Home  ›  Carriers  ›

Sprint

Info & Phones News Forum  

all discussions

show all 21 replies

Best place to buy?

sfsdefender

Feb 11, 2011, 11:00 AM
I am heading home in a few days after a loooong tour in Afghanistan. First thing I plan to do is pick up an Epic. Any insight on wheres the best place to get one.. ie Radio Shack.. Sprint store.. best buy.. etc? Thanks!
...
phantom mullet

Feb 11, 2011, 12:39 PM
go to Best Buy. You'll get good pricing and fast, courteous service.

If you go to Radio Shack you'll usually get poor service.

If you go to Sprint you'll get robbed blind.

Once you get your phone, call customer service and have them set up a corp/gov discount for you. Each branch of the military has one available (usually for about 15%).

I work for Sprint, but take my advice and just go to Best Buy. You'll be much happier.
...
Android Ace

Feb 11, 2011, 1:23 PM
I personally recommend a Sprint Store. They'll assist you with any issues you may have with the phone. Best Buy is a contract mill. They'll sell you a phone, but from there you're on your own unless you pay the Geek Squad some major dough to get it fixed. That, or they'll just send you to the nearest Sprint Store to get it fixed...a major annoyance for a Sprint rep like myself.
...
phantom mullet

Feb 11, 2011, 1:48 PM
"I didn't get commission on the sale so why should I help?!" Get over it.

TEP can be added to any device within 30 days and corporate stores can provide technical assistance on phones bought from a third party.

The point is, Best Buy is only meant to be a 'contract mill' and they do a good job of it. The out of pocket cost on an Epic is going to be at least $100 cheaper at Best Buy.

Do I wish all customers purchased from me? Yes. Do I know they're getting a better deal elsewhere? Yes.
...
Kyure70x6

Mar 11, 2011, 1:15 PM
So when your commison check is smaller, are you still happy your customers saved money somewhere else?
...
drake

Mar 20, 2011, 11:30 AM
All is correct above, but the truth is whether you want a representative or not.

Best buy will waive a mail in rebates but are not in business to help you much past that. If you have enough time to invest in finding solutions to your own problems yourself it's probably worth saving money up front.

Sprint stores are more business oriented in meaning that your chances of finding someone who will assist you with issues down the road are much higher. Whether it's finding the right app or cracked screens dealing with the same person is very beneficial to busy people.

It's not all about commission, it's about familiarity and respect.
...
bluedrummer27

Feb 11, 2011, 3:31 PM
I agree. I HATE it when people buy their phone at Target or Walmart or Joe's Phone Shack to save $30, then come to ME when they have problems. I LOVE telling them they have to go back to where they bought it if it's under 30 days lol
...
phantom mullet

Feb 11, 2011, 4:56 PM
"I didn't get commission on the sale so why should I help?!" Get over it.

TEP can be added to any device within 30 days and corporate stores can provide technical assistance on phones bought from a third party.

The point is, Best Buy is only meant to be a 'contract mill' and they do a good job of it. The out of pocket cost on an Epic is going to be at least $100 cheaper at Best Buy.

Do I wish all customers purchased from me? Yes. Do I know they're getting a better deal elsewhere? Yes.
...
Kyure70x6

Feb 16, 2011, 10:34 AM
Bluedrummer hit it on the head. Best Buy/Radio Shack will sell you a phone with the mail in rebate taken off at point of sale, but you don't get the service you would get at a sprint store. So you have to wait 10-12 weeks, i got my last rebate back in 6, but the convienance is worth it. I do the same thing bluedrummer does, if someone comes into my store with a phone purchansed from another retailer, they'll get turned away unless i can make money off of them. It's called buisness, and both ends need to survive.
...
phantom mullet

Feb 16, 2011, 12:51 PM
A lot of times it's more than just the mail-in rebate being taken off up front.

What you're basically saying is that you care more about sticking it to your customers than them actually receiving a good price on a phone. If you can't treat people with dignity while also maintaining a good conversion rate then you don't need to be in sales.

I really hope OP didn't get sucked in by the garbage you people have been spewing about how you won't help customers who purchase outside of corporate stores.
...
thechosen1ji

Feb 17, 2011, 9:25 AM
a gentleman and a scholar. nicely put 😎
...
rarodrig26

Feb 17, 2011, 12:18 PM
How is that sticking to the customer? The end result is the same cost and they pay a little more up front, but in return get better service 9 outta 10 times. That sounds like a win-win for everyone to me!

Why does everyone act like a cell phone rep's time isn't as valuable as everyone elses? Those reps usually don't make a lot money, to ask them to spend their time helping ppl that not only are they not making any money off of but during that time they are missing out on other sales, is ridiculous to me.

If a customer want's to go to a Best Buy to save on some money and/or a mail-in rebate that's fine..but do it knowing that there is a trade off for that penny you are saving..service. There is nothing wrong with expecting a person to...
(continues)
...
phantom mullet

Feb 17, 2011, 1:06 PM
If you answered yes to that question you have an obligation as a Sprint representative to provide technical/other assistance on the device. Regardless of where the device is purchased it's your job to help the customer.

I don't care about your pity party; really, I don't.

I know there are sometimes seemingly unachievable sales goals, but those goals don't relieve you of your duty to the customer. Balls up and deal with it. You're not providing any real reason a customer should purchase from Sprint instead of Best Buy.
...
rarodrig26

Feb 17, 2011, 3:39 PM
There's not enough hours in the day to list all the reasons to buy from Sprint. I couldnt even guess at the percentage of my week spent fixing mistakes/issues made by the best buys/radio shacks/capitol cellulars etc in my area.

And I do my job great, but at the end of the day MY customers bought phones from me. I don't treat my customers any different but like i said...will i spend the same hour with a customer who didn't buy a phone from me as one who did? Nope.

My whole point is why do customers act like they are any different than me? Money was important enough to you to go save it at best buy..well same with me which is why my time is better spent on my sales. If you are within your first 30 days go talk to the guy who sold it to y...
(continues)
...
acdc1a

Feb 17, 2011, 1:09 PM
By your very attitude it doesn't seem as though they'll get a better experience with you. Assuming you're a direct employee, you're getting a salary to service existing customers. Everyone who comes in with a service or phone issue should be treated with the same respect as someone buying a phone. Every customer is a potential sale/upgrade. Treat them with respect and they may not go to Best Buy next time.
...
rarodrig26

Feb 17, 2011, 3:24 PM
I provide great customer service, and help every customer cuz that's my job. And I never said anything about not treating every customer with respect. But that doesn't mean i'm gonna spend the same hour helping someone that didn't buy from as i would a customer who did.

No one in this business can get by on our hourly wage alone. We depend on commission just like waiters/waitresses depend on tips so you'll never sell me on that argument.

Also let's be honest..the customer that cares that much about waiting 6 weeks for a 100 bucks, is alwys going to go save that 100 bucks no matter what i do. Been in this business too long and seen it too many times to think other wise.

But I'm human too, my bills arent any less important than their ...
(continues)
...
johnnyb0810

Feb 25, 2011, 9:58 AM
My only question is... what is a customer thinking by going to a Best Buy to purchase a phone than go to the corporate outlet when they have an issue with said phone... It's like buying a tv from Walmart and going to Radio Shack (whom sells the same tv) and expecting spot on troubleshooting. I am not on either side of the argument as I dont make a commission unless you count the $6 bonus for special months on smartphone sales. It's a different story if the customer purchased online. Everyone is responsible for their own sales.
...
anrcgr

Mar 11, 2011, 10:24 AM
You would be suprised by the amount of customers who believe "It is a Sprint phone, Sprint needs to fix it." I only deal with customers over the phone but I always have to ask "Where was your phone purchased?" As soon as they say Wal-Mart, RadioShack, BestBuy, etc... I inform them that they have to return to the original point of sale. People really dont understand...
...
Kyure70x6

Mar 11, 2011, 1:14 PM
I don't want to "stick it to my customer" but i dont want to lose my job either because we dont make any money due to people buying their phones else where. If your gonna come to me with your problems, what are you gonna do when your local sprint store isnt there to help you and best buy turns you away after already selling you your phone.
...
CamelTowing

Mar 17, 2011, 10:00 PM
So you really expect to impress the other customers in the store when you treat a customer like that. And yeah they are a customer of YOURS if you sell the product they are holding in their hands.
What's that you say? There wasn't anyone else in the store when you did that?
You're store is empty because of it's horrid sales people.
I'm 100% sure it's in all retailers contracts from every carrier to treat customers with respect and to help them if able and to direct them where to go if you cannot.
You either work for an irreputable retailer or you are an irreputable sales person.
...
johnnyb0810

Mar 18, 2011, 10:40 AM
At the same time if I purchase a blender from Walmart that has a warranty, I can't take it to Target just because they sell the same thing. I think one thing that hasn't been discussed is the manufacturer. If I buy a Black & Decker product they can help me almost as much as Walmart unless it has to due with refunds.
...
Dollgrin

Mar 13, 2011, 5:53 PM
Shop around, see who has the best deal and the best reps and go from there. Every place is different, and one place isn't better than the other. Each one has their pros and cons, so what you should really focus on is what situation will work best for you. Here's how I would break it down (in no particular order)

Sprint Corporate Store:
If you buy it at a corporate store you can return/exchange at any corporate store. When you buy third party you have to take it back to the store that you bought it from and seeing that your in the military, that could end up being a hassle. They are supposed to help you set up the phone, educate you on how to use it, and answer any other questions you have. In theory any other rep you deal with in another...
(continues)
...

You must log in to reply.

Please log in to report a message to the moderator.


all discussions

Subscribe to Phone Scoop News with RSS Follow @phonescoop on Threads Follow @phonescoop on Mastodon Phone Scoop on Facebook Follow on Instagram

 

Playwire

All content Copyright 2001-2024 Phone Factor, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Content on this site may not be copied or republished without formal permission.