Question about cell phones - Sprint

[TJN23]

I have a Sanyo SCP 4900 last Feb and I love it and the service - will I be able to upgrade the phone every year to a newer AND FREE model?

I'm fairly new to cell phones and contracts - does Sprint have any fine print that says when a year goes by i'm eligible for a new *FREE* phone? i have a 1 yr contract

thx

edited for clarification

 

[xospec1alk]

you can get a new phone whenever you want, of course you'll be paying full price for it. im always losing my phone or breaking em, and i just get a new one, and reactivate it....sprint doesn't care at all

 

[vegetation]

Basically, it all depends on how many years you've been a customer. If it's only one year, they will only offer you a really pitiful credit (let's say $10-$15) on a new phone, and even so, you'll have to beg and make sure you get connected with a nice customer service agent.

 

[TJN23]

i see, how long do u think until i'm able to get a freebie?

 

[DarkManX]

sprint does not give u a good credit unless your a 3+ yr old custumer. Verizon on the other hard lets u upgrade at the same price as a new custumer 2 months before your contract is up.

 

[ddwbi0]

it depends on the phone you want also, if you want the newest top of the line model then you probably have to have been a customer for a few years. If its one that they offer free anyway, you probably would have better luck.

Call and ask, and if it doesn't work call back and ask again.

 

[MaxDSP]

Originally posted by: TJN23
i see, how long do u think until i'm able to get a freebie?

you cant get ANY freebies if you don't know how to talk to the CSR's. If you're halfway nice to them and tell them your situation, then they'll be willing to do something for you. Did you just sign up for this 1-year contract? If so, wait until theres a couple of months left on the contract and that'll give you more leverage

 

[rh71]

My Sprint contract is up in December. I've been a customer for 2-3 years now. I inquired about getting a replacement (upgrade) phone and they said I'd have to pay for the phone. I think I'm going to Verizon come December. They give me 10% less of a discount than Sprint does, but hey, it's time for change... and Verizon service kicks @$$.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: rh71
My Sprint contract is up in December. I've been a customer for 2-3 years now. I inquired about getting a replacement (upgrade) phone and they said I'd have to pay for the phone. I think I'm going to Verizon come December. They give me 10% less of a discount than Sprint does, but hey, it's time for change... and Verizon service kicks @$$.

I got a 19% preferred employer discount from Verizon, which I presume you would get too. Did Sprint give you a 29% discount? I just switched services to Verizon because I NEVER get a signal on my Sprint phone anywhere. Just kept paying 30 bucks for 200 any time minutes (which ran up to $45 for going 31 minutes over las month). Almost all the any-time minutes went towards dropped calls - sure I could've called them back for credit - EVERY MONTH? For virtually every call I make or receive? :|

Sprint SUCKS big time. Got a nice family share plan from Verizon and cost just $9 for 2 phones and I can finally USE my damn cell phone.

The best part came when Sprint refused to pro-rate my account for cancellation (been out of contract since Jan/Feb). They will cancel it only at the end of the billing cycle. I hope Sprint rots in cellular hell :disgust:

Sorry for the rant

 

[Beller0ph1]

My advice would be to switch to Verizon or whatever company works best in your area. Sprint treats their existing customers like crap. Go with Verizon or something with their "New every 2" program. Get a credit to your account at the end of 2 years towards the purchase of a new phone. Just don't lose it during your contract...you'll have to pay full cost then. And that sucks.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: rh71
My Sprint contract is up in December. I've been a customer for 2-3 years now. I inquired about getting a replacement (upgrade) phone and they said I'd have to pay for the phone. I think I'm going to Verizon come December. They give me 10% less of a discount than Sprint does, but hey, it's time for change... and Verizon service kicks @$$.

I got a 19% preferred employer discount from Verizon, which I presume you would get too. Did Sprint give you a 29% discount?

Interesting numbers. I get 15% for Verizon and 25% for Sprint. May I ask what company you work for ?

I was slightly hesitant to drop Sprint since I'd have to pay more, so tell me more about this $9 for 2 phones with Verizon. Even with the 25% discount from Sprint, I paid $30 per phone ($30-discount+taxes). Do I sign up with the regular Verizon plans or do "we" get special plans ?

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: rh71
My Sprint contract is up in December. I've been a customer for 2-3 years now. I inquired about getting a replacement (upgrade) phone and they said I'd have to pay for the phone. I think I'm going to Verizon come December. They give me 10% less of a discount than Sprint does, but hey, it's time for change... and Verizon service kicks @$$.

I got a 19% preferred employer discount from Verizon, which I presume you would get too. Did Sprint give you a 29% discount?

Interesting numbers. I get 15% for Verizon and 25% for Sprint. May I ask what company you work for ?

I was slightly hesitant to drop Sprint since I'd have to pay more, so tell me more about this $9 for 2 phones with Verizon. Even with the 25% discount from Sprint, I paid $30 per phone ($30-discount+taxes). Do I sign up with the regular Verizon plans or do "we" get special plans ?

Big Blue Contractor, though.

I think my discount was 20% at the time from Sprint. Maybe they offer better deals now - but if I can't use the phone, what's the point

Verizon gave my wife an LG VX2000 free and I got an LG VX10 for $59.99 - $50 MIR = $9.99 (preferred employer discounts all). 15 days to try it out and I can cancel it if I don't like it.

EDIT: "We" get the same plans but a 19% discount. I think the only other major difference is that we get a better selection of free phones/phone discounts with the preferred employer program. I took the 400 any-time minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited calling between family phones National Family Share plan for $59.99 - 19% off ~= $48.50, I guess. This is for a one year contract. Might've been better for a 2-year contract, but I want to try this one out first.

 

[TJN23]

i dont know if you guys have had experience with Sprint in the New England area but it kicks a$$ here, my friends with verizon and nextel say it blows

this is traveling all over the boston, NY, long island, MA areas

 

[DurocShark]

My sprint service rocks here in "The OC" (

) and in Vegas. That's all that matters to me.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Sprint's rocking for me in VA. I have the statewide plan since I don't leave Virginia too often, and I never run over the minutes that $35 a month gives me.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: rh71
My Sprint contract is up in December. I've been a customer for 2-3 years now. I inquired about getting a replacement (upgrade) phone and they said I'd have to pay for the phone. I think I'm going to Verizon come December. They give me 10% less of a discount than Sprint does, but hey, it's time for change... and Verizon service kicks @$$.

I got a 19% preferred employer discount from Verizon, which I presume you would get too. Did Sprint give you a 29% discount?

Interesting numbers. I get 15% for Verizon and 25% for Sprint. May I ask what company you work for ?

I was slightly hesitant to drop Sprint since I'd have to pay more, so tell me more about this $9 for 2 phones with Verizon. Even with the 25% discount from Sprint, I paid $30 per phone ($30-discount+taxes). Do I sign up with the regular Verizon plans or do "we" get special plans ?

Big Blue Contractor, though.

I think my discount was 20% at the time from Sprint. Maybe they offer better deals now - but if I can't use the phone, what's the point

Verizon gave my wife an LG VX2000 free and I got an LG VX10 for $59.99 - $50 MIR = $9.99 (preferred employer discounts all). 15 days to try it out and I can cancel it if I don't like it.

EDIT: "We" get the same plans but a 19% discount. I think the only other major difference is that we get a better selection of free phones/phone discounts with the preferred employer program. I took the 400 any-time minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited calling between family phones National Family Share plan for $59.99 - 19% off ~= $48.50, I guess. This is for a one year contract. Might've been better for a 2-year contract, but I want to try this one out first.

LOL, Big Blue here too, and the discount is 25% for Sprint (did you check the You Decide site?) ... "Sprint PCS has teamed with IBM to bring you a special 25% Discount on your monthly recurring wireless service." Verizon is indeed 19% so I'm all over that come December. Thanks for the heads up on $ details for that.

BTW, what location are you working out of ?

 

[athithi]

BTW, what location are you working out of ?

RTP, North Carolina - IGS

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: athithi

EDIT: "We" get the same plans but a 19% discount. I think the only other major difference is that we get a better selection of free phones/phone discounts with the preferred employer program. I took the 400 any-time minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited calling between family phones National Family Share plan for $59.99 - 19% off ~= $48.50, I guess. This is for a one year contract. Might've been better for a 2-year contract, but I want to try this one out first.

I just checked the verizonwireless ibm employee discount site and it looks like the 19% doesn't apply to the share plans (discount column shows "-"). I do see 21% in the discount column for the America's Choice 300 = $27.64 per phone. If you compare this with the 400-minute share plan for $59.99 with no further discount (according to the site), the share plan doesn't look beneficial over the America's Choice 300 at all. Just get 2 of those AC300 plans and you get more minutes and it comes out cheaper... no ?

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: athithi

EDIT: "We" get the same plans but a 19% discount. I think the only other major difference is that we get a better selection of free phones/phone discounts with the preferred employer program. I took the 400 any-time minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited calling between family phones National Family Share plan for $59.99 - 19% off ~= $48.50, I guess. This is for a one year contract. Might've been better for a 2-year contract, but I want to try this one out first.

I just checked the verizonwireless ibm employee discount site and it looks like the 19% doesn't apply to the share plans (discount column shows "-"). I do see 21% in the discount column for the America's Choice 300 = $27.64 per phone. If you compare this with the 400-minute share plan for $59.99 with no further discount (according to the site), the share plan doesn't look beneficial over the America's Choice 300 at all. Just get 2 of those AC300 plans and you get more minutes and it comes out cheaper... no ?

Where is the verizonwireless ibm site? I couldn't find it I walked into a Verizon store in a mall near here and the guy showed me the phones and plans and when I asked about an IBM discount, he immediately gave us the free VX2000 and the $9.99 AR VX10 apart from the 19% discount on the Family Share Plan. He said the discount would take effect only after the first month, though. I'll probably stop by next week and ask again or maybe call up verizon customer service and double-check. I'll PM you or post an update in this thread if I find out anything.