SprintPCS/Nextel merger - new charges!!!

[grandeCC]

After the merger, all visits to the service center will no longer be free.
This would give us a reason to switch to a different carrier w/o any penalty.

The fee is $15 per visit + 30-45 mins of waiting time or $3/month.

 

[makesense]

That is ridiculous.

 

[Brian M]

Why did you post this here?

 

[grandeCC]

Originally posted by: Brian M
Why did you post this here?

save you some $$$$ by switching to a different carrier

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: grandeCC
After the merger, all visits to the service center will no longer be free.
This would give us a reason to switch to a different carrier w/o any penalty.

This belongs in brag and moan.

 

[Nick5324]

More details/link to story. Also wrong forum.

 

[car3]

when is the merger?

 

[usernamemax20charact]

Originally posted by: grandeCC

Originally posted by: Brian M
Why did you post this here?

save you some $$$$ by switching to a different carrier

Thanks for the info.

I just saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico...... I mean Verizon.

 

[car3]

so can we cancel our contracts now for free or what??

 

[denon]

the Sprint/Nextel merger brought changes, which it would in any company. i can tell you how service on your handset is going to work...(i work for sprint nextel)

if you purchased your phone before 9/1/05 you will continue to receive your in-store service as normal until 1/1/06 (if someone is charging you right now for normal warranty service that is incorrect). You will be given the option to get the ESRP service (for a monthly charge) between now and then if you would like to contine to have your phone serviced in the store. If you choose not the take the ESRP plan, you will have to deal directly with the manufacturer for all warranty issues and pay whatever costs they will have you pay.

if you know about the wireless industry, you know that Sprint offered services that other carriers charged for (i.e data transfer, phone book swaps, printouts, software updates, etc.) they are obviously going to change that fact. the bad part is you will have to pay to have your phone serviced in-store for warranty issues; the good part is the warranty will be much more leniant (for all of you that f*ck up your phones). oh, and no you will not be able to get out of your contract since sprint is not breaking any contractual agreement (the stores didn't have to service the phones in the first place). just thought i would shed some light on the subject...

 

[grandeCC]

Originally posted by: denon
oh, and no you will not be able to get out of your contract since sprint is not breaking any contractual agreement (the stores didn't have to service the phones in the first place). just thought i would shed some light on the subject...

If Sprint keeps changing its network configuration and periodically forces the user to get firmware update at the service center, and collects a fee it's quite clever. It's time to file a complaint with the FCC...

 

[denon]

Originally posted by: grandeCC

Originally posted by: denon
oh, and no you will not be able to get out of your contract since sprint is not breaking any contractual agreement (the stores didn't have to service the phones in the first place). just thought i would shed some light on the subject...

If Sprint keeps changing its network configuration and periodically forces the user to get firmware update at the service center, and collects a fee it's quite clever. It's time to file a complaint with the FCC...

the "firmware" update that they give you, called the PRL (preferred roaming locator), does absolutely nothing for your service. all it does it update your phone with the newest billing (tower) information so you can be charged more accurately. its a very common misconception by employees of the company and the customers. that is the same for verizon, etc. it actually works like the placebo effect (we can update the PRL and say come back if you still have as many dropped calls... the customer doesn't come back because the reality is there was no problem in the first place) the software updates fix bugs in the phones from the initial release.

 

[Poohbee]

What about firmware for your phone software (not PRL). They 're gonna charge for that too?

 

[denon]

there are no firmware updates on sprint phones; just software and PRL. but yes they will be charging for software updates on all phones after 1/1/06 if you do not have ESRP.

 

[Jassi]

*scratches another possible service provider off the list*

There are no good cellular companies anymore.

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: Jassi
*scratches another possible service provider off the list*

There are no good cellular companies anymore.

I disagree.. I think this (merger) will do good things for Sprint

 

[desteffy]

can we switch for free now really? Should I be getting some small print in the mail about this?

 

[darkjester]

I would love to have an out from Sprint right now. Otherwise I'm stuck with them until May.

 

[imported_burningrave101]

I was looking at Sprint when i was decided what carrier to get here last month but when i was looking at their coverage it looked like it sucked in this area so i went with Cingular because of their wide coverage area here in Missouri and Arkansas and i got a cool Motorola V3 Razr for free . Cingular also has about the largest user base too so i'm more likely to have free mobile to mobile with friends.

 

[Josh]

sprint sucks. i hate them. they cheat people.

 

[tm37]

I am waiting for cingular to able to port my number I am gone that month.

Sprint will not give me a new phone because I purchased a USED phone about 12 months ago.

I am on a $100 a month plan and when I told them I have given them $3000 since I signed up they told me "that does not matter"

Also the coverage and dropped calls have gotten really bad in the last three months.

 

[wpeng]

In my opinion, Sprint has been the best cell phone company so far. I know people from California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Boston, and they all have carriers different from Sprint. I'm talking about Cingular, T-mobile, Verizon, etc... They all have had major reception problems at one time or another, but Sprint has never failed me.

 

[TSUTrojans]

We are currently accepting bids for a new contract where I work in Alabama. We have had Alltel for many years now, but after poor quality service, and reception issues, we are looking to change. Several companies have bid, including Nextel, but Cingular offers many more features at reasonable prices, including allowing personnel to purchase private phones at a 15% rate and equipment discount. Also, for every account signed up through our contract, Cingular will give back 2% to our business. They also informed us that they should have an equivilant to Alltel's "Touch to Talk" at the end of September to mid October at the latest.

And to respond to the Sprint/Nextel reps post....Cingular will offer "Tower" updates through the phone, not the Service Center....heck, even Alltel offers that right now.

 

[xyyz]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt

Originally posted by: Jassi
*scratches another possible service provider off the list*

There are no good cellular companies anymore.

I disagree.. I think this (merger) will do good things for Sprint

you've been listening to one too many forsee nonsense sessions.

incorporating iden into cdma isn't going to be easy. i remember the way my manager used to shudder with the thought of merging the VM systems.

 

[xyyz]

Originally posted by: wpeng
In my opinion, Sprint has been the best cell phone company so far. I know people from California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Boston, and they all have carriers different from Sprint. I'm talking about Cingular, T-mobile, Verizon, etc... They all have had major reception problems at one time or another, but Sprint has never failed me.

it's funny you mention this... because in our briefings we acknowledged that we had amongst the worst customer support, service, etc. from the bunch.