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Hi all,
Here's the deal. I need to know if a good shared plan will save me some money. My monthly bill is $90 + tax.
My main line: $30 for 590 minutes (retention), UL Night/Wkd, free pcs to pcs, plus grandfathered $10 vision (UL data, pictures, SMS). Not shared.
I have 2 extra lines (mom & dad) which share. Phone 1 has a $30/300 minute plan (8pm UL Night/Wkd, free pcs to pcs & long distance. No vision.) and Phone 2 is $20 to share.
I am getting my sis her her own line so she won't have to share with mom.
But would I save money if I just had all 3 lines share w/my main plan? I'm kind of hesitant is because I LOVE MY PLAN and i'm afraid if i make any changes, i'll lose some of the perks. Suggestions?
The Oracle
03-15-2005, 10:34 PM
Your grandfathered vision is at stake if you do something like this, for sure.
suneeboyboy
03-15-2005, 10:38 PM
I got 4 lines. I am on F&F family tier one. 1st line free $10 AAP. I save at least 50-60 per month.
monkeyboy
03-16-2005, 02:02 AM
Hi all,
Here's the deal. I need to know if a good shared plan will save me some money. My monthly bill is $90 + tax.
My main line: $30 for 590 minutes (retention), UL Night/Wkd, free pcs to pcs, plus grandfathered $10 vision (UL data, pictures, SMS). Not shared.
I have 2 extra lines (mom & dad) which share. Phone 1 has a $30/300 minute plan (8pm UL Night/Wkd, free pcs to pcs & long distance. No vision.) and Phone 2 is $20 to share.
I am getting my sis her her own line so she won't have to share with mom.
Have to do some reading between the lines to break down what's happening here... It sounds like:
1) The $90/mo figure doesn't yet include your sister.
2) When you say "save me some money", do you mean "me" or "we" ? What ends up being the best for your family (4 lines) may not be the best for you. Are you willing to sacrifice your great deal so that your sister can come in at a "low cost of entry" ?
3) You imply that the shared plan of $30/300 between your parents is sufficient (i.e. 300min/mo is enough for them).
4) You don't say how many AT minutes your sister would need.
5) You refer to a "main plan". Which plan do you consider your "main plan" ? The retention plan you have ?
Well, if I read the situation right, per above, here are some thoughts:
1) Your retention plan is great and unlikely to be ever retrieved, once lost, because it puts your spending below where Sprint wants each customer to be, regardless of the number of minutes. Also it is unlikely that you could arrange a sharing of that retention plan, if that is what you were thinking. Furthermore it would be $20/line which is very unfavorable.
2) Your parents sharing the $30/300AT + $20AAP is also unusual. I don't think Sprint would allow that today either. Your parents using so few minutes (300/mo between the 2 lines) just doesn't make Sprint happy. Sprint isn't making any money on this account.
3) Getting your sister her own line means an added $35/mo minimum, which will push you to $90+35 = $125/mo. (Is 300AT enough for her ? (Don't be too sure... I'm guessing she's a teen :-) so probably a good idea to have her on some kind of F&F plan). Anyways, $125/mo sets an upper bound of sorts, I presume, so... (and I would guess you've already figured this much out...)
Two obvious ways to go are:
1) Keep your own great retention plan of $30/590AT and guard it against any changes. Put the rest of your family on the $70/mo F&F family plan, with the 3rd line at $10AAP, giving them 800AT/mo at $80/mo. The total monthly would be $120/mo, but it gives them more minutes to use and puts them all on the F&F mechanism in case of overages.
2) Everybody goes on the $70/mo F&F family plan. You can probably keep your Vision option as is (with a skilled CS). You instruct the CS to change out your retention plan for the $70 F&FF, and then put the 3 lines on it. That should allow you to keep your Vision as is. The total is $100/mo and y'all get to share 800AT (instead of the 590 + 300 + ???), but since it is a F&F, "overages" are reasonable, i.e. going to 900AT would be $105/mo). The downside is of course you lose your great retention plan and so when sis becomes her own person (i.e. responsible for her own bills, and/or moves to college where Sprint isn't so good, etc), or whatever, you may be stuck having to dissolve the family sharing and have now lost the great retention plan.
So $120/mo for option 1, with lots more minutes (590 + 800), or $100/mo for option 2, with less minutes (800) and letting go of your retention plan.
I'd Call Retention And See What They Could Work Out. Tell Them The Truth. You Have No Intention Of Leaving, You Just Need The Best Plan You Can Get. They Might Be Able To Get You The $85 2000 Minute Plan. I Know The 1st Line Is Free With That Plan And Vision Only $5 For The 2nd Line. Not Sure What The Charges Would Be For The Other 2 Lines. It Doesn't Hurt To Try.
I'd Call Retention And See What They Could Work Out. Tell Them The Truth. You Have No Intention Of Leaving, You Just Need The Best Plan You Can Get. They Might Be Able To Get You The $85 2000 Minute Plan. I Know The 1st Line Is Free With That Plan And Vision Only $5 For The 2nd Line. Not Sure What The Charges Would Be For The Other 2 Lines. It Doesn't Hurt To Try.Sure it doesn't hurt to try, but... that $85/2000AT plan, no-one AFAIK has been able to get that in the past 1+ year. Furthermore, what's the point of it ? She implies that they wouldn't be using more than about 1000-1200mins/mo anyways, so they'd be overbuying. I kinda doubt they have a lot of leverage with retention since they have all low-end plans ($30/mo). That means that it is unlikely they could get the $85/2000 plan, and even if they could, they'd still be faced with $20 AAP's. That means that their total cost is still $125/mo -- so all this fuss over a hard to get plan and they end up not saving any money over the much easier to get F&FF arrangement I outlined above that probably would be cheaper in the end anyways.
Yes, if retention did the world for them, they could get the $85/2000AT plan plus two free AAP's for a total cost of $85/mo, but how likely is that ? About zip, but I guess it doesn't hurt to try... Me, I like to aim for something realistic and attainable and fair when I call retention...
I'd Call Retention And See What They Could Work Out. Tell Them The Truth. You Have No Intention Of Leaving, You Just Need The Best Plan You Can Get. They Might Be Able To Get You The $85 2000 Minute Plan. I Know The 1st Line Is Free With That Plan And Vision Only $5 For The 2nd Line. Not Sure What The Charges Would Be For The Other 2 Lines. It Doesn't Hurt To Try.Sure it doesn't hurt to try, but... that $85/2000AT plan, no-one AFAIK has been able to get that in the past 1+ year. Furthermore, what's the point of it ? She implies that they wouldn't be using more than about 1000-1200mins/mo anyways, so they'd be overbuying. I kinda doubt they have a lot of leverage with retention since they have all low-end plans ($30/mo). That means that it is unlikely they could get the $85/2000 plan, and even if they could, they'd still be faced with $20 AAP's. That means that their total cost is still $125/mo -- so all this fuss over a hard to get plan and they end up not saving any money over the much easier to get F&FF arrangement I outlined above that probably would be cheaper in the end anyways.
Yes, if retention did the world for them, they could get the $85/2000AT plan plus two free AAP's for a total cost of $85/mo, but how likely is that ? About zip, but I guess it doesn't hurt to try... Me, I like to aim for something realistic and attainable and fair when I call retention...
I Got The $85 Plan Just 6 Months Ago. If They Charge For Lines 3 And 4, It Could Add Up. The Person That Has The $100 Would Be Cheaper Then The FF. And You Would Not Have To Worry About Going Over In Minutes. Myself, I'm Not Afraid To Ask. All They Can Say Is No. But It's Michelle That Needs To Make A Decision. To Give Ideas. Not Argue Over What She Needs.
MsRandall
03-16-2005, 10:31 AM
I got the 85 dollar plan in July of last year. Its still available...just like FIMF is ...The reps just have to know where to look and you have to a customer who qualifies.
michelle
03-16-2005, 10:33 AM
how do u qualify?
MsRandall
03-16-2005, 10:35 AM
Meaning everyone doesnt qualify for a retention plan...You do because you have one...I would suggest just calling retention and saying like someone said above...I need to get a better plan ...I am on.......and I would like...... I am sure they will work with you. They have always worked with me.
Meaning everyone doesnt qualify for a retention plan...You do because you have one...I would suggest just calling retention and saying like someone said above...I need to get a better plan ...I am on.......and I would like...... I am sure they will work with you. They have always worked with me.
Excellent Advice :tu:
michelle
03-16-2005, 10:43 AM
thanks msR i will give it a try. is the retention # still current in the FAQ?
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