Should I ditch my awesome grand-fathered Vision? (Dec '03)

[ScrapMaker]

Up until recently, I've had no problems with overages, but now my 400 minutes aren't enough. This month I went over by 400 AT minutes. That's roughly $160 of overages, plus my regular bill of $70... $230ish total.

Right now I have:
$40 400 AT F&C ($0.40 additonal minutes)
$15 Vision
Unlimited Data (also as modem if I wanted... but too slow)
Unlimited Picture/Videomail
FREE Unlimited Text Messages (I use over 5,000 a month)
FREE $5 Premium Content Credit (Two free call-tones each month)
$6 Insurance

The closest thing I can find now, is:
$40 450 AT F&F (~~$0.20 additional minutes)
$20 Vision Plus
Unlimited Data (not as modem)
Unlimited Picture/Videomail
$15 Unlimited Text Messages (again... 5,000)
NO $5 Premium Content Credit
$6 Insurance


-About 90% of my minutes are used between 3-4 people, between 5pm-10pm
-I only occasionally use the phone to surf the web. Only for uploading pictures to Sprint picturemail (if I had a phone with enough picture memory, that would not even matter)
-4,700 of my 5,000 SMS messages are AIM-related. If I could somehow find a phone with AIM built-in, (not that bullcrap AIM app, or the Sprint WAP version,) then I would not even need unlimited messaging.

Just lookin' for a bit of advice, maybe some options I didn't think of...

I saw the new T-Mobile 8100 Pearl Blackberry at the store the other day... looked freakin' sweet... you can call 5 people for absolutely free... "My Faves".. My other AT minutes would be less than 200-300 a month... and AIM is built-in to ALL other carriers' phones... it would seem... as long as you buy a data pack...

Not sure what to do.... but I really want the Sanyo M1... if it doesn't have AIM... I dunno...

Thanks for the help,

Steve

[Hte2w8]

As far as your minutes go...you can increase your minutes and keep the same vision if you dont upgrade to powervision. Vision is an add on so it doesnt change if your minute plan changes.

If you do upgrade to powervision, you can probably get it free or reduced, inlcuding unl pic and video and reduced fee for text.

Many of us were in same boat...there r tons of threads.

[asif2290]

-4,700 of my 5,000 SMS messages are AIM-related. If I could somehow find a phone with AIM built-in, (not that bullcrap AIM app, or the Sprint WAP version,) then I would not even need unlimited messaging.



Yeah, thats what happened to me. Whenever I had gotten an IM, whether or not I was on the AIM website, it would send me a text message. But now what I do, since I dont have unlimited text's, I use the AIM program.

Im gonna send you a pm on where to get it.

[HAmAnWho]

yea, just keep your F&C plan by upping your minutes to the 750, 1000, 1200, or 1500 min plans

[ScrapMaker]

So you guys think I should try and stick with the F&C with GF Vision?

I have a Fusic in my hand that I can use completely free... I wonder if I have to talk to retentions to get them to swap it using P2K? I REALLY want to stay with Sprint, but if I have to pay $50 a month to get the EXACT same service, just because I want a slightly-nicer phone, I may have to call it quits...

no se gustan F&F?

[ScrapMaker]

I called Sprint today, and tried to do the ESN swap to the Fusic... I told them straight-up that I needed someone with the P2K system, and that I would not do ANYTHING to endanger my old Vision... (I even had the notate the account.)

I was transferred to tech support, and I explained it to the guy... he understood, and he said that what he could do is NOT actually remove the Vision, but "expire" it, do the ESN swap, then un-expire it... this sounds a bit fishy... but the way I see it, is if they screw me on this, I have no contract, and I was just in the VZW store, and saw the LG VX9800... clamshell QWERTY phone... exactly what I want...

[monkeyboy]

Can't you try for one of those $40 retention plans ? They have 750AT for $40/mo and 1000AT for $40/mo. GF Vision can be used with them (I know, as this is what I have). The main disadvantage of the 1000AT/$40 is that you cannot add a line to it.

[ScrapMaker]

Well, I have no intention of adding a line... but man, Sprint is pissing me off...

Astoundingly enough, that fusic was defective... it wouldn't even turn on... some sort of firmware problem...

I went into the Sprint store, and they said they would have to mail it off, and I would get a replacement in 3 days... so... god damnit... I waited from Monday to Wednesday, with no phone.. I friggin need that thing for work!! sheesh!!

so I get the phone wednesday, and it's unactivated... even though it was supposed to be... oh okay... so while I'm activating it, I see that there is a dead, bright-green pixel in the middle of my damn screen... wow...

so I called two local stores and they said I'd have to ship it off yet again, and that would make 6 days total without service... wow... that's not acceptable.

So I called *2, said "representative," like normal... and I explained it to this lady... wow, she was a total *****... from the beginning... she said, with an attitude, that this was not Sprint's responsibility, whatsoever, and that I would have to deal with the manufacturer.

I asked her why they couldn't work out a deal, where I could use my old phone, or have a temporary phone while I wait, and she said, "that's just not possible."

Then I asked to speak with retentions, because I told her this was completely unacceptable for a loyal customer, no late fees, with roughly $80/month for 8 god damn years... and she responds, "This IS Retentions, sir" with a damn attitude... So I said, "well I guess you are doing a great job of 'retaining' people," and then I just hung up.

Called back a few minutes later, and got a nice lady, who told me that if I went back into the same store, they could call the manufacturer, and get some sort of in-store credit, or something to that extent, and give me a new Fusic right then and there... because, if I have to wait another damn 3 days, I'm jumping ship to some carrier with a badass QWERTY keyboard... like the sidekick or some of those badass nokia clams...

[Wayne 1]

Since there are only a few frequently called numbers...... if it were me I would TRY to talk them (your friends or family) into going with Sprint phones and add mobile to moblile to everyone's account (possibly everyone would benefit).

Since I got Sero the mobile to mobile feature is my favorite Sprint feature ever!!!!! And this coming from a very long term Sprint customer. :lol:

[pcsperson]

mobile to mobile rules as does the earlier nights and weekends sprint offers.