How not to sell phones

So I've been craving the A680 for months, and I finally decided to
buy one.

First, Costo isn't carrying it, and Sprint says I can only get the
rebate from a Sprint store or Radio Shack

Telesales tells me I have to go to a store, I can't get the rebate
from them.

The Sprint store ignores me until I tell them to **** off and leave.

I go to Radio Shack. They are friendly as hell. Happy to make the
sale. But then the activation process turns up the snag: Sprint won't
give me the rebate with my old plan, only a new one. I'm not giving up
my retention plan for anything, thanyyouverymuch. So I leave RS without
out a phone.

Finally, I give up and call the magic, secret phone number posted
here all too often. Talk to "Randy Samuel", who has the dulcet tones of
Bangalore in his voice but insists that Randy is his real name. Lo and
behold, all problems are solved. In theory, at least, there is an A680
winging its way towards me right now, the rebate is processed and my
plan is untouched.

I got it, I hope and pray. But what a travail! How many people
would buy phones from Sprint if they didn't have to go through all this
hassle? How many customers are they driving to Verizon or T-Mobile?
What's the point of making it darned near impossible for the customers
to take advantage of the advertised offers?

Chris

---

› See More: How not to sell phones

"Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote in message
newsP5tc.116563$536.21828610@attbi_s03...
>
>
> So I've been craving the A680 for months, and I finally decided to
> buy one.
>
> First, Costo isn't carrying it, and Sprint says I can only get the
> rebate from a Sprint store or Radio Shack
>
> Telesales tells me I have to go to a store, I can't get the rebate
> from them.
>
> The Sprint store ignores me until I tell them to **** off and leave.
>
> I go to Radio Shack. They are friendly as hell. Happy to make the
> sale. But then the activation process turns up the snag: Sprint won't
> give me the rebate with my old plan, only a new one. I'm not giving up
> my retention plan for anything, thanyyouverymuch. So I leave RS without
> out a phone.
>
> Finally, I give up and call the magic, secret phone number posted
> here all too often. Talk to "Randy Samuel", who has the dulcet tones of
> Bangalore in his voice but insists that Randy is his real name. Lo and
> behold, all problems are solved. In theory, at least, there is an A680
> winging its way towards me right now, the rebate is processed and my
> plan is untouched.
>
> I got it, I hope and pray. But what a travail! How many people
> would buy phones from Sprint if they didn't have to go through all this
> hassle? How many customers are they driving to Verizon or T-Mobile?
> What's the point of making it darned near impossible for the customers
> to take advantage of the advertised offers?

That advertising offer, as you call the mail in rebate, has three conditions
.... one - that the old phone to be replaced had to have the same phone
number for 18 months or longs, two - that your plan needs to be at least
$35/mo., and three - that you have to activate Vision, if you changing to a
Vision phone.

What's so hard to understand about that?

Bob

Bob Smith burbled to the world:

> That advertising offer, as you call the mail in rebate, has three
> conditions ... one - that the old phone to be replaced had to have
> the same phone number for 18 months or longs, two - that your plan
> needs to be at least $35/mo., and three - that you have to activate
> Vision, if you changing to a Vision phone.
>
> What's so hard to understand about that?


My plan is $50/month

I've had the same number for 5 years

I have vision already.

That meets all the requirements, at least the ones they tell
you about. But my plan is a retention plan, and they would not let me
keep it and get the rebate. So I had to find the workaround, which
should not be necessary in a company genuinely dedicated to giving
customer service.

Nothing hard to understand at all.

Chris

"Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:VO6tc.119343$xw3.7135297@attbi_s04...
> Bob Smith burbled to the world:
>
> > That advertising offer, as you call the mail in rebate, has three
> > conditions ... one - that the old phone to be replaced had to have
> > the same phone number for 18 months or longs, two - that your plan
> > needs to be at least $35/mo., and three - that you have to activate
> > Vision, if you changing to a Vision phone.
> >
> > What's so hard to understand about that?
>
>
> My plan is $50/month
>
> I've had the same number for 5 years
>
> I have vision already.
>
> That meets all the requirements, at least the ones they tell
> you about. But my plan is a retention plan, and they would not let me
> keep it and get the rebate. So I had to find the workaround, which
> should not be necessary in a company genuinely dedicated to giving
> customer service.
>
> Nothing hard to understand at all.
>
> Chris

Keeping that retention plan then should not be a problem then, as there is
no verbiage in the rebate form requirements to make a customer change a
plan, unless, your plan was under $34.95 for the base plan ... per the
following, from the following URL
http://pcshandsetupgrade.sprint.com/...gramPopup.html -

"Customer is enrolled in the program upon activation of a new handset on a
$34.99 or greater plan and when signing a new one- or two-year Sprint PCS
Advantage Agreement. Upon completion of 18 months of continuous Sprint PCS
Service, a customer is eligible to receive a rebate on select Sprint PCS
Phones if customer remained on a $34.99 or greater plan. A Sprint PCS
Service Plan is your base monthly plan; it does not include monthly fees for
add-on features & services. The upgrade amount (up to $150 value) will be
provided through a mail-in rebate and will only be available on Sprint PCS
Phones with a current rebate offer. See stores for details on current Sprint
PCS Phone Rebates. The value of the mail-in rebate cannot exceed the total
purchase price of the Sprint PCS Phone. Rebate is not redeemable for cash
and is not transferable. To redeem for the rebate, a customer must meet the
promotional rebate requirements as stated in this brochure and on the
mail-in rebate form. Purchasing and activating a new phone and receiving any
other discount prior to date of eligibility for the rebate offer forfeits
enrollment in the program (excludes additional new lines of service). To
redeem for the rebate offer, a customer's account must be in good standing
with no past-due unpaid balances on their account. New Sprint PCS Phones
activated under the Sprint PCS Phone Upgrade Program must remain active
during the time the rebate is being processed (6-8 weeks). Sprint may change
or terminate this program at any time. The promotional rebate offers are
subject to change at any time. Rebates may not be available in all
locations. ©2004 Sprint. All rights reserved. Sprint and the diamond logo
and all other Sprint marks are trademarks of Sprint Communications Company
L.P., used under license. "

I'm glad that you were able to get the credit, but let me ask you this, as
you said you already had Vision. Is it possible that your retention plan was
coded as a $30 plan, and a $10 Vision charge applied to make the total of
$40? It could be that's why they originally said you didn't qualify for the
rebate.

Bob

In article <oP5tc.116563$536.21828610@attbi_s03>,
"Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I got it, I hope and pray. But what a travail! How many people
> would buy phones from Sprint if they didn't have to go through all this
> hassle? How many customers are they driving to Verizon or T-Mobile?
> What's the point of making it darned near impossible for the customers
> to take advantage of the advertised offers?

I can only conclude they dont want to be profitable.

Bob Smith burbled to the world:

> I'm glad that you were able to get the credit, but let me ask you
> this, as you said you already had Vision. Is it possible that your
> retention plan was coded as a $30 plan, and a $10 Vision charge
> applied to make the total of $40? It could be that's why they
> originally said you didn't qualify for the rebate.


Nope. I have a $50 a month plan. Vision is another $10.
Taxes bring my monthly bill up to about $66.

The complaint seemed to be that my plan isn't in the
computer anymore, and they insisted that I change to something which is.
I'm not giving my plan up, period.

Chris

"Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:K%7tc.116788$536.21939969@attbi_s03...
> Bob Smith burbled to the world:
>
> > I'm glad that you were able to get the credit, but let me ask you
> > this, as you said you already had Vision. Is it possible that your
> > retention plan was coded as a $30 plan, and a $10 Vision charge
> > applied to make the total of $40? It could be that's why they
> > originally said you didn't qualify for the rebate.
>
>
> Nope. I have a $50 a month plan. Vision is another $10.
> Taxes bring my monthly bill up to about $66.
>
> The complaint seemed to be that my plan isn't in the
> computer anymore, and they insisted that I change to something which is.
> I'm not giving my plan up, period.
>
> Chris
>
Ah ... OK, thanks for the info Chris. I agree, that you shouldn't had to
step through the extra hoops, as there is never a requirement to change
plans, unless the plan is less than $35.

With this info, we can provide some additional info to anyone else who runs
into the same problem.

Bob

Chris Pisarra <[email protected]> wrote:
> Bob Smith burbled to the world:
>
>> That advertising offer, as you call the mail in rebate, has three
>> conditions ... one - that the old phone to be replaced had to have
>> the same phone number for 18 months or longs, two - that your plan
>> needs to be at least $35/mo., and three - that you have to activate
>> Vision, if you changing to a Vision phone.
>>
>> What's so hard to understand about that?
>
>
> My plan is $50/month
>
> I've had the same number for 5 years

You have to have had the same PHONE for 18 months, not the same number.

Much like Verizon New Every Two. You can't get a phone and then use your
NE2 discount to get a new phone three months later.

How long have you had your current phone?

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, Apple Valley, CA PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
Domain Names, $9.95/yr, 24x7 service: http://DomainNames.JustThe.net/
"someone once called me a sofa, but i didn't feel compelled to rush out and buy
slip covers." -adam brower * Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows 98/2000/2003

Steven J Sobol burbled to the world:

> You have to have had the same PHONE for 18 months, not the same
> number.
>
> Much like Verizon New Every Two. You can't get a phone and then use
> your NE2 discount to get a new phone three months later.
>
> How long have you had your current phone?


18 months, 3 weeks.

I've been waiting for this...........................


Chris

"Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<oP5tc.116563$536.21828610@attbi_s03>...
> So I've been craving the A680 for months, and I finally decided to
> buy one.
>
> First, Costo isn't carrying it, and Sprint says I can only get the
> rebate from a Sprint store or Radio Shack
>
> Telesales tells me I have to go to a store, I can't get the rebate
> from them.
>
> The Sprint store ignores me until I tell them to **** off and leave.
>
> I go to Radio Shack. They are friendly as hell. Happy to make the
> sale. But then the activation process turns up the snag: Sprint won't
> give me the rebate with my old plan, only a new one. I'm not giving up
> my retention plan for anything, thanyyouverymuch. So I leave RS without
> out a phone.
>
> Finally, I give up and call the magic, secret phone number posted
> here all too often. Talk to "Randy Samuel", who has the dulcet tones of
> Bangalore in his voice but insists that Randy is his real name. Lo and
> behold, all problems are solved. In theory, at least, there is an A680
> winging its way towards me right now, the rebate is processed and my
> plan is untouched.
>
> I got it, I hope and pray. But what a travail! How many people
> would buy phones from Sprint if they didn't have to go through all this
> hassle? How many customers are they driving to Verizon or T-Mobile?
> What's the point of making it darned near impossible for the customers
> to take advantage of the advertised offers?
>
> Chris

I was also looking to get the A680. Apparently I won't qualify for the
18 month rebate program because my plan is the older $30/month plan
(which I don't want to give up). There's a stipulation that your plan
has to be a minimum of $35/month (Vision and other add-ons don't count
towards this). *rolling eyes* Neither does the fact that I also have
two other lines on my account which are also $30/month plans which
brings my monthly payment over $100.

Larry Thomas wrote:

> "Chris Pisarra" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<oP5tc.116563$536.21828610@attbi_s03>...
>
>>So I've been craving the A680 for months, and I finally decided to
>>buy one.
>>
>> First, Costo isn't carrying it, and Sprint says I can only get the
>>rebate from a Sprint store or Radio Shack
>>
>> Telesales tells me I have to go to a store, I can't get the rebate
>>from them.
>>
>> The Sprint store ignores me until I tell them to **** off and leave.
>>
>> I go to Radio Shack. They are friendly as hell. Happy to make the
>>sale. But then the activation process turns up the snag: Sprint won't
>>give me the rebate with my old plan, only a new one. I'm not giving up
>>my retention plan for anything, thanyyouverymuch. So I leave RS without
>>out a phone.
>>
>> Finally, I give up and call the magic, secret phone number posted
>>here all too often. Talk to "Randy Samuel", who has the dulcet tones of
>>Bangalore in his voice but insists that Randy is his real name. Lo and
>>behold, all problems are solved. In theory, at least, there is an A680
>>winging its way towards me right now, the rebate is processed and my
>>plan is untouched.
>>
>> I got it, I hope and pray. But what a travail! How many people
>>would buy phones from Sprint if they didn't have to go through all this
>>hassle? How many customers are they driving to Verizon or T-Mobile?
>>What's the point of making it darned near impossible for the customers
>>to take advantage of the advertised offers?
>>
>> Chris
>
>
> I was also looking to get the A680. Apparently I won't qualify for the
> 18 month rebate program because my plan is the older $30/month plan
> (which I don't want to give up). There's a stipulation that your plan
> has to be a minimum of $35/month (Vision and other add-ons don't count
> towards this). *rolling eyes* Neither does the fact that I also have
> two other lines on my account which are also $30/month plans which
> brings my monthly payment over $100.

Have you looked at sharing a bigger plan? That usually (but not always)
works out better and having a handful of smaller plans. Bigger plans
tend to have lower per minute rates.
-mike

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

>
> I can only conclude they dont want to be profitable.

No fact shows this to be the case. Maybe you could provide the facts that
support your claim.

"Larry Thomas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<snipped>

> I was also looking to get the A680. Apparently I won't qualify for the
> 18 month rebate program because my plan is the older $30/month plan
> (which I don't want to give up). There's a stipulation that your plan
> has to be a minimum of $35/month (Vision and other add-ons don't count
> towards this). *rolling eyes* Neither does the fact that I also have
> two other lines on my account which are also $30/month plans which
> brings my monthly payment over $100.

Well Larry, even if you were rolling your eyes, it was your decision to
separate the phones to individual accounts, no matter how much paid ...
right? And the specs say $35/ mo. on a plan ... right?

Maybe it is time to consolidate your account ...

Bob

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Larry Thomas) wrote:

> I was also looking to get the A680. Apparently I won't qualify for the
> 18 month rebate program because my plan is the older $30/month plan
> (which I don't want to give up). There's a stipulation that your plan
> has to be a minimum of $35/month (Vision and other add-ons don't count
> towards this). *rolling eyes* Neither does the fact that I also have
> two other lines on my account which are also $30/month plans which
> brings my monthly payment over $100.

Not true. Vision is the one add-on that does count!

Chris Pisarra <[email protected]> wrote:

>> How long have you had your current phone?
>
> 18 months, 3 weeks.
>
> I've been waiting for this...........................
>

Sounds to me like they screwed up, then...

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, Apple Valley, CA PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
Domain Names, $9.95/yr, 24x7 service: http://DomainNames.JustThe.net/
"someone once called me a sofa, but i didn't feel compelled to rush out and buy
slip covers." -adam brower * Hiroshima '45, Chernobyl '86, Windows 98/2000/2003