Existing Sprint Customers Peeved?
I'm one of these Sprint customers that have had their phone for over 18 months at a service level that qualifies for the "Upgrade" offer to replace an existing handset with a new one.
Question. Why is it that existing customers have to pay full price for these upgrades, and then send in a mail-in rebate (which takes 6-8 weeks to process, *IF* they process it)?
I know today's cell market is about getting people connected, but I would have thought retention was a part of that as well. I've been a Sprint customer since 1999, and applauded their efforts to implement an upgrade program (albeit after some competitors offered this already), but was disappointed when I read the "fine print" for the offer.
I mean, it would be cheaper (in...
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Question. Why is it that existing customers have to pay full price for these upgrades, and then send in a mail-in rebate (which takes 6-8 weeks to process, *IF* they process it)?
I know today's cell market is about getting people connected, but I would have thought retention was a part of that as well. I've been a Sprint customer since 1999, and applauded their efforts to implement an upgrade program (albeit after some competitors offered this already), but was disappointed when I read the "fine print" for the offer.
I mean, it would be cheaper (in...
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Just this... if you cancel service and pay the ETF, you won't be able to port your number. What you need to do is go to the carrier you are porting TO and have them process it. Your old carrier transfers the number and then applies the ETF and remaining balance to your final bill.
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After talking to our Sprint rep this is a temporary situation until it can be made cost effective to have it as an instant rebate. Keep in mind that Sprint phones are typically more expensive to manufacture than other carriers phones dut to the complexity of CDMA technology.
I agree that the Sprint upgrade program is not as convenient as say Verizon's but this will change in the future as Sprint retrains all of its people to realize the customer is the reason for the business. Mr. Lauer is bringing many more changes to the company that will have a positive impact on customer service.
I was with US Cellular before Jack Rooney took over and I can tell you USCC was at that point a nasty little company to do business with.
Under Mr. Rooney...
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I agree that the Sprint upgrade program is not as convenient as say Verizon's but this will change in the future as Sprint retrains all of its people to realize the customer is the reason for the business. Mr. Lauer is bringing many more changes to the company that will have a positive impact on customer service.
I was with US Cellular before Jack Rooney took over and I can tell you USCC was at that point a nasty little company to do business with.
Under Mr. Rooney...
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If you are eligible for the $150 rebate, you don't need to mail it in. At our store it's an instant rebate in the store. You may have just had a bad experience.
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Yes, the last rebate I was "eligible" for it turned out I wasn't (even though I was). Sprint came to the party and gave me the "rebate" in my account.
As for the instant rebate in your store, how does one find a store that does these instant rebates? Any in the DFW area?
As for the instant rebate in your store, how does one find a store that does these instant rebates? Any in the DFW area?
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Yeah I went to a Radio-Shack here in Charlotte and asked him about the instant rebate and he told me for existing customers you have to mail it in but I called Sprint and they said thats not true you should get your instant rebate without mailing it in. So I'm going to a Sprint Store and forget about Radio Shack. đ
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You were lied to by Sprint PCS customer service.. a Sprint Store will tell you its a mail in rebate.. And plus I work selling phones as well, and I have the forms right here in front of me.
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I have received conflicting stories from the customer service rep at Sprint. One rep will tell you that it should be instant, you call back, and talk with another rep, and you will get the "mail in" rebate response, yet you call a third time, and it will be credited to your account when you sign another contract. But all in all, when you go into the stores, I have been to 3, you will get the "mail-in" response every single time. So, anyway you look at it, the business model of Sprint to for Local Number Portability to take place. You goto any other company, they are more than willing to give you the discount and bring you number over at the same time.
I think some Senator was pissed off, and overall, LNP exists for the common man.
With th...
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I think some Senator was pissed off, and overall, LNP exists for the common man.
With th...
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JP-I couldn't agree with you more-My contract expires in 2 weeks and yes if you go to a Radio-Shack they'll tell you its a mail in rebate but I've called SprintPCs and I've been told that its instant and not mail-in. Now I've been with Sprint for 4 yrs and I've still got the same Sanyo 4500 phone. But if it is indeed a mail in rebate alll i can say is-"HELLO VERIZON"-and Sprint I'm outta here!!!
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YOu both have mentioned Radio Shack, but do you have a Sprint store availavle to you? The problem shouldn't lie with Sprint, instead it sounds the issue is with Radio Shack. The Instant Rebate IS out there, you just need to avoid certain retailers.
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dwranger said:
YOu both have mentioned Radio Shack, but do you have a Sprint store availavle to you? The problem shouldn't lie with Sprint, instead it sounds the issue is with Radio Shack. The Instant Rebate IS out there, you just need to avoid certain retailers.
I _HATE_ R$ with a passion, but the fault doesn't necessarily lie with them. The Sprint affiliate in their area may not offer instant rebates to existing customers. That's how it is in the Gulf Coast Wireless areas, anyway. I think Alamosa PCS is the same way, as well as Enterprise PCS areas. US Unwired offers instant, I _THINK_.
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How many times must I say it.. If I could copy and post an image of the form to this site I would!
NEW CUSTOMERS = INSTANT REBATE
EXISTING CUSTOMER (Current phone must have been active for 18 months or more) = MAIL-IN REBATE
NEW CUSTOMERS = INSTANT REBATE
EXISTING CUSTOMER (Current phone must have been active for 18 months or more) = MAIL-IN REBATE
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As always Big Poppa, one more time. It seems that some people just don't get it, or just can't read.
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well see ya later then... cuz you know what??
IT a MAIL-IN rebate for EXISTING CUSTOMERS!!
IT a MAIL-IN rebate for EXISTING CUSTOMERS!!
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Well, I dont know why Rep are so stupid.. I mean, I am reading the rebates now..
and basically it says.. Instant Rebates are for NEW customers... and for exisiting customers who current phone has been active for 18 months or more qualify for MAIL-IN rebate.
and basically it says.. Instant Rebates are for NEW customers... and for exisiting customers who current phone has been active for 18 months or more qualify for MAIL-IN rebate.
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Your an idiot dude.. He is an exisiting customer not a NEW customer.
Only NEW customers are eligable for INSTANT rebates..
Exisiting customer must mail them in. and wait 6-8 weeks to receive it. They must also be active on a plan $34.99 or higher, renew their contract for 2 years, and keep the phone activated on the # for a minimum of 30 days.
Only NEW customers are eligable for INSTANT rebates..
Exisiting customer must mail them in. and wait 6-8 weeks to receive it. They must also be active on a plan $34.99 or higher, renew their contract for 2 years, and keep the phone activated on the # for a minimum of 30 days.
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From what I understand, Sprint wants to make sure that the phone is going to stay activated - hence the wait. I think there was a bit of fraud going on with the instant rebates - saw it all the time at Radio Crack. Thank God I'm outta there... âšī¸
I will agree with your overall attitude though - every other cellular comany gives the pricing up front. It probably has to do with the way Sprint accounts for the instant rebates at point-of-purchase.
If you really wanna jump ship... no, no. I can't shill for another company in Sprint's own forum đ
I will agree with your overall attitude though - every other cellular comany gives the pricing up front. It probably has to do with the way Sprint accounts for the instant rebates at point-of-purchase.
If you really wanna jump ship... no, no. I can't shill for another company in Sprint's own forum đ
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Here is why you have to do mail-rebates.
Say you have a friend who has Sprint, but is not at the 18 months yet, but you are. You could go into a Store, get the phone at the rebate price, then then immediatly give it to our friend, and reactivate you original phone.
Having it as a mail-in rebate would require that you at least keep the phone active on YOUR account for at least 30 days..
Say you have a friend who has Sprint, but is not at the 18 months yet, but you are. You could go into a Store, get the phone at the rebate price, then then immediatly give it to our friend, and reactivate you original phone.
Having it as a mail-in rebate would require that you at least keep the phone active on YOUR account for at least 30 days..
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Big Poppa,
That makes sense, however given the system here in teh US where the phone carries the code, not a card (for activation), surely Sprint (and any other service that uses this system) could simply deactivate the ESIN for a period of thirty days. This would prevent people from doing that, right?
~J
That makes sense, however given the system here in teh US where the phone carries the code, not a card (for activation), surely Sprint (and any other service that uses this system) could simply deactivate the ESIN for a period of thirty days. This would prevent people from doing that, right?
~J
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I'm sure they could-I mean an instant rebate for a longtime customer like myself(4yrs) isn't asking much but Big Poppa said it best so I'm switching to VERIZON July 11th that when my contract with Sprint is over with!!!!!!!
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to clear up some confusion. in a sprint owned store the rebate is a mail is. in an afiliate store they do not have acces to the tools they need to do a mail in rebate. so they do the rebate instantly.
i for one agree with sprints choice for a upgrade program.
reason 1. it prevents fraud. this way some person would not be able to get the rebate give the phone to a friend then recativate there old phone and make a insurance claim. that is an epedimic in the wireless field.
reason 2. customers are to stupid to handel an instante rebate. i hear there line of thought all the time "since i have had my phone 18 months but my kid has not and there phone is broke we will upgrade my phone then give it to them." this is stupid stupid logic!!...
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i for one agree with sprints choice for a upgrade program.
reason 1. it prevents fraud. this way some person would not be able to get the rebate give the phone to a friend then recativate there old phone and make a insurance claim. that is an epedimic in the wireless field.
reason 2. customers are to stupid to handel an instante rebate. i hear there line of thought all the time "since i have had my phone 18 months but my kid has not and there phone is broke we will upgrade my phone then give it to them." this is stupid stupid logic!!...
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Sorry but your dead "WRONG" on this one-as far as abuse goes-You can still abuse the system even with a mail-in rebate think about it. Now for the 18months deal-I've had my phone(Sanyo 4500) for almost 4yrs and technology has come along ways so I decide to upgrade it and renew my contract, now your telling me that the best Sprint can do for a "LOYAL" customer is a mail-in rebate-I mean get real-If you really want to "Buck" the system-its easy just switch carriers every two years-keep your same number and you can make out like a bandito-Why because thats how you get the instant rebates-A real no brainer to figure that one out-So I'm sorry I've fought with Verizon because I was a dedicated and loyal fan of Sprint but after this fiasco of heari...
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All I have to say to that is go to an affiliate store and you won't have to deal with porting. On top of that, if you want a quality phone with the latest goodies sprint almost always gets them first. If you choose Verizon, I wish you the best, I would just personally look at switching companies as a last resort.
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Dude, Sprint themeselves do not even handle the rebate process, there is a 3rd party company that handles them.. So Affiliate Markets can do Mail-in rebates as well. There arent really any TOOLS needed, just the Mail in rebate form the customer has to mail in.
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to some one who is not familiar with how sprint works and the tools that a sprint corporate store has you would say that.
how ever when you go into a sprint corporate store they can look up your entire phone history to make sure you qualify as well as look up your plan to make sure the plan is adequate. when a sprint rep tells you that you will get the mail in rebate if you do not get it then they will get it for you. they have escalation processes they can do because they have the tools needed to do it.
affiliate stores however do not have those tools. so they just do all there rebates as instant rebates.
how ever when you go into a sprint corporate store they can look up your entire phone history to make sure you qualify as well as look up your plan to make sure the plan is adequate. when a sprint rep tells you that you will get the mail in rebate if you do not get it then they will get it for you. they have escalation processes they can do because they have the tools needed to do it.
affiliate stores however do not have those tools. so they just do all there rebates as instant rebates.
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hmmmm thats kinda funny.. I would think they would use the Fast Activation system like the select retailers do, which can look to see if your an existing customer. and they should have access to that becuz it is web based.
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fast activation yes they have but that really does not tell them any information. to do that you need a program that allows you access to equipment history as well as billing history and plan history. things that sprint only allows corporate stores to have access to.
but of course unless you have ever worked in a sprint store or customer service you would have no idea what all in entailed in the entire procedure.
but of course unless you have ever worked in a sprint store or customer service you would have no idea what all in entailed in the entire procedure.
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I have worked in Sprint customer care doing business and consumer services..
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One other thing I forgot.. The Store I work for is a Select Retailer.. We dont have access to account info, or device history either, but we give them the brochure for the mail-rebates.. We check to see if there current phone is eligable by use of the Sprint PCS.com website.. remember it has the Sprint Upgrade thing in the rebate section to see if you qualify or not.. so an affiliate store does not need account access to see if the qualify, they just need access to Sprintpcs.com.
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Exactly! If you go to an affiliate store you can. Its really not that hard.
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