[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by metallicpoet

lulz--an intentional distortion of the Internet's colloquial phrase "lol." Commonly used to convey amusement from watching emotional responses to otherwise unimportant situations, discussions, and questions. Example, The troll called everyone in Sprintusers.com a bunch of fanboys, and the entire Sprintusers.com community retaliated. The troll gained much lulz.

Pretty well-constructed definition there. You could write for urbandictionary! Thanks for the translation!

[Dan]

Not to be a party pooper, but can we go back on topic or shall we just lock this thread down?

[OceanBlue]

I hope an era of good customer service is on the horizon and if that means "rewarding" or "retaining" loyal customers in way or another, I believe that practice to be in Sprint's best interests. In fact, I believe it to be vital to the company's success in the immediate future.

[nomolos]

the problem is that was what they were doing and it didnt help. meanwhile if you leave att they offer you a pat on the back on your way out the door and customer base is growing. same for vzw. giving away the farm didnt help sprint score better on cs reviews or rankings either. i guess they figure its time to act like the big two since apparently thats what people like.

[Perveeus]

Or you can always trap your customers once they come in the front door like VZN is doing:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/154280

[OKSOONERFAN]

Verizon taking their ETF to $350 is a HUGE mistake in my Opinion. I uused to work for them and with the way they lock out apps.cripple phone functions,and generally just charge you for EVERYTHING ( if you dont"t sign up online you can even be charged for looking at your bill!!) I think they are going to lose a ton of customers.their attitude, at least when I was their was "we are the Rolls Royce of cell companies,and we do not want low end customers" They preached this constantly.If someone came into the store who had a fairly low calling plan,well that customer would be given to rep with the non commission position,usually a "sales assistant" who had no ability to do anything but answer questions take bill payment and help out tech services. The commossion sales reps were bloodthirsty and pushy, I have even seen a female rep agree to date a customer but ONLY if he agreed to a new higher priced plan.
I think Verizon is truly going to try and get rid of the under $90 calling plan customer, and will probably change the incentive for the high end customers to stay with them and their outragous ETF. I hope the other Carriers are smart enough NOT to increase theirs, and instead welcome the flood of ex verizon customers that will come due to the new ETF,when they go to renew their contracts.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by nomolos

the problem is that was what they were doing and it didnt help. meanwhile if you leave att they offer you a pat on the back on your way out the door and customer base is growing. same for vzw. giving away the farm didnt help sprint score better on cs reviews or rankings either. i guess they figure its time to act like the big two since apparently thats what people like.

All well taken nomolos. I DID, however, go out of my way to post here when I felt Sprint's CS was indeed improving. I went out to bat for the company in recognition of those efforts, but now I'm a bit confused by what I'm reading about them tightening up. If it's the fraudsters they're identifying, then more power to Sprint, but if if they aren't taking care of their long-time customers in good standing, that's another matter.

[snikrep]

I was with Sprint from 2000, and recently quit to get the iPhone.

What pushed me over the edge was some recent customer service run-ins that were painful, and this ridiculous business of making people upgrade to new plans for any of the modern phones.

People talking about how Sprint doesn't "owe" us "loyal" customers anything should only blame Sprint for fostering this attitude. For most of my time with them, that's exactly how they treated their customers - the longer you're with Sprint, the more freebies/discounts you get. My plan price dropped from something like $80/month when I started with them, to around $50/month over a 5 year period, and I got free data/roaming/texts/etc. in the process.

So a lot of the longtime customers have gotten used to this treatment - I call it the "golden handcuffs". I wanted to switch at various points, but Sprint was so cheap, I couldn't justify it.

Now that they're ditching all the discounts and forcing people to get the "Everything" plans, they're changing the game. It's their right - but it IS a significant company-wide shift from their previous way of treating customers over the past 10 years.

They're gambling that, even with the price increases, people will still think they're a better value. For me, I found out I only had to pay an extra $10/month for the iPhone compared to their "Everything" plans that were largely fluff (for me) - so I jumped ship (for me personally, the iPhone is worth at least $20/month more than any of Sprint's phones). Based on the sales numbers that are coming out, it looks like I'm one of several hundred thousand people who are doing the same thing.

I just want to emphasize again - Sprint is the one responsible for building up this idea of the "loyal" customer who deserves freebies and discounts. That's how they treated their customers up until recently. So quit blaming the customer, Sprint's created this culture of "loyalty" and has now thrown it out the window.

9 year customer - RIP

[livingaboard]

Originally Posted by snikrep

I was with Sprint from 2000, and recently quit to get the iPhone.

What pushed me over the edge was some recent customer service run-ins that were painful, and this ridiculous business of making people upgrade to new plans for any of the modern phones.

People talking about how Sprint doesn't "owe" us "loyal" customers anything should only blame Sprint for fostering this attitude. For most of my time with them, that's exactly how they treated their customers - the longer you're with Sprint, the more freebies/discounts you get. My plan price dropped from something like $80/month when I started with them, to around $50/month over a 5 year period, and I got free data/roaming/texts/etc. in the process.

So a lot of the longtime customers have gotten used to this treatment - I call it the "golden handcuffs". I wanted to switch at various points, but Sprint was so cheap, I couldn't justify it.

Now that they're ditching all the discounts and forcing people to get the "Everything" plans, they're changing the game. It's their right - but it IS a significant company-wide shift from their previous way of treating customers over the past 10 years.

They're gambling that, even with the price increases, people will still think they're a better value. For me, I found out I only had to pay an extra $10/month for the iPhone compared to their "Everything" plans that were largely fluff (for me) - so I jumped ship (for me personally, the iPhone is worth at least $20/month more than any of Sprint's phones). Based on the sales numbers that are coming out, it looks like I'm one of several hundred thousand people who are doing the same thing.

I just want to emphasize again - Sprint is the one responsible for building up this idea of the "loyal" customer who deserves freebies and discounts. That's how they treated their customers up until recently. So quit blaming the customer, Sprint's created this culture of "loyalty" and has now thrown it out the window.

9 year customer - RIP

I have been with Sprint for a little over 9 years also. I tried the Iphone out in September and returned it after a week. There were several issues but the main one was the extra cost not for just one line but for 3 of my family lines. I am not sure where you are getting the information that the Iphone is only $10 more a month than an equivalent plan on Sprint. Oh wait, you didn't say equivalent plan because if you had, you would not be only paying $10 more a month.

The AT and T plan is $40, plus $30 for data, plus $20 for unlimited text, plus $2 detailed call billing, plus $10 navigation, plus $8.00 for nights and weekends at 7...that is $110 a month plus about $20 a month in surcharges and taxes so $130 a month for your Iphone...

For an equal Sprint plan it is $70 a month plus about $18 a month in taxes and surcharges for a total of $88 a month. That is a difference of about $42 a month x 12 months is about $500 more for the IPhone. Hard to love a phone that you can't customize or go through a work day without the battery dying.

[shani2]

Originally Posted by livingaboard

I have been with Sprint for a little over 9 years also. I tried the Iphone out in September and returned it after a week. There were several issues but the main one was the extra cost not for just one line but for 3 of my family lines. I am not sure where you are getting the information that the Iphone is only $10 more a month than an equivalent plan on Sprint. Oh wait, you didn't say equivalent plan because if you had, you would not be only paying $10 more a month.

The AT and T plan is $40, plus $30 for data, plus $20 for unlimited text, plus $2 detailed call billing, plus $10 navigation, plus $8.00 for nights and weekends at 7...that is $110 a month plus about $20 a month in surcharges and taxes so $130 a month for your Iphone...

For an equal Sprint plan it is $70 a month plus about $18 a month in taxes and surcharges for a total of $88 a month. That is a difference of about $42 a month x 12 months is about $500 more for the IPhone. Hard to love a phone that you can't customize or go through a work day without the battery dying.

The poster never stated that he had detailed billing, or unlimited text, or nights/weekends at 7 or navigation. This person may just have the lowest plan plus the iPhone surcharge. Remember...this person explicitly stated that the Everything Plan was largely FLUFF for them...which led me to surmise that they have a very basic iPhone plan.

To some people the apps the iPhone offers is reason enough to switch.

[snikrep]

Originally Posted by livingaboard

The AT and T plan is $40, plus $30 for data, plus $20 for unlimited text, plus $2 detailed call billing, plus $10 navigation, plus $8.00 for nights and weekends at 7...that is $110 a month plus about $20 a month in surcharges and taxes so $130 a month for your Iphone...

For an equal Sprint plan it is $70 a month plus about $18 a month in taxes and surcharges for a total of $88 a month. That is a difference of about $42 a month x 12 months is about $500 more for the IPhone. Hard to love a phone that you can't customize or go through a work day without the battery dying.

Not everybody needs all those things - I only wanted the most basic plan on either network, 200 texts is plenty, don't need TV/navigation/extra N&W. Cheapest Sprint plan is $70/month, cheapest AT&T with 200 texts is $75. After corporate discounts on each, Sprint ends up being $10/month cheaper - big whoop when their phones suck (I had the Hero, way too buggy/laggy).

All you can eat buffet on a cruise ship is only worth as much as you can eat. In my case, I use about 200 minutes each month, 50 texts, and lots of data. Google Maps is fine for navigation, don't care about N&W, etc.

And no clue what you're talking about with the iPhone's battery - I use it constantly, and only got it down to 30% after constant WiFi music streaming. Most days it's at 80% battery at night.

I've used the iPhone for the past month, and am happy as a clam. Not had one dropped call, great 3G coverage where I live, and the iPhone is absolutely a dream to use - got about 50 apps for the thing, and the speedy, sexy interface is just spectacular. I'm a techy, and I've been more impressed with this than any other device I've used in the past 10 years - laptops, Wii, LCD big screen, you name it. Can't believe I didn't switch earlier.

[GoldenBlaze]

Originally Posted by snikrep

And no clue what you're talking about with the iPhone's battery - I use it constantly, and only got it down to 30% after constant WiFi music streaming. Most days it's at 80% battery at night.

I've used the iPhone for the past month, and am happy as a clam. Not had one dropped call, great 3G coverage where I live, and the iPhone is absolutely a dream to use - got about 50 apps for the thing, and the speedy, sexy interface is just spectacular. I'm a techy, and I've been more impressed with this than any other device I've used in the past 10 years - laptops, Wii, LCD big screen, you name it. Can't believe I didn't switch earlier.

Give the Iphone time. In the beginning when I first got my Iphone 3g, it was GREAT. No dropped calls, good battery life, etc. Welp, 6 months of usage, THAT'S when the problems started happening. My phone started freezing up, cutting off by itself, dropping calls, and the whole works. I had to charge my battery 4 times a day, and thats with 3g turned off. I took my phone to Apple several times and as long as your phone cuts on, they will NOT replace it, even under warranty.

Also, I have an issue with Apple not allowing users to customize their devices. I feel like you pay WAY TOO MUCH for the device and services to not be able to use it the way you want within the law. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't switch between my Curve and Iphone. I feel like if I'm paying you $30 I should not be locked into one device. I should be able to use ANY device that is data capable. Also, with AT&T, my bill got higher and Higher and HIGHER. Now, don't get me wrong, they are a great service provider but honey, in my opinion, you are paying way too much for what you get. I would never discourage a person from trying a different provider. I left Sprint 2years ago due to the crappy devices back then and customer service. Since I've returned, I PROMISE the device selection is much better and the customer service has improved TREMENDOUSLY.

You have to do what suits you, but I'm just pointing out that your comment about the Iphone is subjective and a matter of preference. For me, I got tired of AT&T raping my paycheck for the SAME things (other than the phones) I get with Sprint for a much cheaper fee.

[OKSOONERFAN]

It really is subjective.However it seems to me that a lot of people on Sprint users bashh ATT alot.I have had both services and I liked them both.I had to originally switch to Nextel for work,then went to sprint after Nextel.Att treated me fairly gave me what I payed for and provided the servicce agreed on.As to the bashing of the iphone, seems I remember when sprint phones had very similiar problems,and their smartphones and service sucked. I cannot bash another carriers phones or service fairly,and no one should say that a phone from another carrier is crap or their service is crap.Price comparisionss are fine as are plan comparisons,but not just bashing them because you do not like the company.lets be fair and let someone decide what works for them,and support their decision

[snikrep]

Originally Posted by GoldenBlaze

Give the Iphone time. In the beginning when I first got my Iphone 3g, it was GREAT. No dropped calls, good battery life, etc. Welp, 6 months of usage, THAT'S when the problems started happening. My phone started freezing up, cutting off by itself, dropping calls, and the whole works. I had to charge my battery 4 times a day, and thats with 3g turned off. I took my phone to Apple several times and as long as your phone cuts on, they will NOT replace it, even under warranty.
....
You have to do what suits you, but I'm just pointing out that your comment about the Iphone is subjective and a matter of preference. For me, I got tired of AT&T raping my paycheck for the SAME things (other than the phones) I get with Sprint for a much cheaper fee.

Well, my boss has had her iPhone for well over a year, and it's still working perfectly. Sounds like you got a dud. Check out the Hero forums here on how many people are having problems with battery charging, dust under the screen, etc. Perhaps iPhones used to have some quality control problems - but I know tons of people who have them, and everybody has always raved to me about them (used to drive me nuts, lol, then I tried one).

And as far as being "customizable"... I honestly don't understand why people are so hung on that. I just want to be able to use a phone that's slick, and has tons of apps. I could care less what color the background is, or what the lockscreen looks like.

Then again, I'm the sort of person that puts XP into classic mode, and sets their background to black. I'm utilitarian - I like simplicity and polish, the iPhone's strengths. I've tried the "fancier" phones (Hero, TP2), and they *fail* on the polish - scrolling is jerky, there's little glitches all over the place, some features don't work right. E.g., iPhone has support for WPA Enterprise which is used at work - Hero claims compatibility as well, but glitches out when I tried.

The iPhone does what it does well. Other devices try to do more, but from what I've seen - they're overreaching. Sort of like my car's voice control system - tons of fancy features, but on a day-to-day basis it's too finnicky. I'd rather have something that's less complicated that works perfectly. The first gen BMW iDrive also had this problem.

[GoldenBlaze]

Originally Posted by snikrep

Well, my boss has had her iPhone for well over a year, and it's still working perfectly. Sounds like you got a dud. Check out the Hero forums here on how many people are having problems with battery charging, dust under the screen, etc. Perhaps iPhones used to have some quality control problems - but I know tons of people who have them, and everybody has always raved to me about them (used to drive me nuts, lol, then I tried one).

And as far as being "customizable"... I honestly don't understand why people are so hung on that. I just want to be able to use a phone that's slick, and has tons of apps. I could care less what color the background is, or what the lockscreen looks like.

Then again, I'm the sort of person that puts XP into classic mode, and sets their background to black. I'm utilitarian - I like simplicity and polish, the iPhone's strengths. I've tried the "fancier" phones (Hero, TP2), and they *fail* on the polish - scrolling is jerky, there's little glitches all over the place, some features don't work right. E.g., iPhone has support for WPA Enterprise which is used at work - Hero claims compatibility as well, but glitches out when I tried.

The iPhone does what it does well. Other devices try to do more, but from what I've seen - they're overreaching. Sort of like my car's voice control system - tons of fancy features, but on a day-to-day basis it's too finnicky. I'd rather have something that's less complicated that works perfectly. The first gen BMW iDrive also had this problem.

Its still a subjective thing, because I may have been more of a heavy user than your boss. I am a VERY heavy user with my phones and I have to have one that can take it. I use phones for all of their capabilities and the Iphone was not the phone for me. The battery life is a hot mess, PERIOD and Apple knows this. Plus their equipment is a mess. My USB cable messed up quick and so did my earphones. Then they charge you out the frame to replace them. Apple and AT&T both are sticking it to consumers with that Iphone. Now if it works for you and you are okay with the cost, thats great. I was NOT. I like having a variety and that was not possible with the Iphone. I got tired of that same ole black screen with the same ole icons. I wanted to do more with it and for what you pay for it, you should. However, that's just me. Some people are medium to low users and for them the Iphone is perfect. For a heavy user, it takes a toll and I had my original device replaced and it was the same thing. Its NOT designed for a heavy user.