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Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 01-11-2009, 11:35 PM
    cmart822331
    they have you under contract... they have no reason to give you a deal on a new phone!
  • 12-29-2008, 02:10 PM
    ripo
    That's pretty normal. Sprint's pretty much the same, except theirs is two months before the contract is up.
  • 12-28-2008, 12:48 PM
    Bigbuck15
    I have Alltel and 3 months before your contract is up you can get any phone for sale price.
  • 12-28-2008, 09:34 AM
    ripo
    Hey, just a quick question ferd, do the bubbles on the home screen use data? Because I have picture messaging, and when I upgraded my plan to include it, they guy had said something about "that will take care of the casual data usage" or something along those lines, and I was kinda curious as to whether or not it covered the bubbles and whatever data they would incur.
  • 12-25-2008, 12:51 AM
    FeRD_NYC
    Quote Originally Posted by ripo View Post
    I personally think that it's a poor business choice to offer phones that you need a data plan just to make phone calls, but then again, it could also prevent customers from buying unnecessary things.
    If I put on my Optimism Hat for a moment and give Sprint the benefit of the doubt, it may be that the policy is designed to prevent "gotcha" bills for Blackberry users, either because they don't know how to prevent the Blackberry from using the data network when no data plan is offered, or perhaps because it isn't really possible to do so.

    (I've seen the Blackberry preferences interface -- impressively detailed, but "intuitive" and "user-friendly" are not words that would immediately spring to mind in describing it. Turning off all data usage is almost certainly not a question of flipping a single switch. It's probably more like 8, or 10. If you can find them all.)

    I know my Rant has "cost me" (not that I'm denying personal responsibility) a chunk of change, in the first month, in terms of data minutes burned while I was fiddling with its features. Since I don't have a data plan, $0.03/kb adds up fast. I decided I'd take the hit, in month 1, to get a better idea of what the phone can do, but I can see that it wouldn't take much at all to run up a data usage bill of $100+.

    And data usage in the current generation(s) of phones is much more integrated w/ normal, "casual" operations than it was in the past -- I can certainly believe that a Blackberry would be even more able to "accidentally" chew up $$$'s in data minutes just in everyday operations, even if the user doesn't use the browser, email, or chat features.
  • 12-22-2008, 09:16 AM
    ripo
    Quote Originally Posted by FeRD_NYC View Post
    I was told exactly the opposite by a Sprint customer service rep in one of the Manhattan stores -- that there was no way to upgrade to a Blackberry w/o a data plan, even if I intended to use it only as a phone (voice calls).

    Of course, that may not be true, as the rep would have a vested interest in misleading me into signing up for a data plan....
    Actually, I spoke too soon. I was just at the sprint store with my mom, and we were told that you need a data plan in order to use the Blackberry or the Instinct, but you can use the Palm devices with no data plan, it just gets wonky. I personally think that it's a poor business choice to offer phones that you need a data plan just to make phone calls, but then again, it could also prevent customers from buying unnecessary things.
  • 12-21-2008, 12:44 PM
    FeRD_NYC
    Quote Originally Posted by ripo View Post
    I personally have had no problems with my Rant so far. And if you have the employee discount, you should be able to get a data plan for super cheap in order to use a blackberry or instinct. And technically, you don't need the data plan for the phone to work.
    I was told exactly the opposite by a Sprint customer service rep in one of the Manhattan stores -- that there was no way to upgrade to a Blackberry w/o a data plan, even if I intended to use it only as a phone (voice calls).

    Of course, that may not be true, as the rep would have a vested interest in misleading me into signing up for a data plan....
  • 12-15-2008, 05:40 PM
    ripo
    As I understand it, all companies deeply discount the phones in order to offer "high tech" devices at low prices to lure customers in. When you're eligible for a 2 year upgrade, they offer you the "new customer pricing" in order to keep you happy, basically. But the things that have been said so far (talking to a manager/customer retention specialist) are the best things that I can recommend if you want to get deals. Also, do your research. Scout out the phone you want, then find out as much as you can about it. Know your stuff when you're talking to someone and you won't get ripped off. That goes for any retail experience. I personally have had no problems with my Rant so far. And if you have the employee discount, you should be able to get a data plan for super cheap in order to use a blackberry or instinct. And technically, you don't need the data plan for the phone to work.
  • 12-10-2008, 07:25 AM
    lug-nut
    Call Customer Service. As soon as you get a real person on the line, ask to be transferred to a "customer retention specialist". THAT is who you should talk to. They can offer deals to existing customers...especially if you have an expired contract.

    Did the same thing with my satellite TV company. It's amazing what they will give you if you know how/who to ask.
  • 12-08-2008, 09:20 PM
    VIPtoyz
    You just have to know how to deal with those saleman in sprint store. Better yet talk to the mgr. I'm upgrade is not up until next month and I want to get two Htc Pro. They told me I have to wait until then but when I talk to the mgr. He just override it and got me approved also give me 10% as well. If you noticed that Sprint now under new management they focus more onto existing customers because a lot of their old customers leave the company to go with different carriers. So if you use it against them they will do whatever it take as long as they don't get into trouble to keep you. Especially when you contract is almost out. So far I got my bill taking care of by them, employee discount on monthly bill. So don't forget that your next visit to sprint
  • 12-05-2008, 10:14 PM
    nicknrm
    Verizon Wireless is very good about continuous customer upgrade price.

    Here's how they work:

    You are eligible for upgrade at the start of your 20 month of a 24 month contract. For a 12 month contract, you become eligible at 10 months. They basically give you 4 or 2 months early upgrade privledges, to everyone. This is slightly new.

    Once you're eligible for upgrade, depending on your plan and contract length (24 month or 12 month), you may get a discount, which is valid on any DEVICE as long as you sign another contract when you get the device.
    Two Year (24 Month) Agreement Discounts-


    • Calling plan $39.99-$79.98: $50 discount towards a new device
    • Calling plan $79.99 or higher: $100 discount towards a new device

    One Year (24 Month) Agreement Discounts-

    • Calling plan $39.99-$79.98: No discount towards a new device
    • Calling plan $79.99 or higher: $50 discount towards a new device


    Guess what, the discount is taken off of the new two year (or one year pricing if you only get a 1 year agreement) pricing. The new two year pricing is the general price in which brand new customers pay. The devices with Verizon Wireless are generally cheaper than with most wireless carriers, also. Whatever your discount doesn't pay for, you pay the difference.

    Get this, with Verizon Wireless you can upgrade in the Verizon Wireless Store, through *611 customer service, or online. If you choose to do it via *611 customer service or in the store, they can bill up to $200 to your account to pay later. The $200 is the value after the discount is applied, so it is the lowest price of the phone.


    Quote Originally Posted by xXAaronXx View Post
    I have a full phone upgrade coming to me in less than a week, December 1st. I was looking at all the great discounts through sprints site and as a new customer you can get phones like the blackberry pearl, curve, rant, high note, etc. for about $100 after all discounts. These final prices of course include additional discounts to the $150 you get off when renewing. I would like to know why new customers get such a massive discount compaired to a loyal and existing customer.

    I was also wondering if anyone has been able to get the new customer price on their upgrades. I am simply going to quit using sprint if I cannot get new phone pricing and either resign with them to get it, or go to a better network with much better phones like verizon. I do have the nice $30 a month employee plan which will suck to lose, but I can get everything I need a month for 40-50 a month anywhere so I am not completely worried about that.

    Please let me know why and if any of you have been able to get the new employee pricing as well as how you did. I am guessing if I tell them I am going to leave they may be willing to do it, if not, they have lost a customer they have had for 4-5 years.
  • 12-05-2008, 09:31 PM
    xXAaronXx
    I liked the Rant. I did not like that after I upgraded firmware it removed my tiles and the thing seemed to freeze from time to time and the orb service did not work.

    The people I asked for help from kept saying, the phone says it can only have 15 tiles over and over and I kept telling them you can only have 15 active tiles on the home screen, you choose those 15 out of all the tiles you have available on the phone...but they just would not understand and it really got me mad.

    I returned the phone yesterday anyway though and now I have a palm centro on the way in black. I got interested in the palm after checking out all the stuff you can get for it and all the customization you can do. I look forward to it arriving.
  • 12-03-2008, 06:16 AM
    camstuf
    Quote Originally Posted by xXAaronXx View Post
    ...
    Basically though I wanted to let everyone know that Sprint loves you just as much as a new customer!!! I got my new phone, with my same old awesome SERO plan, so that is awesome.
    So, you got a phone you and I don't like.
    I feel your pain, but I don't understand the post.

    Rep given, just because you asked.

    BTW, I love my outdated Treo; wouldn't trade it for the world!
  • 12-02-2008, 10:55 PM
    jkelly888
    my contact expires in January so i was eligible for an upgrade around thanksgiving (2months before) and i upgraded from a Sanyo Katana (the original one, not the katana 2 or DLX) to a Samsung Rant for $20 plus an $18 activation fee. and that was my instant price. no mail in rebates. i guess im just lucky. =D
  • 12-01-2008, 11:49 PM
    xXAaronXx
    Hey everyone, got my new phone today. I woke up this morning all prepared to talk to sprint to try convince them to give me the new employee pricing, but when I went to the sprint page through my account, I now had access to an upgrade with the same pricing as the new customers. I guess you just have to wait for your upgrade to be fully eligable to get these additional savings.

    I was excited and really wanted to get the blackberry curve for 100 but I called in to make sure that this phone would work and I guess all blackberries and the instinct require you to have the expensive data plans so that did not work. I looked at the treo but I would not want to get the out dated treo and the newer ones come in horrible colors.

    I ended up getting the rant for 100 + 50 dollar mail in rebate. I made my final decision upon actually seeing the phone. I was surprised to see it was not much bigger than my blade(A-900M) and although I am really upset by the fact that almost all new phones have only an equal or less than equal resolution quality over the blade...I really do not get that...I still thought this phone seemed like the right choice for me.

    My only problem with this new phone is that orb does not seem to work with it. Orb is a program that basically will share the files on your computer with many devices and this worked on my blade just fine, but on the new phone when I select a song or video it will cause the sprint tv program to run and will not actually play anything. I am going to guess this is because of the new interface that is installed....oh well...at least I got a micro sd slot now so I can put lots of media on there anyway.

    Basically though I wanted to let everyone know that Sprint loves you just as much as a new customer!!! I got my new phone, with my same old awesome SERO plan, so that is awesome.
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