I completely agree. I left Verizon, which was a very reliable and fast network... for Sprint... because Sprint was a better value.
Now that they have gained customers, they are going to start treating us like crap? Screw that.
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Sprint makes Premium Data changes from Jan 30, 2011
- Thread starter momentoid
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I completely agree. I left Verizon, which was a very reliable and fast network... for Sprint... because Sprint was a better value.
Now that they have gained customers, they are going to start treating us like crap? Screw that.
RoboMonkey
Android Expert
It's so obvious that Sprint is coming out with a kick @ss product on 2/7/2011 this is why they are jacking up the price and they're still under VZ and ATT (all things being equal).
It's going to be a 4g Tab (BlackBerry or WebOs) or iPhone.
It's going to be a 4g Tab (BlackBerry or WebOs) or iPhone.
It is simple economics, They need more money to expand and grow..
Its funny guys want the new phones, the new tablets, improve 3g service and the 4g services..
But don't want the company to charge more to expand these services..
How prey tell do they continue to expand and innovate with out making money?
They are about to spend 5-7 billion to expand and improve coverage.
They subsidize your 600 phones down to 200 bucks.
They put up billions in dollars in upfront money to make your phones affordable..
This money unfortunately has to come from somewhere.. That some where is you the consumer..
It is better to loose low to non-profitable customers, than to continue to loose revenue..
So all the perks, sero lines, discounts, credits etc. are gone.. If it does not work for you, there are lots of other choices..
It is not about defending Spring or cheering them on, Its about understanding business 101.
I will also add that Sprint is responsible for the mess they are in. They created the Walmart mentality of their business by trying to compete on price.
Whiskeypawz
Android Enthusiast
RoboMonkey, I'm not following you here.
If Sprint is going to announce a 4g tablet on 2/7 why would they jack up the price of their phone plans? Or are you saying the new $10 charge is to help cover their cost for the new device? Just curious! 
Don't confuse pointing out that Sprint's still an acceptable option for defending Sprint. Everyone can make an individual choice.
As to Sprint weaseling more out of customers after posting just a few quarters of gains, that's expected. No business can afford to compete on low cost alone unless it has the volume/ability to offer something no competitor does. That's not the case for Sprint.
As long as Sprint's subscriber base is 40-50% of the two largest carriers, Sprint will remain a better value through slightly lower pricing. However if Sprint wants to stay in the game technology- and coverage-wise, they have to pay for it. We, the subscriber/user have to pay for it.
Again, I cannot get the features I use now on any other network. That could change in the future, but that's what 2-year contracts are for too - my benefit.
There's a VZW section here, and it's loaded with VZW people sharing whatever tips they can to save $. Funny part - look at some of the prices and totals they're listing. You don't see many people on the Sprint page with Family Plans at $250+, especially without a lot of bells, whistles, and unlimited everything.
Listen, VZW does something right to get 92+M subscribers, but my guess is that a good chunk of that total comes because in many parts of the country they may be the only/best national provider. I just don't happen to live in or frequent those sections.
On another note, I asked ATT to match the Everything Data Plan I now have with Sprint before I moved. They're response - "Sprint's coverage isn't as good, and you'll never be able to get an iPhone on another network." Well, I haven't dropped a call since the switch, and I've never wanted an iPhone or to subsidize iPhoners on my network. And I pay less.
I asked VZW to match the plan too. Their response - "Our coverage is better and our 3G is faster." Turns out Consumer Reports says it's faster, but only marginally so, and the coverage is no different where I need it. Did I mention, I pay less. The one thing VZW wouldn't do was match the price. They offered to waive activation, but the monthly tab was still going to be $250 for the same features, not including taxes and fees. Needless to say when I told them that was $90 more, the response was - "Our coverage is better and faster."
No VZW or ATT Kool-Aid for me any time soon.
As to Sprint weaseling more out of customers after posting just a few quarters of gains, that's expected. No business can afford to compete on low cost alone unless it has the volume/ability to offer something no competitor does. That's not the case for Sprint.
As long as Sprint's subscriber base is 40-50% of the two largest carriers, Sprint will remain a better value through slightly lower pricing. However if Sprint wants to stay in the game technology- and coverage-wise, they have to pay for it. We, the subscriber/user have to pay for it.
Again, I cannot get the features I use now on any other network. That could change in the future, but that's what 2-year contracts are for too - my benefit.
There's a VZW section here, and it's loaded with VZW people sharing whatever tips they can to save $. Funny part - look at some of the prices and totals they're listing. You don't see many people on the Sprint page with Family Plans at $250+, especially without a lot of bells, whistles, and unlimited everything.
Listen, VZW does something right to get 92+M subscribers, but my guess is that a good chunk of that total comes because in many parts of the country they may be the only/best national provider. I just don't happen to live in or frequent those sections.
On another note, I asked ATT to match the Everything Data Plan I now have with Sprint before I moved. They're response - "Sprint's coverage isn't as good, and you'll never be able to get an iPhone on another network." Well, I haven't dropped a call since the switch, and I've never wanted an iPhone or to subsidize iPhoners on my network. And I pay less.
I asked VZW to match the plan too. Their response - "Our coverage is better and our 3G is faster." Turns out Consumer Reports says it's faster, but only marginally so, and the coverage is no different where I need it. Did I mention, I pay less. The one thing VZW wouldn't do was match the price. They offered to waive activation, but the monthly tab was still going to be $250 for the same features, not including taxes and fees. Needless to say when I told them that was $90 more, the response was - "Our coverage is better and faster."
No VZW or ATT Kool-Aid for me any time soon.
The problem is.... Value is how they have earned their new customers. "SIMPLE and straightforward prices" was how they got new Customers.
Sprint lost 10Million post paid customers in 5 years. After 6 months of gaining customers... they start changing their prices and getting rid of perks that were advertised when people signed. There are other Choices out there, ask the 10 million people who left Sprint. I am gone as soon as its verified that I wont get my annual upgrade.
As far as I am concerned, Sprint has conned me for the last time. They charged me a premium data fee, even though my base plan is "Everything Data". This was after Dan Hesse said that 4G would cost Sprint less, than 3G... and a service they would offer with no additional cost.
Now they are taking away my annual upgrade, before I get my first chance to use it? At least Verizon is leting people use their last new everytwo, rather than pulling the carpet from underneath their customers. Screw them. In the next 2-3 quarters, I would expect Sprint to start losing customers in droves again...
There was a reason that Sprint lost 10 million post paid customers from 2005-2010, and I have found out the hard way. Good job Sprint.
RoboMonkey
Android Expert
RoboMonkey, I'm not following you here.
Its no diff than when ATT upped their early termination fee right before iPhone4 came out. They knew people would jump ship before their 2 year contract was up. Sprint must be pretty confident that this new device is so revolutionary that people will pay $10 extra to have it and not blink twice. Kinda like EVO all over again.
Remember that this price hike does not impact existing customers until you start a new contract. Also lets not forget that Sprint lost a ton of money on the EVO and they can not continue to run the company that way.
RoboMonkey
Android Expert
They lost customers becasue of poor customer service and old nextel customers leaving. It had nothing to do with price.
They got me becasue of the EVO. My old tmobile plan way $40 a month less than Sprint.
ok.... other than what you just stated... have you had any issues with the service? was it worse than your other carriers? were there any improvements?
If you did not see any difference or better service... price is the only decision maker left.
upgrade... i think you are still good for your next upgrade!... it start Jan 30 on new contracts. you still have your 1yr upgrade till you make a change!
If you did not see any difference or better service... price is the only decision maker left.
upgrade... i think you are still good for your next upgrade!... it start Jan 30 on new contracts. you still have your 1yr upgrade till you make a change!
They lost customers becasue of poor customer service and old nextel customers leaving. It had nothing to do with price.
They got me becasue of the EVO. My old tmobile plan way $40 a month less than Sprint.
say what??? $40... 480 a year??
why ??? how?
I read a report that predicted that Sprint spent 2-4 billion dollars subsidizing the actual costs of EVO and Epics.
By removing the early upgrade they help to off set the costs.. They pay 500-650 for the Evo and Epic out the door customer costs are 200-250.
Without those subsidized fees, Sprint would have turned a very healthy profit last quarter.
Yes but they have a larger pool of customers and much greater buying power..
With Much higher fees to offset the cost and are actually turning a profit and have cash to make those kinds of purchases.
They lost customers becasue of poor customer service and old nextel customers leaving. It had nothing to do with price.
They got me becasue of the EVO. My old tmobile plan way $40 a month less than Sprint.
So lying to customers, and taking perks away, after customers have signed a 2 year contract..... = good customer service?
THe next device may be great! All the EVO owners will find out how awesome Sprints customer service is, when they try to cash in on their first annual upgrade..... Ooops, what annual upgrade?
Whiskeypawz
Android Enthusiast
RoboMonkey I'm sorry, I'm still confused! 
I get what you're saying about the new device justifying the $10 cost increase. But I still don't get how that would effect the PHONE users if it's a tablet. The price increase won't effect the tablet plans will it??
I'm sorry!! I don't mean to dumbass you here, I promise!
I get what you're saying about the new device justifying the $10 cost increase. But I still don't get how that would effect the PHONE users if it's a tablet. The price increase won't effect the tablet plans will it??
I'm sorry!! I don't mean to dumbass you here, I promise!
CoachEVO
Well-Known Member
I agree with your posts, although I won't go so far as lying because when you sign the two year contract, you get that contract. What I will say is that I feel a bit..."game has changed midstream". Yes, I know that all carriers do this and I do understand the business aspect of it...really I do...I just feel as though all of a sudden, things changed rather dramatically and rather fast. Almost like piling on. The argument made earlier about their cost for everything is a sound one, it's just that I feel as a consumer that Sprint is feeling a bit froggy and essentially taking some really nice things away to keep up with the Joneses when not keeping up with them got them going in the right direction in the first place. I guess its big business...it just seems a shame, that's all.
Whiskeypawz
Android Enthusiast
Look who's jumped on the bandwagon!
AT&T tweaking messaging plans, killing some upgrade discounts, raising fees and MicroCell pricing http:/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/atandt-tweaking-messaging-plans-killing-some-upgrade-discounts-r//
AT&T tweaking messaging plans, killing some upgrade discounts, raising fees and MicroCell pricing http:/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/atandt-tweaking-messaging-plans-killing-some-upgrade-discounts-r//
For some reason the above link did not work. Try this:
AT&T tweaking messaging plans, killing some upgrade discounts, raising fees and MicroCell pricing -- Engadget
^^^ what i tell you.... some outside force is making the carriers change... to raise prices.. to keep the network moving... It aint about trying to rip customers off. inflation... costs... adding more coverage on newer tech... it all adds up.
the mighty $ is shrinking.. so they can not keep charging the same $#.. every year. gas will go up...so does everything else.
the mighty $ is shrinking.. so they can not keep charging the same $#.. every year. gas will go up...so does everything else.
They are changing one time fees. Sprint added $10 a month to almost every Data user(when they replace their phones), they also got rid of Corp discounts on additional lines.
Look at what ATT has done.
1) Removed the $5-200/$15-1500 text message packages and replaced it with a $10 1000 text message package. People can keep their old text plans if they want. IMO, this is good.
2) Got rid of their 2 year bonus, on top of subsidised phone upgrade. This sucks. But I still think this isnt a big deal, since you can upgrade phones from a amazon for less, than the subsidized price-$100. (Except for the iphone)
3) Raised long distance to Canada.
4) Raised the buy price on their microcell hardware(antenna)
does anyone know how Sprint corporate discounts work on the Everything data family plans?
I now have the Everything data 450... get 25% off corporate discount (I work at Home Depot).. so my bill is only like 67 bucks (AFTER tax, insurance, and premium data fees) for practically unlimited everything. Love this plan!!
Im thinking of adding two lines (3 total). Thinking Everything Data Family 1500, with Any Mobil Anytime.
The plan is 129 for the first two lines and 19 for the third. thats 150 - 25% discount + (10 x 3, for premium data). So my question is will they still take the 25% off the $150? For a grand total of $142.50 for all three lines? Is this how it works? If so, seems pretty good.
Thank You!
I now have the Everything data 450... get 25% off corporate discount (I work at Home Depot).. so my bill is only like 67 bucks (AFTER tax, insurance, and premium data fees) for practically unlimited everything. Love this plan!!
Im thinking of adding two lines (3 total). Thinking Everything Data Family 1500, with Any Mobil Anytime.
The plan is 129 for the first two lines and 19 for the third. thats 150 - 25% discount + (10 x 3, for premium data). So my question is will they still take the 25% off the $150? For a grand total of $142.50 for all three lines? Is this how it works? If so, seems pretty good.
Thank You!
jander1023
Newbie
does anyone know how Sprint corporate discounts work on the Everything data family plans?
I now have the Everything data 450... get 25% off corporate discount (I work at Home Depot).. so my bill is only like 67 bucks (AFTER tax, insurance, and premium data fees) for practically unlimited everything. Love this plan!!
Im thinking of adding two lines (3 total). Thinking Everything Data Family 1500, with Any Mobil Anytime.
The plan is 129 for the first two lines and 19 for the third. thats 150 - 25% discount + (10 x 3, for premium data). So my question is will they still take the 25% off the $150? For a grand total of $142.50 for all three lines? Is this how it works? If so, seems pretty good.
Thank You!
I hope to find out, as well. I'm thinking of moving from Verizon to Sprint's Everything Data Family 1500. With Verizon, it's difficult to get any smartphone for less than $100 per month.
jander1023
Newbie
That plan with Verizon doesn't include text, pic or video messaging. Plus, you can expect Verizon to charge a $10-15 fee for 4g when they roll it out next month. Verizon's text and talk plan is a more valid comparison and that would cost you $90 right now, not including the upcoming 4g fee. Assuming Verizon's 4g fee will be $10, that brings your grand total to $100. That's $20 more than Sprint.
You can certainly switch to Verizon if you want, but I guarantee it won't be a cheaper option.