Good results with retention while still under contract

[Ted]

Good results with retention while still under contract

I know the retention thing has been hashed over again and again but I had really good results today calling them and my contract does not expire for another 23 months!

My situation was that I had the 2000 AT plan for $100 but I only use 1000 or less minutes, my goal was to try to cut my bill in half since I only used about half of my plan.

Here's what I did...

1. I called up and was very very polite and nice to the rep, told her up front that I was not upset or anything so she was at ease.

2. I explained to her that I was paying for a $100 plan and only using half my AT minutes.

3. Told her I had a very competitive offer from another carrier (didn't tell her which carrier, but AT&T does 2 phones 1050 mins 7pm for $69.99)

4. Told her I was told by a friend to call in and see what was possible.

5. At this point I told her that I was debating 750AT/$40 or 1000AT/$50 and would it be possible to keep the free AAP code I had for the plan I'm on now and/or get 7PM for free.

6. Neither of those were possible (according to this rep, YMMV), but she was willing to give me the 750 retention plan and a 5% discount.

7. So all told I have a standard retention plan and a 5% disc, what is significant about it is that I have 23 months left in my contract (although I have been a customer for 2+ years).

I would be interested to hear how other folks make out who are under contract and had not thought of trying this approach. Remember, be very nice, and remember that your mileage may vary!

[shkh00]

it maybe the fact you have been with them for 2 years. personally, id be afraid to do this, my luck, id pick up my phone and have no service, lol. you got a great plan, and here i was happy that they gave me unlimted pcs/pcs, which is something i may not use if this hottie situation does not work.

[+Eric]

I think you got a rep that was just willing to break the rules or something. Wonder how long she'll keep her job?

[Ted]

did she break the rules? it's a standard retention plan.

[Hte2w8]

Im guessing you dont use vision on your primary or AAP? the main reason I keep my 2000 min plan is because I get free vision on my primary, which includes unl sms and pic mail, and $10 DL credit ($20 savings), a free AAP (another $20 savings) with $5 vision that includes unl sms, unlpic mail and $10 DL credit (another $15 savings).

I only use about 400 of my minutes, but dropping it down to a cheaper plan, in my case, would end up costing me more.

[Ted]

you're correct... i don't use vision at all. don't see the point of surfing the net on a 2" screen. too slow anyway. and i don't use sms or picture capabilities either. just talk talk, no bling bling. LOL

[Hte2w8]

you're correct... i don't use vision at all. don't see the point of surfing the net on a 2" screen. too slow anyway. and i don't use sms or picture capabilities either. just talk talk, no bling bling. LOL
No text? Ur hurting my heart...someone tell me it isnt true?

[Ted]

well, considering the fact that my primary phone (kyocera 2345) does not have sms capability, plus i think its too cumbersome with the t9 - i tried it on my wife's nokia 3588i and i wasn't impressed.

we did used to send text from the pc to the phones back when we had vision and sms on the plan, but it didn't amount to much. we would just as soon call.

[Hola]

did she break the rules? it's a standard retention plan.


She gave you the 2nd line free too? correct?

[Ted]

no, it's 40 for the 750AT, 20 for the AAP, that's 60, minus 5% = 57 plus tax

[Snoopy572]

Im guessing you dont use vision on your primary or AAP? the main reason I keep my 2000 min plan is because I get free vision on my primary, which includes unl sms and pic mail, and $10 DL credit ($20 savings), a free AAP (another $20 savings) with $5 vision that includes unl sms, unlpic mail and $10 DL credit (another $15 savings).

I only use about 400 of my minutes, but dropping it down to a cheaper plan, in my case, would end up costing me more.
Same boat as you, but with FIMF and 2250 minutes. I pay about $100 month, but the plan is so good and I can't justify downgrading the plan to pay about $10-15 dollars less. I only use about 700 minutes. Sucks to pay $100/mo, but I have 2 phones and an awesome plan. Am I using it anywhere near its potential? No :confused:

[ncabanil]

Im guessing you dont use vision on your primary or AAP? the main reason I keep my 2000 min plan is because I get free vision on my primary, which includes unl sms and pic mail, and $10 DL credit ($20 savings), a free AAP (another $20 savings) with $5 vision that includes unl sms, unlpic mail and $10 DL credit (another $15 savings).

I only use about 400 of my minutes, but dropping it down to a cheaper plan, in my case, would end up costing me more.

Wait a sec, so the Vision plan DOES include Unlmited SMS, not just 100? I called one time to CS to add Unlimited SMS (because I thought I only has 100), but the rep told me i have Unlimited SMS already....so its true, SMS on vision plans have been upgraded to "unlimited" from "100"? Also, since when did vision include unlimited pic mail AND $10 DL credit? I thought with picture pack, you get a $5 credit, but with premium pack, you get teh $10 DL credit (but not unlim picturemail)

[Hte2w8]

Wait a sec, so the Vision plan DOES include Unlmited SMS, not just 100? I called one time to CS to add Unlimited SMS (because I thought I only has 100), but the rep told me i have Unlimited SMS already....so its true, SMS on vision plans have been upgraded to "unlimited" from "100"? Also, since when did vision include unlimited pic mail AND $10 DL credit? I thought with picture pack, you get a $5 credit, but with premium pack, you get teh $10 DL credit (but not unlim picturemail)
Some older vision packs include unl sms. The newer ones only have 100 sms included. I have the premium vision packs on all my lines, but I get unl sms, unl pic mail and the $10 dl credit. I think its a glitch, but I am NOT changing my plan.

[Parli]

Well, here's my retention story:

My contract runs out in April. I called up the other day and asked the rep what the best plan is that I can get. I am on $40 for 500 now but have been with them since 1999. The rep had a real bad attitude and only tried to upsell me to the free and clear plan. So I just dropped it and figured I'd try again closer to expiration. Then, a few days later, I get a call to do a survey about my experience with CS. I ripped the girl apart. At the end they asked if I wanted to be contacted by a "specialist". I said "Sure".

We'll, the next day I get a call and I tell the lady what happened. She then proceeds to tell me about all the great plans I can choose from. In the end, I got $40 for 750, pcs-pcs, after 8pm and the best part was that she didn't change my contract date so it still expires in April!

Remember - it costs a heck of a lot more for them to gain a customer than it does to keep one. :)

[FloorMatt]

Posted elsewhere, but here it goes again: My Family's retention plan

2000 AT mins shared (4 phones), The following are Unl. amd on all phones : N&W @7pm, Vision, SMS, and PCS-to-PCS. Voice Command on all phones. 50% usage roaming (should still be on the plan) And the standard goodies, of course!

All for around $100 a month including taxes

[brianjames]

I think you got a rep that was just willing to break the rules or something. Wonder how long she'll keep her job?

No rules were broken. A contract does not have to be up in order for sprint to give a retention plan. He simply implied that he was going to switch to another carrier if he couldn't get a better plan - reguardless of the contract.

If sprint would have said no, the money saved with another carrier would have easily paid for the ETF. Actually, had he switched he would have been able to MAKE money by selling his Sprint phones (that he probably got for free) and getting free ones from a new carrier.

My point is simple. Retention is meant to keep customers, reguardless of their contract. If you feel that your plan is not as good as it should be, find a competitors offer and call retention. They will match it - contract or not.

[Merlyn_3D]

It's funny, my gf and I only use about half our 2000 minutes, but we're on the $85 plan with free AAP and vision. Even the other retention plans wouldn't be worth it just because we'd either be paying the same or more for 1000 minutes.

It's made me come to the point where I don't care who, when, what I call from my cell phone because I never come close to my limit.

[adamlee2001GXE]

I called a week ago and talked to a couple different reps. I initially had called to see if there was anything better out there. Rep #1 mentioned the standard public plans. I previously had the $100 1800 min $5 nights, plan with free vision. I think I KNEW more than rep #1 did when I started talking about changing plans and losing free vision. I left it at that, that I didnt want to lose the free vision, and hung up.

I called back a minute later and got Rep #2. I expressed my concern about losing free vision, and she said that since I have a plan that has it, as long as I stay on a $100 MRC or higher, I can keep free vision. I didnt really trust her, but told her to notate my account.

A couple of days later I called back, and talked to Rep #3. I explained everything, and she confirmed yet again that I was on a "Historical Plan". Which I dont entirely know the meaning, but a plan that offers free things, that is no longer offered. Much like the $85 2000 minute free vision plan. I said a couple of years ago I was on the $50 1000 minute 8NW plan from retention. She was like "O yeah, let me check there". She came back with an offer of $100 2500 AT, 8NW, $5 nights, pcs-pcs, keeping everything else the same. I joked with her that the word retention is a *fantasy* word that you never know if you can say it, or it ruins your chances of a better plan or whatnot. She was one of the better reps, because she knew her stuff. I said that I have been with SPCS for quite a while, and that I just try to get the most for my money. I even asked her if once you get to a customers account, the system will suggest what to offer, and she said yes. It all depends on who you get, and what the system will offer you.


__________________
Retention Plan:
$100 for 2500 AT. $5 7PM. Pimary line free vision. FIMF. PCS-PCS. ERP $8.

[antwone]

I am still under contract but ive been with sprint over 2 years and i have a business account so they offered me this $40 a month 1000 anytime mins. unlimited nights & weekends at 8pm free pcs to pcs and free 7pm nights with $10 and $5 equipment protection for a total of $55 and a 35% discount because of my business discount and home long distance.

[cap10ga]

It's funny, my gf and I only use about half our 2000 minutes, but we're on the $85 plan with free AAP and vision. Even the other retention plans wouldn't be worth it just because we'd either be paying the same or more for 1000 minutes.

It's made me come to the point where I don't care who, when, what I call from my cell phone because I never come close to my limit.

If you don't come close to using your minutes, why don't you save yourself $5 and get rid of the 7pm nights?

[Ted]

If you don't come close to using your minutes, why don't you save yourself $5 and get rid of the 7pm nights?

Maybe the 7pm nights are the reason he doesn't use that many minutes? I personally make a lot of calls between 7 and 9.

[FloorMatt]

Quote from myself:

2000 AT mins shared (4 phones), The following are Unl. amd on all phones : N&W @7pm, Vision, SMS, and PCS-to-PCS. Voice Command on all phones. 50% usage roaming (should still be on the plan) And the standard goodies, of course!

All for around $100 a month including taxes


I forgot! Got FIMF too :hee: