump up to higher priced plans rat
> er than risk paying the overages- in effect to spend $10-20 more every
> month rather than ever pay a one-time $40 overage.

Nice spin. They still make beaucoup from overages.