Results 1 to 15 of 73
- 08-03-2004, 05:11 PM #1Jim SeymourGuest
I've been a Sprint PCS customer for some six years. In fact: I was
an "early adopter" of SPCS in the Metro-Detroit area. Paid full-boat
for that first phone, too. (That neat Motorola thing with the
flip-down boom mic, it was. I loved that phone.) Fast-forward to
present day...
My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
(Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
service. The Customer Retention department tried to help--offering
me a service credit if I bought a new phone. (Getting even *that*
concession involved 25 minutes on the phone today!) Not good enough,
I'm afraid. I would still, as a long-time, loyal SPCS customer, pay
$50 more than new customers. Nearly $200 for a cellphone, given my
experience with their longevity (or lack thereof), is not a winning
proposition in *my* eyes. (I take very good care of my possessions,
btw.)
So this afternoon I started cutting the cord, so to speak. I had
SPCS turn off my voicemail. I turned off my phone and put it away.
That's right: No more cellphone. I'm going to give it a month. I
think I'm going to find, at the end of that month, that yes: Not
having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
these days.
Ah well...
--
Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
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› See More: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
- 08-03-2004, 05:20 PM #2FYIGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 18:11:26 -0500, Jim Seymour wrote
(in article <[email protected]>):
> I've been a Sprint PCS customer for some six years. In fact: I was
> an "early adopter" of SPCS in the Metro-Detroit area. Paid full-boat
> for that first phone, too. (That neat Motorola thing with the
> flip-down boom mic, it was. I loved that phone.) Fast-forward to
> present day...
>
> My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
> (Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
> buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
> equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
> for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
> service. The Customer Retention department tried to help--offering
> me a service credit if I bought a new phone. (Getting even *that*
> concession involved 25 minutes on the phone today!) Not good enough,
> I'm afraid. I would still, as a long-time, loyal SPCS customer, pay
> $50 more than new customers. Nearly $200 for a cellphone, given my
> experience with their longevity (or lack thereof), is not a winning
> proposition in *my* eyes. (I take very good care of my possessions,
> btw.)
>
> So this afternoon I started cutting the cord, so to speak. I had
> SPCS turn off my voicemail. I turned off my phone and put it away.
> That's right: No more cellphone. I'm going to give it a month. I
> think I'm going to find, at the end of that month, that yes: Not
> having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
> earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
> donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
>
> Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
> land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
> change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
> American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
> these days.
>
> Ah well...
>
>
Have you read the retention FAQ? In fairness though, the good deals given new
customers on phones, is ALWAYS with a 2 year contract. Buying a phone on Ebay
may be another option for you to consider.
If you leave Sprint, prepaid service may be for you as carriers are
continually bumping up the lowest price plan they offer.
Prepaid works out to be cheaper for folks that don't travel, and use their
phone very sparely during the workweek.
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- 08-03-2004, 05:56 PM #3Jim SeymourGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
[Wow, that was quick!]
In article <[email protected]>,
FYI <[email protected]> writes:
[snip]
> Have you read the retention FAQ?
No, I have not. Wasn't aware of its existence. (Wonder why the
Customer Retention rep. didn't mention it?)
> In fairness though, the good deals given new
> customers on phones, is ALWAYS with a 2 year contract.
Like I told SPCS: I don't *care* what they usually do. They're not
meeting *my* requirements. And that's all that matters, you see?
Besides that... hmmm... let's play some "Jeopardy," shall we?
The category is "Cell Phones." The answer is:
A way for a cellular company to recoup what it "lost" on
deep-discounting an equipment sale.
<queue Final Jeopardy music...>
The question is:
What is "Locking the buyer into a minimum-length contract?"
Now: I'd *been* a customer for six years. I was looking to buy a
phone so that I could *remain* a customer. A phone I can't take
anywhere else. Odds were they would've recouped their "investment."
(Particularly since I pay for 300 mins./mo. and use, on average, less
than 200. Use *very* little VM. Never use call-forwarding or
three-way calling. Had text messaging turned straight off, due to
getting spammed.) Hell, having me as a customer was a bargain for
SPCS.
Yeah, I know: This isn't the way business works anymore--all
personalized and rational and all. I guess that's part of my point.
Why do I want to keep giving money to people who don't care about
me, as a customer?
> Buying a phone on Ebay
> may be another option for you to consider.
I've invested all the time I'm going to in trying to stay with
Sprint, I think. Between yesterday's phone time, today's phone
time, the wasted trip to Costco and the equally wasted check at
Radio Shack: Something on the order of two hours of my time.
But thanks for the suggestion. Really.
>
> If you leave Sprint, prepaid service may be for you as carriers are
> continually bumping up the lowest price plan they offer.
>
> Prepaid works out to be cheaper for folks that don't travel, and use their
> phone very sparely during the workweek.
I think you miss my point. Well, one of 'em, anyway. I'm planning,
at this point, to drop cellular service *entirely*. It occurred to
me today that I survived some (thinks about it...) 48 years w/o a
phone with me 24x7.
A short story is perhaps illustrative of my thinking, here.
One of the watch band anchor-points for my watch broke about a year
ago. This was a disaster. I've *always* had a watch on--for as long
as I can remember. I soon found out that obtaining a reasonably
inexpensive, relatively low-key, multi-function wristwatch like the
Casio I *had* was, well, impossible. They simply do not make a watch
with that feature set anymore. Trying to find a replacement became
more trouble than it was worth, so somehow I never got 'round to
replacing it. Oddly enough: After about a year I pretty much don't
notice its absence. Funny, that...
Only problem with this is that, in the absence of my watch, when I
needed to know what time it was I consulted my cellphone. Guess I'll
have to get a new watch, now .
--
Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
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- 08-03-2004, 06:38 PM #4Steven J SobolGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
Howdy, stranger!
Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
> My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
> (Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
> buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
> equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
> for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
> service.
Yup. $35 is the magic number for most carriers. Below that point, they're
not making a ton of money off you. Sprint no longer offers sub-$35 plans,
and neither does Verizon. I'd be surprised if you were even able to find
such a plan at the el-cheapo carriers (T-Mobile and Cingular).
I got a Samsung A660 for $29.99 last month, but that's because I activated
a new line of service. I was, however, able to convince Sprint to waive the
activation fee on the new line, which is replacing my existing Verizon service.
One of my arguments was that our original line is a $30/month plan that gives
us 300 minutes per month, and my wife has no interest in changing that plan
as she only goes over 300 minutes once every couple years (she uses about 500
PCS-to-PCS minutes per month) and with the addition of a second separate,
non-shared line, our Sprint PCS monthly bill will roughly triple - and
they'll actually start making money off us.
You might try buying a used phone off eBay. My wife's current phone is an
eBay phone. Also try howardforums - I don't know if they have any for-sale
forums there, but it's worth a try.
> having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
> earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
> donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
Good for you!
> Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
> land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
> change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
> American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
> these days.
In my opinion, they should offer SOME sort of carrot to the under-$35
crowd, with the caveat that people taking advantage of the discounts would
have to upgrade to at least a $35/month calling plan. That would be the best
way to handle the people who aren't paying anything for their service.
But I don't think any of the carriers see a lot of point in encouraging people
spending under $35/month to continue spending under $35/month. It costs a lot
of money to build and maintain a cellular network, run the billing
infrastructure, and employ the people needed to run everythiing.
--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.
- 08-03-2004, 06:52 PM #5Steven J SobolGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
> [Wow, that was quick!]
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> FYI <[email protected]> writes:
> [snip]
>> Have you read the retention FAQ?
>
> No, I have not. Wasn't aware of its existence. (Wonder why the
> Customer Retention rep. didn't mention it?)
Because most Sprint employees don't read this newsgroup.
>> In fairness though, the good deals given new
>> customers on phones, is ALWAYS with a 2 year contract.
> Like I told SPCS: I don't *care* what they usually do. They're not
> meeting *my* requirements. And that's all that matters, you see?
In the end, yes. And if they aren't meeting your needs, you can and should
"fire them" (a term a friend of mine uses to describe the process of dumping
a cellular carrier).
> Now: I'd *been* a customer for six years. I was looking to buy a
> phone so that I could *remain* a customer. A phone I can't take
> anywhere else. Odds were they would've recouped their "investment."
Yes, but you're not the average customer, either. You sound like you are
very brand-loyal -- so am I, I don't change suppliers at the blink of an eye,
and that includes wireless providers. There are an awful lot of people who
would change carriers in the blink of an eye if they weren't tied down.
> I've invested all the time I'm going to in trying to stay with
> Sprint, I think. Between yesterday's phone time, today's phone
> time, the wasted trip to Costco and the equally wasted check at
> Radio Shack: Something on the order of two hours of my time.
Radio Shack basically has the same promotions that Sprint has. I have no
idea about Costco.
> But thanks for the suggestion. Really.
Yeah, Phillipe (the guy you replied to) tends to post a lot of crap, but
I basically agree with everything he said in that post.
Prepaid might be an option. Virgin Mobile has an interesting fee structure:
25c/minute for the first ten minutes of use each day, 10c/minute after that.
Verizon seems to have beaten that now with "VZW Pay As You Go", formerly
known as VZW Prepay and FREE^UP. It looks like they're 10c/minute.
In spite of my problems with Verizon's operations here on the West Coast,
I'd still recommend them to people living in Ohio and Michigan. Detroit is
part of their SID #21 which covers Ohio and Michigan. In fact, when I lived
in Cleveland, my home area included all of the areas in Ohio where they
have native coverage, plus Detroit and southeast Michigan. You will probably
have a similar home area.
Plus, they used to have no coverage as you went north towards the Upper
Peninsula, but CenturyTel, which used to cover most of the more rural
parts of Michigan, sold their wireless network to Alltel, and Alltel and
Verizon Wireless have lots of roaming agreements in place with each other,
and as a result, a lot of Michigan that used to be "roam and get charged for
it" is now "roam for free" on the plans that provide for toll-free roaming
on select networks owned by VZW's roaming partners. They've made a lot of
improvements up there. I believe they also have an agreement now with RFB
Cellular - or Thumb Cellular, or maybe both - where they are now offering
free roaming on those carriers' networks too. Note that this applies to postpay
accounts; prepay may be different, check with your friendly local VZW store
for details.
Virgin Mobile may be a good choice for you too, but they resell Sprint. You'll
be *paying* VM, but your phone will operate on Sprint's network and VM will
be giving Sprint money for the privilege of allowing your phone to use the
network. So you might have a philosophical problem with using VM.
Cingular might work too. I know that before VZW took care of non-coverage
issues they had in Northern Michigan, a friend of mine switched to Cingular
because he goes snowmobiling up there every year and needed a phone that
would work and not cost him a buttload of money.
> I think you miss my point. Well, one of 'em, anyway. I'm planning,
> at this point, to drop cellular service *entirely*. It occurred to
> me today that I survived some (thinks about it...) 48 years w/o a
> phone with me 24x7.
Well, you're no fun. :P If at some point you change your mind, my advice is
here and will be archived on Google.
--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.
- 08-04-2004, 05:07 AM #6Jim SeymourGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
In article <[email protected]>,
Steven J Sobol <[email protected]> writes:
> Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [Wow, that was quick!]
>>
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>> FYI <[email protected]> writes:
>> [snip]
>>> Have you read the retention FAQ?
>>
>> No, I have not. Wasn't aware of its existence. (Wonder why the
>> Customer Retention rep. didn't mention it?)
>
> Because most Sprint employees don't read this newsgroup.
Yeah, I found out what FAQ he meant later (I've now read it,
btw.)
>
[snip]
>
> In the end, yes. And if they aren't meeting your needs, you can and should
> "fire them" (a term a friend of mine uses to describe the process of dumping
> a cellular carrier).
A good way to put it.
>
>> Now: I'd *been* a customer for six years. I was looking to buy a
>> phone so that I could *remain* a customer. A phone I can't take
>> anywhere else. Odds were they would've recouped their "investment."
>
> Yes, but you're not the average customer, either. You sound like you are
> very brand-loyal -- so am I, I don't change suppliers at the blink of an eye,
> and that includes wireless providers. There are an awful lot of people who
> would change carriers in the blink of an eye if they weren't tied down.
Given behaviour from the likes of Sprint PCS: Is there any question
in your mind as to why that is? There isn't in mine.
>
[snip]
>
> Prepaid might be an option.
[snip]
No thanks. But thanks for the suggestion.
>
> In spite of my problems with Verizon's operations ...
[snip]
Ewww! Verizon. They're an ILEC. Ewww!
>
> Virgin Mobile may be a good choice for you too, but they resell Sprint. You'll
> be *paying* VM, but your phone will operate on Sprint's network and VM will
> be giving Sprint money for the privilege of allowing your phone to use the
> network. So you might have a philosophical problem with using VM.
Not really. At this point I'm thinking more a philosophical problem
with feeling I need a cellphone at all, actually .
>
> Cingular might work too.
[snip]
Ewww! Cingular. They're run by ILECs. Ewww!
>
>> I think you miss my point. Well, one of 'em, anyway. I'm planning,
>> at this point, to drop cellular service *entirely*. It occurred to
>> me today that I survived some (thinks about it...) 48 years w/o a
>> phone with me 24x7.
>
> Well, you're no fun. :P
Well, not to those thinking they can rig the game and everybody just
has to play along as if Everything Is Just Fine .
> If at some point you change your mind, my advice is
> here and will be archived on Google.
It certainly is and I sincerely thank you for it, Steve.
--
Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
WARNING: The "From:" address | http://www.uk.pgp.net/pgpnet/pks-commands.html
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- 08-04-2004, 05:40 AM #7Jim SeymourGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
In article <[email protected]>,
Steven J Sobol <[email protected]> writes:
> Howdy, stranger!
Howdy!
>
> Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
>
[snip]
>
> Yup. $35 is the magic number for most carriers. Below that point, they're
> not making a ton of money off you.
[snip]
So Sprint PCS doesn't value my business. *shrug* Fair enough. It's
my policy to avoid, where possible, giving my custom to those who do
not value my business. Since I don't *need* a cellphone--it's a
convenience--I can easily avoid doing so in this instance.
>
> You might try buying a used phone off eBay. My wife's current phone is an
> eBay phone. Also try howardforums - I don't know if they have any for-sale
> forums there, but it's worth a try.
Thanks for the suggestions.
>
>> having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
>> earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
>> donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
>
> Good for you!
*shrug* Part of the reason that vendors get away with treating their
customers poorly is that people keep buying their products and
services after they've been screwed. Perhaps multiple times. Oh
yes, American business has learned well from a certain shining
example.
>
>> Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
>> land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
>> change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
>> American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
>> these days.
>
> In my opinion, they should offer SOME sort of carrot to the under-$35
> crowd, with the caveat that people taking advantage of the discounts would
> have to upgrade to at least a $35/month calling plan. That would be the best
> way to handle the people who aren't paying anything for their service.
Oh, they'd let me upgrade to a two-year $35/mo. contract to get the
equipment discount. That's the entire point of contention: I'm
unwilling to do that. Period. Non-negotiable. I have a $30/mo.
plan that's working fine for me. I'm not even using all that. It's
contract-less and I like it like that. That was one of the major
points that attracted me to SPCS in the first place.
> That would be the best
> way to handle the people who aren't paying anything for their service.
Maybe to you $360/year isn't "paying anything." To me that's a lot
of money.
>
> But I don't think any of the carriers see a lot of point in encouraging people
> spending under $35/month to continue spending under $35/month. It costs a lot
> of money to build and maintain a cellular network, run the billing
> infrastructure, and employ the people needed to run everythiing.
Uh huh. I understand that. Okay. Fine. They don't want my
business. I can appreciate that. It's not a problem. Really. Not
now that I understand how they feel about existing customers.
Let's see... There's at least two families and one individual I can
think of, off-hand, that went SprintPCS on my recommendation.
Another guy that renewed with SPCS after we discussed it. Like I
said: Sprint LD I currently have because I have SPCS. That's
probably history. Oh, and I'm the Senior Systems, Network and TelCom
Admin. at work. Sprint's trying to get our business there, too.
I no longer have quite the degree of good will I once had toward
Sprint, as a company. You do the math .
--
Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
WARNING: The "From:" address | http://www.uk.pgp.net/pgpnet/pks-commands.html
is a spam trap. DON'T USE IT! |
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- 08-04-2004, 06:15 AM #8Jerome ZelinskeGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
I thought the phone with the flip down boom mic was a sony. Don't
those charities deserve better than a lousy reputation phone that is
dying?
Jim Seymour wrote:
> I've been a Sprint PCS customer for some six years. In fact: I was
> an "early adopter" of SPCS in the Metro-Detroit area. Paid full-boat
> for that first phone, too. (That neat Motorola thing with the
> flip-down boom mic, it was. I loved that phone.) Fast-forward to
> present day...
>
> My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
> (Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
> buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
> equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
> for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
> service. The Customer Retention department tried to help--offering
> me a service credit if I bought a new phone. (Getting even *that*
> concession involved 25 minutes on the phone today!) Not good enough,
> I'm afraid. I would still, as a long-time, loyal SPCS customer, pay
> $50 more than new customers. Nearly $200 for a cellphone, given my
> experience with their longevity (or lack thereof), is not a winning
> proposition in *my* eyes. (I take very good care of my possessions,
> btw.)
>
> So this afternoon I started cutting the cord, so to speak. I had
> SPCS turn off my voicemail. I turned off my phone and put it away.
> That's right: No more cellphone. I'm going to give it a month. I
> think I'm going to find, at the end of that month, that yes: Not
> having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
> earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
> donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
>
> Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
> land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
> change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
> American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
> these days.
>
> Ah well...
>
- 08-04-2004, 06:29 AM #9Jerome ZelinskeGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
Ah, the no contract thing. I have also been a Sprint PCS customer for
many years. Last month I went from no contract to first a one year for
100 more minutes, although we have never gone over before, and then to
two years to get free PCS to PCS. Even though PCS to PCS has never been
something that would have lowered our bill in the past and I don't know
if it will ever in the future. I added it "just in case".
Jim Seymour wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Steven J Sobol <[email protected]> writes:
>
>>Howdy, stranger!
>
>
> Howdy!
>
>
>>Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>
> [snip]
>
>>Yup. $35 is the magic number for most carriers. Below that point, they're
>>not making a ton of money off you.
>
> [snip]
>
> So Sprint PCS doesn't value my business. *shrug* Fair enough. It's
> my policy to avoid, where possible, giving my custom to those who do
> not value my business. Since I don't *need* a cellphone--it's a
> convenience--I can easily avoid doing so in this instance.
>
>
>>You might try buying a used phone off eBay. My wife's current phone is an
>>eBay phone. Also try howardforums - I don't know if they have any for-sale
>>forums there, but it's worth a try.
>
>
> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
>
>>>having a cellphone will be mildly inconvenient, but it won't be
>>>earth-shattering. At which point I'll cancel my SPCS service and
>>>donate the phone to a local rape crisis center.
>>
>>Good for you!
>
>
> *shrug* Part of the reason that vendors get away with treating their
> customers poorly is that people keep buying their products and
> services after they've been screwed. Perhaps multiple times. Oh
> yes, American business has learned well from a certain shining
> example.
>
>
>>
>>
>>>Not smart on Sprint's part, IMO. (They'll likely also lose my
>>>land-line long-distance business, since my wife has been wanting to
>>>change to AT&T for lower rates anyway.) Not smart, but so typical of
>>>American-style bean-counter-driven business "management" mentality
>>>these days.
>>
>>In my opinion, they should offer SOME sort of carrot to the under-$35
>>crowd, with the caveat that people taking advantage of the discounts would
>>have to upgrade to at least a $35/month calling plan. That would be the best
>>way to handle the people who aren't paying anything for their service.
>
>
> Oh, they'd let me upgrade to a two-year $35/mo. contract to get the
> equipment discount. That's the entire point of contention: I'm
> unwilling to do that. Period. Non-negotiable. I have a $30/mo.
> plan that's working fine for me. I'm not even using all that. It's
> contract-less and I like it like that. That was one of the major
> points that attracted me to SPCS in the first place.
>
>
>> That would be the best
>>way to handle the people who aren't paying anything for their service.
>
>
> Maybe to you $360/year isn't "paying anything." To me that's a lot
> of money.
>
>
>>But I don't think any of the carriers see a lot of point in encouraging people
>>spending under $35/month to continue spending under $35/month. It costs a lot
>>of money to build and maintain a cellular network, run the billing
>>infrastructure, and employ the people needed to run everythiing.
>
>
> Uh huh. I understand that. Okay. Fine. They don't want my
> business. I can appreciate that. It's not a problem. Really. Not
> now that I understand how they feel about existing customers.
>
> Let's see... There's at least two families and one individual I can
> think of, off-hand, that went SprintPCS on my recommendation.
> Another guy that renewed with SPCS after we discussed it. Like I
> said: Sprint LD I currently have because I have SPCS. That's
> probably history. Oh, and I'm the Senior Systems, Network and TelCom
> Admin. at work. Sprint's trying to get our business there, too.
>
> I no longer have quite the degree of good will I once had toward
> Sprint, as a company. You do the math .
>
- 08-04-2004, 06:53 AM #10Jim SeymourGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
In article <[email protected]>,
Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> writes:
> I thought the phone with the flip down boom mic was a sony.
It was. A CMZ-100, IIRC. (I still have the thing around somewhere.)
Even my wife, who's ever after me to get rid of stuff that's broken
or unused (I'm a bit of a pack-rat), doesn't blame me for wanting to
keep the ol 'Z around. Never met a person that didn't think that
was about the coolest phone they ever saw .
> Don't
> those charities deserve better than a lousy reputation phone that is
> dying?
[snip]
It's not the dying (and long out-of-service) Sony CMZ-100 I'll be
donating, it's the dying Kyocera 2255. What, you want I should buy a
new phone to donate to charity? Maybe you didn't read all my
comments, cuz I think maybe you missed a point or two?
--
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- 08-04-2004, 08:28 AM #11Jerome ZelinskeGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
It seemed to read that the kyocera was of lousy reputation and was
dying and was the one to be donated. Not that you should, but you might
be nice and do, buy a new phone to donate to charity. Whereas, donating
something that barely works and has no salvage value to charity is not
very charitable.
Jim Seymour wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> writes:
>
>> I thought the phone with the flip down boom mic was a sony.
>
>
> It was. A CMZ-100, IIRC. (I still have the thing around somewhere.)
>
> Even my wife, who's ever after me to get rid of stuff that's broken
> or unused (I'm a bit of a pack-rat), doesn't blame me for wanting to
> keep the ol 'Z around. Never met a person that didn't think that
> was about the coolest phone they ever saw .
>
>
>> Don't
>>those charities deserve better than a lousy reputation phone that is
>>dying?
>
> [snip]
>
> It's not the dying (and long out-of-service) Sony CMZ-100 I'll be
> donating, it's the dying Kyocera 2255. What, you want I should buy a
> new phone to donate to charity? Maybe you didn't read all my
> comments, cuz I think maybe you missed a point or two?
>
- 08-04-2004, 08:54 AM #12Bob SmithGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
"Jim Seymour" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've been a Sprint PCS customer for some six years. In fact: I was
> an "early adopter" of SPCS in the Metro-Detroit area. Paid full-boat
> for that first phone, too. (That neat Motorola thing with the
> flip-down boom mic, it was. I loved that phone.) Fast-forward to
> present day...
>
> My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
> (Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
> buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
> equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
> for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
> service. The Customer Retention department tried to help--offering
> me a service credit if I bought a new phone. (Getting even *that*
> concession involved 25 minutes on the phone today!) Not good enough,
> I'm afraid. I would still, as a long-time, loyal SPCS customer, pay
> $50 more than new customers. Nearly $200 for a cellphone, given my
> experience with their longevity (or lack thereof), is not a winning
> proposition in *my* eyes. (I take very good care of my possessions,
> btw.)
Chris, I'm going to blunt with you here. You want a free lunch here, and you
don't qualify for a free lunch. It doesn't matter whether you have been with
SPCS for 6 years. You are on a plan where SPCS is not making much if any
revenue off you. SPCS has set certain parameters with regards to offering a
$150 or a $100 credit on the phone, and you don't fit those parameters, as
you don't want to change your plan to the minimum required, nor go with a 1
yr. or 2 yr. annual agreement.
You think you deserve a break on a new phone, but what you may not realize
is that SPCS subsidizes the cost of the phones offered, hoping to break even
on the cost of the phone with a higher paying plan. All it takes to qualify
for a new phone, is to sign up for a year, get the F & F or the F & C plan
for $35/mo. plus taxes and surcharges, and you qualify for a $100 credit.
You don't have to go with Vision, if you get a non Vision phone. If you do
get a Vision phone, then SPCS offers Vision for free for 2 months, in which
you can cancel that option before the two months expire and you still
qualify for the mail in rebate.
It's that simple ...
One more thing to consider is to go on eBay, and buy a used phone for a
reduced cost, and do an ESN change on your account.
Bob
- 08-04-2004, 08:57 AM #13Bob SmithGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
Jim, my apologies for calling you Chris. I was working another reply in
another newsgroup to Chris, and I just plugged in the wrong name in the
reply to your post.
Bob
"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jim Seymour" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I've been a Sprint PCS customer for some six years. In fact: I was
> > an "early adopter" of SPCS in the Metro-Detroit area. Paid full-boat
> > for that first phone, too. (That neat Motorola thing with the
> > flip-down boom mic, it was. I loved that phone.) Fast-forward to
> > present day...
> >
> > My current phone, my *third* phone in those six years, is dying.
> > (Unfortunately I did not know of Kyocera's lousy reputation before
> > buying my last phone.) So I wait for the next SPCS sale on
> > equipment. Along it comes. Up to 85% off. But *not*, it turns out,
> > for long-time SPCS customers that are on sub-$35/mo., non-contract
> > service. The Customer Retention department tried to help--offering
> > me a service credit if I bought a new phone. (Getting even *that*
> > concession involved 25 minutes on the phone today!) Not good enough,
> > I'm afraid. I would still, as a long-time, loyal SPCS customer, pay
> > $50 more than new customers. Nearly $200 for a cellphone, given my
> > experience with their longevity (or lack thereof), is not a winning
> > proposition in *my* eyes. (I take very good care of my possessions,
> > btw.)
>
> Chris, I'm going to blunt with you here. You want a free lunch here, and
you
> don't qualify for a free lunch. It doesn't matter whether you have been
with
> SPCS for 6 years. You are on a plan where SPCS is not making much if any
> revenue off you. SPCS has set certain parameters with regards to offering
a
> $150 or a $100 credit on the phone, and you don't fit those parameters, as
> you don't want to change your plan to the minimum required, nor go with a
1
> yr. or 2 yr. annual agreement.
>
> You think you deserve a break on a new phone, but what you may not realize
> is that SPCS subsidizes the cost of the phones offered, hoping to break
even
> on the cost of the phone with a higher paying plan. All it takes to
qualify
> for a new phone, is to sign up for a year, get the F & F or the F & C plan
> for $35/mo. plus taxes and surcharges, and you qualify for a $100 credit.
> You don't have to go with Vision, if you get a non Vision phone. If you do
> get a Vision phone, then SPCS offers Vision for free for 2 months, in
which
> you can cancel that option before the two months expire and you still
> qualify for the mail in rebate.
>
> It's that simple ...
>
> One more thing to consider is to go on eBay, and buy a used phone for a
> reduced cost, and do an ESN change on your account.
>
> Bob
>
>
- 08-04-2004, 09:08 AM #14Jim SeymourGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
In article <[email protected]>,
Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> writes:
> It seemed to read that the kyocera was of lousy reputation and was
> dying and was the one to be donated.
Um, it still works. After my 30-day "no cellphone test" ends (well,
22-day, actually, as that's when my current billing cycle ends), I
*may* even retain my SPCS service until the phone up and dies. (Or I
get ticked at its erratic behaviour and toss it out the car window
some day--I've come close >< a couple times already.)
The idea of donating the phone to a rape crisis center was proposed
to me by a friend who felt it better than donating it to the
land-fill, as I originally intended. Should I choose the former
option: I certainly hope the donatee (is that a word?) finds it
useful. But if they don't, they'll certainly have lost nothing in
the process.
> Not that you should, but you might
> be nice and do, buy a new phone to donate to charity. Whereas, donating
> something that barely works and has no salvage value to charity is not
> very charitable.
Personally, I find the current-day attitude, that donating something
less than brand-shiny-new to charity is somehow uncharitable, to be
rather incomprehensible. Not-to-mention mildly offensive.
--
Jim Seymour | PGP Public Key available at:
WARNING: The "From:" address | http://www.uk.pgp.net/pgpnet/pks-commands.html
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- 08-04-2004, 10:21 AM #15Steven J SobolGuest
Re: Sprint PCS Doesn't *Really* Want To Keep My Business
Jim Seymour <[email protected]> wrote:
> Given behaviour from the likes of Sprint PCS: Is there any question
> in your mind as to why that is? There isn't in mine.
There are people who will argue with me, and they have their right to their
opinion, but in MY opinion, a ton of things have improved since I signed on
as a Sprint customer in late '01. The service worked well where I used to
live (Lake County, Ohio, 30 miles east of downtown Cleveland), but they
had billing and customer service issues, as I found out after I signed up.
While they are still not in wonderful shape service-wise, I can now generally
get a CSR who (a) knows what they're talking about and (b) isn't going to try
to BS me if they don't, and hold times have gone down from an average of a
half-hour to a couple minutes. And I generally am able to get a rep in less
than a minute.
We think we were overbilled the first month, but we have no conclusive way to
prove that we were overbilled. I did make sure to have them turn on detailed
billing after that (shoulda done it before I left the store!) and we have not
had any issues since then.
> Ewww! Verizon. They're an ILEC. Ewww!
Jim, Jim, Jim. Sprint's an ILEC too. Like Alltel, they primarily serve
smaller/rural areas. The biggest market areas they serve as an ILEC are
Las Vegas and parts of Florida. If the name "Sprint" doesn't ring a bell
for you, how about "United Telephone?"
--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.
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