Sprint Agrees to Waive Fees for Calls to Haiti

Speculate all you will. We don't know who has to approve these decisions and the fact that they didn't rush out to the press the day following and say, "Look at me! I'm waiving fees" is a good indicator that they are real. Again no one HAS to waive these fees.

Actually, they HAVE to waive the fees if they don't want to worsen their brand image. Sprint is always late when it comes to responding to other carriers. T-Mobile announced this first, then a couple days later Verizon, followed by Sprint almost a month later. Same thing happened when Verizon released their unlimited voice plans. AT&T and T-Mobile responded within a week, while Sprint took a month.

No. They took ten or eleven days. VZW, AT&T and T-Mobile on Feb 8, I believe. Sprint denied they would engage in the price war the next day then launched Simply Everything on the 19th I believe. SE is a much better plan, of course. I have researched this in the past and am still hoping they lower SE to $79.99. As far as their brand image? It is shot to hell. There is no getting around that. If someone with a great brand image (like Google) could be convinced to buy them out and change the name, maybe. You know, like those signs which say "Now under new management". That's not going to happen, so they are fighting an uphill battle on brand. They simply DO NOT HAVE to do anything. I have heard no government mandate about this. Y...
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Apparently you're getting way too emotional over this. If we sound ridiculous for critiquing on their response, the same can be said about you defending them relentlessly. I don't believe any corporation will offer these services just because it's right the right thing to do. There is always an agenda for them to be charitable, and that's to make themselves look better. I'm finished here because apparently you are taking this way too personal. Maybe you have relatives in Haiti or something, personally, I really don't care; however, I suggest you come back when you can present an argument without attacking the person you're debating with.

- VDubb

Actually, Sprint hasn't been waving the flag of "look what I'm doing" but has been internally matching every employee donation to ARC up to $2,500 per donation and has donated considerable equipment to relief efforts.

Good points, but this poster will never acknowledge them. Anyone who continues to defend a weak argument after it has been completely refuted is beyond reason.

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VDubb is right and you guys are wrong.

Honestly VDubb, I expected you to respond to a thread of this nature rather than be the originator. Why did the post have to be about a competition of who is first or last to help in a time of need? I fully understand the relevance of brand image but to discredit Sprint just because they were late to unite in offering a free service, just doesn't make sense in an ethical stand. And that's what Azeron is ultimately trying to convey. We all know the competitive nature of the carriers as a company, but when the individual reps of the carriers remain competitive during times like the one in Haiti, does not show good character of the individual. I have no love for VZW, but am very glad they offered concessions regardless if it was used to brand a...
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Actually your phone. Sprint released an unlimited mobile out of network(any cell phones just not landlines) calling plan with text and data(smart phone data or regular data) for 69.99 back in september. Their simply everything plan has been out since I've sold sell phones for all 4 carriers. Which is 99.99 unlimited calling to landlines+cell phones+text+smart phone data.

This was definitely not done out of decency. Like VDubb says...if it was it would have been done in the beginning. Whats the point in having an offer and not telling anything. Coming out a month after the quake helped no one but themselves....barely. Anyone affected that could've benefited didn't unless the were willing to eat the roaming charges in hope. Now they can sigh relief to know its getting credited. All the other went out a bought calling cards. Sprint knows that if they would have communicated this earlier, they would have larger roaming charges to eat. Right now they are trying to save face. Happy my fam has Verizon and we didn't have to worry about our calls ti loved ones when it mattered.

Roaming or LD? Will Sprint CDMA phones roam in Haiti? The sense of entitlement that people have is nauseating.

I mean LD....entitlement??? Dude the offer it a month later half assed and had the nerve to back date it. Who knew a month ago that it was a option....no one. If you're not going to do it right then why do it at all.

Yes. Next time they should not do it at all if they are going to suffer a backlash from ungrateful *Bleeps*. We can agree on that much at least. Disgusting.

They were really loved ones, it wouldn't matter how much it cost me. To hear the person that I loved, would be more than enough. Realistically once you know they are doing fine there should be no other reason to continue to talk, other than to catch up on things. You could maybe talk to that person for 10 minutes. I would eat the fees up anyway. I understand there might be more people that you know in haiti other than one person. I still would have made the calls without even thinking about it. I don't know about you personally. I agree it was to make the people happy in a time of crisis and it would have been a sigh of relief to know that you could just call them.

One call to know someone is ok is no where enough since people are dying everyday and there are still aftershocks. Now my point was not that people wouldn't spend to call their loved ones (ie: why I said people purchased phone cards), its just that if Sprint main interest was in helping....they could've let people know earlier. The orginal comment was that it was decency, and in my opinion is its not whole hearted.

Either way doesn't matter to me...like you said wouldn't stop me from making a necessary call....just a little late for an applause.

I do not know that they were seeking applause and I certainly wouldn't give them any. I DO know that they are not deserving of the criticism that they received from some here. That is uncalled for.

Sprint has made some really decent moves lately. To discredit Sprint for not implementing free calls to Haiti earlier, when the other carriers did holds no merit. Out of the big 4 carriers, Sprint has had the biggest money deficit. I am sure this offering is something they wanted to do, but had to weigh the options. Tmo has Duetsch Telekom for help. Verizon and ATT have deep pockets. Who does Sprint have? I am happy to see the offering regardless. The rebuilding process of Haiti, is not going to be an overnight process and calls to and from this country are going to cost $$$. Dollars that Sprint technically can't afford. I feel a commendation is in place.

I don't know about a commendation, but I know that when someone announces that they are going to waive fees, the first post shouldn't be about "it's about time!" WTF?! It is always easy to spend out of someone else's pocket. Freaking makes me sick! I am not a sprint shareholder, employee or customer AND I have no loved one's in Haiti. I just know that generosity should not be met with a kick in the teeth and that is what these selfish posters are doing. If you don't have anything nice to say...

...then don't say anything at all!

Personally, I think this announcement was worth waiting for, since Sprint is going far above and beyond any other carrier to help people in need in Haiti.

To quote Bernie Mac in Ocean's 13, "Nuff Said."

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You're right...I don't have a problem with the move...just would've been great for their customers to know 30 days ago. Either way its great that its done. Now im done....this went too far left.